Patent · US Expired

Method of preventing tooth decay by laser beam irradiation and chemical treatment

US4877401A · kind A · utility

54Cited by
3References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 9, 1988
Grant dateOct 31, 1989
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 9, 2008

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61N2005/0606
  • WIPO fieldPharmaceuticals
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A method for preventing tooth decay comprising: (1) laser irradiation of the tooth's surface with a carbon dioxide laser (wavelength=10.6 microns) at 20 to 50 watts for 1 to 400 seconds, and (2) subsequent chemical treatment of the tooth with a chemical agent such as ethane-1-hydroxy-1, 1-diphosphonic acid at concentrations greater than about 0.00001 molar. The resulting tooth has a reduced dissolution rate in acid and increased resistivity to cavities.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.