Method and apparatus for tooth whitening
US8308479B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 11, 2009 |
| Grant date | Nov 13, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 11, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61N2005/0644
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Preconditioning mouth rinse, which pre-treats the teeth to better receive a whitening formula containing a photosensitive compound, and a hand-held consumer light source for tooth whitening, which provides rapid tooth whitening, are disclosed. The light source may use a specific range of visible light and also emit heat sufficient to raise the temperature of the teeth a desired amount at a depth up to about 2 mm in the range of about from 1-5° Celsius over a predetermined period of time. The specified wavelengths of the hand-held consumer operable light will activate the photosensitive substance in the whitening formula. The oxidizing compounds may be transparent to light enabling light energy to activate the oxidizing compounds directly on the tooth surface, or to activate a photosensitizing or photosensitive compound added to produce the desired temperature increase.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.