HAND-HELD TOOTH WHITENING INSTRUMENT WITH APPLICATOR RESERVOIR FOR WHITENING COMPOSITION AND METHODS OF USING SAME

摘要

A hand-held, ergonomic instrument with an LED that emits actinic light in visible wavelengths mounts a replaceable applicator cup with a reservoir for a tooth whitening composition held in place against a user's tooth during a whitening procedure. Actinic light is directed onto the tooth surface through a window in the cup and the tooth whitening composition substantially without attenuation, delivering at least about 100 milliwatts per square centimeter of light energy to the tooth surface. The cup includes a rigid body for mounting the cup to the instrument and an opaque flexible sleeve molded in place over the outside of the body to form a seal with the tooth surface and prevent exposure of soft mouth surfaces to the actinic radiation during a whitening procedure. A safety switch disables the LED when the applicator cup is not in contact with a tooth surface.

主权项

1. A container for a tooth whitening composition, the container comprising:
a hollow, rigid cylindrical container body having a distal end and a proximal end with a mount for attaching the container body to a dental instrument that emits actinic radiation within a predetermined range of wavelengths; a window spaced from the proximal end of the container body in the path of the actinic radiation from the dental instrument, the window being substantially transparent to the actinic radiation; and a hollow, flexible cylindrical sleeve connected to the container body and extending to a distal end spaced from the proximal end of the container body, wherein the sleeve and the container body form a reservoir open at the distal end of the sleeve for holding a tooth whitening composition in contact with a tooth surface.