Dentistry – Apparatus – Having gauge or guide
Patent
1991-03-15
1992-08-11
Wilson, John J.
Dentistry
Apparatus
Having gauge or guide
33513, A61C 1904
Patent
active
051374471
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates generally to improvements in oral hygiene and more specifically to a plaque disclosing composition, a toothbrushing apparatus and an instrument that is necessary in the accurate measurement of tissue status and other clinical features such as the degree of inflammation of the various tissues in animals, particularly humans and more particularly periodontal tissues, tooth mobility and basic orthodontic criteria all of which are effective when used singularly or in combination in maintaining the soft and hard tissues of the oral cavity in a healthy state.
BACKGROUND ART
It is well recognised that dental plaque is a major causative agent of caries and periodontal disease. Broadly, plaque consists of an adhesive mass of bacteria, mucins, food and other organic matter which if present for long enough on the teeth, calcifies to form calculus. Consequently, it is appreciated that the effective and complete removal of plaque is essential to the maintenance of good oral hygiene.
Unfortunately, the achievement of the goal of the removal of substantially all plaque from the oral tissues on a regular basis is not achievable by the vast majority of people, even when the individual recognises the need for plaque removal. It is therefore not unexpected that the WHO have stated that dental disease is the most common of all diseases affecting man throughout the world today.
The removal of plaque from the oral tissues at an early stage of its development may be achieved by brushing. However, if calcification occurs, then the resultant calculus may only be removed by vigorous mechanical action, usually performed by a dentist. It is therefore important to ensure plaque removal before calcification occurs.
One difficulty in ensuring that plaque is removed at an early stage is that an individual cannot readily either visually or otherwise determine if all plaque has been removed. To overcome this difficulty, the use of plaque disclosing compositions have been previously suggested. Such compositions usually consist of a dye that only stains the plaque thereby allowing its visualisation in contrast to other parts of the oral cavity.
In the prior art, these disclosing compositions have been presented in a variety of forms including rinses, lozenges, wafers and chewable tablets. It is to be noted that all of these compositions are used either before or more usually, after brushing. When used after brushing it would be expected that the composition would reveal plaque to be removed by rebrushing.
Whilst this approach has potential for the effective control of plaque, in fact the individual rarely continues the use of such disclosing composition as it requires an additional step over the normal routine of merely brushing the teeth with a dentrifice.
It is this extra step, a complicated procedure of intentional application that compromises convenience to the point where it is often abandoned or rarely maintained as a routine procedure by most people.
In Australian Patent Application 46357/79, it is taught that a disclosing agent may be included in a suitable dentrifice paste. Disclosing compositions containing mixtures of dye that result in the plaque being disclosed as a green colour are described. Such a composition would appear to meet the need for a plaque disclosing composition that is capable of being included in the normal toothbrushing routine.
It has, however, been recognized that it is important to be able to distinguish between recently formed plaque and "old" plaque. The reason for this is that "old" plaque has been found to be a causative agent of periodontal disease.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,723,613, there is disclosed compositions that are capable of diferentially staining "new" and "old" plaque. The compositions are mixtures of dyes such as FDC Red No. 3 and FDC Green No. 3 incorporated into various formulations. In column 3, lines 29-35, it is taught that the dyes in addition to being in the form of a paint may be formulated as a chewable tablet, wafer, powders, lozenges, aerosol a
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