Composition and method for reducing elution of therapeutic agents from teeth

Claim 1

A dentifrice composition for substantially effectively coating previously fluoride-treated teeth and thereby reducing elution of said fluoride from said teeth, said composition comprising a fluoride-containing caries prophylactic agent; and an abrasive nonionic polymeric polishing agent; and at least about 0.05% by weight of an anionic, polymeric water-dispersible, membrane-forming material which, when applied to the surface of said previously fluoride-treated teeth in an oral environment, complexes with the calcium of said teeth and forms a substantially continuous hydrophobic barrier thereon which substantially reduces the elution of said previously applied fluoride from said teeth and which, when at equilibrium with the complex, has a formation constant in the range of about 0.5 to 8, said anionic, polymeric membrane-forming material being a polymeric material having a polyolefinic main chain with acidic functionalities pendant therefrom, said composition being substantially free from sources of polyvalent metal atoms.

Claim 7

A method of substantially reducing elution of a therapeutic agent previously applied to teeth which comprises the steps of applying said therapeutic agent to teeth, and applying a dentifrice composition to said treated teeth, wherein said dentifrice composition comprises (1) at least one ingredient selected from the group consisting of therapeutic agents, polishing agents, surfactants, flavoring agents, sweetening agents, thickening agents and humectants that are substantially free from polyvalent metal atoms, and (2) at least 0.05% by weight of an anionic, polymeric, water-dispersible, membrane-forming material which, when applied to the surface of the teeth in an oral environment complexes with the calcium of said teeth and forms a substantially continuous hydrophobic barrier thereon which substantially reduces the elution of said previously applied therapeutic agent from said teeth, and which, when at equilibrium with the complex has a formation constant in the range of about 0.5 to 8, said membrane forming material being a polymeric material having a polyolefin main chain with acidic functionalities pendant therefrom.

Claim 8

A method of substantially reducing elution of a therapeutic agent previously applied to teeth which comprises the steps of applying said therapeutic agent to teeth, and applying a dentifrice composition to said treated teeth, wherein said dentifrice composition comprises (1) at least one ingredient selected from the group consisting of therapeutic agents, polishing agents, surfactants, flavoring agents, sweetening agents, thickening agents and humectants that are substantially free from polyvalent metal atoms, and (2) at least 0.05% by weight of an anionic, polymeric, water-dispersible, membrane-forming material which, when applied to the surface of the teeth in an oral environment complexes with the calcium of said teeth and forms a substantially continuous hydrophobic barrier thereon which substantially reduces the elution of said previously applied therapeutic agent from said teeth, and which, when at equilibrium with the complex has a formation constant in the range of about 0.5 to 8, said membrane forming material being a polymeric material having a polyolefin main chain with acidic functionalities pendant therefrom.