US4957686A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Use of bacteriophages to inhibit dental caries
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1990-02-06
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Granted: 1990-09-18
•
Expires: 2010-02-06
Abstract
Abstract Because S. Sanguis is the first colonizer of newly cleaned teeth and because other bacteria then attach to it, the formation of dental plaque is reduced on newly cleaned teeth by introducing into the mouth bacteriophages which are parasitic to S. Sanguis. Because S. Sanguis is the means of attachment of plaque forming bacterial colonies to tooth surfaces and forms 10-15% of the organisms in plaque, destruction of S. Sanguis by introduction of its parasitic bacteriophages will remove plaque from teeth surfaces. And removal of plaque containing acid forming bacteria and other harmful bacteria reduces the incidence of dental caries and other disease.
Inventors
- 👤 Alan H. Norris
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 20:47
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61K; A61K35/00; A61K35/66; A61K35/76; A61K8/00; A61K8/18; A61K8/96; A61K8/99; A61Q; A61Q11/00; C; C12; C12N; C12N2795/00; C12N2795/00011; C12N2795/00032
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
46 words
A method of improved dental hygiene comprising introducing into the mouth bacteriophages parasitic to bacteria which possess the property of readily adhering to the salivary pellicle, said bacteria so providing receptor sites for other bacteria and so allowing a build up of plaque on the teeth.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
46 words
A method of improved dental hygiene comprising introducing into the mouth bacteriophages parasitic to bacteria which possess the property of readily adhering to the salivary pellicle, said bacteria so providing receptor sites for other bacteria and so allowing a build up of plaque on the teeth.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
10 words
Claim 1, in which the said bacteria are S. Sanguis.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
36 words
A method of improved dental hygiene comprising introducing into the mouth a mixture of bacteriophages parasitic to bacteria normally present in the mouth, said mixture of bacteriophages containing at least one bacteriophage parasitic to S. Sanguis.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
36 words
A method of improved dental hygiene comprising introducing into the mouth a mixture of bacteriophages parasitic to bacteria normally present in the mouth, said mixture of bacteriophages containing at least one bacteriophage parasitic to S. Sanguis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
9 words
Claim 1, wherein the bacteriophages are incorporated in toothpaste.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
9 words
Claim 1, wherein the bacteriophages are incorporated in toothpowder.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
10 words
Claim 1, wherein the bacteriophages are incorporated in dental floss.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
10 words
Claim 1, wherein the bacteriophages are incorporated in chewing gum.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
10 words
Claim 1, wherein the bacteriophages are incorporated in oral tablets.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
10 words
Claim 1, wherein the bacteriophages are incorporated in mouthwash solutions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
11 words
Claim 1, wherein the bacteriophages are incorporated in sweets and candy.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-09-17 | 1994-03-19 | 1994-09-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-09-17 | 1998-03-19 | 1998-09-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-09-17 | 2002-03-19 | 2002-09-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |