Patent US5645428A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5645428A
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Method for whitening teeth
Assignee: Discus Dental LLC
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Filing: 1995-12-12
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Granted: 1997-07-08
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Expires: 2015-12-12
Abstract
Abstract A method for whitening teeth which utilizes laser light to activate bleaching agents applied to the teeth. The mouth is first prepared so that the soft tissues of the gums are protected and only the teeth are exposed. The teeth are cleaned to remove any materials which will reduce or nullify the effects of the bleaching agents. A mixture of peroxide and a first catalyst are prepared and applied to the teeth. The teeth are exposed to laser light from an argon laser which light activates the peroxide and catalyst to accelerate the bleaching process without heat. Next, a mixture of peroxide and a second catalyst are prepared and applied to the teeth. The teeth are briefly exposed to laser light from a carbon dioxide laser which heat activates the peroxide and catalyst to accelerate the bleaching process.
Inventors
- 👤 David K. Yarborough
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 16:06
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61K; A61K8/00; A61K8/18; A61K8/19; A61K8/22; A61C; A61C19/00; A61C19/06; A61C19/063; A61C19/066; A61Q; A61Q11/00; A61K2800/00; A61K2800/80; A61K2800/81
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim
79 words
A method for whitening a patient's teeth comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a mixture comprising an oxygen radical generating agent and an oxygen radical releasing agent; (b) applying said mixture to said patient's teeth; and (c) exposing said patient's teeth to laser light for a selected interval to accelerate whitening, wherein said preparing step includes selecting said oxygen radical generating agent from the peroxide group consisting of hydrogen peroxide, carbamide peroxide, calcium bicarbonate peroxide, and sodium bicarbonate peroxide.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
79 words
A method for whitening a patient's teeth comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a mixture comprising an oxygen radical generating agent and an oxygen radical releasing agent; (b) applying said mixture to said patient's teeth; and (c) exposing said patient's teeth to laser light for a selected interval to accelerate whitening, wherein said preparing step includes selecting said oxygen radical generating agent from the peroxide group consisting of hydrogen peroxide, carbamide peroxide, calcium bicarbonate peroxide, and sodium bicarbonate peroxide.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as described in claim 1, wherein said preparing step includes providing a concentration of said oxygen radical generating agent in said mixture between 3% and 90%.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as described in claim 2, wherein said oxygen radical releasing agent is selected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, calcium carbonate, calcium hydroxide, ammonium persulfate, potassium persulfate, and sodium perborate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as described in claim 3, wherein said preparing step includes providing a concentration of said oxygen radical releasing agent in said mixture between 3% and 80% .
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as described in claim 3, wherein said exposure step utilizes said laser light from a carbon dioxide laser with a wavelength in the infrared spectrum and a power output of at least 500 milliwatts.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as described in claim 1, wherein said exposure step utilizes said laser light from an argon laser with a wavelength range between approximately 400 and 520 nanometers and a power output of at least 350 milliwatts.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as described in claim 1, wherein said exposing step comprises exposing said teeth to light from an argon laser.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as described in claim 1, wherein said exposing step comprises exposing said teeth to light from a carbon dioxide laser.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
78 words
A method for whitening a patient's teeth comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a mixture comprising an oxygen radical generating agent and an oxygen radical releasing agent: (b) applying said mixture to said patient's teeth: and (c) exposing said patient's teeth to laser light for selected interval to accelerate whitening, wherein said oxygen radical releasing agent is selected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, calcium carbonate, calcium hydroxide, ammonium persulfate, potassium persulfate, and sodium perborate.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
78 words
A method for whitening a patient's teeth comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a mixture comprising an oxygen radical generating agent and an oxygen radical releasing agent: (b) applying said mixture to said patient's teeth: and (c) exposing said patient's teeth to laser light for selected interval to accelerate whitening, wherein said oxygen radical releasing agent is selected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, calcium carbonate, calcium hydroxide, ammonium persulfate, potassium persulfate, and sodium perborate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as described in claim 9, wherein said preparing step includes providing a concentration of said oxygen radical releasing agent in said mixture between 3% and 80%.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
175 words
A method for whitening a patient's teeth comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a mixture comprising an oxygen radical generating agent and an oxygen radical releasing agent; (b) applying said mixture to said patient's teeth; and (c) exposing said patient's teeth to laser light for a selected interval to accelerate whitening, wherein said preparing step further comprises preparing said mixture with: (i) a buffer selected from the group consisting of urea, sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, calcium carbonate, calcium bicarbonate, calcium hydroxide, or any other buffering agent to maintain a pH of said mixture between 7 and 11; (ii) a desensitizing and color stabilizing agent selected from the group consisting of fluoride, calcium, and phosphate and providing a concentration of said desensitizing and color stabilizing agent in said mixture between 0.1% and 10%; and (iii) a thickening agent selected from the group consisting of silicates, hydroxyethylcellulose, lanolate, palmitate, oleate, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium stearate, calcium stearate, and other fatty acids and providing a concentration of said thickening agent in said mixture between 1% and 20% .
Claim 14
Independent Claim
175 words
A method for whitening a patient's teeth comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a mixture comprising an oxygen radical generating agent and an oxygen radical releasing agent; (b) applying said mixture to said patient's teeth; and (c) exposing said patient's teeth to laser light for a selected interval to accelerate whitening, wherein said preparing step further comprises preparing said mixture with: (i) a buffer selected from the group consisting of urea, sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, calcium carbonate, calcium bicarbonate, calcium hydroxide, or any other buffering agent to maintain a pH of said mixture between 7 and 11; (ii) a desensitizing and color stabilizing agent selected from the group consisting of fluoride, calcium, and phosphate and providing a concentration of said desensitizing and color stabilizing agent in said mixture between 0.1% and 10%; and (iii) a thickening agent selected from the group consisting of silicates, hydroxyethylcellulose, lanolate, palmitate, oleate, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium stearate, calcium stearate, and other fatty acids and providing a concentration of said thickening agent in said mixture between 1% and 20% .
Claim 15
Independent Claim
81 words
A method for whitening a patient's teeth comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a mixture comprising an oxygen radical generating agent and an oxygen radical releasing agent: (b) applying said mixture to said patient's teeth; and (c) exposing said patient's teeth to laser light for a selected interval to accelerate whitening, wherein said exposure step utilizes laser light from an argon laser with a wavelength range between approximately 300 and 520 nanometers and a power output of at least 350 milliwatts.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
81 words
A method for whitening a patient's teeth comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a mixture comprising an oxygen radical generating agent and an oxygen radical releasing agent: (b) applying said mixture to said patient's teeth; and (c) exposing said patient's teeth to laser light for a selected interval to accelerate whitening, wherein said exposure step utilizes laser light from an argon laser with a wavelength range between approximately 300 and 520 nanometers and a power output of at least 350 milliwatts.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as described in claim 12, wherein said exposure step includes a total exposure time from said argon laser between approximately 1 and 60 seconds per tooth.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as described in claim 13, wherein said exposure step further utilizes laser light from a carbon dioxide laser with a wavelength in the infrared spectrum and a power output of at least 500 milliwatts.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as described in claim 14, wherein said wavelength of said carbon dioxide laser is between approximately 10 and 11 micrometers.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as described in claim 15, wherein said exposure step utilizes 0.1 millisecond pulses to continuous exposure from said carbon dioxide laser for a total exposure time between approximately 1 and 10 seconds per tooth.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
79 words
A method for whitening a patients's teeth comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a mixture comprising an oxygen radical generating agent and an oxygen radical releasing agent; (b) applying said mixture to said patient's teeth; and (c) exposing said patient's teeth to laser light for a selected interval to accelerate whitening, wherein said exposure step utilizes laser light from a carbon dioxide laser with a wavelength in the infrared spectrum and a power output of at least 500 milliwatts.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
79 words
A method for whitening a patients's teeth comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a mixture comprising an oxygen radical generating agent and an oxygen radical releasing agent; (b) applying said mixture to said patient's teeth; and (c) exposing said patient's teeth to laser light for a selected interval to accelerate whitening, wherein said exposure step utilizes laser light from a carbon dioxide laser with a wavelength in the infrared spectrum and a power output of at least 500 milliwatts.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as described in claim 17, wherein said wavelength of said carbon dioxide laser is between approximately 10 and 11 micrometers.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as described in claim 18, wherein said exposure step utilizes 0.1 millisecond pulses to continuous exposure from said carbon dioxide laser for a total exposure time between approximately 1 and 10 seconds per tooth.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
130 words
A method for whitening a patient's teeth comprising the steps of: (a) isolating the patient's teeth so that only the teeth are exposed; (b) cleaning the surface of the teeth to remove any agents which will inhibit an oxygen radical generating agent; (c) treating any exposed soft tissues with a tissue protectant; (d) mixing a first mixture comprising an oxygen radical generating agent and a first oxygen radical releasing agent; (e) applying said first mixture to said patient's teeth; (f) exposing said patient's teeth to fight from an argon laser; (g) mixing a second mixture comprising said oxygen radical generating agent and a second oxygen radical releasing agent; (h) applying said second mixture to said patient's teeth; and (j) exposing said patient's teeth to light from a carbon dioxide laser.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
130 words
A method for whitening a patient's teeth comprising the steps of: (a) isolating the patient's teeth so that only the teeth are exposed; (b) cleaning the surface of the teeth to remove any agents which will inhibit an oxygen radical generating agent; (c) treating any exposed soft tissues with a tissue protectant; (d) mixing a first mixture comprising an oxygen radical generating agent and a first oxygen radical releasing agent; (e) applying said first mixture to said patient's teeth; (f) exposing said patient's teeth to fight from an argon laser; (g) mixing a second mixture comprising said oxygen radical generating agent and a second oxygen radical releasing agent; (h) applying said second mixture to said patient's teeth; and (j) exposing said patient's teeth to light from a carbon dioxide laser.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as described in claim 20, wherein said isolating step in (a) includes: (a) applying strips of a wax-like material with an adhesive quality over the patient's gums; and (b) molding said strips so that they follow the contour of said gums with said teeth.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method as described in claim 20, wherein said mixing step in (d) includes selecting said oxygen radical generating agent from the peroxide group consisting of hydrogen peroxide, carbamide peroxide, calcium bicarbonate peroxide, and sodium bicarbonate peroxide, or any other oxygen radical generating agents.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as described in claim 22, wherein said mixing step in (d) includes providing a concentration of said oxygen radical generating agent in said first mixture between 3% and 90%.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as described in claim 20, wherein said mixing step in (d) includes selecting said first oxygen radical releasing agent from the group consisting of ammonium persulfate and potassium persulfate.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as described in claim 24, wherein said mixing step in (d) includes providing a concentration of said first oxygen radical releasing agent in said first mixture between 1% and 80%.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
105 words
A method as described in claim 20, wherein said mixing step in (d) further comprises preparing said first mixture with: (a) a buffer selected from the group consisting of urea, sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, calcium carbonate, calcium bicarbonate, calcium hydroxide, or any other buffering agent to maintain a pH of said first mixture between 7 and 11; (b) a a desensitizing and color stabilizing selected from the group consisting of fluoride, calcium, and phosphate; and (c) a thickening agent selected from the group consisting of silicates, hydroxyethylcellulose, lanolate, palmitate, oleate, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium stearate, calcium stearate, and other fatty acids.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as described in claim 20, wherein said mixing step in (g) includes selecting said oxygen radical releasing agent from the group consisting of sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, calcium carbonate, calcium hydroxide, and sodium perborate.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as described in claim 27, wherein said mixing step in (g) includes providing a concentration of said second oxygen radical releasing agent between 3% and 80%.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as described in claim 20, wherein said exposure step in (f) utilizes said argon laser light having a wavelength range between approximately 400 and 520 nanometers and a power output of at least 350 milliwatts.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as described in claim 29, wherein said exposure step in (f) includes an exposure time from said argon laser between approximately 1 and 60 seconds per tooth.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as described in claim 20, wherein said exposure step in (j) utilizes said carbon dioxide laser light having a wavelength in the infrared spectrum and a power output of at least 500 milliwatts.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as described in claim 30, wherein said wavelength of said carbon dioxide laser is between approximately 10 and 11 micrometers.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as described in claim 31, wherein said exposure step in 6) utilizes 0.1 millisecond pulses to continuous exposure from said carbon dioxide laser for a total exposure time between approximately 1 and 10 seconds per tooth.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
78 words
A composition for use in whitening teeth when subjected to laser light comprising: (a) a primary composition for use in a first phase of whitening comprising an oxygen radical generating agent selected from the peroxide group consisting of hydrogen peroxide, carbamide peroxide, calcium bicarbonate peroxide, sodium bicarbonate peroxide and an oxygen radical releasing agent selected from the group consisting of ammonium persulfate and potassium persulfate; and (b) a secondary composition for use in a secondary phase of whitening.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
78 words
A composition for use in whitening teeth when subjected to laser light comprising: (a) a primary composition for use in a first phase of whitening comprising an oxygen radical generating agent selected from the peroxide group consisting of hydrogen peroxide, carbamide peroxide, calcium bicarbonate peroxide, sodium bicarbonate peroxide and an oxygen radical releasing agent selected from the group consisting of ammonium persulfate and potassium persulfate; and (b) a secondary composition for use in a secondary phase of whitening.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
38 words
A composition as described in claim 34, wherein said primary composition further comprises a buffer selected from the group consisting of urea, sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, and calcium hydroxide, to maintain a basic pH.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
84 words
A composition for use in whitening teeth then subjected to laser light comprising: (a) a primary composition for use in a first phase of whitening; and (b) a secondary composition for use in a second phase of whitening comprising an oxygen radical generating agent selected from the peroxide group consisting of hydrogen peroxide, carbamide peroxide, calcium bicarbonate peroxide, sodium bicarbonate peroxide and an oxygen radical releasing agent selected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, calcium carbonate, calcium hydroxide, and sodium perborate.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
84 words
A composition for use in whitening teeth then subjected to laser light comprising: (a) a primary composition for use in a first phase of whitening; and (b) a secondary composition for use in a second phase of whitening comprising an oxygen radical generating agent selected from the peroxide group consisting of hydrogen peroxide, carbamide peroxide, calcium bicarbonate peroxide, sodium bicarbonate peroxide and an oxygen radical releasing agent selected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, calcium carbonate, calcium hydroxide, and sodium perborate.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
38 words
A composition as described in claim 36, wherein said secondary composition further comprises a buffer selected from the group consisting of urea, sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, and calcium hydroxide, to maintain a basic pH.
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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) | 2000-07-07 | 2001-01-06 | 2001-07-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-07-07 | 2005-01-06 | 2005-07-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-07-07 | 2009-01-06 | 2009-07-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |