A method for estimating a pose of an oral hygiene device including a pattern and a plurality of groups of visual markers relative to a location includes (i) receiving image data reproducible as an image of at least a portion of the oral hygiene device; (ii) analyzing the image data to identify a region of interest within the image; (iii) identifying, using at least one of the one or more processors, all candidate visual markers within the region of interest; (iv) obtaining a first proposed three-dimensional pose of the oral hygiene device; (v) validating the first proposed three-dimensional pose of the oral hygiene device; and (vi) obtaining a second proposed three-dimensional pose of the oral hygiene device based on the validated first proposed three-dimensional pose.

A method for estimating a pose of an oral hygiene device including a pattern and a plurality of groups of visual markers relative to a location includes (i) receiving image data reproducible as an image of at least a portion of the oral hygiene device; (ii) analyzing the image data to identify a region of interest within the image; (iii) identifying, using at least one of the one or more processors, all candidate visual markers within the region of interest; (iv) obtaining a first proposed three-dimensional pose of the oral hygiene device; (v) validating the first proposed three-dimensional pose of the oral hygiene device; and (vi) obtaining a second proposed three-dimensional pose of the oral hygiene device based on the validated first proposed three-dimensional pose.

Compositions and methods for whitening the teeth of a patient or subject include the application of at least one tooth whitening composition to the surface of a stained tooth, accompanied by the application of a sealant composition that forms a protective film or coating on the tooth surface to resist moisture contamination of the oxidizing composition. The whitening procedure can be further enhanced by removal of acquired pellicle from the tooth surface prior to application of oxidizing and sealant compositions. The novel procedure allows for a high degree of tooth whitening by protecting the oxidizing composition while it is in contact with the tooth surface.

Compositions and methods for whitening the teeth of a patient or subject include the application of at least one tooth whitening composition to the surface of a stained tooth, accompanied by the application of a sealant composition that forms a protective film or coating on the tooth surface to resist moisture contamination of the oxidizing composition. The whitening procedure can be further enhanced by removal of acquired pellicle from the tooth surface prior to application of oxidizing and sealant compositions. The novel procedure allows for a high degree of tooth whitening by protecting the oxidizing composition while it is in contact with the tooth surface.

A method and apparatus for the concurrent treatment of multiple oral diseases and defects while promoting general oral hygiene utilizing direct current electricity and methods for manufacturing the same. Electrodes are used to deliver a direct current to the gingival tissues of a mouth in order to achieve a number of therapeutic, prophylactic, and regenerative benefits. These benefits include killing oral microbes, increasing oral vasodilation, reducing oral biofilm, improving oral blood circulation, reversing oral bone resorption, promoting oral osteogenesis, treating gum recession, and fostering gingival regeneration. Other benefits include the treatment of gingivitis, periodontitis, and oral malodor, and other systemic diseases correlated with oral pathogens.

A container, a toothbrush, or a device including at least one sacrificial electrode. In one aspect, the container may include a body adapted to contain an oral care solution and a cap selectively removable from the body. The cap may include a cavity configured to contain a fluid, a first electrode comprising a sacrificial metal, a second electrode spaced from the first electrode, and an electrical connection electrically connecting the first electrode and the second electrode to a power source. Activation of the power source may generate an electric field between the first and second electrodes, thereby causing the sacrificial metal of the first electrode to release ions into the fluid in the cavity of the cap.

A plasma treatment device configured for a treatment within the oral cavity of a living organism using a dielectric barrier plasma, comprising a high-voltage stage (5, 6) arranged in a housing and serving for generating high-voltage signals required for generating the plasma, and comprising an electrode arrangement (10), which is connected to the high-voltage stage and is covered by a dielectric (9) for forming a dielectric barrier plasma, enables various treatments in the oral cavity of the living organism in a simple manner by virtue of the fact that the housing has a handle part (1), to which a head part (2) is secured in a releasable and exchangeable manner by means of a mechanical connection arrangement, in that the handle part (1) contains all stages required for generating the high-voltage signals and a contact arrangement, at which the high-voltage signals are present, in that the head part (2) is embodied in a shape specific to a specific treatment and has a corresponding shaped electrode arrangement (10), which is surrounded completely by the dielectric (9) and has a terminal (14), which makes contact with the contact arrangement of the handle part (1) when the head part (2) is secured to the handle part (1) in a manner effected by means of the mechanical connection arrangement.

Described herein is an oral care implement that includes a head portion; a cup member extending from a front surface of the head portion along a first axis, the elastomeric cup member comprising: a top surface; a plurality of grooves formed into the top surface; a plurality of rib members, wherein adjacent ones of the grooves are separated by one of the rib members, each of the rib members extending along a rib axis that extends radially outward from the first axis, and wherein each of the rib members has a thickness that increases with distance from the first axis. The cup member may comprise a plurality of first grooves and a plurality of second grooves, and wherein each of the first grooves has a first transverse cross-section and each of the second grooves has a second transverse cross-section, the first and second transverse cross-sections being different from one another.

The invention provides a unitary cordless dental drive apparatus in a first embodiment having a handpiece with a cantilever arm 18 extending outward and positioned to allow a dental nose cone 26 to be connected. An activating switch 20 is located at the free end of the cantilever arm 18 in a position that is convenient for manipulation by a user. In a second embodiment, a contactor 22 is mounted below the cantilever arm 18 to contact the nose cone 26 when pressed. In a third embodiment, a standard dental office foot pedal 90 is connected to a wireless transmitter 80 for sending a signal to a receiver 92 located within the handpiece 70 for activating the handpiece 70.

An apparatus for dental irrigation may be provided to project fluid onto the surfaces of, and the interproximal spaces between, a user's teeth and gum-line. The apparatus may comprise two hollow U-shaped manifolds having orifices located on their interior faces used as fluid jets. The manifolds may be connected, at a central point of reflection, by a rotating inlet joint which supplies the fluid flow. When placed in the user's mouth, the apparatus may be designed to receive the top and bottom sets of teeth in each corresponding U-shaped manifold, with orifices configured to provide fluid jets aligned towards the lingual and buccal side of the teeth. The orifices may be staggered to provide staggered fluid flow. A user's teeth may be cleaned with a controlled fluid flow by moving the apparatus in a sweeping motion between each set of rear molars.