Disclosed is a method, and a system, for accomplishing the in situ formation of a gel in an interdental space. This is useful for the interdental application of one or more dental care agents, such as antimicrobial agents or other anti-plaque agents. The invention makes use of a two component system comprising a gelable liquid and a liquid gelling agent capable of bringing about gelation of the liquid. The system of the invention is arranged such that first the gelable, typically viscous, liquid can be applied, and then the liquid gelling agent is forced, e.g. jetted, into the applied gelable liquid. The system is designed such as to prevent the gelling agent and the gelable liquid to come into contact with each other before both have been applied. The system is configured to allow the gelable liquid to be applied prior to the gelling agent.

The present invention provides a patch for attaching to teeth or a surrounding part of teeth, and the patch can be easily removed by tooth brushing alone.

Dental treatments and methods, including treating gum disease, using peroxide gel and a viscous antibacterial agent including tetracycline to chemically debride and curettage a treatment area. Treatments and methods include non-surgically scaling and root plaining the treatment area with dental tools such as periodontal scalers and/or curettes during the active period of the chemical debridement. The working surfaces of dental tools can be sharpened for optimal root and tooth surfacing during treatment. Treatment can include instructions for co-therapy by or on behalf of treatment subjects between visits and for maintenance care.

The oral administration of bioavailable silicic acid, such as choline-stabilized silicic acid during a period of at least 3 months daily leads to the prevention, inhibition and or treatment of periodontitis and peri-implantatis. The treatment is particularly suitable in combination with appropriate cleaning of the teeth and disinfecting the mouth, by one or more antiseptic and/or antimicrobial agent(s), as carried out at least once and suitably regularly, such as once per year, twice per year, four times per year or even every second month or every month. The treatment may be further enhanced by simultaneous administration of vitamins, trace elements, as well as by administration of a probioticum. Such additional agents may be applied separately, but are preferably incorporated in the formulation of bioavailable silicic acid.

Methods for the prevention and treatment of oral cavity diseases caused by dental plaque/biofilm, such as dental caries, gingivitis and periodontitis, through anti-infective properties are disclosed. The methods use a combination of EDTA and citrate. The anti-infective properties of a composition include reduction or killing of anaerobic/aerobic/facultative gram-negative and gram-positive oral bacteria occurring in polymicrobial dental biofilms. The composition may be in the form of wash, rinse, soak, paste, gel, spray, or other suitable form.

A biocompatible composite material for controlled release is disclosed, comprising a biocompatible metal oxide structure with a loaded network of pores. The pore network of the biocompatible composite material is filled with a uniformly distributed biologically active micellizing amphiphilic molecule, the size of these pores ranging from about 0.5 to about 100 nanometers. The material is characterized in that when exposed to phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), the controlled release of the active amphiphilic molecule is predominantly diffusion-driven over time.

Systems and methods for eradicating biofilms by killing bacteria within a biofilm, degrading the matrix and removing biofilm debris are disclosed herein. The disclosed subject matter provides techniques for administering a suspension of H.sub.2O.sub.2 and iron oxide nanoparticles to substantially eradicate bacteria within a biofilm matrix and degrade the bio film matrix, actuating the iron oxide nanoparticles for assembly into biohybrid robots suitable for removal of biofilm debris, and moving the biohybrid robots to remove the bio film debris from accessible or enclosed surfaces. In some embodiments, the disclosed subject matter can include embedding iron oxide nanoparticles in a hydrogel to form a soft robotic structure, administering the soft robotic structure to a biofilm-covered location, and magnetizing the soft robot structure to substantially eradicate bacteria within a biofilm matrix, degrade the biofilm matrix, and remove biofilm debris from enclosed surfaces.

The present disclosure describes methods for preventing or treating periodontitis or diseases associated with periodontitis. The present disclosure also describes methods of screening for compounds that can be used to prevent or treat periodontitis or diseases associated with periodontitis.

An improved local anesthetic solution with diminished bitter taste includes an anesthetic agent, an anesthetic solution vehicle, and a bitterness suppressant. The bitterness suppressant includes one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of: a sugar selected from the group consisting of monosaccharide sugars, disaccharide sugars, polysaccharide sugars, and combinations of the any of the foregoing; sweet-tasting compounds; acids; amino acids; salts; miscellaneous suppressant substances; and combinations of any of the foregoing. The improved local anesthetic solution optionally includes one or more additional agents selected from the group consisting of: buffering agents; vasoconstrictors; preservative compounds; stabilizers; contrast media agents; and combinations of any of the foregoing.

A device for the treatment of periodontal disease includes a handle that has a configuration familiar to dental professionals, and a detachable tip or cartridge, that is locked into the handle when use. The device provides for automatically delivering a single dose of medicament, such as a powdered preparation of antibiotic, to a periodontal pocket for treatment of infection or disease.