An oral care device is disclosed. The oral care device includes a housing being at least partly formed of an electrically isolating material; a capacitor having a first electrode and a second electrode, the first and second electrodes being electrically isolated by the electrically isolating material of the housing such that they are not exposed to an outside environment of the oral care device; and a processor unit being electrically connected to the first and second electrodes. The processor unit is arranged such that during operation of the oral care device it determines a capacitance (x) of the capacitor in order to determine whether the oral care device is within a user's oral cavity or not.

An oral health care implement and system are provided for use during oral health care activities. The oral health care implement has an oximetry sensor, most often in the embodiment of a transmissive or reflective pulse oximeter. The oximetry sensor provides blood oxygen saturation and heart rate measurements. The oral health care system has an oral health care implement, a first data transfer medium, and any combination of: a second data transfer medium, a network storage device, and a third data transfer medium. The system provides means for collecting a user's vital signs and transmitting data into a readable, usable form for the user via an oral health care implement.

The present disclosure is directed to methods and apparatus for monitoring bone characteristics for various conditions such as osteoporosis and/or periodontitis. In various embodiments, a dental hygiene appliance (100) may include: a handle (102) adapted to be held by a user; a tool (106) secured to the handle to perform a dental hygiene-related task; emitter(s) (114A, 116, 360A) mounted on the dental hygiene appliance to emit wave(s) (252, 362) towards a mandible (250, 350) of the user; sensor(s) (114B, 116, 360B) mounted on the dental hygiene appliance to detect wave(s) (254, 364) propagating away from the mandible, wherein the detected wave(s) originate from or are caused by the emitted wave(s); and a controller (108) communicatively coupled with the emitter(s) and the sensor(s). The controller may: receive, from the sensor(s), signal(s) indicative of the detected waves; and determine, based on the signal(s), bone characteristic(s) of the user.

Described herein are systems and methods for providing personalized oral irrigation. One variation of a system for personalized oral irrigation comprises a fluid reservoir and a customized oral insert in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir. The oral insert comprises an arrangement of fluid openings positioned based on the individual oral or dental structures of a user's teeth to provide a customized fluid flow over the user's teeth. Also described herein are methods for generating an arrangement of fluid openings in a customized oral insert.

Described herein are systems and methods for providing personalized oral irrigation. One variation of a system for personalized oral irrigation comprises a fluid reservoir and a customized oral insert in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir. The oral insert comprises an arrangement of fluid openings positioned based on the individual oral or dental structures of a user's teeth to provide a customized fluid flow over the user's teeth. Also described herein are methods for generating an arrangement of fluid openings in a customized oral insert.

A mouthpiece cleaning device includes a U-shaped mouthpiece skeleton that defines opposing channels to receive a user's teeth therein. The channels each have a respective teeth facing surface, and transducers are disposed along the channels at the respective teeth facing surfaces. UV LEDs are disposed along the channels at the respective teeth facing services. The UV LEDs are interspersed with the transducers.

A customized oral irrigator which is adapted to the user's dentition, has multiple nozzles or cutout openings to point to the area to irrigate. User can anchor such device by biting with the teeth and irrigate the teeth and gum, especially between the teeth and under the gum, in one instance. Such a device is fast and effective. It will be beneficial to everyone but will especially benefit busy professionals, children, seniors, handicapped, disabled, and other users who have difficulty cleaning teeth, for example people who wear dental devices such as braces. This device is meant to combine oral care procedures such as tooth brushing and dental flossing in one instance and will yield better dental hygiene and with better compliance than conventional brushing and flossing and conventional single channel oral irrigators.

Oral hygiene devices, systems, and methods are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the device comprises a disposable shaft configured to be releasably coupled to a reusable base. The shaft may include a head configured to engage an oral tissue and oral contents of a patient's oral cavity to dislodge one or more substances disposed on the oral tissue. In some embodiments, the shaft defines one or more lumens configured to transport a substance between the base of the device and the patient's oral cavity. The device can be configured to deliver a therapeutic agent to the patient's oral cavity to prevent and/or inhibit colonization of the oral cavity by pathogens. In particular embodiments, the device is configured to suction a substance out of the oral cavity and into the device to reduce a risk of the substance being aspirated into the patient's airways.

The present disclosure is directed to methods and apparatus for monitoring bone characteristics for various conditions such as osteoporosis and/or periodontitis. In various embodiments, a dental hygiene appliance (100) may include: a handle (102) adapted to be held by a user; a tool (106) secured to the handle to perform a dental hygiene-related task; emitter(s) (114A, 116, 360A) mounted on the dental hygiene appliance to emit wave(s) (252, 362) towards a mandible (250, 350) of the user; sensor(s) (114B, 116, 360B) mounted on the dental hygiene appliance to detect wave(s) (254, 364) propagating away from the mandible, wherein the detected wave(s) originate from or are caused by the emitted wave(s); and a controller (108) communicatively coupled with the emitter(s) and the sensor(s). The controller may: receive, from the sensor(s), signal(s) indicative of the detected waves; and determine, based on the signal(s), bone characteristic(s) of the user.

A device and method for treating periodontal pockets following a dental procedure for treating periodontal pockets in a patient includes a vibrational dental device having a mouthpiece for contacting the dentition. Instructions are provided for using the vibrational dental device by placing the mouthpiece over the dentition, applying a vibratory force during a predetermined number of sessions throughout a predetermined treatment period, wherein the recovery of the periodontal pockets is enhanced and/or accelerated compared to without vibratory treatment.