Device for cleaning teeth

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (10) for cleaning teeth. The device (10) has a mouthpiece (20) in the form of a substantially horseshoe-shaped dental arch (22), a retaining unit (26) and a motor drive (28). The dental arch (22) is designed as a closed hollow body, and the side of the hollow body (22) that faces the teeth has a tooth-cleaning film (34, 36). The tooth-cleaning film (34, 36) has an individualized surface contour matched to the tooth shape and jaw shape and can made set into oscillation by the motor drive (28).

Claims

1.-15. (canceled)

16. A device (10) for cleaning teeth, comprising: a mouthpiece (20) in form of a substantially horseshoe-shaped dental arch (22); a retaining unit (26); and a motor drive (28), wherein the dental arch (22) is designed as a closed hollow body, and wherein a side of the hollow body (22) that faces the teeth has a tooth-cleaning film (34, 36), wherein the tooth-cleaning film (34, 36) has an individualized surface contour matched to a tooth shape and jaw shape, and wherein the tooth-cleaning film (34, 36) can be set into oscillation by the motor drive (28).

17. The device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the closed hollow body (22) is filled with a liquid and/or a gas.

18. The device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the hollow body (22) has a first tooth-cleaning film (34) for the upper jaw and a second tooth-cleaning film (36) for the lower jaw, and wherein the two tooth-cleaning films (34, 36) have respectively an individualized surface contour matched to the tooth shape and jaw shape.

19. The device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the two tooth-cleaning films (34, 36) for the upper jaw and for the lower jaw consist of an identical material.

20. The device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the dental arch (22) has a pressure sensor (40) for switching on and switching off the motor drive (28).

21. The device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the pressure sensor (40) is arranged in a region of the front incisors.

22. The device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the tooth-cleaning film (34, 36) can be shaped.

23. The device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the tooth-cleaning film (34, 36) is formed by deep drawing or by hot stamping.

24. The device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the tooth-cleaning film (34, 36) has been produced by deep drawing, hot stamping, clip molding, casting, 3D-printing methods or injection molding.

25. The device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the tooth-cleaning film (34, 36) is latex-free.

26. The device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the tooth-cleaning film (34, 36) consists of biocompatible silicone.

27. The device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the tooth-cleaning film (34, 36) consists of thermoplastic polyurethane or of a composite of thermoplastic polyurethane and silicone.

28. The device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the mouthpiece (20) is attached releasably to the retaining unit (26).

29. The device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the motor drive (28) is arranged within the retaining unit (26).

30. The device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the dental arch (22) has individualized contact points (42, 44, 46).

31. The device as claimed in claim 30, wherein the individualized contact points (42, 44, 46) are arranged in a region of the front teeth and/or at a distal margin strips of the respective rearmost teeth.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The invention is described and illustrated in more detail below using the example shown in the drawing, in which:

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the device for cleaning teeth,

[0026] FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the device according to FIG. 1 and

[0027] FIG. 3 shows a cross-section through the dental arch of the device according to FIGS. 1 and 2 in the region of the molar teeth.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] The device 10 for cleaning teeth is shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. The device 10 has a mouthpiece 20 in the form of an approximately horseshoe-shaped dental arch 22. The mouthpiece 20 is connected to a retaining unit 26 via a connecting part 24. In order to be able to exchange the mouthpiece 20, the mouthpiece 20 is attached releasably to the connecting part 24 in the present example. The retaining unit 26 has an integrated motor drive 28.

[0029] The dental arch 22 is designed as a closed hollow body (see FIG. 3). The side edges 30, 32 of the dental arch 22 are formed respectively from a stiff plastic material. The upper sides and lower sides of the dental arch 22 that face the teeth on the other hand have respectively a tooth-cleaning film 34, 36. The tooth-cleaning films 34, 36 have respectively an individualized surface contour matched to the tooth shape and jaw shape of the user. The tooth-cleaning film 34 is thus matched to the tooth shape and jaw shape of the upper jaw in the present example, whereas the tooth-cleaning film 36 is matched to the tooth shape and jaw shape of the lower jaw. The individual depressions of the dental arch 22 for the teeth of the lower jaw and of the upper jaw thus do not have only a U-shape or V-shape contour. Rather, the depressions are matched individually so that the dental arch 22 can be used only for one user. Hence, optimum matching of the dental arch 22 and hence also an optimum cleaning result may be achieved.

[0030] The tooth-cleaning films 34, 36 are guided respectively some way around the side edges 30, 32 of the dental arch 22 and attached on the outer side of the side edges 30, 32. A gaseous medium is located in the interior 38 of the dental arch 22 in the present example.

[0031] With intended use, the dental arch 22 is pushed into the mouth of the user and the mouth is then closed. The lips of the user thus come to rest on the connecting part 24. The teeth of the user are located in the depressions of the dental arch 22 and are surrounded by the tooth-cleaning film 34, 36. The tooth-cleaning film 34, 36 may thus rest directly on the teeth of the user, or also may have a short distance from the teeth of the user.

[0032] The retaining unit 26 remains outside of the mouth and may be held by the user himself or by a third party. The tooth-cleaning films 34, 36 may be set into oscillation by the motor drive 28.

[0033] In the present example, the retaining unit 26 does not have an operating button for switching on and switching off the motor drive 28. Rather, a pressure sensor 40, by means of which the motor drive 28 may be switched on and switched off, is located in the region of the front incisors. If the dental arch 22 is inserted correctly in the mouth and the jaw closed, a previously defined threshold value at the pressure sensor 40 is exceeded and the motor drive 28 is switched on. On the other hand, if the mouth is opened again, the motor drive 28 is automatically switched off. On the other hand, if a certain threshold value at the pressure sensor 40 is exceeded, likewise automatic switching-off of the motor drive 28 may take place.

[0034] In order to be able to check the correct positioning of the dental arch 22 in the mouth, the dental arch 22 has in the present example in total three contact points 42, 44, 46. Only when the teeth of the user are in contact with the dental arch at the point of the contact points 42, 44, 46 via the tooth-cleaning films 34, 36 does the tooth-cleaning film 34, 36 surround the respective jaw correctly and the cleaning process may start. In the present example, the contact point 42 is arranged in the region of the front incisors and hence also in the region of the pressure sensor 40. The two rear contact points 44, 46 are arranged on both sides respectively in the region of the rearmost tooth, that is, in the region of the rearmost molar tooth or wisdom tooth.