REDUCTIVE TEETH WHITENING UTILIZING SALTS OF DITHIONITE

Abstract

A reductive composition, suitable for the dental industry, which utilizes a salt of dithionite may be provided to create an alkaline tooth whitening compound. Either Sodium or potassium dithionite may be used with marked effectiveness. A simple buffered solution of dithionite and water may whiten teeth in an alkaline environment that lessens damage to tooth ename.

Claims

1. A tooth whitening compound comprising water, a salt of dithionite, and a phosphate buffer, wherein a final pH of the compound is greater than 9 and the phosphate creates a pH buffer greater than a pH of 8.

2. The tooth whitening compound of claim 1, the salt of dithionite being chosen from the set of salts of dithionite consisting of sodium dithionite and potassium dithionite.

3-6. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] To describe the way the above-recited and other advantages and features of the invention can be obtained, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific example embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered as limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail using the accompanying drawings.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a drawing of a sodium dithionite molecule (prior art).

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0014] Preferred embodiments of the chemically reductive compositions are herein described. It should be noted that the articles “a,” “an,” and “the,” as used in this specification, include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

[0015] A reductive tooth whitening solution may be fashioned by mixing a reductive agent with water. The preferred reductive agents being the salts of dithionite and the preferred salts being sodium and potassium dithionite. Dithionite becomes most stable at a pH of or over 8.5, but the preferred pH range of the solution would be between 9.0-10.0. A buffering agent may be added to maintain the pH of the resultant solution. A pH buffer is extremely useful in maintaining a specific pH. Buffers such as sulfite, pyrosulfite, phosphate, and borax salts may be combined with a pH modifier, such as sodium or potassium hydroxide, to build a pH buffer especially above pH 8. Other pH buffering anions not listed above could also be used.

[0016] To evaluate these solutions, a collection of extracted teeth was examined and selected for dark color stains ranging from light yellow to brown. These teeth were then categorized and scored for color by comparing to a classical VITA shade guide. Then half of the teeth were then placed in a fresh solution of 15% sodium dithionite in water with unadjusted pH. The second half were placed in the solution adjusted to above pH 10. All teeth became whiter after remaining in solution overnight, especially light yellow to yellow stained teeth. The brown teeth had less of an effect but nevertheless had whitened significantly. Therefore, the results have demonstrated that dithionite does indeed whiten teeth.

[0017] Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, numerous modifications and variations can be made and still the result will come within the scope of the invention. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. No limitation with respect to the specific embodiments disclosed herein is intended or should be inferred. Therefore, the scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.