Indirect Barrier Intervention Method and Apparatus

Abstract

A dental device that provides for the entirely non-surgical management of early, cavitated dental lesions consisting of a ceramic wafer sized to cover the dental lesion and resin bonded to the tooth effectively encapsulating the dental lesion. The ceramic wafer may incorporate antimicrobial preparations, radiopaque markers, and/or silver diamine fluoride.

Claims

1. A method for treating an initial surface cavitation on a tooth comprising: detecting the initial surface cavitation on the tooth; providing a preformed dental bandage having an outer surface and an inner surface, said preformed dental bandage configured to cover the initial surface cavitation and reduce or prevent introduction of dietary sugars to the initial surface cavitation; and adhering the inner surface of the preformed dental bandage to enamel on a hard tooth surface of the tooth to cover the initial surface cavitation, thereby reducing or preventing introduction of dietary sugars to the initial surface cavitation.

2. The method for treating a dental caries lesion according to claim 1, wherein the dental bandage is not adhered to dentin of the tooth.

3. The method for treating a dental caries lesion according to claim 1, wherein the dental bandage comprises aluminum oxide.

4. The method for treating a dental caries lesion according to claim 1, wherein the dental bandage is configured to cover a minority portion of the hard tooth surface.

5. The method for treating a dental caries lesion according to claim 1, wherein the dental bandage incorporates an antimicrobial agent.

6. The method for treating a dental caries lesion according to claim 1, wherein the dental bandage is transparent or semi-opaque.

7. The method for treating a dental caries lesion according to claim 1, wherein the dental bandage is adhered the tooth surface via resin bonding.

8. The method for treating a dental caries lesion according to claim 1, further comprising etching the enamel on the hard surface of the tooth prior to the adhering.

9. The method for treating a dental caries lesion according to claim 1, wherein the dental bandage includes a radiopaque marker.

10. The method for treating a dental caries lesion according to claim 1, wherein inner surface of the dental bandage incorporates an effective amount of silver diamine fluoride.

11. A method for treating a dental caries lesion on a tooth comprising: providing a preformed dental bandage having an outer surface and an inner surface, said preformed dental bandage configured to cover the dental caries lesion and reduce or prevent introduction of dietary sugars to the dental caries lesion, the preformed dental bandage having a maximum height of contour of less than 500 μm; and adhering the inner surface of the preformed dental bandage to enamel on a hard tooth surface of the tooth to cover the dental caries lesion, thereby reducing or preventing introduction of dietary sugars to the dental caries lesion.

12. The method for treating a dental caries lesion according to claim 11, wherein the dental bandage is not adhered to dentin of the tooth.

13. The method for treating a dental caries lesion according to claim 11, wherein the dental bandage comprises aluminum oxide.

14. The method for treating a dental caries lesion according to claim 11, wherein the dental bandage is configured to cover a minority portion of the hard tooth surface.

15. The method for treating a dental caries lesion according to claim 11, wherein the dental bandage incorporates an antimicrobial agent.

16. The method for treating a dental caries lesion according to claim 11, wherein the dental bandage is transparent or semi-opaque.

17. The method for treating a dental caries lesion according to claim 11, wherein the dental bandage is adhered the tooth surface via resin bonding.

18. The method for treating a dental caries lesion according to claim 11, further comprising etching the enamel on the hard surface of the tooth prior to the adhering.

19. The method for treating a dental caries lesion according to claim 11, wherein the dental bandage includes a radiopaque marker.

20. The method for treating a dental caries lesion according to claim 11, wherein inner surface of the dental bandage incorporates an effective amount of silver diamine fluoride.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] In order to describe the manner in which 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 embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

[0014] FIG. 1 is a view of a tooth with a caries lesion.

[0015] FIG. 2 is a view of a tooth with a caries lesion and a DB deployed over the lesion.

[0016] FIG. 3 is a side view of the DB applied to a tooth.

[0017] FIG. 4 is a view of the tool for transporting a DB.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] As illustrated in FIG. 1, a tooth 100 is shown with a caries lesion (or cavity) 101. As shown in FIG. 2, tooth 100 is shown with a dental bandage (“DB”) 200 applied over cavity 101. DB 200 is preferably a small, thin, transparent (or semi-opaque) crystalline wafer, lozenge, or patch. Preferably, the DB may be comprised of a compressible, glass ionomer wafer with a maximum thickness of less than 50 mu and a minimum edge thickness of approximately 5 mu. Alternatively, the DB may be formed from any suitable crystalline material such as sapphire or aluminum oxide. As shown in FIG. 3, DB 200 includes an exterior surface 301 that is impermeable, non-soluble, biocompatible, hard, smooth, and highly polished, and is produced and shaped in the form if a low profile spherical cap or lens. Optionally, DB 200 may have a square, rectangular, triangular, or other geometric shape. DB 200 further includes an interior surface 305 (in contact with tooth 100 via bonding material 304) that is treated or worked to enhance bonding to tooth 100 enamel. This may involve one or more processes such as the inclusion of alumina or mono/polycrystallines, or mechanical treatments resulting in a silanated, etched, or abraded surface to enhance mechanical and chemical bonding between the DB 200 and tooth 100 enamel. DB 200 may further include a compressible mid-section 303 that allows for flexibility in the placement and bonding of DB 200.

[0019] Optionally, DB 200 may include a radiopaque marker to evidence the presence and location of the DB 200. DB 200 may further incorporate therapeutic materials such as glass ionomer or silver diamine fluoride that directly interface with the cavitated tooth enamel surface prior to placement of DB 200.

[0020] DB 200 preferably has a maximum height of contour of less than 500 mu and is sized (height and width dimensions) to be just larger than the physical, clinical presentation radiographic image of the clinically disclosed surface cavitation 101. DB 200 encapsulates, strengthens, and protects tooth 100 once applied.

[0021] As illustrated in FIG. 1, a tooth is shown with an early carious lesion with surface cavitation. The tooth surface is prepared (preferably by cleaning and polishing followed by acid etching) to receive the DB. Bonding material 304 affixed to the interior side of the DB is then placed in contact with tooth enamel and cured by photo initiation followed by a chemical cure. Preferably, the DB is resin bonded to the tooth enamel.

[0022] As seen in FIG. 4, the carrier 400 for a DB 200 is shown. Preferably, the carrier consists of a handle 401 that is removably attachable to a frame structure 404. The frame structure 404 includes a horizontal beam 405 and two vertical guides 406 extending downward from the horizontal beam 405. Connected between the vertical guides 406 is carrier film 403, composed of a clear plastic such as mylar, that is sufficiently strong and resilient for its intended purpose. Any suitable clear film may be used in this application. In operation, a DB 200 is weakly bonded to DB patch 402 and DB patch 402 is weakly bonded to carrier film 403. The carrier 400 is then inserted into a patient's mouth to position the DB 200 over the effected tooth.

[0023] It will be readily seen by one of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention fulfills all the objects set forth above. After reading the foregoing specification, one of ordinary skill will be able to effect various changes, substation of equivalents and various other aspects of the invention as broadly disclosed herein. It is, therefore, intended that the protection granted hereon be limited only by the definition contained in the appended claims and equivalents thereof.