METHOD OF APPLYING DENTURE ADHESIVES

A method of improving and extending the gripping action of denture by applying an adhesive compound includes applying a liquid denture adhesive to one or more locations on the dentures; wetting the dentures with water; and applying a powder denture adhesive onto at least the liquid denture adhesive in an amount about equal to an amount of the liquid denture adhesive to form the adhesive compound on the dentures in a semi-liquid form sufficient to enhance a gripping effect of the dentures in a mouth of a user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

It is to be understood that the definition of a denture adhesive applies to a material used to adhere a denture to the oral mucosa.

The present invention describes a device and method for applying adhesive compound to dentures (herein described as the “device”), generally designated as10, which provides method for applying adhesive compound to dentures.

The present invention is illustrated and described in combination with dual-tube applicator, although it will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art that the present invention may be applied by other applicators and as such should not be interpreted as a limiting factor of the method of the present invention.

Referring initially toFIG. 1, a flow diagram presents the preferred method of the present invention for applying adhesive compound to dentures. At step100, the method provides applying a liquid denture adhesive to one or more locations on a denture. A liquid denture adhesive may be defined as a commercial liquid, a commercial paste or a commercial viscous gel dental adhesive. Examples of a suitable liquid denture adhesives may include Effergrip® Extra Strong Denture Adhesive Cream, Staydent® Extra Strength Denture Adhesive Cream, DentureFit® Denture Adhesive Cream, Secure® Denture Adhesive, Super Poligrip® Denture Adhesive Cream, Fixodent® Denture Adhesive Cream. The specific user may determine the best locations for applying the liquid denture adhesive for his or her denture contours and/or needs. Additionally, the user may preselect the quantity of the liquid denture adhesive based on his or her needs and/or situation. The user may apply the liquid denture adhesive in one or multiple locations on the denture. The preselected quantity of liquid denture adhesive applied to the denture may have a diameter of about ⅛ inch to about ¼ inch. In one embodiment, the diameter of the applied liquid denture adhesive may be 3/16 inch in diameter. For the purposes of the present invention, the term “about” is meant to be plus or minus five percent.

After the application of the liquid denture adhesive the method provides a step for wetting the dentures with water as seen in step110. Next, in step120, a powder denture adhesive is applied onto at least the liquid denture adhesive in an amount about equal to an amount of the liquid denture adhesive to form the adhesive compound on the dentures. Examples of a suitable powder denture adhesives may include Fixodent® Extra Hold Denture Adhesive Powder, Perma Grip® Denture Adhesive Powder Super Poli Grip® Extra Strength Denture Adhesive Powder. The powder denture adhesive may also be applied to areas wherein the liquid denture adhesive is not applied. The preselected quantity of powder denture adhesive applied to the denture may have a diameter of about ⅛ inch to about ¼ inch. In one embodiment, the diameter of the applied powder denture adhesive may be 3/16 inch in diameter.

The relative quantity of powder denture adhesive is determined to provide the adhesive compound in a semi-liquid form and to avoid an adhesive compound that is overly oozy, or too hard and dry. The resulting adhesive compound may be in a semi-liquid form and will be sufficient to enhance a gripping effect of the dentures in a mouth of a user. It has been found that due to the above described adhesive compound, the enhanced gripping effect increases the conventional holding time from twelve (12) hours to up to twenty-four (24) hours.

Once the adhesive compound is in place, the user may insert the denture into the proper position of the oral cavity of his or her mouth as is illustrated in Step140.

A denture may be comprised of one denture plate or multiple denture plates.

Prior to performing the steps listed above, the user may cleanse and dry the denture.

Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method for applying denture adhesive with a device to enhance gripping of dentures to a user. First, the dentures are cleaned using any known technique and any known cleaner. Next, the dentures are dried. A first preselected quantity of a liquid denture adhesive may then be applied to preselected locations on the denture using the device. The user may apply the liquid denture adhesive in one or multiple locations on the denture. The preselected quantity of liquid denture adhesive applied to the denture may have a diameter of about ⅛ inch to about ¼ inch. In one embodiment, the diameter of the applied liquid denture adhesive may be 3/16 inch in diameter. After the application of the liquid denture adhesive with the device the method provides a step for wetting the dentures with water.

Next, a second preselected quantity of powder denture adhesive is applied onto the liquid denture adhesive as well as on surrounding areas of the dentures. The second preselected quantity of powder denture adhesive is about equal to the first preselected quantity of liquid denture adhesive. The preselected quantity of powder denture adhesive applied to the denture may have a diameter of about ⅛ inch to about ¼ inch. In one embodiment, the diameter of the applied powder denture adhesive may be 3/16 inch in diameter. The user may then insert the denture into the proper position of the oral cavity of his or her mouth.

It is recognized that application devices may facilitate the process. One such example is the device10illustrated inFIG. 2. The device10includes a first tube12and a second tube20. The first tube12is provided for holding a liquid denture adhesive16and may include markings18to aid in the measurement and dispensing of the desired volume of liquid denture adhesive16. The markings18may indicate any unit of measurement, for example metric markings or SI markings. Additionally, the first tube12may include a mechanism14for pushing out and applying measured amounts of liquid denture adhesive16onto the dentures. In one embodiment, the mechanism14for applying the liquid denture adhesive onto the dentures is a syringe.

The second tube20is provided to hold a powder denture adhesive26. The second tube20includes a cap22for covering one end of the second tube20. The second tube20may also include markings32to aid in measurement and dispensing of the powder. The markings32may indicate any unit of measurement, for example metric markings or SI markings. The second tube20may also include a manually operable discharge device28,30operatively mounted in an opposite end of the second tube20. The discharge device28,30may be any known discharge device for example, the discharge device may be a star valve.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides for an application device for applying a denture adhesive compound to enhance gripping of dentures to a user including a first device configured to hold liquid denture adhesive and a second device configured to hold powder denture adhesive. The first device and the second device are configured to apply equal amounts of liquid denture adhesive and powder denture adhesive to preselected locations on said dentures to form the adhesive compound on the dentures in a semi-liquid form sufficient to enhance a gripping effect of the dentures in a mouth of a user. In one embodiment, the first device may comprise a first tube containing the liquid denture adhesive, markings on the first tube to aid in dispensing the liquid denture adhesive, and a mechanism for applying the liquid denture adhesive onto dentures. In one embodiment, the first device may be a syringe. In another embodiment, the first device may be a squeezable tube or any other suitable container configured to multiple portions or applications of the liquid denture adhesive. The first device may be a sealed pouch or pocket configured to hold a single application of liquid denture adhesive. The single application may be a preselected quantity.

In another embodiment, the second device may include a tube containing the powder denture adhesive, a cap covering one end of the second tube, markings on the second tube to aid in dispensing the powder denture adhesive, and a manually operable discharge device operatively mounted in an opposite end of the second tube. In a particular embodiment, the manually operable discharge device discharge device may be a star valve. In a particular embodiment the second device may be a jar or a bag configured to hold multiple portions or applications of the powder denture adhesive. In another embodiment, the second device may be a sealed pouch or pocket configured to hold a single application of powder denture adhesive. The single application may be a preselected quantity.

While a presently preferred and various alternative embodiments of the present invention have been described in sufficient detail above to enable a person skilled in the relevant art to make and use the same, it should be obvious that various other adaptations and modifications can be envisioned by those persons skilled in such art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Although the present invention has been shown in terms of the method of the present invention for applying adhesive compound to dentures, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that the present invention may be applied to other dental devices.

Thus, the present invention has been described in such full, clear, concise and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same. It will be understood that variations, modifications, equivalents and substitutions for components of the specifically described embodiments of the invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.