ULTRASONIC DENTAL CLEANSING TABLET

Abstract: An ultrasonic water-soluble dental cleansing composition comprising scrubbing particles, a bleaching agent, a bleaching enhancer, a tablet aid, a tablet disintegrator, a tartar control agent, a crystallization inhibitor, a chelating agent and a pH adjusting agent is disclosed.

Description: ULTRASONIC DENTAL CLEANSING TABLET Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a water-soluble dental cleansing composition comprising scrubbing particles of microcrystalline cellulose which may effectively be used with the aid of ultrasonic energy. Background of the Invention In order to maintain the oral health of an individual who wears a removable oral prostheses, it is necessary to ensure the elimination of plaque or tartar that may accumulate on the prostheses. Traditionally, dentists or dental technicians have removed tartar during regular examinations or at the time of correction of prostheses. In this connection, it has become common practice for the trained individual to employ chemical, mechanical or vibratory means to clean and dissolve dental calculuses or tartar of removable oral prostheses. Such practice includes the use of ultrasonic devices to provide the energy necessary to loosen debris from soiled dentures . Typically, when ultrasonic energy is to be applied, soiled dentures are placed in a liquid solution within the ultrasonic cleaning device. Ultrasonic energy is then applied after which time the dentures are removed from the instrument and rinsed. The time required to effectuate the cleansing process utilizing such ultrasonic energy is dependent upon the amount of staining present on the dentures and requires anywhere from a minimum of 15 minutes for lightly stained— dentures up to 60 minutes for dentures which are more heavily stained. A consumer wishing to clean dentures without the use of such ultrasonic energy finds that a considerably longer time period is required, typically necessitating a soaking time of about 12 hours. Accordingly, there is a need for a denture cleaning composition which may be used with the aid of a vibratory or mechanical means, to effectively remove debris in a shorter period of time then is presently required with soaking alone. Summary of the Invention The present invention provides a dental cleansing composition comprising scrubbing particles; a bleaching agent; a bleaching enhancer; a tablet aid; a tablet disintegrator, a tartar control agent; a crystallization inhibitor; a chelating agent; and a pH adjusting agent. The present composition may be used with the aid of ultrasonic energy, to effectively remove debris in a shorter period of time then is presently required by dental cleansing compositions . Detailed Description of the Invention The composition of the present invention provides a denture cleansing tablet which is particularly quick acting and effective when used with ultrasonic energy. Specifically, the present invention is directed to an— ultrasonic dental cleansing composition comprising scrubbing particles, a bleaching enhancer; a bleaching agent; tableting aids; a tablet disintegrator; a tartar control agent; a crystallization inhibitor; a stain remover; a chelating agent; a pH adjusting agent and a colorant. Most preferably, the composition of the present invention contains microcrystalline cellulose which produces scrubbing particles and acts as a tablet disintegrator and sodium percarbonate which acts as a bleaching agent. The composition also contains sodium sulfite as a bleaching enhancer as well as urea as a remover of chlorhexidene digluconate stains . Tetrasodium pyrophosphate acts as a tartar control agent . The tableting aid is maltodextrin, the chelating agent is disodium ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid and the pH adjusting agent is malic acid. A colorant, FD&C blue #2 is added for aesthetic purposes. The conversion of plaque to calculus is inhibited by the complexing of calcium with EDTA (Disodium Ethylenediaminetetra Acetic Acid) as described below. The polysaccharides secreted by bacteria that colonize on the food debris and mucin which can cover the surface of natural teeth and dentures form a film of plaque which becomes hardened when it is complexed with calcium. This calcified plaque is known as tartar. The rate of formation of tartar is inhibited by complexing or chelating the available calcium ions within a ring-like structure shaped by the chemical bonds formed between it and disodium EDTA.— The disodium EDTA blocks the reactive sites on the yet unreacted calcium ion rendering them unavailable for bonding to the plaque. The chelating agent, disodium EDTA, softens tartar by displacing a non-metallic moiety weakly complexed with calcium on the organic film with itself providing the calcium EDTA chelate is a more stable complex. Microcrystalline cellulose, which is known to be useful in facilitating the disintegration of a tablet, has now been found to have another special and unique role. When ultrasonic energy is applied, the microcrystalline cellulose particles of the present dental cleansing composition respond to the resultant vibrations and act as an abrasive. The microcrystalline cellulose particles actually scrub the dentures. The action of the particles is instrumental in reducing the amount of time needed to clean the dentures. When the present composition is used with the application of ultrasonic energy, the time required for cleansing dentures, either lightly or heavily stained, is only about 15 minutes. This is significantly less time than is currently required by available home use, passive soak cleansing compositions. The dental cleansing tablet formulated according to the present composition is well-suited for utilization during an office visit or in an institutional environment. The inert scrubbing particles, which move in response to applied ultrasonic energy, permeate the smallest of crevices for a thorough cleaning, which is similar to the action provided ~ by deliberate manipulation of a toothbrush. In addition to its use with ultrasonic apparatus in a professional setting, the present dental cleansing tablet may also be used by a consumer in the privacy of his or her own home. A consumer may easily initiate the cleaning process is by placing one tablet into 400mls of ordinary tap water along with his or her dentures in a beaker within an ultrasonic cleaning unit. As a free standing soak, cleaning will take place in about 30 minutes. Example The powdered ingredients indicated below were dry blended and compressed into single layer tablets 3.5 grams in weight and having a diameter of 0.886 inches and a thickness of 0.328 inches containing the percentage composition indicated: Function Component % Weight Bleaching enhancer Sodium sulfite 5 . 00 reducing (anhydrous) Oxidizing Sodium percarbonate 20 . 00 Tableting Aid Maltodextrin 15 . 00 Binder Polyethylene glycol 19 . 95 8000 Abrasive/scrubbing Microcrystalline 1 . 00 (Disintegration) cellulose Sequestering - Tetrasodium 5.00 (crystallization pyrophosphate inhibitor) Sequestering - Sodium hexametaphosphate 5.00 (crystallization inhibitor) Stain removal Urea 10.00 Sequestering - Disodium ethylene 10.00 diamine (chelating agent) tetraacetic acid Acidifying Malic acid 9.00 Colorant FD&C blue #2 0.05 Preferably, the composition is dry blended in powder or granular form and then is compressed into tablets. Tetrasodium pyrophosphate and disodium ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid are typically used in toothpaste for softening tartar that has built up on the teeth. The softened tartar is removed in response to the brushing action of a toothbrush. When used with ultrasonic energy, the tetrasodium pyrophosphate and disodium ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid of the present composition serve as the scrubber or sealer remover for the tartar. Maltodextrin and polyethylene glycol 8000 are used to formulate the composition into a tablet. Examples of suitable bleaching enhancers which may be used in the present composition include sodium sulfite, thiosulfite, thiourea and metabisulfite . Bleaching agents useful in the composition of this invention include, sodium percarbonate, perborate, persulfate and monopersulfate . Tableting aids are selected from the group consisting-of maltodextrin, soluble starch, polyethylene glycol 8000, polyethylene glycol 6000, oxidized polyethylene homopolymer and polyvinyl pyrolidone. Scrubbing particles are selected from microcrystalline cellulose and ethyl cellulose. Chelating agents useful in the composition of this invention are disodium ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, sodium tripolyphosphate and metaphosphate . pH regulators are selected from the group consisting of malic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid and ascorbic acid. Colorants, such as FD&C blue #2 and FD&C blue #1, may also be added to the composition of the present invention. The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected which will be within the spirit and scope of the disclosure .

Claims: Claims : 1. An ultrasonic dental cleansing composition in tablet form comprising scrubbing particles; a bleaching agent; a bleaching enhancer; a tablet aid; a tablet disintegrator, a tartar control agent; a crystallization inhibitor; a stain remover; a chelating agent; a pH adjusting agent and a colorant . 2. The composition according to claim 1 wherein said scrubbing particles are selected from the group consisting of microcrystalline cellulose and ethyl cellulose. 3. The composition according to claim 1 wherein said bleaching enhancer is selected from the group consisting of sodium sulfite, thiosulfite, thiourea and metabisulfite . 4. The composition according to claim 1 wherein said tablet aid is selected from the group consisting of maltodextrin, soluble starch, polyethylene glycol 8000, polyethylene glycol 6000, oxidized polyethylene homopolymer and polyvinyl pyrolidone. 5. The composition according to claim 1 wherein said bleaching agent is selected from the group consisting of sodium percarbonate, perborate, persulfate and monopersulfate 6. The composition according to claim 1 wherein said — tartar control agent is selected from the group consisting of tetrasodium pyrophosphate and disodium ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid. 7. The composition according to claim 1 wherein said crystallization inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of sodium hexametaphosphate and tetrasodium pyrophosphate . 8. The composition according to claim 1 wherein said stain remover is urea. 9. The composition according to claim 1 wherein said chelating agent is disodium ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid. 10. The composition according to claim 1 wherein said pH adjusting agent is malic acid. 11. A method for cleansing dentures which comprises contacting said dentures with a dental cleansing composition in an ultrasonic apparatus to which ultrasonic energy is applied wherein said composition comprises scrubbing particles; a bleaching agent; a bleaching enhancer; a tablet aid; a tablet disintegrator; a tartar control agent; a crystallization inhibitor; a stain remover; a chelating agent; a pH adjusting agent and a colorant.

Inventors: WEISS DAVID H, WEISS, DAVID, H.
Applicants: COLTENE WHALEDENT INC, COLTENE/WHALEDENT, INC.
Application year: 1998
Main classification: C11D7
IPC codes: C11D3, C11D11, C11D17