Patent ID: 7490579

Claim:
A method for removing plaque from the exterior surfaces of an animal's teeth comprising: supplying an edible animal chew of unitary construction from a melt conversion process comprising a molded body having a cylinder portion and a bulbous portion including a series of knobs and depressions separated by a length portion on a common axial centerline, said cylinder portion comprising a curved surface and a planar surface and carrying a plurality of projections extending from said curved surface, wherein said plurality of projections extend radially from said curved surface and substantially perpendicular to said common axial centerline of said animal chew and wherein said projections have a height in the range of 0.0313-1.0 inch and have an angle of intersection with said curved surface of about 80-110 degrees over the entirety of said curved surface, said length portion including said bulbous portion maintaining a portion of said chew for the animal or owner to grasp without interference from said projections, wherein upon chewing by said animal on said cylinder portion of said animal chew containing said projections on said curved surface provides therapeutic action regardless of the radial direction in which said cylinder portion may be configured during chewing.