Dental appliance and mouthguard formed of polyolefin elastomer

US 20050256276A1
Filed: 05/13/2005
Published: 11/17/2005
Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2004
Status: Active Grant

First Claim

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1. A self-customizable dental appliance comprising one or more channels and an upstanding wall extending from said one or more channels being formed of a semi-crystalline polyolefin polymer or a crystallizable polymer blend, wherein said dental appliance is adapted to securely fit to teeth.

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Abstract

A self-customizable dental appliance adapted to lie within the mouth of a person including occlusal pads with a connecting arch or a u-shaped style base with upstanding labial and lingual walls. The appliance is formed of a semi-crystalline polyolefin polymer or crystallizable blend. In one embodiment, the appliance is formed of elastomeric propylene-ethylene polypropylene, optionally including high density polypropylene. An optional occlusal lifting pad can be used in the self-customizable dental appliance.

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28 Claims

1. A self-customizable dental appliance comprising one or more channels and an upstanding wall extending from said one or more channels being formed of a semi-crystalline polyolefin polymer or a crystallizable polymer blend, wherein said dental appliance is adapted to securely fit to teeth.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
- - 2. The self-customizable dental appliance of claim 1 wherein said polyolefin polymer is a thermoplastic elastomer.
  - 3. The self-customizable dental appliance of claim 1 wherein said polyolefin polymer is low density polypropylene.
  - 4. The self-customizable dental appliance of claim 1 further comprising a high density polyolefin polymer.
  - 5. The self-customizable dental appliance of claim 4 wherein said high density polyolefin polymer is high density polypropylene.
  - 6. The self-customizable dental appliance of claim 1 wherein said polyolefin polymer is propylene-ethylene copolymer.
  - 7. The self-customizable dental appliance of claim 1 wherein said polymer blend is formed by blending at least a first polymer component and a second polymer component, the blend comprising:
    - from about 2% to about 95% by weight of the first polymer component, the first polymer component comprising isotactic polypropylene and having a melting point greater than about 110°
      
      C., and copolymerizing propylene and ethylene using a chiral metallocene catalyst system, the copolymer having crystallinity from about 2% to about 65% from isotactic polypropylene sequences, a propylene content of from about 75% to about 90% by weight, a melting point of from 50°
      
      C. to 105°
      
      C., and wherein a glass transition temperature of the second polymer component is retained in the polymer blend.
  - 8. The self-customizable dental appliance of claim 1 wherein the crystallizable polymer blend is crystallizable alpha olefin and propylene copolymer.
  - 9. The self-customizable dental appliance of claim 1 further comprising a layer of material extending upwardly in height, wherein said layer of material is adapted to be positioned adjacent to molars and/or bicuspids.
  - 10. The self-customizable dental appliance of claim 1 wherein the crystallizable polymer blend is a dispersed phase of a crystalline polymer component in a continuous phase of a crystallizable polymer component wherein:
    - a) the crystalline polymer component is dispersed in phases less than 3 μ
      
      m×
      
      3 μ
      
      m×
      
      100 μ
      
      m in size, b) the blend composition has greater than 65% propylene units by weight, c) the blend comprises greater than 1% but less than 40% by weight is based on the total weight of the blend of a crystalline first polymer component and less than 99% but greater than 60% by weight based on the total weight of the blend of a crystallizable second polymer component, such crystallinity being due to stereoregular polymerized propylene units, d) both first and second polymer component contain stereoregular polymerized propylene units of identical tacticity, e) the blend has a tensile elongation greater than 650%, wherein the first polymer component is a propylene homopolymer and has a melting point by DSC equal to or above 115°
      
      C., and the second polymer component is a copolymer of the propylene units and from about 8% to about 25% by weight ethylene units and has a melting point equal to or less than about 100°
      
      C.
  - 11. The self-customizable dental appliance of claim 10 wherein said layer of material has a height in the range of about 3 mm to about 4 mm.
  - 12. The self-customizable dental appliance of claim 1 further comprising:
    - a colorant added to said semi-crystalline polyolefin polymer or crystallizable polymer or blend.
  - 13. The self-customizable dental appliance of claim 12 wherein the colorant is clear.
  - 14. The self-customizable dental appliance of claim 1 further comprising:
    - a light reflective material added to said semi-crystalline polyolefin polymer or crystallizable polymer or blend.
  - 15. The self-customizable dental appliance of claim 1 further comprising a fit lock appliance, said fit lock appliance fitting over said upstanding wall and said one or more channels of said dental appliance during molding of said dental appliance, said fit lock having a slightly larger dimension than said dental appliance.
  - 16. The self-customizable dental appliance of claim 15 wherein said fit lock is formed of plastic.
  - 17. The self-customizable dental appliance of claim 1 further comprising a handle extending from a front of said dental appliance.
  - 18. The self-customizable dental appliance of claim 16 further comprising an anterior spacer extending from a bottom portion of said handle.
  - 19. The self-customizable dental appliance of claim 1 wherein said dental appliance is a mouthguard.
  - 20. The self-customizable dental appliance of claim 1 wherein said dental appliance is a dental splint.
  - 21. The self-customizable dental appliance of claim 1 wherein said dental appliance is a temporomandibular joint bruxism appliance.
  - 22. The self-customizable dental appliance of claim 1 wherein said dental appliance is a bleaching appliance.
  - 23. The self-customizable dental appliance of claim 1 further comprising a liner for receiving a bleaching composition.
  - 24. The self-customizable dental appliance of claim 1 wherein the dental appliance is an upper impression tray including a full palatal.
  - 25. The self-customizable dental appliance of claim 1 wherein the dental appliance is a lower impression tray.

26. A method for forming a self-customizable dental appliance comprising the steps of:
- molding said dental appliance, said dental appliance comprising one or more channels and an upstanding wall extending from said one or more channels being formed of a semi-crystalline polyolefin polymer or a crystallizable polymer blend;
  
  placing said molded dental appliance in a liquid having a temperature in the range of about 60°
  
  C. to about 100°
  
  C.; and
  
  placing said heated molded dental appliance in the mouth of a user for providing a custom fit of said dental appliance to teeth and gums of the user.

27. A method for forming a self-customizable dental appliance comprising the steps of:
- molding said dental appliance, said dental appliance comprising one or more channels and an upstanding wall extending from said one or more channels being formed of a semi-crystalline polyolefin polymer or a crystallizable polymer blend;
  
  heating said molded dental appliance in a microwave; and
  
  placing said heated molded dental appliance in the mouth of a user for providing a custom fit of said dental appliance to teeth and gums of the user.
- View Dependent Claims (28)
- - 28. The method of claim 27 wherein said microwave heats said dental appliance for about 30 seconds to about 90 seconds on a high power setting.

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Current Assignee
Dental Choice Holdings, LLC
Original Assignee
Custmbite LLC (Renaissance Health Service Corp.)
Inventors
Rabeony, Manese, Elkin, Monroe

Granted Patent

US 7,950,394 B2
Time in Patent Office

Days
Field of Search
US Class Current

525/400
CPC Class Codes

A61C 9/0006   Impression trays

A61F 2005/563   Anti-bruxisme

A63B 2071/088   Mouth inserted protectors w...

A63B 71/085   Mouth or teeth protectors A...

C08L 23/10   Homopolymers or copolymers ...

C08L 23/142   at least partially crystall...

C08L 2666/06   Homopolymers or copolymers ...

Dental appliance and mouthguard formed of polyolefin elastomer

First Claim

3 Assignments

0 Petitions

Accused Products

Abstract

47 Citations

28 Claims

Specification

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Dental appliance and mouthguard formed of polyolefin elastomer

First Claim

3 Assignments

Subscription Required

Subscription Required

0 Petitions

Subscription Required

Accused Products

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Abstract

47 Citations

28 Claims

Specification

Subscription Required

Solutions

Use Cases

Quick Links