Delivery systems for a tooth whitener and methods of using the same

Abstract

Methods and delivery systems for whitening teeth are provided. The methods include the steps of providing a flexible strip of material, applying a layer of a tooth whitening substance having a whitening active selected from the group consisting of peroxides, metal chlorites, perborates, percarbonates, peroxyacids, hypochlorites, and combinations thereof to a front surface of a plurality of teeth, conforming the strip of material to the front surface of the plurality of teeth, and conforming the strip of material to interstitial spaces between the plurality of teeth. The strip of material serves as a protective barrier for the tooth whitening substance for a sufficient period of time for the tooth whitening active to act upon the plurality of teeth. The delivery systems include a strip of material sized to cover a front surface of a plurality of teeth, wherein the strip of material is substantially flat and has sufficient flexibility to conform to the front surfaces of the plurality of teeth and to interstitial spaces there between during use. The delivery systems further include a layer of a tooth whitening substance in contact with the strip of material, wherein the tooth whitening substance includes a whitening active selected from the group consisting of peroxides, metal chlorites, perborates, percarbonates, peroxyacids, hypochlorites, and combinations thereof.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for whitening teeth, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a flexible strip of material;    applying a layer of a tooth whitening substance having a whitening active selected from the group consisting of peroxides, metal chlorites, perborates, percarbonates, peroxyacids, hypochlorites, and combinations thereof to a front surface of a plurality of teeth;    conforming said flexible strip of material to said front surface of said plurality of teeth;    conforming said flexible strip of material to interstitial spaces between said plurality of teeth; and    wherein said flexible strip of material serves as a protective barrier for the tooth whitening substance for a sufficient period of time for said tooth whitening active to act upon said plurality of teeth.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of applying said tooth whitening substance to said flexible strip of material before said step of said applying tooth whitening substance to said front surface of said plurality of teeth.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of conforming said flexible strip of material to a portion of a back surface of said plurality of teeth.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said flexible strip of material has a length between about 2 cm and about 12 cm.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said flexible strip of material has a width between about 0.5 cm and about 4 cm.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said flexible strip of material has a thickness of less than about 1 mm.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said flexible strip of material has a thickness of less than about 0.05 mm.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said flexible strip of material has a thickness between about 0.001 mm and about 0.03 mm.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said flexible strip of material further comprises a plurality of pockets.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said pockets have a depth of about 0.1 mm.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said pockets are about 0.4 mm across.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of said tooth whitening substance is less than about 0.2 gms/cm 2 .  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of said tooth whitening substance is between about 0.005 gms/cm 2  and about 0.1 gms/cm 2 .  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said flexible strip of material has a flexural stiffness of less an about 5 gms/cm.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said flexible strip of material has a flexural stiffness between about 0.1 gm/cm and about 1 gm/cm.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of removing said flexible strip of material with a peel force between about 1 gm and about 50 gms.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of removing said flexible strip of material with a peel force between about 10 gms and about 40 gms.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said tooth whitening substance is continuously coated on said flexible strip of material.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said flexible strip of material is substantially flat before said step of conforming said flexible strip of material to said front surface of said plurality of teeth.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said tooth whitening substance provides adhesive attachment between said flexible strip of material and said front surface of said plurality of teeth.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of conforming said flexible strip of material to soft tissue adjacent said plurality of teeth.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of said tooth whitening substance is between about 0.5 gms and about 0.1 gms.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said whitening active is a peroxide.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said tooth whitening substance further comprises water.  
     
     
         25 . A method for whitening teeth, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a flexible strip of material;    applying a layer of a tooth whitening substance having a whitening active selected from the group consisting of peroxides, metal chlorites, perborates, percarbonates, peroxyacids, hypochlorites, and combinations thereof to said flexible strip of material;    conforming said flexible strip of material to interstitial spaces between a plurality of teeth;    conforming said flexible strip of material to a front surface of said plurality of teeth; and    conforming said flexible strip of material to soft tissue adjacent said plurality of teeth.    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising the step of conforming said flexible strip of material to a back surface of said plurality of teeth.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said flexible strip of material has a length between about 2 cm and about 12 cm.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said flexible strip of material has a width between about 0.5 cm and about 4 cm.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said flexible strip of material has a thickness of less than about 1 mm.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said flexible strip of material has a thickness of less than about 0.05 mm.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said flexible strip of material has a thickness between about 0.001 mm and about 0.03 mm.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said flexible strip of material further comprises a plurality of pockets.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein said pockets have a depth of about 0.1 mm.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein said pockets are about 0.4 mm across.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the amount of said tooth whitening substance is less than about 0.2 gms/cm 2 .  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the amount of said tooth whitening substance is between about 0.005 gms/cm 2  and about 0.1 gms/cm 2 .  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said flexible strip of material has a flexural stiffness of less an about 5 gms/cm.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said flexible strip of material has a flexural stiffness between about 0.1 gm/cm and about 1 gm/cm.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising the step of removing said flexible strip of material with a peel force between about 1 gm and about 50 gms.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising the step of removing said flexible strip of material with a peel force between about 10 gms and about 40 gms.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said tooth whitening substance is continuously coated on said flexible strip of material.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the amount of said tooth whitening substance is between about 0.05 gms and about 0.1 gms.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said tooth whitening substance provides adhesive attachment between said flexible strip of material and said front surface of said plurality of teeth.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said flexible strip of material is substantially flat prior to said step of conforming said flexible strip of material to said front surface of said plurality of teeth.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said tooth whitening active is a peroxide.  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein said tooth whitening substance further comprises water.  
     
     
         47 . A method for whitening teeth, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a substantially flat flexible strip of material;    applying a tooth whitening substance having a whitening active selected from the group consisting of peroxides, metal chlorites, perborates, percarbonates, peroxyacids, hypochlorites, and combinations thereof to said flexible strip of material, wherein the amount of said tooth whitening substance is between about 0.05 grams and about 0.4 grams;    conforming said flexible strip of material to interstitial spaces between said plurality of teeth;    conforming said flexible strip of material to said front surface of said plurality of teeth; and    wherein said tooth whitening substance provides adhesive attachment between said flexible strip of material and said front surface of said plurality of teeth.    
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , further comprising the step of conforming said flexible strip of material to a portion of a back surface of said plurality of teeth.  
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein said flexible strip of material has a length between about 2 cm and about 12 cm.  
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein said flexible strip of material has a width between about 0.5 cm and about 4 cm.  
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein said flexible strip of material has a thickness of less than about 1 mm.  
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein said flexible strip of material has a thickness of less than about 0.05 mm.  
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein said flexible strip of material has a thickness between about 0.001 mm and about 0.03 mm.  
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein said flexible strip of material further comprises a plurality of pockets.  
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein said pockets have a depth of about 0.1 mm.  
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein said pockets are about 0.4 mm across.  
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the amount of said tooth whitening substance is between about 0.005 gms/cm 2  and about 0.1 gms/cm 2 .  
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein said flexible strip of material has a flexural stiffness of less an about 5 gms/cm.  
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein said flexible strip of material has a flexural stiffness between about 0.1 gm/cm and about 1 gm/cm.  
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 47 , further comprising the step of removing said flexible strip of material with a peel force between about 1 gm and about 50 gms.  
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 47 , further comprising the step of removing said flexible strip of material with a peel force between about 10 gms and about 40 gms.  
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein said tooth whitening substance is continuously coated on said flexible strip of material.  
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein said tooth whitening active is a peroxide.  
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein said tooth whitening substance further comprises water.  
     
     
         65 . A delivery system for whitening teeth, comprising: 
 a flexible strip of material sized to cover a front surface of a plurality of teeth, wherein said flexible strip of material is substantially flat and has sufficient flexibility to conform to the front surfaces of the plurality of teeth and to interstitial spaces there between during use; and    a layer of a tooth whitening substance in contact with said flexible strip of material, said tooth whitening substance comprising a whitening active selected from the group consisting of peroxides, metal chlorites, perborates, percarbonates, peroxyacids, hypochlorites, and combinations thereof.    
     
     
         66 . The delivery system of  claim 65 , wherein said flexible strip of material has a width between about 1 cm and about 2 cm.  
     
     
         67 . The delivery system of  claim 65 , wherein said flexible strip of material has a length between about 2 cm and about 12 cm.  
     
     
         68 . The delivery system of  claim 65 , wherein said flexible strip of material has sufficient flexibility to conform to a portion of a back surface of the plurality of teeth.  
     
     
         69 . The delivery system of  claim 65 , wherein said flexible strip of material has a thickness of less than about 1 mm.  
     
     
         70 . The delivery system of  claim 65 , wherein said flexible strip of material has a thickness of less than about 0.05 mm.  
     
     
         71 . The delivery system of  claim 65 , wherein said flexible strip of material has a thickness between about 0.001 mm and about 0.03 mm.  
     
     
         72 . The delivery system of  claim 65 , wherein said flexible strip of material further comprises a plurality of pockets.  
     
     
         73 . The delivery system of  claim 72 , wherein said pockets have a depth of about 0.1 mm.  
     
     
         74 . The delivery system of  claim 72 , wherein said pockets are about 0.4 mm across.  
     
     
         75 . The delivery system of  claim 65 , wherein the amount of said substance is less than about 0.2 gms/cm 2 .  
     
     
         76 . The delivery system of  claim 65 , wherein the amount of said tooth whitening substance is between about 0.005 gms/cm 2  and about 0.1 gms/cm 2 .  
     
     
         77 . The delivery system of  claim 65 , wherein said flexible strip of material has a flexural stiffness of less an about 5 gms/cm.  
     
     
         78 . The delivery system of  claim 65 , wherein said flexible strip of material has a flexural stiffness between about 0.1 gm/cm and about 1 gm/cm.  
     
     
         79 . The delivery system of  claim 65 , wherein said tooth whitening substance is pre-applied to said flexible strip of material.  
     
     
         80 . The delivery system of  claim 65 , wherein said tooth whitening substance is continuously coated on said flexible strip of material.  
     
     
         81 . The delivery system of  claim 65 , wherein the amount of said tooth whitening substance is between about 0.05 gms and about 0.1 gms.  
     
     
         82 . The delivery system of  claim 65 , wherein said tooth whitening active is a peroxide.  
     
     
         83 . The delivery system of  claim 82 , wherein said tooth whitening substance further comprises water.  
     
     
         84 . A delivery system for whitening teeth, comprising: 
 a flexible strip of material sized to cover the front surface of a plurality of teeth, wherein said flexible strip of material is substantially flat and has sufficient flexibility to conform to the front surfaces of the plurality of teeth and to interstitial spaces there between during use; and    a layer of a tooth whitening substance in contact with said flexible strip of material, said tooth whitening substance comprising a whitening active selected from the group consisting of peroxides, metal chlorites, perborates, percarbonates, peroxyacids, hypochlorites, and combinations thereof, wherein the amount of said tooth whitening substance is between about 0.05 grams and about 0.4 grams.    
     
     
         85 . The delivery system of  claim 84 , wherein said flexible strip of material has a width between about 1 cm and about 2 cm.  
     
     
         86 . The delivery system of  claim 84 , wherein said flexible strip of material has a length between about 2 cm and about 12 cm.  
     
     
         87 . The delivery system of  claim 84 , wherein said flexible strip of material has sufficient flexibility to conform to a portion of a back surface of the plurality of teeth.  
     
     
         88 . The delivery system of  claim 84 , wherein said flexible strip of material has a thickness of less than about 1 mm.  
     
     
         89 . The delivery system of  claim 84 , wherein said flexible strip of material has a thickness of less than about 0.05 mm.  
     
     
         90 . The delivery system of  claim 84 , wherein said flexible strip of material has a thickness between about 0.001 mm and about 0.03 mm.  
     
     
         91 . The delivery system of  claim 84 , wherein said flexible strip of material further comprises a plurality of pockets.  
     
     
         92 . The delivery system of  claim 91 , wherein said pockets have a depth of about 0.1 mm.  
     
     
         93 . The delivery system of  claim 91 , wherein said pockets are about 0.4 mm across.  
     
     
         94 . The delivery system of  claim 84 , wherein said flexible strip of material has a flexural stiffness of less an about 5 gms/cm.  
     
     
         95 . The delivery system of  claim 84 , wherein said flexible strip of material has a flexural stiffness between about 0.1 gm/cm and about 1 gm/cm.  
     
     
         96 . The delivery system of  claim 84 , wherein said tooth whitening substance is pre-applied to said flexible strip of material.  
     
     
         97 . The delivery system of  claim 84 , wherein said tooth whitening substance is continuously coated on said flexible strip of material.  
     
     
         98 . The delivery system of  claim 84 , wherein said tooth whitening active is a peroxide.  
     
     
         99 . The delivery system of  claim 98 , wherein said tooth whitening substance further comprises water.