Compositions and methods for preventing tooth decay

Abstract

A method for preventing tooth decay by initially treating the tooth surface with a laser with a coherent or incoherent light source is provided. In one embodiment, this process makes the tooth more resistant to acid and more able to bond fluoride, thus requiring a lower concentration of fluoride. In one embodiment, the method allows for a deeper penetration of the tooth then previously accomplished with other methods. Low concentration fluoride compositions are also provided.

1 . A composition for preventing tooth decay in a tooth treated with electromagnetic radiation, said composition comprising fluoride at a concentration in the range of about 0.002 ppm fluoride to about 45 ppm fluoride.  
   
   
       2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said composition comprises a mouthwash or a patch.  
   
   
       3 . A method of treating a living tooth in a mammal's mouth, the tooth having localized sites containing concentrations of water or organic material beneath and in proximity to the surface of the tooth, said method comprising: 
 irradiating the surface of said tooth with light,    wherein said light has a wavelength in the range of between about 400 nm to about 810 nm,    wherein said light has an energy density sufficient to vaporize water and organic material without damaging the pulp of the tooth, and    wherein said irradiating treatment heats the localized sites of the tooth to a temperature of no more than about 250° C.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 providing a chemical agent;    binding said chemical agent to the crystalline structures of the tooth.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said chemical agent binds to one or more hydroxide groups within the hydroxyapatite crystal of the tooth enamel.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said chemical agent is provided before, during, or after removal of said water or organic material.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said chemical agent is fluoride.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the effective concentration of said fluoride is less than or equal to 200 ppm of stannous fluoride or less than or equal to a concentration of about 0.08% stannous fluoride.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the effective concentration of fluoride is less than or equal to 1000 ppm of sodium fluoride or less than or equal to a concentration of about 0.275% of sodium fluoride.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said light is a coherent light source.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said coherent light source is a laser.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said laser comprises a beam, wherein said beam is applied at an energy of about 250 mJ.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said laser is applied for about 10 seconds for each treated surface of said tooth.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said laser is an argon laser or a diode laser.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the wavelength of the diode laser is selected from the group consisting of one or more of the following wavelengths: red, green, blue, and yellow.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said tooth is treated for a period of time of more than 1 second for each treated surface.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said light has an energy density selected from the group consisting of one or more energy densities: below about 65 J/cm 2 ; below about 30 J/cm 2  and below about 12 J/cm 2 .  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said irradiating treatment heats the localized sites to a temperature of between about 50° C. to about 200° C.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising treating with a fluoridated treatment selected from the group consisting of one or more of the following: fluoridated mouthwash, fluoridated toothpaste, and fluoridated patch.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said fluoridated treatment contains fluoride in the range of about 0.002 ppm fluoride to about 45 ppm fluoride or at a concentration of about 0.01% fluoride.  
   
   
       21 . A method of treating a living tooth in a mammal's mouth, the tooth having one or more localized sites containing concentrations of water beneath and in proximity to the surface of the tooth, said method comprising, 
 contacting the tooth with fluoride;    leaving said fluoride on the tooth for at least one minute; and    irradiating said tooth with light after said tooth has been exposed to said fluoride, 
 wherein said light has a wavelength in the range of between about 400 nm to about 810 nm,  
 wherein said light has an energy and an energy density sufficient to vaporize water up to 50 microns below the surface of the tooth without damaging the pulp of the tooth, and  
 wherein said irradiating treatment causes the fluoride to bind to said one or more localized sites of said tooth.  
   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the vaporization of water occurs from about 3 microns to about 50 microns below the surface of the tooth without damaging the pulp of the tooth.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein irradiating said tooth with light comprises irradiating one or more surfaces of said tooth for more than about one second for each surface treated.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said light has an energy density selected from the group consisting of one or more of the following energy densities: below about 65 J/cm 2  below about 30 J/cm 2 , and below about 12 J/cm 2 .  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said irradiating treatment heats the localized sites to a temperature of no more than about 250° C.