Denture Liner, Denture Liner Kit And Method For Making A Denture Liner

Abstract

A denture liner for fitting a denture to gums in a mouth, comprising a self-supporting and shape-retaining layer that comprises a volume of a hydrophobic polymer component that inhibits the liner from absorbing moisture and a volume of a hydrophilic polymer component that hydrates a surface of the liner when exposed to moisture.

1 . A denture liner for fitting a denture to gums in a mouth, comprising: 
 a self-supporting and shape-retaining layer in the form of a sheet that comprises a first surface that is applied to a denture base and a second surface that is applied to the gums, that maintains it shape and integrity when the denture base and liner are applied to the gums, and that is from about 0.1 mm to about 1 mm thick;    the layer further comprising:    a volume of a hydrophobic polymer component from about 15% to about 65% by weight of the layer that inhibits the liner from absorbing moisture;    a volume of a hydrophilic polymer component from about 0.5% to about 45% by weight of the layer that hydrates a surface of the liner when exposed to moisture; and    a volume of a plasticizer component from about 1% to about 55% by weight of the layer that plasticizes the denture liner and enables a surface of the liner to adhere to the denture base when dry;    wherein the hydrophobic component controls the rate of hydration of the denture liner while the denture liner is applied to the gums.    
     
     
         2 . The denture liner of  claim 1 , wherein the denture liner consists essentially of the layer.  
     
     
         3 . The denture liner according to  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic polymer component comprises a hydrophobic constituent selected from the group consisting of: 
 esterified copolymer of methyl vinyl ether and maleic anhydride;    vinyl acetates such as polyvinyl acetate and ethylene vinyl acetate;    acrylate ester derivatives such as polyethyl methacrylate, polymethyl methacrylate, and organosoluble cellulose;    polybutene;    silicone;    paraffin wax; and    combinations thereof.    
     
     
         4 . The denture liner according to  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic component comprises a hydrophilic constituent selected from the group consisting of: 
 natural gums such as karaya gum, guar gum, gelatin, algin, alginate, tragacanth, and chitosan;    synthetic polymer derivatives such as polyethylene glycol, polyethylene oxide, acrylamide polymers, polyacrylic acid, polyvinyl alcohol, polyamine, polybutene, silicone, and polyvinylpyrrolidone;    cellulose derivatives such as sodium carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, hydroxyethyl methylcellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, and hydroxyethyl cellulose;    lower alkyl vinyl ether maleic anhydride copolymers and their monovalent or multivalent salts;    and combinations thereof.    
     
     
         5 . The denture liner of  claim 1 , further comprising a plasticizer component comprising at least one plasticizer constituent capable of plasticizing the denture liner.  
     
     
         6 . The denture liner according to  claim 5 , wherein the plasticizer constituent is selected from the group consisting of phthalic acid derivative, glycerol triacetate, citric acid derivative, phosphoric acid derivative, vegetable oil, ester of vegetable oil, glycol derivative, paraffin wax, pentaerythritol fatty acid ester, stearic acid derivative, glycerol monostearate, polyethylene glycol, butyl phthalyl butyl glycolate, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The denture liner according to  claim 1 , further comprising ethanol when initial denture liner components are mixed together.  
     
     
         8 . The denture liner according to  claim 1 , further comprising a filler component.  
     
     
         9 . The denture liner according to  claim 8 , wherein the filler component is selected from a group consisting of calcium carbonate, silicone dioxide, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         10 . The denture liner according to  claim 8 , wherein the filler component is from about 1% to about 10% by weight of the layer.  
     
     
         11 . The denture liner according to  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic polymer component is from about 40% to about 65% by weight of the layer.  
     
     
         12 . The denture liner according to  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic polymer component is from about 30% to about 40% by weight of the layer.  
     
     
         13 . The denture liner according to  claim 1 , wherein the plasticizer component is from about 16% to about 20% by weight of the layer.  
     
     
         14 . A denture liner for fitting a denture to gums in a mouth, comprising: 
 a self-supporting and shape-retaining layer that comprises a volume of a hydrophobic polymer component that inhibits the liner from absorbing moisture and a volume of a hydrophilic polymer component that hydrates a surface of the liner when exposed to moisture.    
     
     
         15 . The denture liner of  claim 14 , wherein the layer is in the form of a sheet that comprises a first surface that is applied to a denture base and a second surface that is applied to the gums.  
     
     
         16 . The denture liner of  claim 14 , wherein the layer is from about 0.1 mm to about 1 mm thick;  
     
     
         17 . The denture liner according to  claim 15 , wherein the denture liner maintains it shape and integrity when the denture base and liner are applied to the gums.  
     
     
         18 . The denture liner of  claim 15 , wherein the first surface provides adhesion to the denture base.  
     
     
         19 . The denture liner of  claim 18 , wherein the first surface provides adhesion to the denture base when dry.  
     
     
         20 . The denture liner of  claim 15 , wherein the denture liner further comprises a first phase and a second phase, the first surface forming a portion of the first phase and the second surface forming a portion of the second phase, and the volume of the hydrophilic polymer component is primarily disposed in the second phase.  
     
     
         21 . The denture liner of  claim 15 , wherein the hydrophobic polymer component and the hydrophilic polymer component are uniformly blended within the denture liner.  
     
     
         22 . The denture liner of  claim 15 , wherein the application of the first surface of the denture liner to the base inhibits the first surface of the denture liner from being exposed to moisture.  
     
     
         23 . The denture liner of  claim 15 , wherein the application of the second surface of the denture liner to the gums hydrates the second surface.  
     
     
         24 . The denture liner of  claim 23 , wherein the hydrophobic component controls the rate of hydration of the denture liner while the denture liner is applied to the gums.  
     
     
         25 . The denture liner of  claim 14 , wherein the denture liner consists essentially of the layer.  
     
     
         26 . The denture liner according to  claim 14 , wherein the hydrophobic polymer component comprises a hydrophobic constituent selected from the group consisting of: 
 esterified copolymer of methyl vinyl ether and maleic anhydride;    vinyl acetates such as polyvinyl acetate and ethylene vinyl acetate;    acrylate ester derivatives such as polyethyl methacrylate, polymethyl methacrylate, and organosoluble cellulose;    polybutene;    silicone;    paraffin wax; and    combinations thereof.    
     
     
         27 . The denture liner according to  claim 14 , wherein the hydrophobic polymer component is from about 15% to about 65% by weight of the layer.  
     
     
         28 . The denture liner according to  claim 27 , wherein the hydrophobic polymer component is from about 40% to about 65% by weight of the layer.  
     
     
         29 . The denture liner according to  claim 14 , wherein the hydrophilic component comprises a hydrophilic constituent selected from the group consisting of: 
 natural gums such as karaya gum, guar gum, gelatin, algin, alginate, tragacanth, and chitosan;    synthetic polymer derivatives such as polyethylene glycol, polyethylene oxide, acrylamide polymers, polyacrylic acid, polyvinyl alcohol, polyamine, polybutene, silicone, and polyvinylpyrrolidone;    cellulose derivatives such as sodium carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, hydroxyethyl methylcellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, and hydroxyethyl cellulose;    lower alkyl vinyl ether maleic anhydride copolymers and their monovalent or multivalent salts;    and combinations thereof.    
     
     
         30 . The denture liner according to  claim 14 , wherein the hydrophilic polymer component is from about 0.5% to about 45% by weight of the layer.  
     
     
         31 . The denture liner according to  claim 30 , wherein the hydrophilic polymer component is from about 30% to about 40% by weight of the layer.  
     
     
         32 . The denture liner of  claim 14 , further comprising a plasticizer component comprising at least one plasticizer constituent capable of plasticizing the denture liner.  
     
     
         33 . The denture liner according to  claim 32 , wherein the plasticizer constituent is selected from the group consisting of phthalic acid derivative, glycerol triacetate, citric acid derivative, phosphoric acid derivative, vegetable oil, ester of vegetable oil, glycol derivative, paraffin wax, pentaerythritol fatty acid ester, stearic acid derivative, glycerol monostearate, polyethylene glycol, butyl phthalyl butyl glycolate, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         34 . The denture liner according to  claim 14 , wherein the plasticizer component is from about 1% to about 55% by weight of the layer.  
     
     
         35 . The denture liner according to  claim 34 , wherein the plasticizer component is from about 16% to about 20% by weight of the layer.  
     
     
         36 . The denture liner according to  claim 14 , further comprising ethanol when initial denture liner components are mixed together.  
     
     
         37 . The denture liner according to  claim 36 , wherein the ethanol is from about 1% to about 10% by weight of the initial denture liner components.  
     
     
         38 . The denture liner according to  claim 14 , further comprising a filler component.  
     
     
         39 . The denture liner according to  claim 38 , wherein the filler component is selected from a group consisting of calcium carbonate, silicone dioxide, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         40 . The denture liner according to  claim 38 , wherein the filler component is from about 1% to about 10% by weight of the layer.  
     
     
         41 . A denture liner, consisting essentially of: 
 a layer that comprises at least a volume of a hydrophobic polymer component that inhibits the liner from absorbing moisture and a volume of a hydrophilic polymer component that hydrates a surface of the liner when exposed to moisture.    
     
     
         42 . The denture liner according to  claim 41 , wherein the hydrophobic polymer component comprises a hydrophobic constituent selected from the group consisting of: 
 esterified copolymer of methyl vinyl ether and maleic anhydride;    vinyl acetates such as polyvinyl acetate and ethylene vinyl acetate;    acrylate ester derivatives such as polyethyl methacrylate, polymethyl methacrylate, and organosoluble cellulose;    polybutene;    silicone;    paraffin wax; and    combinations thereof.    
     
     
         43 . The denture liner according to  claim 41 , wherein the hydrophilic component comprises a hydrophilic constituent selected from the group consisting of: 
 natural gums such as karaya gum, guar gum, gelatin, algin, alginate, tragacanth, and chitosan;    synthetic polymer derivatives such as polyethylene glycol, polyethylene oxide, acrylamide polymers, polyacrylic acid, polyvinyl alcohol, polyamine, polybutene, silicone, and polyvinylpyrrolidone;    cellulose derivatives such as sodium carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, hydroxyethyl methylcellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, and hydroxyethyl cellulose;    lower alkyl vinyl ether maleic anhydride copolymers and their monovalent or multivalent salts;    and combinations thereof.    
     
     
         44 . The denture liner according to  claim 41 , further comprising a filler component.  
     
     
         45 . The denture liner according to  claim 44 , wherein the filler component is selected from a group consisting of calcium carbonate, silicone dioxide, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         46 . The denture liner of  claim 41 , further comprising a plasticizer component comprising at least one plasticizer constituent capable of plasticizing the denture liner.  
     
     
         47 . The denture liner according to  claim 46 , wherein the plasticizer constituent is selected from the group consisting of phthalic acid derivative, glycerol triacetate, citric acid derivative, phosphoric acid derivative, vegetable oil, ester of vegetable oil, glycol derivative, paraffin wax, pentaerythritol fatty acid ester, stearic acid derivative, glycerol monostearate, polyethylene glycol, butyl phthalyl butyl glycolate, and combinations thereof.