Tooth shade indicator apparatus and method for evaluating tooth shade

Abstract

An apparatus for monitoring tooth whitening treatments and status is shown in the form of a toothbrush with at least one panel with a scale of whiteness indicators. Whiteness indicia can be a removable or permanent insert disposed in a slot in the head, body or handle of a transparent toothbrush or an inlay in the surface of the brush. Other information such as appointment times, dentist information, instructions and images can be placed on the inserts. Comparison of the indicia with the teeth allows the user to evaluate the progress of treatments.

1 . A tooth shade indicator apparatus, comprising:
 a brush body with a brush head with bristles; and   a tooth shade indicator coupled to said brush body;   wherein a user's tooth color can be visually compared with said tooth shade indicator.   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said tooth shade indicator includes at least one color from a VITA, IVOCLAR, or other cosmetic dental color scale. 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said tooth shade indicator comprises disks of different shades inlaid in the brush body and brush head. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising an insert configured to slide within a slot within said brush head, wherein said tooth shade indicator is mounted to said insert. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising an insert configured to slide within a slot within said brush body, wherein said tooth shade indicator is mounted to said insert. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 5 , further comprising a second insert configured to slide within a slot within said brush head of said brush body, wherein said tooth shade indicator is mounted to said second insert and treatment information is printed on said first insert. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a light source coupled to said brush body configured to illuminate teeth of a user when comparing said shade indicator with the teeth of a user. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a light source coupled to said brush body configured to illuminate said shade indicator. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an insert configured to slide within a slot within said brush body, said insert having an end cap and a panel with a top surface and a bottom surface;   wherein information is applied to said top and bottom surfaces; and   wherein the tooth shade indicator comprises disks of different shades inlaid in the brush head.   
     
     
         10 . A tooth shade indicator apparatus, comprising:
 an indicator body;   a detachable head configured to reversibly couple with said indicator body; and   a tooth shade indicator coupled to said detachable head;   wherein a user's tooth color can be visually compared with said tooth shade indicator.   
     
     
         11 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said tooth shade indicator comprises disks of different shades inlaid in the detachable head. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said tooth shade indicator comprises rings of different shades inlaid in the detachable head. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising an insert configured to slide within a slot within said brush body, said insert comprising a handle and a panel with top and bottom surfaces; and
 wherein information is applied to said top and bottom surfaces of said panel.   
     
     
         14 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a tooth shade indicator applied to a top surface of said panel and information applied to said bottom surface of said panel; and   wherein said tooth shade indicator comprises the color of the detachable head.   
     
     
         15 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 10 , said indicator body further comprising an electric toothbrush motor configured to rapidly alternate directions of rotation of a brush on said detachable head. 
     
     
         16 . A tooth shade indicator apparatus, comprising:
 an indicator body with an indicator head that has the color of a cosmetically desirable tooth shade of white;   an insert sized to fit within a socket in said indicator body, said insert having an outer surface; and   a tooth shade indicator coupled to said outer surface of said insert;   wherein a user's tooth color can be visually compared with said indicator head color to evaluate treatment progress and said tooth shade indicator to determine a tooth shade.   
     
     
         17 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 16 , further comprising information regarding a dental treatment applied to the outer surface of said insert in addition to the tooth shade indicator. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 16 , further comprising a light source coupled to said indicator body configured to illuminate teeth of a user when comparing said shade indicator with the teeth of a user. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said indicator body further comprises a fastener configured to secure said insert within said socket and a plurality of windows; wherein said outer surface of said insert is visible from the exterior of the indicator body when secured within said socket. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a second insert sized to fit within a second socket in said indicator body or said indicator head, said second insert having an outer surface with information regarding a dental treatment applied to the outer surface of said second insert.   
     
     
         21 . A tooth shade indicator apparatus, comprising:
 a toothbrush head with bristles; and   a tooth shade indicator associated with said toothbrush head.   
     
     
         22 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 21 , wherein said tooth shade indicator includes at least one color from a VITA, IVOCLAR, or other cosmetic dental color scale. 
     
     
         23 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 22 , wherein said tooth shade indicator comprises the color at least a portion of said toothbrush head. 
     
     
         24 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 22 , wherein said tooth shade indicator is inlaid in said toothbrush head. 
     
     
         25 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 22 , wherein said tooth shade indicator comprises disks of different shades inlaid in said toothbrush head. 
     
     
         26 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 22 , further comprising an insert configured to slide within a slot within said toothbrush head, wherein said tooth shade indicator is coupled to said insert. 
     
     
         27 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 26 , further comprising a second insert configured to slide within said slot within said slot in said toothbrush head, wherein said tooth shade indicator is coupled to said second insert and treatment information is printed on said first insert. 
     
     
         28 . A tooth shade indicator apparatus, comprising:
 a toothbrush body; and   a tooth shade indicator associated with said toothbrush body.   
     
     
         29 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 28 , wherein said tooth shade indicator includes at least one color from a VITA, IVOCLAR, or other cosmetic dental color scale. 
     
     
         30 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 29 , wherein said tooth shade indicator comprises the color at least a portion of said toothbrush body. 
     
     
         31 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 29 , wherein said tooth shade indicator is inlaid in said toothbrush body. 
     
     
         32 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 29 , wherein said tooth shade indicator comprises disks of different shades inlaid in said toothbrush body. 
     
     
         33 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 29 , further comprising an insert configured to slide within said slot within said toothbrush body, wherein said tooth shade indicator is coupled to said insert. 
     
     
         34 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 33 , further comprising a second insert configured to slide within a slot within said toothbrush body, wherein said tooth shade indicator is coupled to said second insert and treatment information is printed on said first insert. 
     
     
         35 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 28 , further comprising a light source coupled to said brush body configured to illuminate teeth of a user when comparing said shade indicator with the teeth of a user. 
     
     
         36 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 28 , further comprising a light source coupled to said brush body configured to illuminate said shade indicator. 
     
     
         37 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 28 , further comprising:
 an insert configured to slide within a slot within said brush body, said insert having an end cap and a panel with a top surface and a bottom surface;   wherein information is applied to said top and bottom surfaces; and   wherein the tooth shade indicator comprises disks of different shades inlaid in the brush head.