Method of using oxidative reductive potential water solution in dental applications

Abstract

Methods of using oxidative reduction potential (ORP) water solution that is stable for at least twenty-four hours in dental applications are provided. The ORP water solution can be administered to patients for the routine disinfection of the oral cavity as part of an on-going program of oral hygiene. The ORP water solution can further be used to irrigate and/or disinfect oral tissues and surfaces during dental procedures, oral surgery, or maxillo-facial surgery. Also, the ORP water solution can be administered to treat patients with damage to the oral tissues caused by disease or surgery.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating damaged oral tissue in a patient comprising administering an oxidative reductive potential water solution to the patient in an amount sufficient to treat the damaged oral tissue, wherein the solution has a pH of about 6.4 to about 7.8 and is stable for at least about two months, wherein the solution has a total amount of free chlorine species from about 10 ppm to about 400 ppm, and wherein the solution comprises anode water and cathode water, wherein the damaged oral tissue is caused by oral mucosal lesions or ulcers or wherein the damaged oral tissue is caused by an oral or maxillo-facial procedure. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the solution is stable for at least about one year. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pH is from about 7.4 to about 7.6. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the solution has a total amount of free chlorine species from about 50 ppm to about 200 ppm. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the free chlorine species comprises from about 15 ppm to about 35 ppm hypochlorous acid and from about 25 ppm to about 50 ppm sodium hypochlorite. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cathode water is present in an amount of from about 10% by volume to about 50% by volume of the solution and wherein the anode water is present in an amount of from about 50% by volume to about 90% by volume of the solution. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the solution is administered to the patient by rinsing the oral cavity with the solution. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the solution causes no more than 3% of cells contacted to expose Annexin-V on their cellular surfaces when contacted with the ORP water solution for up to about thirty minutes. 
     
     
         9 . A method of using oxidative reductive potential water solution as an irrigant in an oral or maxillo-facial procedure comprising administering an oxidative reductive potential water solution to an operation site in an amount sufficient to disinfect the site, wherein the solution has a pH of from about 6.4 to about 7.8 and is stable for at least about two months, wherein the solution has a total amount of free chlorine species from about 10 ppm to about 400 ppm, and wherein the solution comprises anode water and cathode water. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the solution is stable for at least about one year. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the pH is from about 7.4 to about 7.6. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the solution has a total amount of free chlorine species from about 50 ppm to about 200 ppm. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the free chlorine species comprises from about 15 ppm to about 35 ppm hypochlorous acid and from about 25 ppm to about 50 ppm sodium hypochlorite. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the cathode water is present in an amount of from about 10% by volume to about 50% by volume of the solution and wherein the anode water is present in an amount of from about 50% by volume to about 90% by volume of the solution. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the solution causes no more than 3% of cells contacted to expose Annexin-V on their cellular surfaces when contacted with the ORP water solution for up to about thirty minutes. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the site is an interior of a tooth. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the site is a cavity in a tooth. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the site is an incision. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the procedure is ultrasonic scaling.