Method and device for increasing bone density in the mouth

Abstract

A dental device includes a mouthpiece configured to sit against occlusal surfaces of a patient's teeth and a motor connected to the mouthpiece. The motor is configured to vibrate the mouthpiece at a frequency between 60 and 120 Hz and an acceleration between 0.03 G and 0.06 G such that the mouthpiece places an axial vibratory force on the occlusal surfaces.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for maintaining orthodontic tooth movement, the method comprising:
 providing a vibrational dental device configured to vibrate at a frequency higher than 60 Hz after the removal of an orthodontic appliance for correction, wherein the orthodontic tooth movement is achieved before the removal of the orthodontic appliance; and   applying, using the vibrational dental device, an axial vibratory force on one or more teeth, for less than 5 minutes daily over a period of time.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the vibrational dental device is configured to vibrate at an acceleration magnitude ranging between 0.035 G and 0.1 G. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising configuring the vibrational dental device to vibrate at a frequency lower than 130 Hz. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising configuring the vibrational dental device to vibrate at a frequency between 100 Hz and 120 Hz. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the vibrational dental device comprises a mouthpiece and a motor connected to and configured to vibrate the mouthpiece. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising providing the mouthpiece between the occlusal surfaces of a user's teeth to be clamped by the user's teeth. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising applying the axial vibratory force on the occlusal surfaces of the one or more teeth by the vibrational dental device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising detecting vibration characteristics of the mouthpiece. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising adjusting the frequency and/or an acceleration magnitude of the vibration of the vibrational dental device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the period of time ranges from a couple of days to less than or equal to 180 days. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the period of time ranges from a couple of days to less than or equal to 120 days. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the period of time ranges from a few days to less than or equal to 90 days. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising applying the axial vibratory force on the one or more teeth for less than 2 minutes daily. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising applying the axial vibratory force on the one or more teeth for less than 1 minutes daily. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing a retainer over the occlusal surfaces of the one or more teeth when applying the axial vibratory force. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising
 removing a retainer over the occlusal surfaces of the one or more teeth before applying the axial vibratory force; and   placing the retainer over the occlusal surfaces of the one or more teeth after applying the axial vibratory force.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising increasing density of the alveolar bone of the one or more teeth. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising decreasing the time required for maintaining orthodontic tooth movement after the removal of an orthodontic appliance for correction. 
     
     
         19 . A method for reducing the time for maintaining orthodontic tooth movement, the method comprising:
 providing a vibrational dental device configured to vibrate at a frequency higher than 60 Hz after the removal of an orthodontic appliance for correction, wherein the orthodontic tooth movement is achieved before the removal of the orthodontic appliance; and   applying, using the vibrational dental device, an axial vibratory force on one or more teeth, for less than 5 minutes daily over a period of time.   
     
     
         20 . A dental device for maintaining orthodontic tooth movement, the dental device comprising
 means for applying an axial vibratory force on one or more teeth, for less than 5 minutes daily over a period of time at a frequency higher than 60 Hz after the removal of an orthodontic appliance for correction,   wherein the orthodontic tooth movement is achieved before the removal of the orthodontic appliance.