Method and device for increasing bone density in the mouth

Abstract

A method of growing bone or maintaining orthodontic tooth movement provides a dental device which 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 at a predetermined frequency or acceleration. The method focuses on detecting and measuring the frequency or acceleration at or near the patient's teeth and adjusting the vibration to match the predetermined frequency or acceleration in a feedback loop mechanism mediated by the dental device.

1 . A method of growing bone, the method comprising:
 a) placing a dental device in contact with a patient's teeth,   b) applying to a patient's teeth with the dental device a vibration waveform having a predetermined parameter value;   c) detecting and measuring a parameter value of the vibration waveform at or near the patient's teeth;   d) comparing the detected and measured parameter value to the predetermined parameter value; and   e) adjusting the vibration waveform applied to the patient's teeth by the dental device to match the detected and measured parameter value to the predetermined parameter value;   wherein the predetermined parameter value is at least one of frequency and acceleration.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the vibration waveform comprises an axial vibratory force component. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dental device is placed in contact with occlusal surfaces of the patient's teeth. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the occlusal surfaces of the patient's teeth do not have an orthodontic appliance thereon. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined parameter value is a frequency between 60 HZ and 130 HZ. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the frequency is between 100 HZ and 120 HZ. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined parameter value is an acceleration between 0.035 G to 0.100 G. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the acceleration is between 0.050 G to 0.060 G. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the patient's teeth have undergone orthodontic tooth movement prior to placing the dental device on the patient's teeth. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein steps (b)-(e) are repeated in a feedback loop manner until the detected and measured parameter value of the vibration waveform at or near the patient's teeth is the same as the predetermined parameter value. 
     
     
         11 . A method of maintaining orthodontic tooth movement, the method comprising:
 a) placing a dental device in contact with a patient's teeth,   b) applying to a patient's teeth with the dental device a vibration waveform having a predetermined parameter value;   c) detecting and measuring a parameter value of the vibration waveform at or near the patient's teeth;   d) comparing the detected and measured parameter value to the predetermined parameter value; and   e) adjusting the vibration waveform applied to the patient's teeth by the dental device to match the detected and measured parameter value to the predetermined parameter value; and   f) tightening one or more periodontal ligaments around the patient's teeth for orthodontic retention by repeating steps (a)-(e) for less than about 5 minutes or less per day for a period of time;   wherein the predetermined parameter value is at least one of frequency and acceleration.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the period of time is less than 180 days. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the predetermined parameter value is a frequency between 60 HZ and 130 HZ. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the frequency is between 100 HZ and 120 HZ. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the predetermined parameter value is an acceleration between 0.035 G to 0.100 G. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the acceleration is between 0.050 G to 0.060 G. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein steps (b)-(e) are repeated in a feedback loop manner until the detected and measured parameter value of the vibration waveform at or near the patient's teeth is the same as the predetermined parameter value. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising providing a retainer over the patient's teeth when applying the vibration waveform to the patient's teeth. 
     
     
         19 . A method of maintaining orthodontic tooth movement, the method comprising:
 providing a vibrational dental device configured to generate an axial vibratory force, to detect and measure a frequency or acceleration of the generated axial vibratory force, and to continuously adjust the generation of the axial vibratory force until the detected and measured frequency or acceleration is the same as a desired frequency or acceleration;   applying, using the vibrational dental device, an axial vibratory force on occlusal surfaces of a patient's teeth at the desired frequency or acceleration.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the desired frequency is between 100 HZ and 120 HZ or the desired acceleration is between 0.050 G to 0.060 G.