Methodology of dental caries detection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016367446-A1
Application number	US-201615062708-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 7, 2016
Priority date	Jun 16, 2015
Publication date	Dec 22, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Disclosed are methods for detecting demineralization of a surface of a tooth, comprising a) contacting the tooth of a subject with an orally acceptable, binding composition comprising a binding agent that binds to a demineralized surface of the tooth; b) removing unbound binding compound; c) contacting the tooth with an orally acceptable, detector composition comprising a probe compound that reacts with the binding agent to form a visually detectable reaction product; and d) detecting formation of the reaction product as an indication of the presence or extent of surface demineralization of the tooth. Systems, kits, and compositions for practicing the methods are also provided.

First claim

1 . A kit for detecting demineralization of a surface of a tooth, comprising a) a first container comprising an orally acceptable, binding composition comprising iron (III) pyrophosphate (Fe(III)-PP); and b) a second container comprising an orally acceptable, detector composition comprising gallic acid or an ester thereof that reacts with the Fe(III)-PP to form a visually detectable reaction product.

2 . The kit of claim 1 , wherein the binding composition, the detector composition or both, is selected from the group consisting of pastes, varnishes, dentifrices, gels, creams, chewing gum, tablets, candies, capsules, mints, sprays, mouthwashes, rinses, whitening systems, powders, rinses, and foams.

3 . The kit of claim 2 , wherein the dentifrice is toothpaste.

4 . The kit of claim 3 , wherein the Fe(III)-PP is present in the toothpaste in an amount of from about 0.075% to about 7.5% w/v, and wherein the gallic acid or orally acceptable ester thereof is present in the detector composition in an amount of from about 0.5% to about 10% w/v.

5 . The kit of claim 1 , wherein the detector composition further comprises a dental impression material or a bite registration material.

6 . The kit of claim 1 , wherein the detector composition further comprises a gum and flour.

7 . The kit of claim 6 , wherein the detector composition further comprises a hydrophilic clay.

8 . The kit of claim 7 , wherein the clay is sodium bentonite.

9 . The kit of claim 7 , wherein the flour is present in an amount of from about 40% to about 70% w/v, the gum is present in an amount of from about 15% to about 40% w/v, and the clay is present in an amount of from about 1% to about 10% w/v.

10 . The kit of claim 9 , wherein the detector composition further comprises an oil, a water-miscible solvent, an enhancing agent, an active dental agent, or a combination of two or more thereof.

11 . The kit of claim 10 , wherein the enhancing agent or the active dental agent comprises a fluoride.

12 . The kit of claim 1 , wherein the binding composition, the detector composition or both the binding composition and the detector composition further comprise a flavoring agent, a coloring agent, a buffering agent, a sensate ingredient, or a combination of two or more thereof.

13 . The kit of claim 1 , further comprising c) a dental appliance.

14 . The kit of claim 13 , wherein the dental appliance is a dental tray.

15 . The kit of claim 1 , wherein the second container comprises propyl gallate.

16 . The kit of claim 1 , further comprising printed instructions for i) contacting the tooth of a subject with the orally acceptable binding composition; ii) removing unbound Fe(III)-PP; iii) contacting the tooth with the orally acceptable, detector composition; and iv) detecting formation of the reaction product as an indication of the presence or extent of demineralization on the surface of the tooth.

17 . A non-ingestible oral care composition comprising Fe(III)-PP, wherein the composition is in the form of a dentifrice or a mouthwash.

18 . A non-ingestible orally acceptable composition comprising a) propyl gallate which is present in an amount of from about 0.5% w/v to about 10% w/v, b) flour which is present in an amount of from about 40% w/v to about 70% w/v, c) a gum which is present in an amount of from about 15% w/v to about 40% w/v, and c) a clay which is present in an amount of from about 1% w/v to about 10% w/v.

Assignees

• Harvard College

Inventors

• Nagai Shigemi
• Nagai Masazumi

Classifications

• A61K6/70

  comprising inorganic additives · CPC title

• A61K8/24 Primary

  Phosphorous; Compounds thereof · CPC title

• A61K6/887

  Compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds · CPC title

• A61K6/891

  Compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds · CPC title

• A61K6/90

  Compositions for taking dental impressions · CPC title