Ozone apparatus for whitening teeth

Abstract

Method and apparatus for the whiting of teeth includes a source of oxidizing gas and a handpiece for delivering the gas to a tooth. A cup attached to the handpiece is provided for receiving the gas and exposing a selected area of the tooth to the gas. The cup includes a resilient edge for sealably the edge for engaging the tooth around the selected area to prevent escape of a gas therepast.

1 - 6 . cancelled  
   
   
       7 . Apparatus for the whitening of teeth, said apparatus comprising: 
 amount of oxidizing gas sufficient to whiten teeth;    a handpiece for exposing a tooth to the gas;    a cup attached to said handpiece for receiving the gas and exposing a selected area of the tooth to the gas, said cup including a resilient edge for sealably engaging the tooth around the selected area to prevent escape of the gas therepast and enable tooth whitening by the oxidizing gas; and    an aspiration pump and an aspiration line connected to said handpiece for enabling circulation of the gas into and out of a cup chamber subtending the cup edge.    
   
   
       8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7  wherein said oxidizing gas comprises ozone.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus according to  claim 7  wherein the cup edge has a relatively uniform perimeter for sealably engaging a tooth between a cusp and a gingiva.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus according to  claim 7  wherein the cup edge has a contour enabling sealable engagement with adjacent teeth.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus according to  claim 7  wherein the cup edge has a perimeter contoured for sealably engaging a tooth cusp.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus according to  claim 7  wherein the cup edge has a perimeter contoured for sealably engaging cups of adjacent teeth.  
   
   
       13 . (Cancelled)  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus according to  claim 8  further comprising a gas pump and a controller for regulating the ozone and aspiration pumps in order to circulate the gas into and out of the cup chamber at a pressure insufficient to escape past the sealed engagement between the cup and the tooth yet sufficient to whiten teeth.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus according to  claim 14  further comprising a source of reductant in fluid communication with the cup chamber.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus according to  claim 15  further comprising a reductant pump for circulating the reductant through the cup chamber to flush the oxidizing gas from the cup chamber and into said aspiration line.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus according to  claim 16  further comprising a waste accumulator connected to said aspiration line for receiving the reductant.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus according to  claim 17  further comprising a filter for removal of any residual oxidizing gas from the aspiration line.  
   
   
       19 . A cup for use in whitening teeth, said cup comprising: 
 a wall for defining a chamber between a handpiece and a tooth surface;    a first perimeter of said wall sealably coupling said wall to the handpiece and enabling a gas to be introduced into said chamber of said handpiece; and    a second perimeter of said wall for sealably coupling said wall to a tooth and exposing a selected area on said tooth to gas disposed in said chamber for whitening of the tooth.    
   
   
       20 . The cup according to  claim 19  wherein said wall is continuous.  
   
   
       21 . The cup according to  claim 20  wherein said first perimeter is larger than said second perimeter.  
   
   
       22 . The cup according to  claim 20  wherein said first perimeter is smaller than said second perimeter.  
   
   
       23 . The cup according to  claim 22  wherein said wall is resilient for enabling sealable coupling of said second perimeter to said tooth.  
   
   
       24 . The cup according to  claim 23  wherein said second perimeter has a contour for sealably engaging said tooth between a cusp and a gingiva.  
   
   
       25 . The cup according to  claim 23  wherein said second perimeter has a contour for sealably engaging adjacent teeth.