Prophylaxis cup having perlite particles, methods of forming and method of use

Abstract

A prophylaxis cup formed of a silicone elastomer having perlite particles incorporated therein as an abrasive material. The silicone elastomer and perlite particles are processed in a 3-roll mill so that the perlite particles have a predetermined size and are uniformly dispersed throughout the prophylaxis cup. As the prophylaxis cup is used to clean and polish teeth, the prophylaxis cup disintegrates upon contact with the teeth releasing the perlite particles which act as a cleaning and polishing agent between the prophylaxis cup and the teeth.

1 . A disposable prophylaxis cup for cleaning and polishing teeth, which comprises:
 (a) a silicone elastomer; and   (b) perlite particles incorporated in the silicone elastomer as an abrasive material.   
   
   
       2 . The cup of  claim 1  wherein the perlite particles in the prophylaxis cup have a size of between about 15 and 40 microns. 
   
   
       3 . The cup of  claim 1  wherein the prophylaxis cup disintegrates when the prophylaxis cup rotates against a surface of the teeth so that the perlite particles are separated from the prophylaxis cup when the prophylaxis cup contacts the teeth. 
   
   
       4 . The cup of  claim 3  wherein the perlite particles in the prophylaxis cup have a size of between about 15 and 40 microns and where the size of the perlite particles decreases as the perlite particles separated from the prophylaxis cup contact the teeth. 
   
   
       5 . The cup of  claim 1  wherein the perlite particles are uniformly dispersed throughout the silicone elastomer in the prophylaxis cup. 
   
   
       6 . The cup of  claim 1  wherein the perlite particles are between about 30 and 36 percent by weight of the prophylaxis cup. 
   
   
       7 . The cup of  claim 1  wherein the prophylaxis cup begins to disintegrate and the perlite particles begin to separate from the prophylaxis cup between about 5 and 10 seconds after the prophylaxis cup begins to rotate against a surface of the teeth. 
   
   
       8 . The cup of  claim 1  wherein the prophylaxis cup is mounted on a disposable prophylaxis angle. 
   
   
       9 . A method for cleaning and polishing teeth, which comprises the steps of:
 (a) providing a disposable prophylaxis cup including a silicone elastomer having perlite particles as an abrasive material incorporated therein;   (b) providing a prophylaxis angle;   (c) mounting the prophylaxis cup on the prophylaxis angle;   (d) positioning the prophylaxis cup adjacent the teeth;   (e) activating the prophylaxis angle such that the prophylaxis cup rotates;   (f) moving the prophylaxis cup into contact with the teeth wherein the prophylaxis cup begins to disintegrate and the perlite particles in the prophylaxis cup are gradually separated from the prophylaxis cup so that a slurry having the perlite particles is formed between the teeth and the prophylaxis cup; and   (g) moving the prophylaxis cup along the teeth wherein the slurry between the prophylaxis cup and the teeth acts as a cleaning and polishing agent to clean and polish the teeth as the prophylaxis cup is moved along the teeth.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein in step (f), the prophylaxis cup begins to disintegrate and the perlite particles separate from the prophylaxis cup approximately 5 seconds after initial, rotational contact of the prophylaxis cup with the teeth. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein in step (f), the prophylaxis cup begins to disintegrate and the perlite particles separate from the prophylaxis cup less than 10 seconds after initial, rotational contact of the prophylaxis cup with the teeth. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9  wherein in step (g), the prophylaxis cup is moved along the teeth for between about 4 and 15 minutes to clean and polish each tooth individually until the cleaning and polishing of the teeth is completed. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the prophylaxis cup is in contact with the teeth prior to activating the prophylaxis angle and wherein in step (f), the prophylaxis cup does not begin to disintegrate until the prophylaxis cup is rotating. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 9  wherein after step (g), the slurry is evacuated from a user's mouth. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 9  wherein further in step (g), as the slurry is moved over the teeth by the prophylaxis cup, the perlite particles in the slurry are broken down into smaller perlite particles. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the smaller perlite particles act to polish the teeth. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 9  wherein in step (f), the perlite particles initially separated from the prophylaxis cup and have a size of between about 15 and 40 microns. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 9  wherein in step (g), the perlite particles in the slurry act as an abrasive to remove stains from the teeth. 
   
   
       19 - 29 . (canceled)