Therapeutic and protective dental device useful as an intra-oral delivery system

Abstract

A dental device has a U-shaped carrier with at least one channel for embracing an arch of teeth. There are recessed insets in the channel. Discrete inserts carrying a beneficial agent can fit into the insets and release the agent gradually. The device may be used in a therapeutic application and as an athletic mouthguard. Temporary blanks may be initially fitted in the insets, while a portion of the mouthguard is softened before an arch of teeth is pressed into the channel to make a custom impression. The inserts possess different physical properties than the carrier and may be positioned and shaped to mechanically buffer teeth of the arch from mechanical shocks as well as release beneficial agents. The inserts may be replaced or refreshed to maintain the beneficial agent. A dental device having a core carrying a beneficial agent inside a liquid-permeable shell functions as an infant's teething device.

1 - 75 . (canceled) 
     
     
         76 . A method of using an intra-oral carrier having at least one channel and a plurality of recessed insets, comprising:
 positioning the carrier within an oral cavity such that the at least one channel receives at least a portion of an arch of teeth therein;   wherein, during the step of positioning the carrier within the oral cavity, at least a first one of the recessed insets has a first beneficial agent received therein, the first beneficial agent being carried by a first insert positioned within the first inset, and at least a second one of the insets does not have a beneficial agent received therein.   
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 76  further comprising positioning the first insert within the first inset before the step of positioning the carrier within the oral cavity. 
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 76  further comprising, before the step of positioning the carrier within the oral cavity, selecting the first inset from among the recessed insets to receive the first beneficial agent, based on a location within the oral cavity targeted for application of the first beneficial agent. 
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 76 , wherein the second inset has a blank insert positioned therein. 
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 76 , wherein, during the step of positioning the carrier within the oral cavity, at least a third one of the recessed insets has a second beneficial agent received therein, the second beneficial agent being different from the first beneficial agent, and the second beneficial agent being carried by a second insert positioned within the third inset. 
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 76 , wherein the first inset is one of a first plurality of insets and the first insert is one of a first plurality of inserts, each of the first plurality of insets having the first beneficial agent or another beneficial agent received therein and carried by a respective one of the first plurality of inserts, the first plurality of inserts being arranged within the first plurality of insets in a first installed pattern. 
     
     
         82 . The method of  claim 81 , further comprising removing at least a first subset of the first plurality of inserts from the carrier. 
     
     
         83 . The method of  claim 82 , further comprising installing at least one second insert into a corresponding at least one of the plurality of recessed insets to form a second installed pattern. 
     
     
         84 . The method of  claim 83 , wherein at least one of the at least one second insert in the second installed pattern carries a second beneficial agent different from the first beneficial agent or any other beneficial agent in the first installed pattern. 
     
     
         85 . The method of  claim 81 , further comprising:
 removing the carrier from the oral cavity;   arranging at least a subset of the first plurality of inserts and at least one second insert in the plurality of recessed insets in a second installed pattern different from the first installed pattern; and then   re-positioning the carrier within the oral cavity such that the at least one channel receives at least a portion of the arch of teeth therein.   
     
     
         86 . A method of using an intra-oral carrier having at least one channel and a plurality of recessed insets, comprising:
 positioning the carrier within an oral cavity such that the at least one channel receives at least a portion of an arch of teeth therein;   wherein, during the step of positioning the carrier within the oral cavity, a first one of the recessed insets has a first insert positioned therein, and a second one of the recessed insets does not have an insert positioned therein.   
     
     
         87 . The method of  claim 86 , further comprising positioning the first insert within the first inset before the step of positioning the carrier within the oral cavity. 
     
     
         88 . The method of  claim 86 , further comprising, before the step of positioning the carrier within the oral cavity, selecting the first inset from among the recessed insets to receive the first insert, based on a location within the oral cavity corresponding to the first inset when the carrier is positioned within the oral cavity. 
     
     
         89 . The method of  claim 86 , wherein the first insert carries a first beneficial agent. 
     
     
         90 . The method of  claim 89 , wherein, during the step of positioning the carrier within the oral cavity, at least a third one of the recessed insets has a second insert received therein, the second insert carrying a second beneficial agent different from the first beneficial agent. 
     
     
         91 . The method of  claim 89 , wherein the first inset is one of a first plurality of insets and the first insert is one of a first plurality of inserts, each of the first plurality of inserts carrying the first beneficial agent or another beneficial agent, the first plurality of inserts being arranged within the first plurality of insets in a first installed pattern. 
     
     
         92 . The method of  claim 91 , further comprising removing at least a first subset of the first plurality of inserts from the carrier. 
     
     
         93 . The method of  claim 92 , further comprising installing at least one second insert into a corresponding at least one of the plurality of recessed insets to form a second installed pattern. 
     
     
         94 . The method of  claim 93 , wherein at least one of the at least one second insert in the second installed pattern carries a second beneficial agent different from the first beneficial agent or any other beneficial agent in the first installed pattern. 
     
     
         95 . The method of  claim 91 , further comprising:
 removing the carrier from the oral cavity;   arranging at least a subset of the first plurality of inserts and at least one second insert in the plurality of recessed insets in a second installed pattern different from the first installed pattern; and then   re-positioning the carrier within the oral cavity such that the at least one channel receives at least a portion of the arch of teeth therein.