Peroxide Gel Compositions

Abstract

The present invention is a formable dental treatment tray utilizing poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) and a gelatinous active. Blending of the active is accomplished by mixing the Poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) with an active ingredient, such as a peroxide like hydrogen peroxide, carbamide peroxide, sodium perborate, or sodium percarbonate, usually also with water or an appropriate organic solvent. Peroxide concentrations in these new gels can reach a 30% concentration of hydrogen peroxide while maintaining a shelf life of six months at room temperature without developing peroxide decomposition. The gels are applied to an appropriate backing and dried to a gelatinous state. In use, the active is hydrated and regains adhesiveness. Then the tray is pressed and formed around a user's dental arch to form the customizable tray. Multiple active ingredients may be used, with or without peroxide, for accomplishing desired treatment regimens.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dental bleaching device, comprising:
 a strip of polymeric wax backing material, wherein the strip of backing material is flexible and planar such that the strip of backing material has two flat sides;   a dental composition being applied to at least a portion of one of the flat sides of the strip of backing material; the dental composition being comprised of a peroxide bleaching agent, a solvent, and a thickening agent, said thickening agent being at least one thickening agent selected from the set of thickening agents consisting of polyethyloxazoline and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP);   the dental composition having been dried to an extent that it no longer remains in a state of fluidity;   wherein the dried dental composition is gelatinous, non-coalescent, and visco-elastic such that when adhered to a user's dental arch both the dental composition and the backing material flex and conform to a user's dental arch without cracking or breaking.   
     
     
         2 . A dental bleaching device, comprising:
 a strip of backing material made of a polymeric wax, wherein the strip of backing material is flexible and planar such that the strip of backing material has two flat sides;   a dental composition being applied to at least a portion of one of the flat sides of the strip of backing material; the dental composition being comprised of a peroxide bleaching agent, a solvent, and a thickening agent, said thickening agent being at least one thickening agent selected from the set of thickening agents consisting of polyethyloxazoline and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP);   the dental composition having been dried to an extent that it no longer remains in a state of fluidity;   wherein the dried dental composition is gelatinous, non-coalescent, and visco-elastic during storage of the dental bleaching device at room temperature for a period of time up to six months in a package and also after the dental bleaching device has been removed from a package and adhered to a user's dental arch such that both the dental composition and backing material together flex and conform to the particular irregularities of a user's dental arch without cracking or breaking.   
     
     
         3 . A method of making a dental bleaching tray, the method comprising:
 a step of providing a backing material;   a step of manufacturing a bleaching gel by combining a peroxide bleaching agent, a solvent, and a thickening agent, said thickening agent being at least one thickening agent selected from the set of thickening agents consisting of polyethyloxazoline and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP);   a step of applying the bleaching gel to the backing material; and a step of drying the bleaching gel on the backing material until the bleaching gel is no longer in a state of fluidity and has attained a non-coalescent gelatinous state.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , the backing material being formed from a polymeric wax structure.