Systems and Methods for the Treatment of Oral and Systemic maladies in Animals Using Electrical Current

Abstract

Systems and methods for the concurrent treatment of multiple oral diseases and defects while promoting general oral hygiene utilizing electricity are provided for non-human animals. Electrodes are used to deliver an electrical current to the gingival tissues of a mouth in order to achieve a number of therapeutic, prophylactic, and regenerative benefits. These benefits include killing oral microbes, increasing oral vasodilation, reducing oral biofilm, improving oral blood circulation, reversing oral bone resorption, promoting oral osteogenesis, treating gum recession, and fostering gingival regeneration. Other benefits include the treatment of gingivitis, periodontitis, and oral malodor, and other systemic diseases correlated with oral pathogens.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method comprising the steps of:
 providing a device including a body having an external surface formed of a first electrically insulative resilient material and a first and second electrically conductive resilient material, wherein the first electrically conductive resilient material is in electrical communication with a first pole of a power source disposed in the body and the second electrically conductive resilient material is in electrical communication with a second pole of the power source; and   delivering the device to a mouth of a non-human animal to deliver between the first and second electrically conductive resilient material an electrical current sourced from the power source for a predetermined duration of time to reduce a bacterial concentration within the mouth.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrical current is sourced directly from the power source. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrical current is selected from the group consisting of alternating current and direct current. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the electrical current is one of constant and pulsed. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrical current is provided at a current level of between about 50 microamps (μA) and about 500 microamps (μA). 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the current level is about 50 microamps to about 250 microamps. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the current level is about 100 microamps. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the body at least partially comprises an hourglass shape. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first electrically insulative resilient material is disposed between the first electrically conductive resilient material and the second electrically conductive resilient material. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the first electrically conductive resilient material and the second electrically conductive resilient material are the same composition of material. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the first electrically insulative resilient material has a first durometer hardness and the first and second electrically conductive resilient material have a second durometer hardness. 
     
     
         12 . A device according to  claim 11 , wherein the first durometer hardness is substantially the same as the second durometer hardness.