Medical device solutions for treating dental disease and methods for the treatment of dental disease

Abstract

A medical device or solution for treating dental discomfort by at least partially occluding dental tubules is disclosed. The medical device or solution contains a polysaccharide or other biocompatible polymer with an antimicrobial metal, antimicrobial metal compound, or antimicrobial metal ion bound to a biopolymer. The medical device or solution further comprises at least one soluble antimicrobial. The soluble antimicrobial may be a water soluble metal iodide, water soluble metal fluoride, or a water soluble metal chloride encompassed with the nanogel. The medical device may be a solution of a chitosan with a nanoparticle of silver fluoride on the chitosan and at least one of a sodium fluoride or silver fluoride. The solution may be water based solution. Methods of applying the medical device or solution are also disclosed.

1 . A medical device, comprising:
 a nanogel, comprising:   a polysaccharide or other biocompatible polymer; and   an antimicrobial metal, antimicrobial metal compound, or antimicrobial metal ion bound to a biopolymer ; and
 at least one of a water soluble metal iodide, water soluble metal fluoride, and water soluble metal chloride encompassed with the nanogel. 
   
     
     
         2 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial metal or metal ions have a diameter of less than 100 nm. 
     
     
         3 . The medical device or solution of  claim 2 , wherein the nanogel comprises a polysaccharide. 
     
     
         4 . The medical device or solution of  claim 3 , wherein the polysaccharide is a chitosan. 
     
     
         5 . The medical device or solution of  claim 4 , wherein the chitosan has a molecular weight from 50,000-200,000 Da. 
     
     
         6 . The medical device or solution of  claim 1 , wherein the nanogel comprises a biocompatible polymer. 
     
     
         7 . The medical device or solution of  claim 5 , wherein the chitosan is an at least partially deacetylated chitosan. 
     
     
         8 . The medical device or solution of  claim 1 , wherein the water soluble metal iodide, water soluble metal fluoride, and water soluble metal chloride is silver fluoride. 
     
     
         9 . The medical device or solution of  claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial metal, antimicrobial metal compound, or antimicrobial metal ion is one of silver, copper, and zinc. 
     
     
         10 . The medical device or solution of  claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial metal, antimicrobial metal compound, or antimicrobial metal ion is silver. 
     
     
         11 . The medical device or solution of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one of a water soluble metal iodide, water soluble metal fluoride, and water soluble metal chloride is a sodium fluoride or a silver fluoride. 
     
     
         12 . The medical device or solution of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one of a water soluble metal iodide, water soluble metal fluoride, and water soluble metal chloride is silver fluoride. 
     
     
         13 . The medical device or solution of  claim 10 , wherein the sodium fluoride or silver fluoride is free in equal concentration to the chitosan. 
     
     
         14 . The medical device or solution of  claim 1 , wherein the medical device or solution has a neutral pH. 
     
     
         15 . The medical device or solution of  claim 1 , wherein the total concentration of the antimicrobial metal, antimicrobial metal compound, or antimicrobial metal ion, nanogel, and at least one of a water soluble metal iodide, water soluble metal fluoride, and water soluble metal chloride is between 5 wt. % and 50 wt. % of the medical device or solution. 
     
     
         16 . The medical device or solution of  claim 1 , wherein the total concentration of the antimicrobial metal, antimicrobial metal compound, or antimicrobial metal ion, nanogel, and at least one of a water soluble metal iodide, water soluble metal fluoride, and water soluble metal chloride is between 5 wt. % and 50 wt. % of the medical device or solution. 
     
     
         17 . A method of occluding dentinal tubules in teeth, comprising:
 drying at least one tooth;   applying an amount of a medical device to the treatment area of the at least one tooth; and   applying a covering agent over the treatment area of the tooth.   
     
     
         18 . A method of occluding dentinal tubules in teeth, comprising:
 drying at least one tooth;   applying an amount of a medical device to the treatment area of the at least one tooth, wherein the medical device comprises:   
       a solution, comprising: 
       a polysaccharide; 
       an antimicrobial metal or metal ion bound to the low molecular weight polysaccharide to form a nanoparticle gel; and
 an antimicrobial metal fluoride encompassed within the nanoparticle gel; and 
 applying a covering agent over the treatment area of the tooth. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising isolating the tooth. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the applying an amount the medical device or solution comprises using a microbrush to apply a drop of the solution. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein drying at least one tooth comprises desiccating at least one dentinal tubule to form a desiccated tubule. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the polysaccharide is drawn into the desiccated tubule by capillary action. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the polysaccharide binds to bacteria within the desiccated tubule. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the polysaccharide is a chitosan. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the medical device or solution kills the bacteria and seals the dentinal tubules. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the antimicrobial metal fluoride forms fluorapatite when binding with the tooth.