Abstract: A method and an apparatus are disclosed for simultaneously cleaning multiple teeth, such as one or both dental arches. The Dental Cleaning Apparatus (DCA) includes a cleaning engine enclosed in a main housing, a fluid tube, and a mouthpiece. The cleaning engine includes a fluid circuit having a number of pumps and solenoid valves, and a programmable controller to control the solenoid valves and other operations. The fluid tube includes a number of separate tubes for injection and evacuation of cleaning fluid from the interior of mouthpiece. The mouthpiece is generally made from a flexible and supple material, such as silicone, and may have bristles of various shapes. The cleaning engine alternates the mouthpiece between a relaxation state and a contraction state to effectively scrub the surface of all enclosed teeth simultaneously. It may automatically learn and adjust the vacuum pressure needed for each user to optimize cleaning.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to oral care appliances and methods of forming oral care appliances. A disclosed oral care mouthpiece includes a flexible membrane and a set of oral care elements attached to the flexible membrane. The set of oral care elements have a composition with a hardness of at least 50 Shore Type A (shA). Each oral care elements in the set of oral care elements has a minimum stiffness value higher than 4×10?8 newton meters and lower than 6×10?3 newton meters. The stiffness value and hardness of the oral care elements are both critical values for the disclosed appliances and methods. The stiffness value can be expressed as the product of the Young modulus of the oral care element and the moment of inertia of the oral care element divided by the length of the oral care element.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to oral care mouthpieces and methods of forming oral care mouthpieces. A disclosed oral care mouthpiece includes a base shaped to a dental arch. The base elastically deforms in response to pressure variations in the mouthpiece. The mouthpiece also includes a set of one or more supports attached to the base and placed to allow the base to elastically deform in response to the pressure variations in the mouthpiece. The mouthpiece also includes a set of oral care elements attached to the set of one or more supports and placed to transmit pressure to the dental arch when the base elastically deforms in response to the pressure variations in the mouthpiece.

Abstract: A connecting element, a base unit and a cleaning head for use in an oral care appliance are disclosed. The connecting element is configured to engage operatively with the cleaning head and the base unit to form a first connection and a second connection respectively.

Abstract: An oral care appliance for cleaning teeth of a user and a method of adapting a brushing cycle of the oral care appliance are disclosed. Specific embodiments disclosed herein adapt the at least one brushing cycle based on a variety of factors, either alone or in combination, such as the time elapsed since a last brushing event and the identity of a user.

Abstract: An oral care appliance and a method of use are disclosed. The oral care appliance includes a mouthpiece with one or more enclosed compartments between an outer surface and an inner surface of the mouthpiece. The inner surface comprises at least one flexible membrane surrounding the one or more enclosed compartments. The oral care appliance also includes a control unit configured to regulate pressure variations in the one or more enclosed compartments to deform the flexible membrane and thereby perform an oral care action.

Abstract: A cartridge and a base unit for use in an oral care appliance are disclosed. The cartridge includes a connection interface configured to form a detachable connection. The base unit is also configured to engage operatively with the cartridge to facilitate flow of an oral care composition from the cartridge into the oral care appliance.

Abstract: An oral care appliance and a method of controlling pressure in the oral care appliance are disclosed. The pressure inside a mouthpiece of the oral care appliance is controlled by an actuator. The actuator is triggered when a targeted threshold value of an operational characteristic is reached. Automatic control of the pressure in the mouthpiece enhances both cleaning efficiency and user comfort.

Abstract: A cartridge and method to authorize and adjust the operation of an oral care appliance are disclosed. The oral care appliance along with the cartridge may be used for cleaning, whitening, removing plaque, or in other general oral care applications for providing oral care hygiene.

Abstract: A mixing system adapted for installation within an oral care appliance and a method of preparing an oral care composition to be delivered to a mouthpiece of the oral care appliance are disclosed. Some of the disclosed systems and methods allow for the generation of an on-demand oral care composition for use in dental cleaning.

Abstract: An oral care appliance in which a cleaning agent is injected from a supply tank and a method for use of such an appliance in oral care for the teeth of one or two arches using a mouthpiece is disclosed herein.

Abstract: A cartridge and a base unit for use in an oral care appliance are disclosed. The cartridge includes a connection interface configured to form a detachable connection. The base unit is also configured to engage operatively with the cartridge to facilitate flow of an oral care composition from the cartridge into the oral care appliance.

Abstract: An oral care appliance for cleaning teeth of a user and a method of adapting a brushing cycle of the oral care appliance are disclosed. Specific embodiments disclosed herein adapt the at least one brushing cycle based on a variety of factors, either alone or in combination, such as the time elapsed since a last brushing event and the identity of a user.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to an oral care appliance and a method for use in oral care for cleaning the teeth of one or two arches using a mouthpiece forming a closed or nearly closed cavity. The mouthpiece is adapted to deform in response to pressure variations inside the cavity and create an action on the teeth. This disclosure includes a description of depression chambers and associated methods that can contribute to the operation of the oral care appliance by affecting the aforementioned pressure variations.