Optibrush

Abstract

Full mouth toothbrush, just need to chew to get gingival massage and plaque removal for: disabled, challenged, and elderly. Using a skeletal structure: extending “ribs” or “dental impression tray” with bristles properly placed which will allow spacing for cleaning and drying device, while providing bristles to brush teeth and gums of both arches at once. Bristles proper length and angle to ADA specifications. Fluoride mouthwash can be used in place of toothpaste for bedridden. This item will be able to be washed in a dishwasher, in three sizes, large, medium, small, This product can be made disposable, single arch design, disposable or reusable, with a handle, and in multiple colors/combinations.

Description

There has always been a difficulty for disabled, and elderly patents to maintain a healthy dentition. Thus constantly maintaining gingivitis, constant infection and risk for heart disease as well as constant cavities, which leads to dental problems such as root canals, and extractions. Having a full mouth toothbrush, that one just needs to chew on, to get a gingival massage and plaque removal, is a simple solution for the needs of hospital bound, arthritis stricken, and elderly, even autistic. These are just the start of specific groups that can benefit with this invention. With some research I have found it will work very well with the autistic community too. Similar to a dental impression tray, it will cover the entire arch of the upper and lower teeth at the same time. It will have the proper bristles and angulations and width to allow for easy acceptance and use. It will be made of a soft durable and cleanable material. It has cut out or perforations, to allow for fluid to flow around the teeth and arch and between arches, which will allow for easy transmission of fluorided mouth wash to access all the teeth and interproximal spaces and after brushing allow for easy cleaning, washing and drying. A skeletal structure can be used as well like a “rib cage”, in design structure to allow for easier cleaning and drying, maintenance. This device could work well with a few drops of mouth wash, by omitting toothpaste, it will be easy to use in a hospital/“bed ridden” setting, without having the need to be at a sink for rinsing. This item will be able to be washed in a dishwasher so when used in a nursing home, or large facilities, large quantities can be dealt with easily. Or it can be made in a disposable, one time use, as the disposable toothbrushes are made. Of course this material will be able to be assigned names to protect the individual's use. After use the patient can just a simple sip of water and swish and spit or even swallow. The prototype proved effective in easy use and favorable in obtaining our goals. The “Optibrusher” will have a thumb grip handle as in the trays to take molds of teeth, but a bit smaller and flexible, so as not to cause injury, but to allow easy delivery/removal by an aid, family member, or just a second person. Optimally the “one time use” version should be able to be recycled, or if hospital issued can be used for the short stay, since the design allows for easy washing and drying. The disposable version will have bristles coated with fluoridated mouthwash. The “Optibrusher” can be made in many colors and color combinations. The device has 2 designs, one of which is more closely related to a “impression tray” with enough cut outs to provide for proper cleaning and drying. The other design is more closely related to the structure of a rib cage. A handle small enough not to be intrusive and big enough for an aid to hold and administer, and remove the device comfortably, located at the midline and parallel to the biting plane, made

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1

This is a side view showing the basic “rib cage” design. Arm like projections similar to “ribs” extend from the base or “backbone” structure, similar to the human ribcage, single or double rib design extends off the main “backbone” spaced so that the entire arch is brushed while spaced so the device can be easily cleaned and dried between uses. The “ribs” are both upper and lower off the base. The base or “backbone” contains bristles projecting up and down to brush the occlusal/biting surfaces of the teeth in the entire arch upper and lower. The “ribs” are to be spaced so that the “ribs” reach between the incisors, cuspids, bicuspids and molars.

FIG. 2

This is a cross-section detail of an individual “rib”. Bristles project towards the teeth from the sides and also some bristles are directed to catch the spaces between the ribs so no teeth are omitted.

FIG. 3

This aerial view, showing the base and shared biting surface for the upper and lower teeth covering the entire arch, spaces, depicted as circles in the drawing, in the structure, will allow flow of fluoride mouthwash in place of toothpaste, to all surfaces upper and lower and easy cleaning and drying of the device, shaded squares show location of “ribs”. The shaded squares are the “ribs”, also spaced to allow maximum cleaning and allow for air-drying.

FIG. 4

This shows the cross section of the “Optibrusher's” base, The flexible base containing bristles extending to the upper and lower biting surfaces, as well as the extending rib design one for the both arches at the same time.

FIG. 5

Single arch design, showing the three sets of bristles located on the sides and on the bottom.

FIG. 6

To add durability to the structure and hold the shape, a connecting “band” of the same material would/could be added, on both the upper and lower, bristles might be added to catch the gaps if any so all the surfaces can be brushed

FIG. 7. Rib design with the connecting ribs, with Handle to aid ease and comfort for administrating the device and for easy removal.

FIG. 8.

Birds eye view of the “rib” design, with connecting piece to add strength and structure to the “ribs” and prevent breakage. Handle for easy delivery and removal of the device is on the

FIG. 9.

This is pictures of different types of impression trays, in different colors better showing the “perforations, and cut outs then my primitive drawings. I propose that the tooth brush bristles be aligned as in my FIG. 2

FIG. 10

This is an older metal impression tray with a different configuration of perforations.

FIG. 11

This is yet a different configuration of perforations, but for the “top” the tray needs to be made tray needs to be reduced in length for the palate since it is not really necessary to have bristles on the hard palate.

FIG. 12

This shows different colors and sizes of trays, again the bristles should be added in the configuration from FIG. 2.

But placed back to back to become a single unit that can be easily placed in any mouth and then the act of chewing will provide adequate removal of food debris and bacteria.

FIG. 13

Closer view of the lower and upper impression tray, with plenty of perforations, and coverage to allow for enough toothbrush bristles to provide a good brushing for the average dentition.

Claims

1. I claim the “full mouth toothbrush”, any and all constructions not of a solid structure, it can be a “rib cage” design, or impression tray design, comprising of any and all combinations or configurations of perforations for any construction that covers both the upper and lower arches at the same time with communication for moisture and air to circulate, it can be disposable and/or more durable, with a handle for easy administration, effectively and easily brushes all the teeth at once, comprised of a soft durable structure, a skeletal “rib cage” design, or that of a dental impression tray, allowing for easy wash and dry, comprising of a “spine” on the biting surface shared by upper and lower with bristles for the biting surfaces and providing a “biting action”, with arms or “ribs” that hold bristles between each tooth both upper and lower, three size variations, small for children and medium and large for adults and when the patient bites into the device, the teeth are engaged with the bristles, chewing, provides enough movement to create gingival massage, utilizing soft bristles placed at ideal angulations ensuing plaque removal for disabled, elderly, handicapped, hospitalized, with physical limitations or anyone else who has difficulty holding an electric or non-electric toothbrush or where brushing is a challenge, this can also be made in a single use item, impregnated with fluoridated mouthwash/toothpaste; or separate arch design, to allow for different occlusions and uses for individual needs, of course this can be made in various colors and must have ability to be identified, labeled for use in a nursing home or other institutional situation, and must be able to be put into a dishwasher, for cleaning large quantities, and a handle for administering, with recycle ability.