ARTICLE AND METHOD TO TREAT INTERPROXIMAL DENTAL CARIES
Silver-fluoride compositions, dental articles comprising silver-fluoride compositions, and methods for reducing bacteria on a tooth surface and/or remineralizing a tooth surface are described.
1 . A dental article configured to access an interproximal gap, the dental article comprising:
at least one applicator;
a silver-fluoride composition comprising:
a source of silver cations,
a source of fluoride anions,
a source of iodide or thiocyanate anions, and
water; and
a package for containing one or more of the at least one applicator and the silver-fluoride composition,
wherein the package is impermeable to water vapor.
2 . (canceled)
3 . The dental article of claim 1 , wherein the applicator is selected from a floss, a floss pick, a pick, a microbrush, a swab, or a combination thereof.
4 . The dental article of claim 1 , wherein the applicator is pre-saturated with the silver-fluoride composition.
5 . The dental article of claim 1 , wherein silver cations are present in an amount of 13-20 wt % with respect to the weight of the silver-fluoride composition.
6 . The dental article of claim 1 , wherein the fluoride anions are present in an amount of 2.0-3.6 wt % with respect to the weight of the silver-fluoride composition.
7 . The dental article of claim 1 , comprising:
silver cations and iodide anions in a molar ratio of less than 0.42:1, and
water present in an amount less than 41.2 wt % with respect to the weight of the dental composition.
8 . The dental article of claim 1 , comprising:
silver cations and thiocyanate anions in a molar ratio of less than 0.37:1, and
water present in an amount less than 57.1 wt % with respect to the weight of the dental composition.
9 . The dental article of claim 1 , wherein water is present in an amount less than about 45 wt % with respect to the weight of the silver-fluoride composition.
10 . The dental article of claim 1 , wherein water is present in an amount of at least about 20 wt % with respect to the weight of the silver-fluoride composition.
11 . The dental article of claim 1 , wherein the source of silver cations is selected from silver fluoride, silver chloride, silver nitrate, silver iodide, silver diamine fluoride, and a combination thereof.
12 . The dental article of claim 1 , wherein the source of fluoride anions is selected from silver fluoride, silver diamine fluoride, sodium fluoride, ammonium fluoride, potassium fluoride, an organic ammonium fluoride, and a combination thereof.
13 . The dental article of claim 1 , wherein the source of iodide anions is selected from ammonium iodide, sodium iodide, potassium iodide, silver iodide, and a combination thereof, or
the source of thiocyanate anions is selected from ammonium thiocyanate, sodium thiocyanate, guanidinium thiocyanate, potassium thiocyanate, silver thiocyanate, and a combination thereof.
14 . The dental article of claim 1 , the silver-fluoride composition comprising silver iodide, ammonium iodide, and ammonium fluoride.
15 . (canceled)
16 . A method for one or more of reducing bacteria on a tooth surface and remineralizing a tooth surface, the method comprising:
providing a dental article of claim 1 ;
contacting an effective amount of the silver-fluoride composition to the tooth surface with the at least one applicator; and
allowing the silver-fluoride composition to contact the tooth surface for a period,
wherein the silver-fluoride composition one or more of reduces the bacteria at the tooth surface and remineralizes the tooth surface.
17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising contacting the at least one applicator to the tooth surface and loading the applicator with the silver-fluoride composition.
18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the at least one applicator is pre-loaded with the silver-fluoride composition.
19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the silver-fluoride composition to allowed to contact the tooth surface for a period of about 60 to about 90 seconds.
20 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the effective amount is at least about 30 mg of the silver-fluoride composition.
21 . A method of claim 16 , wherein the tooth surface is an interproximal tooth surface.
22 . A kit comprising:
a dental article of claim 1 , or
at least one applicator, and
a silver-fluoride composition comprising:
a source of silver cations,
a source of fluoride anions,
a source of iodide or thiocyanate anions, and
water; and
a set of instructions directing a user to contact an effective amount of the silver-fluoride composition to the tooth surface with the at least one applicator.