INTRA-ORAL LIGHT THERAPY APPARATUSES AND METHODS FOR THEIR USE
In some embodiments, an apparatus comprises a housing, an emitter, and an electronic circuit. The housing is configured to fit within a patient's mouth. The emitter is at least partially encased within the housing. The emitter is configured to emit an effective amount of light to the alveolar soft tissue when the housing is disposed within the mouth. The electronic circuit is operatively coupled to the emitter. The electronic circuit is configured to control the emitter when the housing is disposed within the mouth and the apparatus is in use during orthodontic treatment. The apparatus and its use for regulating tooth movement or maintaining or improving oral tissue health are disclosed herein.
1 .- 116 . (canceled)
117 . An apparatus, comprising:
a housing configured to fit within a patient's mouth, the housing comprising a flange which forms an upper portion and further defines a first angle with respect to a lower portion, the upper portion being deflectable from the first angle to a second angle which is different from the first angle when the housing is disposed within the patient's mouth;
a first emitter at least partially encased within the flange and configured to be disposed over a buccal side of an alveolus of a tooth of the patient;
an extra-oral housing coupled to the housing via a protrusion which supports a position of the extra-oral housing relative to the housing when the housing is disposed within the patient's mouth;
a controller enclosed within the extra-oral housing and in communication with the first emitter; and
an external station having a base which is configured to receive at least a portion of the housing and the extra-oral housing,
wherein the first emitter is configured to emit light sufficient to travel through alveolar mucosa of the patient and reach a lingual side of the alveolus when the first emitter is disposed over the buccal side of the alveolus and the light has a wavelength ranging from about 600 nm to about 1200 nm and an intensity of about 1 mW/cm2 or greater.
118 . The apparatus of claim 117 further comprising an agent for application within the patient's mouth.
119 . The apparatus of claim 118 further comprising a second emitter at least partially encased within the flange and which is in communication with the controller.
120 . The apparatus of claim 119 wherein the second emitter is configured to emit a second light having a wavelength which is less than 600 nm such that the wavelength corresponds to an activation of the agent where the second emitter is further configured to emit an effective amount of light to a region within the patient's mouth which in combination with the agent when applied to the same region within the patient's mouth is sufficient to increase a rate of bone deposition and resorption, a rate of tooth movement, and a rate of healing of oral tissue relative to an absence of the agent
121 . The apparatus of claim 117 wherein the light traveling through the alveolar mucosa and reaching the lingual side of the alveolus has an intensity ranging from about 1 mW/cm2 to about 100 mW/cm2.
122 . The apparatus of claim 117 wherein:
the flange is a first flange; and
the housing further comprises a second flange;
a third emitter is at least partially encased within the second flange and configured to be disposed over the lingual side of the alveolus, the second emitter is configured to emit light traveling through the lingual alveolar soft tissue and reaching the buccal side of the alveolus when the second emitter is disposed over the lingual side of the alveolus, the light traveling through the lingual alveolar soft tissue and reaching the buccal side of the alveolus having a wavelength ranging from about 600 nm to about 1200 nm and an intensity of about 1 mW/cm2 or greater.
123 . The apparatus of claim 122 wherein the light traveling through the lingual alveolar soft tissue and reaching the buccal side of the alveolus has an intensity ranging from about 1 mW/cm2 to about 100 mW/cm2.
124 . The apparatus of claim 122 wherein the controller is configured to control the first emitter when the first emitter is disposed over the buccal side of the alveolus or the second emitter when the third emitter is disposed over the lingual side of the alveolus.
125 . The apparatus of claim 117 further comprising a photodetector operatively coupled to the controller, the photodetector at least partially encased within the flange and configured to detect light reflecting from the alveolar mucosa.
126 . The apparatus of claim 117 wherein the housing and the extra-oral housing are configured to be seated in an upright orientation upon the base.
127 . The apparatus of claim 117 further comprising a sensor operatively coupled to the controller, the sensor configured to determine an orientation of the apparatus when the housing is disposed on the patient's upper jaw or lower jaw.
128 . The apparatus of claim 117 wherein the light traveling through the alveolar mucosa and reaching the lingual side of the alveolus has a wavelength ranging from about 845 nm to about 855 nm.
129 . The apparatus of claim 117 wherein the emitter is not a laser.
130 . The apparatus of claim 117 wherein the first emitter is a light emitting diode.