WO1999058058A1 - A procedure to apply images or writing on teeth - Google Patents

Abstract

A procedure capable of characterizing, visibly, with different images, writing, initials or numbers, and invisibly, with passive emitting materials, the surface of natural or artificial teeth. The required decorative or emitting effect is obtained due to the fact that the extremely thin decoration, usually a decalcomonia or other printed support, or the plate or emitting film rests between two layers of photopolymerized, transparent bonding material and that its surface may possibly be covered by a further layer of transparent compound. Both the application and the removal of the aforesaid images, once applied, cause no damage to the tooth.

Description

Description "A procedure to apply images or writing on teeth".

Technical Field The procedure, which is the object of this invention, regards all that is related to ornaments, decorations, initials or writing to be applied on natural and artificial teeth.

Background Art It is widely known that many people, both young and adult, have their skin tattooed either in order to obtain an original look, or to be identified as belonging to individual groups of people.

The object and important characteristics of the invention. The aim of this invention is to propose a technique which allows the application, on the surface of one or more teeth, of any kind of decoration, writing or initials without interfering with the mechanics or the biochemistry of the mouth.

Another aim of this invention is that neither the application nor the successive removal of the aforesaid images, causes any damage to the teeth. This invention constitutes an original and innovative trend which brings a series of advantages as far as oral hygiene and prevention of oral diseases are concerned, particularly among young people who will be certainly attracted by the new possibility to characterize the surface of their teeth with different images.

Young people are seldom accustomed to paying attention to their oral hygiene and are often afraid of dental surgeons. This invention changes the classical dentist's "image", transforming him into an up to date professional man who can be appreciated for his sense of aesthetics and for his ability to understand the needs of new generations. The person who avails himself of the tattoo, as this is described in this invention, will be induced to pay more attention to his oral hygiene and to keep his teeth perfectly clean and free from plaque, in order to have the ornament on the surface of his teeth noted and admired and this will result in a better prevention of oral diseases since the dentist, while applying or checking the tattoo, can also control the state of health of the person's mouth while advising him as to any eventually necessary treatments. The application of this technique, as proposed in this invention, has also other important advantages; in fact it does not only allow the transfer of different images for many purposes, but also permits the application of initials, writing or any data which may identify a person such as, for example, blood group or particular codes connected with illnesses; it is known, in fact, that there is a trend towards more and more advanced automatic diagnostics. It is also possible to put on teeth marks or codes, which may be visible or invisible, using, in the latter case, passive materials which can be stimulated by special emitters; these marks or codes may be used as safety keys for the access of persons to automatically controlled places without having to show identification documents or magnetic cards, but by simply opening one's mouth and turning towards the acquiring sensor. This application will result in a higher level of safety in particular situations.

Description of the drawing and mode for carryng out the invention

The aims and advantages which have been listed above are reached through a technique capable of characterizing the surface of teeth, visibly, with different images, writing, initials or numbers, and invisibly with passive emitting materials. In the first form of realization of the methodology, according to this invention, images, initials or writing are transferred using decalcomanias, also called metachromotypes, which may be transferred using water or through pressure. First of all accurate cleaning of the surface of the teeth must be earned out by a dentist; the devices to be used for this are those commonly in use in dental surgeries. After a gentle mordanting of the surface of the teeth, a layer of bonding, of a type normally found in specialized shops, is laid down; then, using a special device, photopolymerization is carried out. Now a water or pressure transferable decalcomania is applied; and, after laying down a new layer of bonding, photopolymerization is carried out again.

In case the decalcomania is enclosed in a plastic film, it would be better to carry out photopolymerization immediately after having placed it on the tooth, then a layer of bonding must be laid down and eventually a further photopolymerization must be carried out. The decorative effect is thus obtained, given that the decoration, which is extremely thin, rests between the two layers of bonding material.

In another form of realization of this invention, a further operation must be added to the previous procedure: a thin layer of transparent compound, capable of protecting the image against agents which might damage or dissolve it, is laid down; this layer also makes the image itself appear brighter, while enhancing not only its aesthetic effect but also its durability.

All these techniques can be carried out with the equipment commonly used in dental surgeries. In another form of realization of this invention, the idea was to use very thin plates or films of passive materials which emit a particular wavelength, once they are stimulated by special emitters. In this way it is possible to codify information which may be translated by acquisition systems. These technologies are already present in the technological field, even if, as far as we know, they have never been applied according to the aims and the methodology which are the object of this invention. In another form of realization, the image to be transferred is made up of fluorescent inks which produce luminescent effects even in the presence of a weak tight source. In another form of application the image to be transferred is made up of inks which may produce polychrome photochromatic effects; but also the polymeric plate itself, with its revolving molecules, may become colored or transparent in particular light conditions. If inks which are susceptible to ultraviolet hght are used, the plates or films to be transferred might cover almost the entire anterior face of a tooth with a chromatic image laid upon; the visibility of this last together with the white color of the support, is enhanced any time the set of teeth is exposed to ultraviolet rays, even the natural rays. This application may be useful in some situations, for example when it is necessary to correct the natural color of teeth, at least the more visible ones, making them appear brighter.

A problem which rose when the technology of this invention was conceived and developed, was that of taking into consideration the interaction between the ink which was used to realize the images, their support, and the bonding or layer of compound, as well as the compatibility of all this with the biochemistry of the mouth. Great attention has been paid to the migratory potential of the substances in use, which mainly consist of solvents for dilution and resins, and vegetable oils, by verifying the possible toxicological risk given that the coloring substances, which migrate through the bonding material or through the layer of compound, may be absorbed by the user. The problem has been solved by using biocompatible, non-toxic inks, above all inks which dramatically reduce the risk of migration, especially as regards the medium which is made up of resins and vegetable oils. These inks are already present in the technological field and are, therefore, easy to find. Also other inks, which we tested and used, may be photopolymerized by using ultraviolet rays; they are synthetic, non- toxic and have a reproducible composition. In this case the technique used to apply the tattoo, according to the present invention, becomes easier and speedier; and consists of the following operations: The surface of the tooth is carefully cleaned by the dentist; a gentle mordanting of the surface of the tooth is then carried out and, successively, a layer of bonding material is laid down; using the special device, photopolymerization is carried out; now first a decalcomania, on a plastic film, and, then, another layer of bonding material are applied; finally polymerization is carried out. A protective layer of compound may be laid down or not, depending on how long the image transferred onto the tooth is meant to last.

The invention, especially when it is used to apply decorations, writing, or initials, is sold in suitable packages, mostly containing a number of micro-containers. Each container, schematically shown in picture 1, is, essentially, a small sunbeam- proof polymer basin (1), full of polymerizable adhesive liquid (bonding) (2) with a tear-off laminate lid. In these small basins (1) there are metachromotypes, writing or initials which are imprinted on a polymeric support (3) or on other kinds of support, together with a small sponge. (4).

The procedure for use is quite simple: once the tooth on which this invention is going to be applied has been cleaned and mordanted, the operator opens the small basin (1), takes out the metachromotype (3) or anything which is to be transferred, and which has been previously dipped in the bonding (2) material, and places it on the tooth; then he takes out the small sponge (4) and tampons the image, also to correct a possible excessive quantity of bonding material; at this point photopolymerization is carried out. The use of self-polymerizable bonding material, which may be present in the small basin, makes the entire process more simple regardless of its form. Also the protective compound can be self-polymerizable, and this would make the process even easier and speedier.

All the procedures described above may be automated, especially when one is working on a dental prosthesis based on acrylic or acetalic resins or on other polymeric complexes, such as a complete set of false teeth, which will then be installed in a person's mouth.

In any case the technique described, according to this invention, is simple and effective, reliable in its results, and its cost is quite cheap if one takes into account the practical results it ensures.

Claims

Claims

1) A procedure capable of characterizing visibly, with different images, writing, initials or numbers, and invisibly with passive emitting materials, the surface of natural and artificial teeth. 2) A procedure as in claim 1) in which the required decorative or emitting effect is obtained, given that the decoration, the plate or the emitting film, all of which are extremely thin, rest between two layers of transparent polymerized bonding material and the surface can be covered by a further layer of transparent compound.

3) A procedure as in claims 1) and 2) in which decorating images, initials, or writing can be transferred onto the dental support, which has been previously treated, using metachromotypes or other printed supports, transferable through the use of water or pressure.

4) A procedure as in the previous claims which consists of the following phases: first of all, a dentist carries out an accurate cleaning of the surface of the tooth; which is successively gently mordanted. After laying out a layer of bonding material, photopolymerization is carried out using the special device; now a water or pressure transferable metachromotype is applied; then a new layer of bonding is laid out and a new photopolymerization process is carried out, at this point a thin layer of transparent compound, capable of protecting the image against damaging or dissolving agents, may be laid down.

5) A procedure as in claims 1) and 2) and 4) characterized by the fact that in it extremely thin plates or films of passive materials are used, which emit particular wavelengths once they are stimulated by suitable emitters, in such a way as to codify information which may be translated by acquisition systems. 6) A procedure as in claims 1), 2), 3), and 4) characterized by the fact that the image to be transferred is made up of biocompatible, fluorescent inks which have a luminescent effect even in the presence of weak light sources.

7) A procedure as in claims 1), 2), 3), and 4) characterized by the fact that the image to be transferred is made up of biocompatible inks which may produce polychrome photochromatic effects but in which also the polymeric plate or film, with its revolving molecules, may become colored or transparent in particular hght conditions.

8) Packages, mostly containing a number of micro-containers, each of which is, essentially, a small, sunbeam-proof polymeric basin (1), full of polymerizable adhesive liquid (bonding) (2), with a tear-off laminate hd. Contained in these small basins (1) are the metachromotypes, the writing or the initials, which are imprinted on a polymeric support (3) or on other kinds of support, together with a small sponge. (4).