초록 ▼

A cleaning apparatus and method for cleaning dental and/or medical implements, and in particular to a system for quickly and thoroughly cleaning dental and/or orthodontic retainers, dental/orthodontic aligners, dental appliances, dentures, bridges, and the like. The preferred embodiment of the prese

A cleaning apparatus and method for cleaning dental and/or medical implements, and in particular to a system for quickly and thoroughly cleaning dental and/or orthodontic retainers, dental/orthodontic aligners, dental appliances, dentures, bridges, and the like. The preferred embodiment of the present invention contemplates a cleaning system utilizing a vibrating sonic wave bath comprising a vibration means to oscillate a container having at least some fluid therein engaging the item to be cleaned, coupled with the utilization of a preferably flavored tablet containing a non-toxic cleaning material, the tablet preferably also formulated to effervesce upon contact with water, generating bubbles and foam. It has been found that the sonic bath substantially enhances the cleaning and flavoring ability of the effervescent cleaning tablet, while reducing the amount of time to clean the dental appliance. The preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a relatively cost effective, safe, easy to use and reliable system for cleaning and flavoring dental appliances and the like.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A method of cleaning an appliance, comprising the steps of: a) providing a sonic cleaning device having a bath tray; b) providing an effervescent cleaning tablet; c) placing the appliance in the bath tray; d) placing said effervescent tablet in said bath tray; e) placing enou

What is claimed is: 1. A method of cleaning an appliance, comprising the steps of: a) providing a sonic cleaning device having a bath tray; b) providing an effervescent cleaning tablet; c) placing the appliance in the bath tray; d) placing said effervescent tablet in said bath tray; e) placing enough fluid in said bath tray so as to activate said effervescent tablet thus, providing foam; f) initiating said sonic cleaning device to provide cleaning waves through said foam; g) allowing said foam to substantially contact said appliance so that said appliance is primarily contacted by foam, providing a foam bath; and h) allowing said cleaning waves through said foam bath to agitate bubbles of said cleaning foam, thus providing agitated foam, and utilizing said agitated foam to scrub clean the surface of said appliance. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein there is provided the additional step “h1” of removing, rinsing, and utilizing said appliance. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein said appliance is a dental appliance. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein said dental appliance is an aligner. 5. The method of claim 3, wherein said dental appliance is a retainer. 6. The method of claim 3, wherein said dental appliance is a denture. 7. The method of claim 3, wherein said effervescent cleaning tablet has flavoring and wherein step h comprises allowing said waves to induce said flavoring to infuse in said appliance, thus flavoring said appliance. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein said effervescent cleaning tablet has a disinfectant, and wherein step h comprises allowing said cleaning waves to induce said thus disinfectant to infuse in said appliance, disinfecting said appliance. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein there is further provided in step “h” the additional step “h1” of varying the frequency of said cleaning waves to enhance cleaning of the appliance. 10. A method of flavoring a dental appliance, comprising the steps of: a) providing a sonic device having a bath tray; b) providing an effervescent flavored tablet; c) placing the appliance in the bath tray; d) placing said effervescent tablet in said bath tray; e) placing enough fluid in said bath tray so as to activate said effervescent tablet thus, providing flavored foam; f) initiating said sonic device; g) allowing said effervescent tablets to effervesce to form a foam bath in said tray substantially covering said dental appliance; and h) allowing sonic waves through said foam bath to agitate said flavored foam, so as to flavor said appliance. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein there is provided the additional step “h1” of removing, rinsing, and utilizing said appliance. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein said dental appliance is an aligner. 13. The method of claim 11, wherein said dental appliance is a retainer. 14. The method of claim 11, wherein said dental appliance is a denture. 15. The method of claim 10, wherein in step “d” only enough fluid to activate said flavored tablet is placed into said bath, so that in step “h” said appliance is primarily contacted by said flavored foam, and wherein in step “h” said appliance is substantially immersed in a foam bath. 16. The method of claim 10, wherein said effervescent cleaning tablet has a disinfectant, and wherein in step h there is provided the additional step of allowing said sonic waves to induce said disinfectant to infuse in said appliance, thus disinfecting said appliance. 17. The method of claim 15, wherein there is further provided in step “h” the additional step “hl” of varying the frequency of said sonic waves to enhance cleaning of the appliance. 18. A method of cleaning a dental appliance, comprising the steps of: a) providing a sonic device having a bath tray; b) placing an effervescent tablet in said bath tray; c) placing the appliance in said bath tray; d) placing enough fluid to activate said effervescent tablet in said bath tray; e) initiating said sonic device, providing sonic waves through said fluid to agitate said effervescent tablet; f) allowing said effervescent tablet to effervesce, thus providing foam; and g) allowing said sonic waves through said fluid to agitate said foam, providing an agitated foam bath substantially covering said dental appliance, and utilizing said agitated foam bath to scrub clean said appliance. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein there is provided the additional step “g1” of removing, rinsing, and utilizing said appliance. 20. The method of claim 18, wherein there is further provided in step “g” the additional step “g1” of varying the frequency of said sonic waves to enhance cleaning of the appliance. 21. The method of claim 1, wherein in step “d” only enough fluid to activate said cleaning tablet is placed into said bath tray, so that in step “g” said appliance is primarily contacted by said flavored foam, wherein in step “g” said appliance is substantially immersed in said foam bath.