TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to compositions/devices for treating diseases of the oral cavity which compositions/devices are placed in or around the periodontol pocket or gingival sulcus. The invention also relates to methods of using the compositions/ devices in humans and lower animals suffering from such diseases. Periodontal disease, for example, is a major cause of tooth loss in adults. Tooth loss from periodontol disease is a signi¬ ficant problem beginning at age 35, but even by age 15 it is estimated that about 4 out of 5 persons already have gingivitis and 4 out of 10 have periodontitis. While good oral hygiene, as achieved by brushing the teeth with a cleansing dentifrice, may help reduce the incidence of periodontol disease, it does not necessarily prevent or eliminate its occurrence. This is because microorganisms contribute to both the initiation and progress of periodontol disease. Thus, in order to prevent or treat periodontol disease, these micro¬ organisms must be suppressed by some means other than simple mechanical scrubbing. Towards this end, there has been a great deal of research aimed at developing therapeutic dentifrices, mouthwashes, and methods of treating periodontol disease which are effective in suppressing these microorganisms.

Recent developments in the art are directed toward delivering the therapeutic agent directly to the periodontol pocket, in some cases in a controlled release formulation. Goodson et al . have described the use of a drug-filled polymer hollow fiber. (J.M. Goodson et al . , "Periodontal Therapy by Local Delivery of Tetra- cycline", J. Clin. Periodontol. 6, 83 (1979), J. Lindhe et al., "Local Tetracycline Delivery Using Hollow Fiber Devices in Perio¬ dontal Therapy", J. Clin. Periodontol. 6, 141 (1979) and R.L. Dunn

et al., "Monolithic Fibers for Controlled Delivery of Tetra- cycline", in -Proc. Ninth Int. Symposium on Controlled Release of Bioactive Materials. Ft. Lauderdale, FL, July (1982). This device is tied around a tooth and gently pressed below the margin of the gingiva so that it resides in the periodontol pocket, and is capable of delivering an effective dose of 2.5 micrograms of tetracycline per day per periodontol pocket for a prolonged period of a week or more. Similar results have been obtained by Coventry and Newman (J. Coventry and H. N. Newman, "Experimental Use of a Slow Release Device Employing Chlorhexidine Gluconate in Areas of Acute Periodontal Inflammation", J. Clin. Periodontol. 9, 129 (1982) and Addy et al . (M. Addy et al., "The Development and in vitro Evaluation of Acrylic Strips and Dialysis Tubing for Local Drug Delivery", J. Periodontol. 53, 693 (1982) using acrylic strips 1mm or more long, impregnated with chlorhexidine, tetracycline or metronidazole, which were inserted into the periodontol pocket with tweezers. Such a strip, formed from ethylcellulose impregnated with metronidazole, is disclosed by Loesche in U.S. Patent No. 4.568.538 (February 1986). Another strip, employing a water soluble polymer of a particular elasticity and viscosity, is disclosed by Suzuki et al . in U.S. Patent No. 4.569.837.

In addition to the above approaches, the prior art also discloses using putty-like compositions containing an anti i- crobial for insertion into the periodontol pocket. A material disclosed as suitable is a copolymer of lactide and glycolide. See U.S. Patent 4.650.665. March 17, 1987 to Kronenthal et al., incorporated herein by reference.

The present inventor has found that a small chip, cone or strip loaded to a fairly high level with drug active can provide excellent release of the active into or around the periodontol pocket.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide devices/compositions suitable for use in or around the periodontol pocket.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide devices/compositions which are constructed of particular polymers.

It is. still a further object of the present invention to provide a method of treating periodontol disease. All percentages and ratios used in here are by weight unless otherwise indicated.

All measurements are made at 25*C unless otherwise indicated.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to devices/compositions and methods for treating diseases of the oral cavity by inserting the devices/compositions into the periodontol pocket or around said pocket of humans and/or lower animals suffering from such diseases. The devices/compositions comprise biocompatibie, non-bioerodible polymers and an agent providing relief of oral cavity diseases. The devices/compositions are flexible and solid and have approximate size and shape for simple placement at a disease site.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The essential as well as optional components of the devices/ compositions of this invention are described below. Biocompatible/Non-Bioerodible Polvmers

The polymers which are useful in forming the compositions/ articles of the present invention include any polymer which is not bioerodible, is biocompatibie and is capable of being formed into a solid. Included are polymers such as polyurethanes, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers, collagen, poly isobutylene, cellulosic polymers, ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymers, polystyrene, poly- vinyl chloride, polycarbonate, and polyethylene among many others. The preferred polymers are ethylene vinyl acetate, poly iso- , butylene and polyurethane with ethylene vinyl acetate being the preferred material. Drug Active

The drugs useful for use in the present devices/compositions are varied and many and include any agent which provides treatment or prevention management of diseases of the oral cavity. Some therapeutic agents which are amenable to delivery by this means

and are potentially of value for periodontol therapy, include (but are not limited to) antibacterial and antifungal agents such as iodine, tr.iclosan sulfonamides, mercurials, bisbiguanides or phenolics; antibiotics such as the tetracyclines, neomycin, kana ycin, metronidazole, or clindamycin; antiinflammatory agents such as aspirin, naproxen, ibuprofen, flurbiprofen, indomethacin, eugenol , or hydrocortisone; anticalculus agents such as any of the soluble pyrophosphate salts some of which are described in U.S. Patent 4,515,772, May 7, 1985 to Parran incorporated herein by reference; immune-suppressive or stimulatory agents such as methotrexate or levamasole; dentinal desensitizing agents such as strontium chloride or sodium fluoride; odor masking agents such as peppermint oil or chlorophyll; immune reagents such as im uno- globulins or antigens; local anesthetic agents such as lidocaine or benzocaine; nutritional agents such as amino acids, essential fats, and vitamin C; antioxidants such as alpha-tocopherol and butylated hydroxy toluene; lipopolysaccharide complexing agents such as polymyxin; or peroxides such as urea peroxide. It is recognized that in certain forms of therapy, combinations of these agents in the same delivery system may be useful in order to obtain an optimal effect. Thus, for example, an antibacterial and an antiinflammatory agent may be combined in a single delivery system to provide combined effectiveness.

The drug active is used at a level of from about 0.5% to about 95%, preferably from about 15% to about 85%, most preferably from about 20% to about 80% of the devices/compositions. The devices/compositions, for example, are designed to release drug to provide steady state average concentrations of active of from about lOμg to about 5000μg, preferably from about 25μg to about 2500μg, most preferably from about 50μg to about 2000μg per illiliter of the gingival crevicular fluid of a treated perio¬ dontol pocket, per one device unit. The steady state release rates can be altered by varying component ratios of the compo¬ sitions, as well as by amount of device at a treatment site. The steady state conditions are preferably used since initial bursts

are accounted for as well as delays in release. For example, in the case of .a ten (10) day therapy, average steady state is generally reached in about one to two days. Optional Components In addition to the drug active, the devices/compositions of the present invention may include a variety of optional compo¬ nents. Such components include, but are not limited to, surfac¬ tants, viscosity controlling agents, complexing agents, anti- oxidants, other polymers such as carboxymethyl cellulose, gums such as guar gum, waxes/oils such as castor wax, castor oil, glycerol, dibutyl phthalate and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate as well as many others. If used, these optional components comprise from about 0.1% to about 20%, preferably from about 0.5% to about 5% of the total composition/device. The devices/compositions of this invention are in shapes such as strips, chips or cones. The sizes of these shapes will generally fall into the following ranges: Strips

Average Thickness: 0.75 ( ± 0.5 mm) Average Width: 1.0 ( ± 0.5 mm)

Average Length: Cut as needed to fit a pocket, generally ranging from about 3 mm to about 12 mm Chios Average thickness: 0.75 ( ± 0.5 mm)

Average width of pointed end: 0.3 ( _. + 0.25 mm) Average width of wider end: 1.5 ( ± 0.5 mm) Average Length: 15 ( + 5 mm)

The length is cut at either end to fit a periodontol cavity by a dental professional at the time of use. Cones

Average pointed end diameter: 0.25 ( ± 0.2 mm) Average thicker end diameter: 1.5 ( ± 0.5 mm) Average length of cone: 15 ( + 5 mm) The length is cut at either end to fit a periodontol cavity by a dental professional at the time of use.

METHOD OF MANUFACTURE Method of manufacturing the devices/compositions of this invention are disclosed following the Examples for the purpose of illustration. The following Examples further describe and demonstrate the preferred embodiments within the scope of the present invention. The Examples are given solely for the purpose of illustration and are not to be construed as limitations of the present invention as many variations thereof are possible without departing from its spirit and scope.

EXAMPLE I The following is an exemplary composition/device of the present invention.

Parts per 100 Tetracycline hydrochloride 70

Ethylene-vinyl Acetate 30

EXAMPLE 2 The following is another exemplary composition/device of the present invention. Parts per 100

Metronidazole 57

Bis(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate 3

Ethylene-vinyl Acetate 40

Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate is dioctyl phthalate, and is used as a plasticizer to increase diffusion of a drug from the polymer.

EXAMPLE 3 The following is another exemplary composition/device of the present invention.

Parts per 100 Minocycline hydrochloride 60

Sodium chloride 5

Ethylene-vinyl Acetate 35

Sodium chloride, as a soluble salt, provides an increase in internal osmotic pressure to increase drug release from the device.

EXAMPLE 4 The following is yet another exemplary composition of the present invention.

Parts per 100 Clindamycin hydrochloride 30

Liquid paraffin 7

Poly isobutylene (low molecular weight) 26 Poly isobutylene (high molecular weight) 37 Liquid paraffin or mineral oil is a solvent plasticizer for poly isobutylene.

EXAMPLE 5 The following is another exemplary composition of the present invention.

Parts per 100 Chlorhexidine diacetate 35

Tetra sodium pyrophosphate 10

Polyurethane 55

Pyrophosphate is included to provide effects on dental calculus.

EXAMPLE 6 The following is another exemplary composition of the present invention.

Parts per 100 Ciprofloxacin 30

Poly isobutylene 20 Polypropenoic acid 10

Polyurethane 40

Polypropenoic acid is included in this example to absorb sub- gingival fluid, to keep the application site dry for the poly isobutylene component to develop adhesiveness at the application site.

The above described devices/compositions may be prepared by charging the polymer into a jacketed and heated mixer equipped with high shear Sigma type rotor blades. The mixer is heated to a temperature to melt or soften the polymer. The drug is added to the mixer and the mixing process is continued until a homogeneous blend is obtained. Additives other than a drug and polymer can be added to obtain a homogeneous blend.

The composition blend is removed from the mixer, and is compressed between platens of a hydraulic press such as a Carver press, using spacers to obtain the desired thickness. Although not necessary, it is desirable to have the platens of the hydraulic press jacketed, which allows heating and cooling of the material during the compression process. Upon compression, the material is obtained in form of a uniform thickness film. Devices of this development are cut into suitable size and shape using this film. Cone shaped devices, for example, are prepared from thin films having thickness of about 0.01 mm and rolling to form a cone shape.

Other alternative mixing and forming methods may be used to obtain devices/compositions of this invention. The appropriate sizes and shapes are set forth on page 5 of this application. WHAT IS CLAIMED: