Personalized orthodontic bite gum

Abstract

The present application relates to a kind of personalized orthodontic bite gum, the bite gum is used to cooperate with the use of invisible aligner, the bite gum is horseshoe structure in horizontal plane view, it is wedge structure of back thin front thick in sagittal plane view;The bite gum includes bite gum pad, buccal side, lingual side, the buccal side and the lingual side extend to dental arch buccal side and lingual side from the bite gum pad;The bite gum is provided with the avoidance of corresponding arrangement with the invisible aligner, the avoidance is used to avoid weak position on the invisible aligner.The bite gum provided by the present application is mainly aimed at the cases of tooth extraction, tooth defect, replacement tooth period, tooth occlusal surface design, etc.Special device case, by setting avoidance, the bite gum can avoid weak position on the invisible aligner, prevent the deformation of aligner due to the use of bite gum, affect the treatment effect, reduce the use requirement to patient, improve the use efficiency of bite gum, save time.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of orthodontics and relates to a personalized orthodontic bite. Background Technology

[0002] During clear aligner treatment, orthodontic patients need to wear clear aligners. To ensure a close fit between the aligners and teeth and maximize their corrective effect, chewing gum is typically used to improve the fit. After wearing the aligners, chewing gum is placed directly between the upper and lower teeth for repeated, multi-site biting movements. This ensures a tight fit, allowing the aligners to exert their force effectively on the teeth, promoting periodontal tissue remodeling, and thus improving the efficiency of tooth movement and the achievement of treatment goals. If the aligners do not fit properly, additional "reboot" treatment is required, which may affect the treatment outcome and prolong the treatment course. This not only wastes the patient's time but also increases the workload of the orthodontist. Furthermore, patients often experience changes in eating habits during treatment; chewing gum can help patients exercise their masticatory muscles, reducing the risk of facial muscle thinning ("braces face") caused by masticatory muscle atrophy. Therefore, chewing gum is particularly important for patients undergoing orthodontic treatment using clear aligner technology.

[0003] Currently, traditional orthodontic bite blocks are typically made of silicone or shape-memory polyurethane, with relatively simple structures and limited functions. For example, the bite block provided in CN216628755U features a horseshoe-shaped design with recessed grooves to ensure a close fit to the teeth. The bite block provided in CN215228616U also features a horseshoe-shaped design, allowing for simultaneous biting of multiple teeth, and with force-relieving holes to ensure even force distribution on all teeth.

[0004] However, existing bite gels lack personalized design and present numerous problems. For example, in cases involving tooth extraction or missing teeth, clear aligners often create voids in the dentition at the site of the missing tooth; in cases during the mixed dentition stage, clear aligners often have eruption caps or voids in the missing tooth; and in cases involving mandibular pre-guided teeth, clear aligners require the addition of a pre-guided device. Existing bite gels cannot automatically avoid these vulnerable areas, easily leading to adverse deformation of the clear aligners during use, applying inappropriate force to the teeth, and affecting the orthodontic outcome. Furthermore, to avoid these vulnerable areas, patients often need to use bite gels with great care, sometimes even requiring the use of a mirror for monitoring. Secondly, teeth gradually move during orthodontic treatment, and existing bite gels cannot be personalized for different stages of treatment. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the problems existing in the prior art, the purpose of this invention is to provide a personalized orthodontic bite block that is custom-made to effectively avoid the weak points of invisible aligners and is convenient for patients to use.

[0006] To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution:

[0007] A personalized orthodontic bite block for use with an invisible aligner, the bite block having a horseshoe-shaped structure in horizontal view and a wedge-shaped structure that is thinner at the back and thicker at the front in sagittal view.

[0008] Preferably, the bite pad includes a bite pad, a buccal side, and a lingual side, the buccal side and the lingual side extending from the bite pad to the buccal and lingual sides of the dental arch; the vertical thickness of the bite pad between the molars is 2mm-4mm, and the vertical thickness of the anterior segment is 4mm-8mm; the width of the bite pad in the posterior segment covers the occlusal surface of the posterior teeth, and the width of the bite pad in the anterior segment covers the incisal edge of the anterior teeth and extends at least 1mm to the labial and lingual sides.

[0009] Preferably, the bite block has a clearance portion corresponding to the clear aligner, the clearance portion being used to avoid weak points on the clear aligner.

[0010] Preferably, the avoidance part includes one or more of a leading avoidance groove, an eruption cap avoidance groove, and a cavitation avoidance groove, and the avoidance part runs from the lingual or palatal side of the maxillary or mandibular invisible aligner.

[0011] Preferably, the bite block has at least one positioning part, and the invisible aligner has a positioning tooth, the positioning part being adapted to the positioning tooth.

[0012] Preferably, the positioning part includes an outer cap disposed on the labial / buccal side of the positioning tooth, an inner cap disposed on the lingual side, and a positioning groove adapted to the crown of the positioning tooth; the outer cap and the inner cap extend vertically to the labial / buccal or lingual side of the positioning tooth, and the height is at least half of the crown height of the positioning tooth.

[0013] Preferably, based on the tooth movement range in the 3D tooth movement plan and the wear rate of the chewing adhesive used by the patient, the invisible aligner and the chewing adhesive used in each treatment stage are manufactured using 3D printing technology; wherein, the chewing adhesive in each treatment stage covers both the pre-movement and post-movement positions of all teeth in each treatment stage; and, the avoidance part is manufactured using 3D printing technology so that the avoidance part can avoid all weak points of the invisible aligner in this stage; the two teeth with the smallest movement in this stage are selected as the positioning teeth, and the corresponding positioning part is manufactured using 3D printing technology based on the positioning teeth.

[0014] Preferably, the bite block has multiple replaceable avoidance portions, each of which has a different avoidance groove. Each avoidance groove is used to avoid weak points on the clear aligner made in the corresponding treatment stage. Each avoidance portion is provided with several pins, and the bite block is provided with a corresponding mounting groove. The mounting groove is provided with a hole that matches the pin. The pin and the hole cooperate to fix the avoidance portion in the mounting groove.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the personalized orthodontic bite provided by the present invention has the following beneficial technical effects:

[0016] 1. The shape of the chewing gum is a wedge shape that is thinner at the back and thicker at the front within the resting jaw range, which conforms to the physiological occlusal state and is conducive to even occlusion and the health of the temporomandibular joint.

[0017] 2. Positioning parts are set on the chewable to allow it to quickly and accurately fit the teeth, improving safety and convenience of use.

[0018] 3. The bite block provided by this invention is mainly designed for patients undergoing tooth extraction, missing teeth, or early orthodontic treatment during the mixed dentition stage. By incorporating avoidance features, the bite block can bypass weak points on the clear aligners, preventing deformation of the aligners due to the bite block, thus reducing the impact on treatment effectiveness, lowering the requirements for patients, and minimizing complications. Simultaneously, this bite block is also suitable for all clear aligner cases, allowing simultaneous biting of multiple teeth, reducing the time spent using the bite block, and significantly improving efficiency.

[0019] 4. Based on the set of changes in tooth movement at different stages, personalized, stage-specific chewables are made to match the current occlusal state. The chewables adhere to the occlusal surfaces and incisal edges of all teeth, allowing each tooth to bear force evenly at the same time, improving the efficiency of chewable use and saving time.

[0020] 5. By setting replaceable avoidance parts, and each avoidance part is equipped with different avoidance grooves, weak positions on the invisible aligner in the corresponding treatment stage can be avoided, which can simplify the preparation process of the bite gel and save preparation materials. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a chewable toy;

[0022] Figure 2 A partial schematic diagram of the avoidance section;

[0023] Figure 3 A partial schematic diagram of the avoidance section;

[0024] Figure 4 A partial schematic diagram of the avoidance section;

[0025] Figure 5This is a schematic diagram of the handle.

[0026] The meanings of the symbols marked in the figure are as follows:

[0027] 1. Biting toy; 11. Biting pad; 12. Cheek side; 13. Tongue side; 14. Avoidance part; 141. Leading avoidance groove; 142. Eruption cap avoidance groove; 143. Cavitation avoidance groove; 144. Pin; 15. Positioning part; 151. Outer wrap cap; 152. Inner wrap cap; 153. Positioning groove; 16. Mounting groove; 17. Handle; 171. Connector. Detailed Implementation

[0028] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments.

[0029] Therefore, the following detailed description of embodiments of the present invention is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention, but merely illustrates some embodiments of the invention. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0030] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features and technical solutions in the present invention can be combined with each other.

[0031] It should be noted that similar labels and letters in the following figures indicate similar items. Therefore, once an item is defined in one figure, it does not need to be further defined and explained in subsequent figures.

[0032] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that the terms "upper," "lower," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, or the orientation or positional relationship commonly used when the product of this invention is in use, or the orientation or positional relationship commonly understood by those skilled in the art. These terms are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this invention. In addition, the terms "first," "second," etc., are only used to distinguish descriptions and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0033] As attached Figure 1As shown, this invention provides a personalized orthodontic bite block 1 for use with invisible aligners. The bite block 1 includes a bite pad 11, a buccal side 12, and a lingual side 13, with the buccal side 12 and lingual side 13 extending from the bite pad 11 to the buccal and lingual sides of the dental arch, respectively. The bite pad 11 has a horseshoe-shaped structure in horizontal view and a wedge-shaped structure that is thinner at the back and thicker at the front in sagittal (anteroposterior) view. In use, the inner buccal side abuts against the buccal side 12, and the lingual side abuts against the lingual side 13. The maxillary and mandibular invisible aligners bite onto the upper and lower tooth surfaces of the bite pad 11, respectively.

[0034] In sagittal (anteroposterior) view, the bite block is wedge-shaped, thinner at the back and thicker at the front, conforming to the sagittal morphology of the upper and lower dentition when the mouth is open. It covers the occlusal surfaces of the posterior teeth and the incisal edges of the anterior teeth of all the upper and lower teeth being treated. The vertical thickness between the molars is within 2mm-4mm (resting occlusal space), and the vertical thickness of the anterior segment is approximately 4mm-8mm, which is beneficial for temporomandibular joint health. The sagittal length of the bite block covers the distal marginal ridge of the last tooth of the upper or lower jaw being treated to the labial incisal edge of the most labial tooth of the upper or lower jaw, ensuring that each tooth can bite simultaneously. In horizontal view, the bite block has a horseshoe-shaped structure, covering the occlusal surfaces of the posterior teeth and the incisal edges of the anterior teeth of all the upper and lower jaw teeth being treated, ensuring that the bite block can contact multiple teeth simultaneously, greatly improving the efficiency of the bite block and saving time. The bite pad features a trapezoidal design, with its width gradually increasing from front to back. Specifically, the width of the bite pad in the posterior segment must at least cover the occlusal surface of the posterior teeth, and the width in the anterior segment must at least cover the incisal edge of the anterior teeth and extend at least 1mm towards the labial and lingual sides to ensure the bite pad's strength. For example, the width is set to approximately 12mm for the molar segment, 10mm for the premolar segment, and approximately 5mm for the anterior segment. Preferably, the actual width of the bite pad is customized based on the patient's digital model, with the width set to be approximately 1mm-3mm wider on both the buccal and lingual sides than the crown width. The bite pad is made of food-grade silicone, offering good elasticity and resilience, reducing soreness during use.

[0035] Preferably, the bite block 1 provided by the present invention has a clearance portion 14 corresponding to the clear aligner. This clearance portion 14 is used to avoid weak points on the clear aligner, such as air bubbles, pre-emergence devices, and eruption caps. The bite block extends from the lingual and / or buccal side of the weak point of the clear aligner, conforming to the weak point. The clearance portion 14 includes a pre-emergence clearance groove 141, an eruption cap clearance groove 142, and an air bubble clearance groove 143. The above-mentioned bite block design is mainly aimed at patients undergoing tooth extraction, missing teeth, or early orthodontic treatment during the mixed dentition period. By providing the clearance portion 14, which runs from the lingual or palatal side of the maxillary or mandibular clear aligner, the bite block can avoid weak points on the clear aligner, preventing deformation of the clear aligner due to the use of the bite block, thus affecting the treatment effect and reducing the requirements for patient use.

[0036] Preferably, a positioning part 15 is provided on the bite 1, and a positioning tooth is provided on the invisible aligner, with the positioning part 15 fitting the positioning tooth.

[0037] Preferably, the positioning part 15 includes an outer cap 151 disposed on the labial / buccal side of the positioning tooth, an inner cap 152 disposed on the lingual side, and a positioning groove 153 adapted to the crown of the positioning tooth. The outer cap 151 and the inner cap 152 extend vertically to the labial / buccal or lingual side of the positioning tooth, and their height is at least half the height of the crown of the positioning tooth. If attachments are also bonded to the positioning tooth, the inner and outer caps should also avoid the attachments. The positioning teeth can conventionally be set to one on each side. If the patient's tooth crown is short, the number of positioning teeth can be increased. According to the above embodiment, by providing a positioning part on the chewing gum, it is convenient for the patient to position the chewing gum in the oral cavity when using it, avoiding excessive deviation in the placement of the chewing gum, which would reduce the effectiveness of use.

[0038] Preferably, the bite block 1 is designed in three dimensions based on the 3D tooth movement plan of the clear aligner patient and manufactured using 3D printing technology. Specifically, based on the tooth movement range in the 3D tooth movement plan and the wear rate of the bite block used by the patient, the clear aligner and the bite block 1 for each treatment stage are manufactured using 3D printing technology. The bite block 1 for each treatment stage covers both the pre- and post-movement positions of all teeth within that stage, i.e., the union of the pre- and post-movement positions. Furthermore, a clearance portion 14 is manufactured using 3D printing technology, enabling it to avoid all weak points of the clear aligner within that stage, i.e., the union of all weak points of the clear aligner within that stage. The two teeth with the smallest movement in that stage are selected as positioning teeth, and corresponding positioning portions 15 are manufactured using 3D printing technology based on these positioning teeth.

[0039] Because teeth gradually move during orthodontic treatment, a 3D-printed bite block is created at regular intervals to adapt to the changes in tooth position. According to the above implementation method, it can be ensured that each tooth can bite onto the bite block during each treatment stage without being affected by tooth movement, while avoiding all weak points of the clear aligners during this stage, thus ensuring the safety of the bite block use.

[0040] Preferably, see Appendix Figure 2 - Appendix Figure 4 As shown, the bite block has multiple replaceable clearance parts 14, each clearance part 14 is provided with a different clearance groove, each clearance groove is used to avoid weak positions on the invisible orthodontic appliance made in the corresponding treatment stage; each clearance part 14 is provided with several pins 144, and the bite block 1 is provided with a corresponding mounting groove 16, the mounting groove 16 is provided with a socket that matches the pins 144, the pins 144 cooperate with the socket to fix the clearance part 14 in the mounting groove 16.

[0041] By employing the preferred embodiment described above, replaceable clearance parts are provided, each with a different clearance groove, to avoid weak points on the clear aligner during the corresponding treatment stage. Therefore, when using 3D printing technology to manufacture the bite box, only one universal bite box needs to be produced. During use, the corresponding clearance part is selected based on the different weak points on the clear aligner during each treatment stage and installed into the mounting groove on the bite box to ensure the safety of the bite box. This design simplifies the bite box preparation process and saves materials. Alternatively, multiple replaceable positioning parts can be provided, with corresponding mounting grooves on the bite box. The corresponding positioning part is selected based on the different positions of the positioning teeth on the clear aligner during each treatment stage and installed into the mounting groove on the bite box.

[0042] Preferably, such as Figure 5 As shown, the bite block 1 also includes a handle 17 for use with it. The handle 17 consists of a connector 171 and a handle body. An interface (not shown in the figure) for use with the handle 17 is provided at the center of the buccal side 12 of the bite block. After connecting the connector 171 to the interface, the bite block 1 can be placed into the oral cavity by holding the handle 17. The connector 171 is spherical, and the interface on the buccal side 12 of the bite block is a slightly smaller spherical cavity than the connector 171. This allows the handle 17 and the bite block 1 to be detachably connected. When not in use, they can be separated for easy storage. In use, simply insert the connector 171 into the interface for convenient use by the patient.

[0043] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the present invention and are not intended to limit the technical solutions described herein. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the above embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above. Therefore, any modifications or equivalent substitutions to the present invention, as well as all technical solutions and improvements that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention, are covered within the scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A personalized bite gum for use with a clear aligner, the bite gum characterized in that: The bite block has a horseshoe structure in a horizontal plane and a wedge structure in a sagittal plane, with the front being thicker than the back. The bite block has a relief part corresponding to the aligner, which is used to avoid the weak position on the aligner. The bite block has a plurality of replaceable relief parts, each of which has a different relief groove for avoiding the weak position on the aligner of the corresponding treatment stage. Each relief part is provided with a plurality of latches, and the bite block is provided with a mounting groove corresponding to the latches, which is provided with a plug hole matched with the latches. The latches and the plug hole cooperate to fix the relief part in the mounting groove.

2. The chewing gum of claim 1, wherein: The bite block includes a bite block pad, a buccal side, and a lingual side, which extend from the bite block pad to the buccal side and the lingual side of the dental arch. The vertical thickness of the bite block pad between the molars is 2-4 mm, and the vertical thickness of the anterior tooth section is 4-8 mm. The width of the posterior tooth section of the bite block pad covers the occlusal surface of the posterior teeth, and the width of the anterior tooth section covers the incisal edge of the anterior teeth and extends at least 1 mm to the labial and lingual sides.

3. The chewing gum of claim 2, wherein: The relief part includes one or more of a lead-in relief groove, an eruption cap relief groove, and a bubble relief groove, and runs from the lingual or palatal side of the upper or lower aligner.

4. The chewing gum of claim 3, wherein: The bite block is provided with at least one positioning part, and the aligner is provided with a positioning tooth. The positioning part is adapted to the positioning tooth.

5. The chewing gum of claim 4, wherein: The positioning part includes an outer wraparound cap provided on the labial and buccal side of the positioning tooth, an inner wraparound cap provided on the lingual side, and a positioning groove adapted to the crown of the positioning tooth. The outer wraparound cap and the inner wraparound cap extend vertically to the labial and buccal side or the lingual side of the positioning tooth, and the height is at least half of the height of the crown of the positioning tooth.

6. The chewing gum of claim 5, wherein: According to the tooth movement range in the 3D tooth movement scheme and the wear speed of the patient using the bite block, the aligner and the bite block used in each treatment stage are made by 3D printing technology. Each treatment stage of the bite block covers all teeth in the two positions before and after movement in each treatment stage.

7. The chewing gum of claim 6 wherein: The relief part is made by 3D printing technology, so that it can avoid all weak positions of the aligner in this stage. The two teeth with the smallest movement in this stage are selected as the positioning tooth, and the corresponding positioning part is made by 3D printing technology according to the positioning tooth.

8. The chewing gum of claim 7, wherein: The bite block also includes a handle used in conjunction therewith, which is composed of a joint and a handle body. An interface is provided at the center of the buccal side of the bite block for use with the handle. The joint is spherical, and the interface is a spherical cavity slightly smaller than the joint. The joint can be inserted into the spherical cavity.

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