Dental instrument

Abstract

On one hand, the utility model provides a dental instrument which comprises a U-shaped base plate, U-shaped grooves capable of containing an upper jaw dentition and a lower jaw dentition are formed in the upper side and the lower side of the U-shaped base plate respectively, elastically-compressible occlusion blocks of a lattice structure are arranged at the positions, corresponding to teeth to be depressed, in the grooves, and under the action of occlusal force of a patient, the teeth to be depressed can be depressed. The occlusion block can be elastically compressed to generate rebound force capable of depressing the tooth to be depressed, the lattice structure can be elastically compressed in the direction of the pressure, and the geometric shape of the lattice structure in the direction perpendicular to the pressure is basically kept unchanged.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model generally relates to a dental instrument, and more particularly to a dental instrument capable of depressing teeth. Background Technology

[0002] Early intervention (e.g., intervention during the mixed dentition period) is necessary for various dental problems in children to achieve better results.

[0003] Currently, common dental instruments used in early interventional treatment include occlusion induction instruments and orofacial muscle training instruments. The basic structure of these instruments is a U-shaped base made of silicone, with grooves on the upper and lower sides to accommodate the upper and lower jaw dentition, respectively. However, existing dental instruments lack the function of indenting teeth; therefore, it is necessary to provide a new type of dental instrument. Utility Model Content

[0004] One aspect of this utility model provides a dental instrument comprising a U-shaped base with U-shaped grooves formed on its upper and lower sides to accommodate the maxillary and mandibular dentition, respectively. A dot-matrix structured elastically compressible occlusal block is provided within the groove at a position corresponding to the tooth to be indented. Under the action of the patient's biting force, the occlusal block can be elastically compressed, generating a rebound force capable of indenting the tooth. The dot-matrix structure can be elastically compressed in the direction of pressure, while its geometric shape remains essentially unchanged in the direction perpendicular to the pressure.

[0005] In some embodiments, the height of the occlusal block is determined based on the depressing force required to depress the tooth to be depressed, and the height of the occlusal block is a dimension along the occlusal direction.

[0006] In some implementations, the position of the occlusal block along the mesiodistal direction is determined based on the position of the tooth to be depressed.

[0007] In some embodiments, an upper occlusal module is fixedly installed in the U-shaped groove on the upper side of the base, corresponding to the other teeth in the patient's maxillary dentition besides the tooth to be depressed, with its upper side recessed towards the opposing jaw to form a cavity for accommodating the other teeth in the patient's maxillary dentition besides the tooth to be depressed; and a lower occlusal module is fixedly installed in the U-shaped groove on the lower side of the base, corresponding to the other teeth in the patient's maxillary dentition besides the tooth to be depressed, with its lower side recessed towards the opposing jaw to form a cavity for accommodating the other teeth in the patient's mandibular dentition besides the tooth to be depressed.

[0008] In some implementations, when the bottom surface of the first non-depressed tooth belonging to the same dentition as the first depressed tooth comes into contact with the corresponding occlusal module, the occlusal block corresponding to the first depressed tooth is compressed to a certain extent.

[0009] In some implementations, the occlusal block is more easily elastically compressed compared to the occlusal module.

[0010] In some embodiments, the engagement module and engagement block located in the same U-shaped groove are fixed to each other.

[0011] In some embodiments, the engagement module and the engagement block are respectively fixed within the U-shaped groove.

[0012] In some embodiments, the elastic modulus of the materials of the upper and lower engagement modules is lower than that of the material of the base plate.

[0013] In some embodiments, the geometry of the cavity accommodating the maxillary dentition is determined based on the patient's maxillary dentition, and the geometry of the cavity accommodating the mandibular dentition is determined based on the patient's mandibular dentition. Attached Figure Description

[0014] The above and other features of this application will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and their detailed description. It should be understood that these drawings only illustrate several exemplary embodiments according to this application and should not be considered as limiting the scope of protection of this application. Unless otherwise specified, the drawings are not necessarily to scale, and similar reference numerals denote similar parts.

[0015] Figure 1A A dental instrument according to one embodiment of this application is illustrated schematically;

[0016] Figure 1B schematically shown Figure 1A The assembly relationship between the components of the dental instrument is shown.

[0017] Figure 2A The illustration shows the occlusal block in its natural state and the corresponding decussation tooth in an example.

[0018] Figure 2B schematically shown Figure 2A The image shows the state after the indented tooth compresses the occlusal block.

[0019] Figure 3 A dental instrument according to yet another embodiment of this application is illustrated schematically;

[0020] Figure 4A The diagram illustrates the positional relationship between the tooth to be depressed and its adjacent teeth, the occlusal block, and the bottom surface of the occlusal module before occlusion.

[0021] Figure 4B The illustration shows the occlusal state. Figure 4AThe positional relationship between the tooth to be depressed and its adjacent teeth, the occlusal block, and the bottom surface of the occlusal module is shown; and

[0022] Figure 5 This schematically illustrates the configuration of the bite block and bite module in yet another example. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The following detailed description incorporates the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification. The illustrative embodiments mentioned in the specification and drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of this application. Those skilled in the art will understand, based on the teachings of this application, that many other embodiments can be employed and various changes can be made to the described embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of this application. It should be understood that the various aspects of this application illustrated herein can be arranged, substituted, combined, separated, and designed in many different configurations, all of which are within the scope of this application.

[0024] One aspect of this application provides a dental instrument comprising a U-shaped base with U-shaped grooves formed on its upper and lower sides to accommodate the maxillary and mandibular dentition, respectively. A dot-matrix structured elastically compressible occlusal block is provided in the groove corresponding to the tooth to be depressed. When a patient wearing the dental instrument bites down forcefully, the occlusal block is elastically compressed, and the resulting rebound force can depress the tooth to be depressed.

[0025] Please refer to Figure 1A-1B ,in, Figure 1A The dental instrument 100 of one embodiment of this application is illustrated schematically. Figure 1B schematically shown Figure 1A The assembly relationship between the components of the dental instrument 100 shown.

[0026] The dental instrument 100 includes a base 101 and occlusal blocks 103. The base 101 is generally U-shaped, with U-shaped grooves 1011 and 1013 on its upper and lower sides, respectively, to accommodate the maxillary and mandibular dentition. Occlusal blocks 1015 with a dot matrix structure are provided in the posterior tooth areas of grooves 1011 and 1013. When a patient wearing the dental instrument 100 bites down, the occlusal blocks 1015 will be elastically compressed, and the resulting rebound force can depress the corresponding teeth.

[0027] Under pressure, the lattice structure can be elastically compressed in the pressure direction, uniformly applying a rebound force, and its geometry remains basically unchanged in the direction perpendicular to the pressure, so as to avoid affecting adjacent teeth.

[0028] A lattice structure is a porous structure composed of cells made up of nodes and connecting nodes, arranged according to certain rules in three-dimensional space. Based on the uniformity of material distribution, lattice structures can be divided into uniform lattice structures and non-uniform lattice structures. Based on the type of cell, lattice structures can be divided into cubic lattice structures, body-centered cubic lattice structures, face-centered cubic lattice structures, octagonal lattice structures, etc. Based on mechanical behavior, lattice structures can be divided into tension-dominated lattice structures and bending-dominated lattice structures. Based on the forming material, lattice structures can be divided into metallic lattice structures and other lattice structures.

[0029] In one embodiment, a honeycomb lattice structure can be used.

[0030] In one embodiment, the interlocking block 1015 can be fixedly installed in the grooves 1011 and 1013 by one of the following methods: concave-convex mating structure, bonding, welding, fusion, and pressure fitting, etc.

[0031] Figure 1A-1B The dental instrument 100 shown is used to depress the maxillary and mandibular posterior teeth, and therefore it has occlusal blocks 1015 in both the maxillary and mandibular posterior tooth regions. Under the guidance of this application, it can be understood that the number of occlusal blocks and their position along the mesiodistal direction can be determined according to the teeth that the patient needs to depress.

[0032] Please refer to Figure 2A The diagram schematically shows a tooth 201 and its corresponding occlusal block 203. At this time, the tooth 201 has not yet compressed the occlusal block 203, and the occlusal block 203 is in a natural state.

[0033] Please refer to Figure 2B It schematically demonstrates Figure 2A The image shows the state after the tooth 201 compresses the occlusal block 203. Due to the compression of the tooth 201, the size of the occlusal block 203 along the occlusal direction is significantly smaller than its size in its natural state. Due to elastic compression, the occlusal block 203 will generate a rebound force F acting on the tooth 201 in the opposite direction of the occlusal direction, which can press the tooth 201 down.

[0034] Please refer to Figure 3 The image schematically illustrates a dental instrument 300 in yet another embodiment of this application.

[0035] The dental instrument 300 includes a base 301, an upper occlusal module 303, a lower occlusal module 305, and an occlusal block 307.

[0036] The base 301 is U-shaped in general, with U-shaped grooves 3011 and 3013 formed on its upper and lower sides respectively. The upper biting module 303 and biting block 307 are fixedly installed in the groove 3011, and the lower biting module 305 is fixedly installed in the groove 3013.

[0037] The upper occlusal module 303 and the lower occlusal module 305 are generally U-shaped elongated entities. The upper occlusal module 303 is recessed towards the opposing jaw on its top surface (the side near the opening of the slot 3011) to form a cavity 3031 for accommodating the patient's maxillary dentition. The lower occlusal module 305 is recessed towards the opposing jaw on its top surface (the side near the opening of the slot 3013) to form a cavity for accommodating the patient's mandibular dentition (not shown in the figure). The upper occlusal module 303 and the lower occlusal module 305 each have artificially designed shapes and dimensions, allowing them to be fixedly installed in slots 3011 and 3013, respectively.

[0038] Figure 3 The dental instrument 300 shown is used to depress the left maxillary posterior teeth. Therefore, there is no upper occlusal module 303 at the left maxillary posterior teeth; instead, there is a lattice-structured elastically compressible occlusal block 307. When a patient wearing the dental instrument 300 bites down forcefully, the occlusal block 307 will be elastically compressed, and the resulting rebound force can depress the corresponding teeth.

[0039] In one embodiment, the geometry of the cavities housing the teeth in the upper occlusal module 303 and the lower occlusal module 305 is such that, in the occlusal state, the occlusal block 307 is compressed by the tooth to be depressed so that the other teeth are in contact with the bottom surface (i.e. the surface near the opposing jaw) of the cavity housing the teeth in the upper occlusal module 303 or the lower occlusal module 305.

[0040] In one embodiment, the upper occlusal module 303 and the occlusal block 307 can be integrally formed. For example, they can be integral parts made of the same or different materials by 3D printing technology. The occlusal block 307 adopts a lattice structure so that it can be compressed by the biting of the upper and lower teeth, while the upper occlusal module 303 adopts a structure that makes its bottom surface less likely to be displaced by the biting of the upper and lower teeth relative to the occlusal block 307. For example, the upper occlusal module 307 can adopt a solid structure.

[0041] In another embodiment, the upper engagement module 303 and the engagement block 307 can be separately manufactured components, which are respectively fixed in the groove 3011.

[0042] In another embodiment, the upper engagement module 303 and the engagement block 307 can be separately manufactured components, which are fixed to each other and then fixed in the groove 3011.

[0043] In one embodiment, the geometry of the tooth receiving cavity 3031 of the upper occlusal module 303 and the tooth receiving cavity of the lower occlusal module 305 may be determined according to the patient's maxillary and mandibular dentition, respectively. For example, they may correspond to the corresponding portions of the patient's maxillary and mandibular dentition under a specific tooth layout.

[0044] In one embodiment, to make the dental instrument 300 easy to wear and improve wearing comfort, the upper occlusal module 303 and the lower occlusal module 305 can be made of a material with a low elastic modulus (softer). To ensure the overall mechanical performance of the dental instrument 300, the base 301 can be made of a material with a high elastic modulus.

[0045] In one embodiment, the upper engagement module 303 and the lower engagement module 305 may be made of silicone or TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane).

[0046] In one embodiment, the base plate 301 may be made of polycarbonate (PC), poly(ethyleneterephthalateco-1,4-cylclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate) (PETG), polyamide (PA), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), metal, carbon fiber, or glass fiber.

[0047] Please refer to Figure 4A This schematically illustrates the positional relationship between the tooth to be depressed 401 and the occlusal block 403 before they come into contact with the occlusal block 403 in an example, as well as the positional relationship between the tooth 405 adjacent to the tooth to be depressed 401 and the bottom surface 407 of the occlusal module.

[0048] Before the depressing tooth 401 comes into contact with the occlusal block 403, the occlusal block 403 is in a natural state, and the distance between the adjacent tooth 405 of the depressing tooth 401 and the bottom surface 407 of the occlusal module is relatively large.

[0049] Please refer to Figure 4B This schematically illustrates the state of occlusion. Figure 4A The positional relationship between the tooth to be depressed 401 and the occlusal block 403, and the positional relationship between the tooth 405 and the bottom surface 407 of the occlusal module are shown.

[0050] In the occlusal state, the tooth 405 contacts the bottom surface 407 of the occlusal module, and the upper and lower dentition are in the resting position (unable to occlude further). At this time, the tooth to be depressed 401 has already compressed the occlusal block 403 to a certain extent.

[0051] In the resting position, the height of the occlusal block 403 after compression (the dimension along the occlusal direction) is known. Therefore, the original height (i.e. the height in its natural state) of the occlusal block 403 can be determined / designed according to the required depressing force.

[0052] As mentioned earlier, the position and size of the occlusal block can be determined based on the tooth to be depressed. Figure 5 The configuration of the occlusal block 501 and occlusal module 503 in another example is illustrated schematically. In this example, the anterior teeth need to be depressed, so the occlusal block 501 is provided at the anterior teeth and the occlusal module 503 is provided at the remaining teeth.

[0053] Although various aspects and embodiments of this application have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments of this application will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon inspiration from this application. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for illustrative purposes only and not for limiting purposes. The scope and spirit of this application are determined solely by the appended claims.

[0054] Similarly, the diagrams may illustrate exemplary architectures or other configurations of the disclosed methods and systems, which aid in understanding the features and functions that may be included in the disclosed methods and systems. The claims are not limited to the exemplary architectures or configurations shown, and the desired features may be implemented with various alternative architectures and configurations. Furthermore, the order of the blocks given herein with respect to flowcharts, functional descriptions, and method claims should not be limited to various embodiments implemented in the same order to perform the said functions, unless explicitly indicated in the context.

[0055] Unless otherwise expressly stated, the terms and phrases used herein, and their variations thereof, should be interpreted as open-ended rather than restrictive. In some instances, the appearance of extended words and phrases such as “one or more,” “at least,” “but not limited to,” or other similar expressions should not be construed as an intention or necessity to indicate a narrower scope in examples where such extended expressions might not exist.

Claims

1. A dental instrument, characterized in that, It comprises a U-shaped base, on the upper and lower sides of which are formed U-shaped grooves capable of accommodating the upper and lower dental arches, respectively, and in which are arranged elastically compressible bite blocks in a dot-matrix structure corresponding to the teeth to be lowered, which, under the action of the occlusal force of the patient, can be elastically compressed to generate a counterforce capable of lowering the teeth to be lowered, the dot-matrix structure being elastically compressible in the direction of the pressure and substantially maintaining its geometry in the direction perpendicular to the pressure.

2. The dental instrument of claim 1, wherein, The height of the bite block is determined according to the lowering force required to lower the teeth to be lowered, the height of the bite block being the dimension in the occlusal direction.

3. The dental instrument of claim 1, wherein, The position of the bite block in the mesiodistal direction is determined according to the position of the teeth to be lowered.

4. The dental appliance of claim 1, wherein: The upper occlusal module is fixedly installed in the U-shaped groove on the upper side of the base corresponding to the teeth other than the teeth to be lowered in the upper dental arch of the patient, and the upper side of the upper occlusal module is recessed in the direction of the opposite jaw to form a cavity accommodating the teeth other than the teeth to be lowered in the upper dental arch of the patient. And The lower occlusal module is fixedly installed in the U-shaped groove on the lower side of the base corresponding to the teeth other than the teeth to be lowered in the upper dental arch of the patient, and the lower side of the lower occlusal module is recessed in the direction of the opposite jaw to form a cavity accommodating the teeth other than the teeth to be lowered in the lower dental arch of the patient.

5. The dental instrument of claim 4, wherein, When the first non-lowering tooth belonging to the same dental arch as the first tooth to be lowered and the bottom surface of the corresponding occlusal module are in contact, the bite block corresponding to the first tooth to be lowered is compressed to a certain extent.

6. The dental instrument of claim 4, wherein, Compared with the occlusal module, the bite block is more easily elastically compressed.

7. The dental instrument of claim 4, wherein, The occlusal module and the bite block located in the same U-shaped groove are fixed to each other.

8. The dental instrument of claim 4, wherein, The occlusal module and the bite block are fixed in the U-shaped groove, respectively.

9. The dental instrument of claim 4, wherein, The elastic modulus of the material of the upper occlusal module and the lower occlusal module is lower than the elastic modulus of the material of the base.

10. The dental instrument of claim 4, wherein, The geometry of the cavity accommodating the upper dental arch is determined according to the upper dental arch of the patient, and the geometry of the cavity accommodating the lower dental arch is determined according to the lower dental arch of the patient.

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