Biomimetic dental kit for chewing simulators

Abstract

The invention relates to a dental kit apparatus designed to evaluate the wear performance of dental materials used in restorative and prosthetic dentistry through a biomimetic approach. Since conventional chewing simulators fail to adequately reproduce the natural tooth morphology and realistic contact mechanics, the present invention provides a test system that simulates three-dimensional loading conditions more accurately — specifically adapted to the anatomy of molar teeth, and applicable in both single and multiple (sequential) configurations. The kit enables tribological performance analysis of various materials, including monolithic zirconia, composite resins, ceramics, and amalgam, thereby facilitating more reliable material selection in restorative dentistry practices.

Description

[0001] BIOMIMETIC DENTAL KIT FOR CHEWING SIMULATORS TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The invention relates to a dental kit based entirely on biomimetic principles, designed to determine the wear and deformation performance of dental materials used in restorative and prosthetic dental treatments depending on contact mechanics. The biomimetic dental kit in question is specifically designed to match the morphology of molar teeth and aims to more accurately determine the wear resistance of different dental materials under 3-dimensional loading conditions and the resulting real-time product lifespans more accurately. This allows for the evaluation of the realistic tribological behavior of materials used in restorative dentistry and the achievement of more reliable results in clinical applications. Given the increasing costs and long waiting times for patients undergoing dental treatment, it is expected that tests suitable for biomimetic design and dental components modeled and tested through these tests will provide benefits in terms of both time and financial costs.

[0003] BACKGROUND

[0004] In recent years, significant advances have been made in the field of restorative and prosthetic dental treatments, and chewing simulators specifically are widely used to evaluate the wear performance of dental materials. While these simulators aim to standardize the wear processes of teeth, most existing systems do not fully reflect realistic biomechanical loading conditions and provide insights for material-focused comparisons. Test methods currently in use generally disregard the three-dimensional morphology of teeth and the resulting contact mechanics and utilize flat or standardized materials as antagonist surfaces. This situation reduces the accuracy of the deformation and wear data obtained in relation to clinical reality.

[0005] In traditional chewing simulators, surfaces such as metal or ceramic discs are typically used to examine the tribological performance of restorative materials. However, these approaches do not represent the actual contact conditions between the natural tooth surface and the antagonist tooth. Therefore, the data obtained on the wear mechanisms and durability of restorative materials have limited validity in clinical applications. Furthermore, since most existing systems do not consider the anatomical structure of molar teeth that bear major occlusal loads, there aredeficiencies in the simulation of realistic force and motion dynamics.

[0006] Especially, research on integrating biomimetic design principles into restorative dentistry is still in its infancy, and most existing chewing simulators do not incorporate these principles. While biomimetic structures could better simulate the natural load distribution and wear processes of teeth, commercially available simulators currently do not fully utilize this potential due to their flat antagonist surfaces and limited movement capabilities. On the other side, existing wear test setups typically focus on vertical forces, while transverse movements and dynamic load changes are overlooked.

[0007] The limitations and inadequacies of existing technical solutions, the inability of test kits used in restorative and prosthetic dental treatments to provide a fully adequate biomechanical representation, the insufficient consideration of the natural 3D morphology of teeth in testing processes, and the use of flat or standardized materials as antagonist surfaces in existing test systems have necessitated development in the field of dental test kits.

[0008] AIM OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The invention relates to a biomimetic dental kit for evaluating the wear performance of materials used in restorative and prosthetic dentistry. This kit consists of components such as an antagonist mold, antagonist tooth (maxillary molar), antagonist resin, lower tooth (mandibular molar), lower resin, and lower mold, each designed to simulate natural tooth morphology and real-time loading conditions (active loads from three axes). The antagonist and lower teeth are modeled to meet physiological loading conditions, while the resin components, which are molded in situ and exhibit a palatal effect, are used to secure the teeth to the molds.

[0010] One aim of the invention is to obtain a dental test kit that evaluates the wear performance of dental materials under realistic conditions and strongly predicts the comfort-oriented outcomes of long-lasting artificial tooth treatments. Current chewing simulators do not accurately reflect natural tooth morphology and provide comparative analyses that neglect lateral and axial loads, therefore the wear resistance of dental materials and the resulting real-time performance lifetimes cannot be assessed with sufficient accuracy. The developed biomimetic dental kit, thanks to its design conforming to the anatomical structure of molar teeth, can determine the wear performance of dental materials under realistic tribologicalloading conditions. This allows for a more accurate analysis of the long-term durability of materials used in restorative and prosthetic treatments.

[0011] Another aim of the invention is to obtain a dental test kit that can be integrated into existing chewing simulators. The biomimetic dental kit developed by the invention allows for more comprehensive and realistic tests to be carried out by integrating it into existing chewing simulators. In this way, existing laboratory infrastructures can be used more effectively without the need to develop a new system.

[0012] LIST OF FIGURES

[0013] Figure 1. Biomimetic dental kit for chewing simulators

[0014] Explanation of References in the Figures

[0015] 1. Antagonist mold

[0016] 2. Antagonist tooth chamber

[0017] 3. Lower mold

[0018] 4. Lower tooth chamber

[0019] 5. Lower table fixator

[0020] 6. Countersunk bolt

[0021] 7. Nut

[0022] 8. Bolt

[0023] 9. Resin

[0024] 10. Clamping bolt

[0025] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] The invention relates to a biomimetic dental kit for evaluating the wear performance of materials used in restorative and prosthetic dental treatments. The biomimetic dental kit subject to the invention comprises the following:

[0027] a. an antagonist tooth chamber (2) at the bottom to position the antagonist tooth and a thermoset resin (9) that is compressed with a mold four clamping bolts (10) positioned at 90° intervals around the antagonist tooth holder (2) to prevent relative movement between the upper and lower parts, and an antagonist mold (1) with a rotary symmetrical structure that connects to the existing chewing simulator from the upper part. b. a lower tooth receptacle to position the lower tooth on the upper part (4) andfour clamping bolts (10) positioned at 90° intervals around the lower tooth chamber (4) to prevent relative movement between the mold and the thermoset resin (9) when compressed, a lower mold (3) with a rotary symmetrical structure that connects to the lower table fixator (5) from the lower part,

[0028] c. a lower table fixator (5) positioned on the existing chewing simulator from the lower part, containing a socket head screw (6) located in the central part to secure it to the lower mold,

[0029] d. At least two nuts (7) and bolts (8) to secure the lower table fixator (5) to the chewing simulator,

[0030] e. Thermoset resin (9) to secure the antagonist tooth into the antagonist tooth chamber (2) and the lower tooth into the lower tooth chamber (4).

[0031] The application method of the dental kit subject to the invention includes the following process steps;

[0032] a. Applying a mold release spray to the inner surface of the antagonist tooth chamber (2),

[0033] b. Placing the antagonist dental sample into the antagonist tooth chamber (2), c. Filling the antagonist tooth cavity (2) with thermosetting resin (9)

[0034] d. Compressing the thermosetting resin (9) with 4 compression bolts (10) at 90° intervals,

[0035] e. Fixing the attachment of the antagonist mold (1) to the upper jaw of the chewing simulator,

[0036] f. Applying mold release spray to the inner surface of the lower tooth chamber (4),

[0037] g. Placing the mandibular dental specimen into the lower tooth chamber (4) in a manner suitable for occlusal fit,

[0038] h. Filling the lower tooth chamber (4) with thermosetting resin (9),

[0039] i. Compressing the thermosetting resin (9) at 90° intervals using 4 compression bolts (10),

[0040] j. Fixing the lower mold (3) to the lower table fixator (5) using a countersunk bolt (6),

[0041] k. Securing the lower table fixture (5) to the lower table of the chewing simulator using nuts (7) and bolts (8),l. Setting the test starting position to match the static closure position of the mandible in a manner that reflects the tubercle-fossa relationships of the teeth, m. Performing the stabilization control of the biomimetic dental kit equipment positioned to reflect the desired occlusion relationships,

[0042] n. Ensuring that the test provides linear movement in the transverse direction to the lower table to transition from a static occlusion state to a dynamic occlusion state,

[0043] o. Detecting the vertical movement of the maxillary dental member and / or members and the lateral movement of the mandibular dental member and / or members during the experiment, and the wear caused by tubercle-fossa contact resulting from this movement.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A biomimetic dental kit to determine the wear and deformation performance of dental materials used in restorative and prosthetic dental treatments, characterized in that comprising;a. An antagonist tooth chamber (2) at the bottom to position the antagonist tooth and a thermoset resin (9) that is compressed with a mold four compression screws (10) positioned at 90° intervals around the antagonist tooth holder (2) to prevent relative movement between the upper and lower parts, and an antagonist mold (1) with a rotary symmetrical structure that connects to the existing chewing simulator from the upper part,b. A lower tooth receptacle to position the lower tooth on the upper part (4) and four compression bolts (10) positioned at 90° intervals around the lower tooth cavity (4) to prevent relative movement between the mold and the thermoset resin (9) when compressed, a lower mold (3) with a rotary symmetrical structure that connects to the lower table fixator (5) from the lower part,c. A lower table fixator (5) positioned on the existing chewing simulator from the lower part, containing a socket head screw (6) located in the central part to secure it to the lower mold,d. At least two nuts (7) and bolts (8) to secure the lower table fixator (5) to the chewing simulator,e. A thermoset resin (9) to secure the antagonist tooth into the antagonist tooth chamber (2) and the lower tooth into the lower tooth chamber (4).

2. An application method of the dental kit according to Claim 1, characterized in that comprising the steps below:a. Applying a mold release spray to the inner surface of the antagonist tooth socket (2),b. Placing the antagonist dental sample into the antagonist tooth socket (2),c. Filling the antagonist tooth cavity (2) with thermosetting resin (9), d. Compressing the thermosetting resin (9) with 4 compression bolts (10) at 90° intervals,e. Fixing the attachment of the antagonist mold (1) to the upper jaw of the chewing simulator,f. Applying mold release spray to the inner surface of the lower tooth tray (4),g. Placing the mandibular dental specimen into the lower tooth cavity (4) in a manner suitable for occlusal fit,h. Filling the lower tooth tray (4) with thermosetting resin (9),i. Compressing the thermosetting resin (9) at 90° intervals using 4 compression bolts (10),j. Securing the lower mold (3) to the lower table fixator (5) using a socket head screw (6),k. securing the lower table fixture (5) to the lower table of the chewing simulator using nuts (7) and bolts (8),l. Setting the test starting position to match the static closure position of the mandible in a manner that reflects the tubercle-fossa relationships of the teeth,m. Performing the stabilization control of the biomimetic dental kit equipment positioned to reflect the desired occlusion relationships, n. Ensuring that the test provides linear movement in the transverse direction to the lower table to transition from a static occlusion state to a dynamic occlusion state,o. Detecting the vertical movement of the maxillary dental member(s) and / or members and the lateral movement of the mandibular dental member(s) and / or members during the experiment, and the wear caused by tubercle-fossa contact resulting from this movement.

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