3D Tooth-Specific Orthodontic Brackets for Secure Low-Profile Fixation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing orthodontic treatments face challenges with secure attachment of archwires to teeth, leading to issues like articulation problems, tongue irritation, bracket breakage, and reduced oral hygiene, due to non-customized dental appliances.
Innovation Solution
Customizable tooth-specific platforms and brackets are designed using 3D-representation technology, allowing for precise attachment zones and reduced profile, enhancing fixation and comfort, and enabling accurate tooth movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If standardized brackets are used for orthodontic treatment, then manufacturing cost and complexity are reduced, but attachment security and treatment precision deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating tooth-specific platforms and brackets that are customized to match the unique geometry of each individual tooth. Instead of using standardized components for all teeth, the system generates customized appliances with specific attachment zones, profiles, and geometries tailored to each tooth's surface characteristics, thereby improving attachment security while maintaining manufacturing efficiency through automated 3D modeling and additive manufacturing.
2Strength
If thicker brackets are used, then structural strength and durability are improved, but patient comfort and oral hygiene deteriorate due to increased profile and tongue irritation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by optimizing the thickness and profile dimensions of each bracket and platform based on the specific treatment requirements and tooth geometry. The system can adjust parameters such as platform thickness, bracket profile height, and attachment zone dimensions to achieve the minimum necessary thickness for structural integrity while minimizing the overall profile that contacts the tongue, thereby reducing irritation while maintaining durability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dimensionality change by transitioning from traditional two-dimensional bracket designs to three-dimensional tooth-specific platforms that conform to the complex surface geometry of teeth. This 3D approach allows for optimized material distribution that provides sufficient strength in critical areas while minimizing thickness in areas that contact the tongue, effectively resolving the contradiction between durability and comfort through spatial optimization.
3Device complexity
If non-customized appliances are used, then device complexity and manufacturing cost are reduced, but treatment accuracy and tooth movement precision deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing comprehensive 3D scanning and digital modeling of the patient's dentition before treatment begins. The system pre-calculates and pre-designs customized platforms and brackets that precisely match each tooth's geometry and the planned treatment trajectory. This preliminary customization ensures that when the appliances are fabricated and applied, they provide accurate tooth movement control from the first treatment stage, eliminating the need for adjustments and improving overall treatment precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A methods and an electronic device for generating a 3D-representation of a tooth-specific dental appliance are disclosed. The appliance has a grooved body and a pair of holding arms. The method includes acquiring a 3D-platform representation, acquiring a 3D-grooved body representation, and positioning the 3D-grooved body representation relative to the 3D-platform representation. The method also includes acquiring a first and second 3D-arm representations, each associated with a respective pair of platform anchor points and a respective adjustment anchor point. The method also includes individually positioning the first and second 3D-arm representations relative to the 3D-platform representation using the respective pairs of platform anchor points, thereby defining preliminary positions of the first and second 3D-arm representations. The method includes individually adjusting the respective preliminary positions relative to the 3D-grooved body representation using the respective adjustment anchor points, thereby defining adjusted positions of the first and second 3D-arm representations.