Adjustable Dental Support Block for Natural Occlusal Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dental imaging apparatuses struggle to capture accurate images of teeth while maintaining the patient's natural occlusal state, as the bite block often forces the patient to bite abnormally, disrupting the natural alignment of the jaw and teeth.
Innovation Solution
A dental support block that includes a mental protuberance support portion to guide the jaw, a pedestal to support the face, a sliding operation portion for adjusting the fit to the user's facial structure, and an upper surface mounting portion to contact the philtrum, allowing for natural occlusal alignment during imaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a traditional bite block is used to fix the patient's jaw, then the patient's jaw can be stabilized for imaging, but the patient's natural occlusal state is disrupted and abnormal alignment occurs
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of having the patient bite down on a traditional bite block that forces abnormal alignment, this invention inverts the approach by providing a support block that receives the patient's mental protuberance (chin area) from below, allowing the jaw to rest naturally without forced occlusion. The support block stabilizes the jaw through mental protuberance support rather than through abnormal biting force.
2Productivity
If a fixed bite block structure is used, then the imaging position can be standardized, but the patient's facial structure variations cannot be accommodated
Solution Approach 1:
The support block incorporates a movable adjustment mechanism that allows the upper surface mounting portion to be positioned at different heights and angles. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the support block to adapt to various patient facial structures while maintaining standardized imaging positioning, resolving the conflict between imaging efficiency and facial structure adaptability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a complex adjustment mechanism is added to accommodate facial variations, then adaptability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support block is divided into distinct functional segments: a pedestal base portion, a sliding operation portion, and an upper surface mounting portion. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently while simplifying the overall structure. The sliding operation portion can be independently adjusted without requiring complex mechanisms, thus achieving adaptability with minimal complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate imaging of the teeth and jaw joint while maintaining the patient's natural occlusal state, improving the diagnostic accuracy and treatment planning in dental clinics.
Implementation Method 1
An X-ray light source 41 and an X-ray sensor 43 are provided on opposing sides of the rotating arm 40, respectively. X-rays irradiated from the X-ray light source 41 transmits through the patient's face, is subsequently detected by the X-ray sensor 43
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an auxiliary apparatus used to capture an image of teeth of a patient, and more particularly, to a support block that enables an image of teeth of the patient to be captured in a state where a natural dentition is maintained, and an imaging apparatus including the same. According to the dental support block of the present disclosure and the imaging apparatus including the same, imaging can be performed by reflecting a patient's normal occlusal state, thereby accurately checking and diagnosing a condition of teeth, dentition, and the like and treating accordingly.