Adjustable Partial Denture Arch for Complex Occlusion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current denture fabrication methods, including CAD/CAM technology, face challenges in efficiently producing dentures with aesthetic and functional occlusal relationships, particularly for patients with complex jaw structures or those difficult to treat due to ridge absorption or health issues, as they require skilled operators for complex tooth arrangement and adjustment.

Innovation Solution

The development of a partial connection full arch artificial tooth system with adjustable dental arch and occlusion curvature, featuring interconnected teeth groups and specific surface configurations to facilitate easier alignment and adjustment, reducing the need for intricate operator intervention and enabling quicker production of dentures that harmonize with mastication motion and patient anatomy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If conventional denture fabrication methods are used, then detailed education and skilled operator intervention are required for tooth arrangement and adjustment, but this increases the complexity and time consumption of the fabrication process

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveocclusal relationship precisionVSAvoidfabrication process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The artificial tooth is divided into multiple independent parts: a tooth body, a separate connecting member, and a base plate. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured independently with high precision, then assembled together, reducing the overall fabrication complexity while maintaining occlusal relationship precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A connecting member acts as an intermediary element between the tooth body and the base plate. This intermediate component simplifies the assembly process and enables precise positioning of the tooth relative to the base plate, thereby achieving accurate occlusal relationships without requiring complex manual adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If CAD/CAM technology is used for denture design, then computerized version of conventional methods is adopted, but the labor saving advantage has not been achieved due to complicated operations in design and post-treatment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefabrication efficiencyVSAvoidoperation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The connecting member is pre-designed with specific geometric features (such as recesses and protrusions) that correspond to the tooth body and base plate interfaces. This preliminary preparation of connection interfaces enables automated or semi-automated assembly processes, significantly improving fabrication efficiency while reducing operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention combines the tooth body, connecting member, and base plate into an integrated assembly system. This merging of components allows for streamlined fabrication processes where multiple operations can be performed sequentially with standard equipment, achieving labor saving advantages while maintaining manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If anatomical form with large cusp development angle is used, then intercuspation is achieved, but mastication motion is restricted and denture becomes difficult to use for patients with unstable jaw position

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveocclusal contact stabilityVSAvoidmastication freedom
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The connecting member is designed with flexible or adjustable characteristics that allow dynamic adaptation during mastication. This dynamic design enables the tooth to maintain stable occlusal contact while accommodating jaw movements, thereby improving ease of operation for patients with unstable jaw position without sacrificing occlusal contact stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention allows for adjustable parameters in the connecting member design, such as flexibility, rigidity, and positioning, which can be modified to suit different patient requirements. This parameter adjustability enables optimization of both occlusal contact stability and mastication freedom for each specific patient case.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3939539B1Partially connected full denture having an adjustable dental arch and occlusion curvature
Publication Date: 2023.08.09 SHOFU INC
  • EP3939539B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3939539B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3939539B1 patent drawingFigure 3a

AI summary

A partial connection full arch artificial connects and fixes in an appropriate occlusal relationship in advance and appropriately defines a region that should be separated and a region that may be standardized, appropriately defines a combination of regions of adjacent surfaces constituting a contact region, an angle of the denture with respect to the virtual occlusal plane, and an area thereof in a region where artificial teeth are brought into contact with each other.