Straightening Aligner Step Planning Under Orthodontic Force Limits

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing transparent orthodontic methods do not account for the total sum of orthodontic forces applied to a patient's teeth in one orthodontic step, which can exceed 500 to 700 gw, potentially causing pain and tooth damage.

Innovation Solution

A method and computer program for designing straightening aligners that set orthodontic steps to limit the total sum of orthodontic forces per step to a preset value, typically between 500 to 700 gw, and individual tooth forces to 100 to 200 gw, with movement distances of 0.5 to 1.5 mm, to prevent excessive force application.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple teeth are moved by 1 mm in one orthodontic step, then the orthodontic treatment efficiency is improved, but the total sum of orthodontic forces exceeds 500 to 700 gw causing pain and tooth damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveorthodontic treatment efficiencyVSAvoidpain and tooth damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the orthodontic treatment process into multiple steps, where each step moves teeth by a limited amount (0.5 to 1.5 mm) to keep the total orthodontic force within safe limits (500 to 700 gw). This segmentation prevents excessive force application while achieving the desired tooth alignment over time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the total sum of orthodontic forces is limited to 500 to 700 gw per step, then patient safety is improved, but the number of orthodontic steps increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient safetyVSAvoidtreatment duration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent calculates and determines the total orthodontic force before executing each treatment step. By preliminarily assessing the force requirements and adjusting the treatment plan accordingly, the system ensures safety constraints are met while optimizing the number of steps required for effective treatment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Speed

If individual tooth movement is set to 1 mm per step, then treatment speed is improved, but the orthodontic force applied to individual teeth exceeds optimal levels

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetooth movement speedVSAvoidindividual orthodontic force

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent dynamically adjusts treatment parameters including individual tooth movement distance (0.5 to 1.5 mm) and orthodontic force levels (100 to 200 gw per tooth) based on the total force constraint. This parameter optimization ensures both effective treatment progress and patient comfort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS12496163B2Method and computer program for designing straightening aligners

Publication Date: 2025.12.16 KIM TAE WEON

AI summary

A method and computer program for designing straightening aligners are disclosed. The method for designing straightening aligners according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes generating current alignment information representing a patient's current tooth alignment state, and generating orthodontic alignment information for multiple orthodontic steps that are reached sequentially by correcting the current alignment information, wherein generating the orthodontic alignment information sets the multiple orthodontic steps such that the total sum of orthodontic forces applied to the patient's teeth per one orthodontic step is less than or equal to a preset total sum of orthodontic forces in order to reach a tooth alignment state corresponding to the orthodontic alignment information of each orthodontic step.