Orthodontic Aligner Pressure Areas for Specific Tooth Forces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional orthodontic aligners face difficulties in applying specific forces such as extrusive and rotational forces to teeth due to limited contact areas, hindering effective tooth movement and alignment.
Innovation Solution
The creation of orthodontic aligners with pressure areas using computer-based three-dimensional modeling software, where shallow portions of teeth are digitally removed to create inward-facing offset portions that apply focused forces when the aligner is thermoformed, allowing for precise tooth movement without attachments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If traditional orthodontic aligners rely on natural fit with patient's teeth, then the aligners are easy to manufacture and wear, but they have difficulty applying specific forces such as extrusive and rotational forces to individual teeth due to insufficient contact area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating pressure areas with concentrated contact force at specific locations on the aligner inner surface. These pressure areas are localized regions that apply focused forces to specific teeth or tooth surfaces, while other areas of the aligner maintain normal contact. This allows precise control of force application location and magnitude without redesigning the entire aligner structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the contact surface of the aligner into distinct pressure areas and non-pressure areas. Each pressure area is independently defined by its location, size, and force magnitude, allowing separate control and optimization of forces applied to different teeth. This segmentation enables complex force systems to be constructed from multiple independent pressure zones.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional aligners use uniform contact across the tooth surface, then the manufacturing process is simple, but they cannot provide focused forces needed for complex tooth movements like anterior torque and extrusion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining pressure area locations, sizes, and force magnitudes during the digital treatment planning phase. The treatment planning software allows clinicians to specify exactly where pressure areas should be located on each tooth and what forces they should generate. This preliminary specification enables the manufacturing system to produce aligners with precise pressure area configurations without requiring complex post-manufacturing adjustments.
3Force
If orthodontic aligners apply distributed forces across multiple teeth, then the overall alignment progresses steadily, but individual tooth movements requiring specific force vectors cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes different parts of the aligner have different functional properties by creating localized pressure areas with distinct force characteristics. Each pressure area can be independently optimized for its specific tooth movement goal, while maintaining a simple overall aligner structure that conforms to the tooth arch. This localized differentiation enables complex force control without increasing overall device 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 the application of complex tooth movements, including anterior torque, extrusion, and rotational forces, enhancing the effectiveness of orthodontic treatments by providing specific forces to individual teeth, improving alignment and bite configurations.
Implementation Method 1
Orthodontic aligners are then thermoformed over the modified three-dimensional model, which causes the aligner material to fill in the removed portions of the teeth
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for creating orthodontic aligners with specific inwardly offset pressure areas that work alone or in combination with other inwardly offset pressure areas to provide a particular force or movement to one or more teeth are disclosed. Three-dimensional computer modeling software is used to modify a three-dimensional model of the patient's teeth by calculating specific forces needed to create a desired movement and digitally removing a portion of a tooth, which creates an inwardly offset pressure area on the aligner when the aligner is made, such that the pressure area applies the calculated specific forces to accomplish the desired movement.