Bondable Dental Assemblies with Compressible Material
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional adhesives used in orthodontic treatments are challenging to remove completely, leading to issues like bacteria accumulation, decalcification, and staining, especially in the posterior region where access is limited, and the presence of hard fillers makes removal difficult and uncomfortable for patients.
Innovation Solution
A multi-component system using a compressible material combined with an unfilled or lightly filled hardenable dental composition, where the compressible material is placed between the dental article and the tooth, allowing for secure bonding without excess adhesive flash, which can be easily removed by brushing, retaining flexibility and conformability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional adhesives with hard fillers are used to bond orthodontic appliances to teeth, then bond strength is improved, but ease of removal deteriorates and harmful factors increase
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive system is segmented into two distinct components: a compressible material layer applied first to fill gaps and conform to the tooth surface, followed by a hardenable dental composition applied second to provide the bonding strength. This segmentation allows each material to perform its optimal function without the drawbacks of conventional filled adhesives.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state and composition parameters of the adhesive materials. The compressible material provides initial conformity and gap filling, while the hardenable dental composition (unfilled or lightly filled) provides bond strength with easier removability. This parameter change from heavily filled to unfilled/lightly filled adhesive resolves the contradiction between bond strength and ease of removal.
2Reliability
If excess adhesive is applied to fill gaps between appliance and tooth, then bond reliability is improved, but harmful factors increase due to bacteria accumulation and staining
Solution Approach 1:
The compressible material is applied in advance to fill gaps and conform to the tooth surface before the hardenable dental composition is applied. This preliminary action ensures proper adaptation and eliminates the need for excess adhesive application, thereby preventing bacteria accumulation and staining while maintaining bond reliability.
3Strength
If hard fillers are included in the adhesive, then bond strength is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates during removal
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the filler content parameter of the dental composition from heavily filled to unfilled or lightly filled. This parameter change maintains sufficient bond strength while dramatically improving ease of removal operation, allowing the adhesive to be removed without causing discomfort to the patient.
4Ease of manufacture
If conventional adhesive application method is used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but productivity deteriorates due to time-consuming flash removal
Solution Approach 1:
The compressible material is applied in advance to fill gaps and conform to the tooth surface, eliminating the need for subsequent flash removal steps. This preliminary action streamlines the bonding process, improving productivity while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through the two-component application method.
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
This approach reduces interfacial boundaries, enhances bond reliability, simplifies the manufacturing process, and facilitates easy removal of excess adhesive, minimizing bacterial accumulation and discomfort while maintaining strong bonding.
Implementation Method 1
a compressible material that can fill the gap between the surface of the base of an orthodontic appliance and a tooth structure
Implementation Method 2
an unfilled or lightly filled hardenable dental composition... hardening at least a portion of the first quantity of dental composition
Data Source
AI summary
Dental assemblies and related methods of making are provided. The dental assemblies include a dental article with a bonding surface an adhesive having both a compressible material and at least one hardenable dental composition extending across the bonding surface. The compressible material is coupled to the dental article by a first quantity of hardened dental composition extending at least partially through the compressible material and contacting the bonding surface. The hardened dental composition extends over less than the entire bonding surface. Adjacent portions of the compressible material contain a second quantity of unhardened dental composition, preserving flexibility of the compressible material. Advantageously, this configuration was found to enhance bond reliability and facilitate manufacturing.