Indirect Bonding Tray Structure for Posterior Orthodontic Bracket Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional indirect bonding trays face challenges in accessing posterior teeth, providing necessary support or surface area for appliance bonding, and avoiding interference with already bonded appliances.
Innovation Solution
The development of indirect bonding trays with customizable designs using additive manufacturing, featuring buccal and lingual walls, recesses, and perforations to facilitate accurate placement and stability, while avoiding interference with existing appliances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a direct bonding method is used where brackets are bonded directly to teeth, then the bonding process is simpler, but it requires precise positioning and creates significant pressure on the tooth during bonding which may cause discomfort or damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an indirect bonding tray as an intermediary device between the bracket and the tooth. The tray is fitted over the teeth and used to position multiple brackets simultaneously, distributing the bonding pressure across the entire tray structure rather than concentrating it on individual teeth. This mediator approach allows for simpler operation while reducing harmful pressure on teeth.
2Manufacturing precision
If brackets are bonded directly to teeth one at a time, then positioning can be adjusted individually, but the overall bonding process becomes time-consuming and labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The indirect bonding tray is segmented with individual recesses or guides for each bracket, allowing each bracket to be positioned independently within the tray structure. This segmentation enables precise positioning of multiple brackets while maintaining the ability to bond them all simultaneously through a single adhesive application process, thus improving both precision and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The brackets are pre-positioned on the indirect bonding tray before the actual bonding process. The tray itself is custom-fitted to the patient's dentition in advance, with predetermined positions for each bracket. This preliminary arrangement allows for rapid transfer of all brackets to their final positions simultaneously, dramatically improving bonding efficiency while maintaining accuracy.
3Productivity
If a custom-fitted indirect bonding tray is used, then multiple brackets can be bonded simultaneously improving efficiency, but the tray fabrication process becomes more complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The indirect bonding tray serves multiple functions: it acts as a positioning guide for brackets, a transfer mechanism for adhesive application, and a pressure-distributing bonding surface. By combining these functions into a single device, the system improves bonding efficiency without proportionally increasing fabrication complexity, as the same basic tray structure performs all these roles.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
The techniques described herein relate to exemplary indirect bonding trays for orthodontic appliances. An example indirect bonding tray comprises an occlusal base having an outer perimeter and defining a first impression conforming to a first occlusal tooth surface and a second impression conforming to at least a portion of a second occlusal tooth surface. The example indirect bonding tray further comprises a buccal wall defining a well to releasably engage an orthodontic appliance, the buccal wall extending outwards beyond the outer perimeter of the occlusal base, wherein: the buccal wall and the well are in a first region of the indirect bonding tray associated with the first impression, the first region is adjacent to a second region of the indirect bonding tray associated with the second impression, and an outer wall of the second region extends to the outer perimeter of the occlusal base.