Curable Dental Isolation Material via Borate Crosslinking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current dental dam materials, made from rubber, are cumbersome, costly, and inefficient in isolating the treatment area during dental procedures, often failing to provide a tight seal, leading to exposure of the oral mucosa to chemicals and fluids.
Innovation Solution
A curable composition based on borate-crosslinked polysiloxane and ethylenically unsaturated monomers, which can be molded, shaped, and repaired, forming a durable barrier that repels moisture and contaminants, allowing for precise isolation of the treatment area without the need for a frame.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a resilient rubber sheet (dental dam) is used for isolation, then the treatment area can be shielded, but the sheet is cumbersome, costly, and time-consuming to position and use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a disposable plastic sheet instead of reusable rubber dental dams. The sheet is designed for single-use, eliminating the need for complex cleaning, sterilization, and maintenance procedures associated with rubber dams, thereby significantly reducing preparation time and operational complexity while maintaining effective isolation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the essential isolation function from the complex rubber dam system (which requires framing, punching, and precise positioning) and implements it through a simple plastic sheet that can be easily positioned and secured with minimal preparation, removing unnecessary complexity while preserving the core protective function.
2Reliability
If a resilient rubber sheet is used for isolation, then shielding is provided, but the sheet does not sit and seal precisely or tightly enough along the gum margin, leading to exposure of oral mucosa
Solution Approach 1:
The plastic sheet incorporates specific local features such as notches, flaps, and adhesive regions positioned at critical areas like the gum margin. These localized structural modifications enable precise sealing at the tooth-gum interface where it is most needed, while the rest of the sheet maintains its simple, easy-to-position characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite structure combining plastic material with adhesive properties and specialized geometric features (notches, flaps). This composite approach integrates multiple functions—sealing, adhering, and conforming—into a single material system that achieves superior sealing precision compared to homogeneous rubber dams.
3Reliability
If a resilient rubber sheet is used, then isolation is achieved, but the rubber may tear or loosen during treatment, losing the isolating effect
Solution Approach 1:
By using a disposable plastic sheet, the patent eliminates the fatigue and degradation issues inherent in reusable rubber dams. The fresh, unused plastic sheet maintains full structural integrity and adhesive properties throughout the procedure, ensuring consistent isolation without the risk of tearing or loosening that accumulates with repeated use of elastic materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material parameters from elastic rubber to rigid-plastic composite with controlled flexibility. This parameter change provides dimensional stability and resistance to deformation during treatment, preventing the sheet from tearing or loosening while still allowing sufficient flexibility for positioning and conforming to oral structures.
4Productivity
If perforations are made in the rubber sheet for tooth access, then treatment can proceed, but the positioning becomes awkward and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The plastic sheet is pre-formed with notches, flaps, and opening positions designed specifically for common dental procedures. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for on-site punching and positioning adjustments during treatment, allowing the dentist to simply unfold and position the pre-configured sheet, thereby dramatically reducing preparation time and improving treatment efficiency.
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
The curable composition provides a reliable, comfortable, and efficient isolation solution that maintains a seal during dental procedures, reducing exposure to chemicals and fluids, and can be easily shaped and repaired, enhancing patient comfort and procedural efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a curable composition comprising a borate-crosslinked polysiloxane and at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer comprising at least two polymerizable groups
Data Source
AI summary
The present application is directed to a curable composition and a method for isolating a working area in a patient's mouth. The curable composition can include a borate-crosslinked polysiloxane, at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer comprising at least two polymerizable groups, and an initiator.