Curable Dental Material for Combined Retraction and Impression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current dental impression processes require separate materials for retraction and impressioning, which are time-consuming and inefficient, especially for capturing subgingival details.
Innovation Solution
A curable composition that can change consistency to function as both a dental retraction material and impression material, allowing for a combined process using a device with compartments for different consistencies, enabling retraction and impressioning with a single material.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If separate retraction material and impression material are used, then retraction function and impression function are both achieved, but the process becomes time-consuming and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines retraction material and impression material into a single integrated composition. This material simultaneously performs both retraction (pushing gum tissue away from tooth) and impression (capturing tooth surface details) functions, eliminating the need for separate materials and reducing the number of steps in the dental impression process
Solution Approach 2:
The dental composition is designed with multi-functionality, serving as both retraction material and impression material. The composition contains viscoelastic components that enable it to exhibit both retraction behavior (resisting compression to push tissue) and impression behavior (flowing to capture details), making one material perform multiple functions
2Strength
If retraction material with high stiffness is used, then sulcus can be kept open, but the material cannot capture fine surface details
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes parameter changes in the material's mechanical properties through its viscoelastic nature. The composition can exhibit higher stiffness temporarily to provide retraction resistance, then transition to a softer, more flowable state to capture fine surface details. This dynamic parameter change allows the same material to satisfy both contradictory requirements at different stages
3Ease of operation
If thin consistency impression material is used, then good flowing properties are achieved, but the material cannot withstand sulcus pressure to keep sulcus open
Solution Approach 1:
The viscoelastic composition changes its flow parameters dynamically. Initially, it maintains sufficient viscosity to resist sulcus pressure and keep the sulcus open during retraction. Subsequently, it transitions to exhibit better flowing properties to capture detailed tooth surfaces, thereby satisfying both requirements at different stages of the procedure
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 simplifies the dental impression process by eliminating the need for separate materials, improving accuracy and efficiency in capturing both supragingival and subgingival details with a single material.
Implementation Method 1
the consistency (a2) of the portion (I) of composition (A) to be inserted into the sulcus of a tooth is higher than the consistency (a1) of the composition (A) before conducting the modifying step
Data Source
Figure 1~2a
Figure 2b~2c
Figure 2d~2e
AI summary
The invention is directed to a process for taking a dental impression and/or conducting a dental retraction, the process comprising the steps of (a) providing a composition (A) having the consistency (a1), composition (A) comprising curable components, and a catalyst suitable to initiate or catalyze the curing of the curable components, composition (A) being contained in a device, (b) applying a portion (I) of composition (A) with a consistency (a2) into the sulcus of a tooth, (c) applying a portion (II) of composition (A) with a consistency (a1) in contact with composition (A) applied in step (b), (d) removing portion (I) together with portion (II) of composition (A) from the surface of the tooth, consistency (a2) being higher than consistency (a1).