Custom Denture Adhesive Pads for Void-Filling Gum Fit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current dental adhesives for securing dentures are often messy, ineffective in holding the denture in place, and fail to fill voids between the denture and the gum, leading to discomfort and instability for denture wearers.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for manufacturing custom-fit adhesive pads for dental appliances, involving 3D scanning of the denture's gum-facing portion to create a digital model, which is then used to cut and shape the adhesive pad from a sheet material, ensuring a precise fit and improved adhesion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pre-fabricated generically sized dental adhesive pads are used, then manufacturing cost and device complexity are reduced, but the pad cannot fill voids between the denture and tissue, resulting in poor fit and reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by creating a digital model of the patient's denture and tissue interface in advance, which is then used to manufacture a custom-fit adhesive pad that precisely conforms to the specific anatomical geometry. This pre-planning approach enables the pad to fill voids and adapt to the unique contours, significantly improving denture retention while maintaining a streamlined manufacturing process through digital workflows
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by manufacturing an adhesive pad with non-uniform thickness and adhesive distribution tailored to the specific void spaces and contours of the patient's denture-tissue interface. The digital model guides the creation of areas with varying pad characteristics - thicker regions in void areas, thinner regions in contact areas - ensuring optimal fit and retention throughout the interface
2Manufacturing precision
If standard adhesive pads are used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but the adhesive cannot fill voids between denture and tissue, leading to poor fit and patient discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical measurement and manual fabrication methods with a digital workflow. A digital model of the denture and tissue interface is created and used to guide automated manufacturing processes, achieving high manufacturing precision for custom-fit pads while simplifying the overall fabrication process through digital automation rather than manual craftsmanship
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by varying the pad thickness, adhesive concentration, and material properties at different locations based on the digital model data. This enables precise control over pad characteristics - such as making certain areas thicker to fill voids or using adhesive with different viscosity in specific regions - thereby achieving superior fit while maintaining efficient manufacturing through systematic parameter optimization
3Reliability
If messy adhesive materials are applied, then adhesive coverage is increased, but the application becomes messy and adhesion reliability is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-positioning adhesive within the custom-fit pad during manufacturing, rather than requiring messy manual application at the time of use. The digital model guides the precise placement of adhesive in optimal locations and quantities during pad fabrication, ensuring reliable bonding while eliminating the mess and complexity of manual adhesive application by the patient
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the custom-fit pad itself as an intermediary carrier for the adhesive. Instead of applying messy adhesive directly to the denture or tissue, the adhesive is embedded within or on the pad structure, which then serves as a controlled delivery mechanism. This intermediary approach ensures precise adhesive placement, improves application ease, and maintains bonding reliability
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 custom-fit adhesive pads provide enhanced stability and comfort for denture wearers by securely attaching the denture to the gum, reducing movement and discomfort, and allowing for easy repositioning without the need for frequent replacement.
Implementation Method 1
The method of manufacturing the pad may include using a laser to cut the pad from the sheet of material
Data Source
AI summary
A method of manufacturing a pad to secure a dental appliance to a gum of a patient including creating a digital model of a gum facing portion of the dental appliance and using the digital model to manufacture the pad. Manufacturing the pad includes creating a profile defining a perimeter of the pad from the digital model and cutting the pad from a sheet of material using the profile. Manufacturing the pad includes 3D printing the pad. Creating the digital model includes 3D scanning the gum facing portion of the dental appliance. Creating the digital model includes 3D scanning an impression of the gum facing portion of the dental appliance.