Customized Dental Care Device with Shape-Matched Cleaning Tips
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional toothbrushes are ineffective in ensuring consistent and thorough teeth cleaning due to user technique dependency, difficulty in reaching all tooth surfaces, and inefficiencies in toothpaste dispensing, leading to inadequate dental care and waste.
Innovation Solution
A customized dental care system with a device featuring a shape-matched cleaning tip and vibration pattern tailored to individual dentition, combined with a hands-free oral care agent dispenser, utilizing AI and ML for personalized data analysis and feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional toothbrushes with clustered bristles are used, then the device can be simple and easy to manufacture, but the cleaning effectiveness is highly dependent on user technique and duration
Solution Approach 1:
The powered toothbrush performs the cleaning action automatically through motor-driven bristle vibration, eliminating the need for user technique. The device serves itself by providing the mechanical energy required for effective cleaning without relying on user skill or effort.
Solution Approach 2:
The toothbrush uses motor-driven vibration of the bristles at specific frequencies to achieve effective cleaning. This mechanical vibration replaces manual brushing motions, ensuring consistent cleaning effectiveness regardless of user technique.
2Reliability
If manual brushing technique is used to reach all tooth surfaces, then no additional device complexity is required, but it is difficult for many users to brush all teeth surfaces uniformly
Solution Approach 1:
The powered toothbrush automatically performs the cleaning function, eliminating the need for users to manually maneuver the brush to reach all surfaces. The device handles the complex motion required to clean all tooth surfaces uniformly.
Solution Approach 2:
The toothbrush incorporates dynamic motion patterns through motor-driven vibration and oscillation, enabling the bristles to adaptively contact and clean various tooth surfaces. This dynamic movement ensures uniform cleaning across all surfaces without requiring user skill.
3Productivity
If conventional toothbrushes with single-tooth width brush heads are used, then the device can be simple in design, but it takes many minutes to clean all teeth adequately
Solution Approach 1:
The powered toothbrush uses motor-driven oscillation and vibration to enable rapid coverage of all tooth surfaces. The dynamic motion allows the brush to efficiently clean multiple areas in sequence, reducing total cleaning time despite the limited brush head width.
Solution Approach 2:
The high-frequency vibration of the bristles intensifies the cleaning action, allowing faster removal of plaque and debris. This increases cleaning productivity without requiring a larger brush head that would be difficult to maneuver.
4Loss of time
If users brush for shorter than recommended time without timer, then the operation is simpler, but users overestimate brushing duration and clean inadequately
Solution Approach 1:
The timer provides feedback to the user about the elapsed brushing time, enabling them to adjust their brushing duration to match recommendations. This feedback loop ensures adequate cleaning time without requiring complex monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The timer is pre-programmed with recommended brushing durations, automatically initiating the timing function when brushing starts. This preliminary setup eliminates the need for users to manually track time or make judgments about adequate duration.
5Loss of substance
If conventional toothpaste tubes are used, then the dispensing mechanism is simple, but users waste toothpaste through over-squeezing and cannot precisely control the amount dispensed
Solution Approach 1:
The dispensing mechanism incorporates sensors and control systems that monitor the amount of toothpaste dispensed, providing feedback to prevent over-dispensing. This feedback control minimizes waste by ensuring only the necessary amount is used.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual squeezing action is replaced with an automated dispensing mechanism that uses controlled mechanical or electronic means to dispense toothpaste. This substitution enables precise control over the amount dispensed, eliminating waste associated with manual squeezing.
6Reliability
If users apply pressure to reach hard-to-reach areas, then the brushing action is more vigorous, but gum and enamel attrition occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The high-frequency vibration of the bristles provides intensive cleaning action without requiring manual pressure. The vibrational energy effectively removes plaque from hard-to-reach areas while the controlled motion prevents excessive force that would cause damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The powered toothbrush uses dynamic oscillation patterns that adapt to different tooth surfaces, providing appropriate cleaning intensity automatically. This dynamic control ensures thorough cleaning of difficult areas while maintaining forces within safe limits to prevent gum and enamel damage.
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 system provides efficient, thorough, and comfortable teeth cleaning, reducing user effort and waste while ensuring precise oral care agent dispensing and personalized treatment plans.
Implementation Method 1
The cleaner body is driven by a piezoelectric actuator configured for producing ultrasonic frequencies
Implementation Method 2
The cleaner body is driven by a piezoelectric actuator configured for producing ultrasonic frequencies
Data Source
AI summary
The various embodiments described herein include methods, devices, and systems for customizing dental care. In one aspect, a dental care device is customized for a particular user, including: (1) a support plate having: (a) a first portion configured to be inserted into a mouth; and (b) an attachment mechanism configured to attach the dental care device to a drive assembly; and (2) an elastomer (elastic polymer) portion enclosing the first portion of the plate, the elastomer portion including a plurality of cleaning tips and shaped in accordance with dental details of the particular user.