Shell Dental Appliance with Standardized Mounting Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional shell-shaped dental appliances face challenges in mounting accessories due to mismatched geometries between the appliance and accessory surfaces, affecting bonding strength and increasing manufacturing complexity for non-standard parts.
Innovation Solution
A shell-shaped dental appliance with artificially designed mounting surfaces that match the geometry of standard accessories, allowing for secure bonding through adhesion, and featuring outward protruding structures for enhanced stability and ease of use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If accessories are manufactured separately with custom-fitted mounting surfaces to match the shell-shaped dental appliance geometry, then bonding strength between accessory and appliance is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases and universality decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces standardized mounting surfaces with predetermined geometries on the shell-shaped dental appliance that can accommodate multiple different accessories (buttons, brackets, bite stops, occlusal pads, twin-blocks) using the same bonding interface. This universal mounting surface design eliminates the need to manufacture custom-fitted mounting surfaces for each accessory type, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining strong bonding through proper geometric matching.
2Strength
If accessories are manufactured separately with custom-fitted mounting surfaces to match the shell-shaped dental appliance geometry, then bonding strength between accessory and appliance is improved, but universality of accessories decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The standardized mounting surfaces with predetermined geometries serve as universal interfaces that can bond with multiple types of accessories (buttons, brackets, bite stops, occlusal pads, twin-blocks) without requiring custom fabrication for each accessory type. This enables a single accessory design to be used across different dental appliances and treatment stages, significantly improving universality while ensuring consistent bonding strength through geometric compatibility.
3Shape
If the geometry of the outer surface of the shell-shaped dental appliance is highly correlated with the geometry of the teeth, then aesthetic appearance and functional fit are improved, but the geometries of engagement surfaces do not match, affecting bonding strength
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating between two types of surfaces on the shell-shaped dental appliance: the outer surface maintains high correlation with tooth geometry for aesthetic and functional fit, while specific localized areas feature standardized mounting surfaces with predetermined geometries optimized for accessory bonding. This local differentiation allows the appliance to simultaneously achieve aesthetic appearance through tooth-correlated outer surfaces and strong bonding through geometrically matched mounting surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the surface of the shell-shaped dental appliance into two functional zones: the aesthetic outer surface that conforms to tooth geometry and the standardized mounting surfaces with predetermined geometries for accessory attachment. This segmentation allows each zone to optimize its specific function without compromising the other, resolving the conflict between aesthetic shape correlation and bonding strength.
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 solution ensures strong and consistent bonding between the appliance and accessories, simplifies manufacturing by accommodating standard parts, and maintains the aesthetic and functional integrity of the dental appliance.
Implementation Method 1
a first mounting surface for mounting a first accessory by bonding the first mounting surface and a second mounting surface of the first accessory
Data Source
AI summary
The present application provides a body of a dental appliance, the body is a one-piece shell which forms a cavity for receiving a plurality of teeth and a first mounting surface for mounting a first accessory by bonding the first mounting surface and a second mounting surface of the first accessory, where the first mounting surface has artificially designed geometry and edge contour, which substantially match that of the second mounting surface.