Dental Ceramic Block Mount Layout for Fast Shade Comparison
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dentists face challenges in efficiently selecting and managing a wide range of ceramic blocks for dental restoration procedures due to cumbersome storage and tracking methods, leading to potential errors and inefficiencies in stock management and comparison processes.
Innovation Solution
A dental mount with a tabular body and pre-set, cylindrical holes arranged in a pattern for organizing and displaying ceramic blocks by size, color, translucency, and quality, allowing for quick comparison and stock assessment, while securely holding and preventing damage to the blocks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If ceramic blocks are stored in trays or drawers with multiple compartments, then a wide range of ceramic blocks can be stored, but the process of selecting and comparing blocks becomes time-consuming and cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from storing ceramic blocks in multi-compartment drawers (horizontal/vertical stacking) to displaying them on a wall-mounted board (vertical wall dimension). This dimensional change allows all blocks to be visually accessible at eye level, eliminating the need to open drawers and search through compartments, thus reducing selection time while maintaining storage capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The ceramic blocks are pre-arranged on the wall-mounted board in a systematic pattern by size, color, and type before the dentist needs to select them. This preliminary organization allows the dentist to immediately view and compare all available blocks without having to manually search or retrieve them from storage compartments during the patient appointment.
2Ease of manufacture
If ceramic blocks are kept in compartments within drawers, then stock can be organized by type, but tracking stock levels and identifying low-stock items becomes difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The wall-mounted board provides self-evident stock level information through its visual design. The dentist can immediately see which blocks are present and which receptacles are empty without needing to open drawers or access separate inventory records. The system serves its own inventory tracking function through the visible arrangement and spacing of blocks on the board.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the inherent color variations of the ceramic blocks themselves as visual indicators. Different blocks display their natural colors and translucencies, allowing the dentist to quickly identify stock levels and distinguish between different types. The visual contrast makes it easy to see which receptacles contain blocks and which are empty.
3Productivity
If a wide variety of ceramic blocks are stocked for immediate production, then patient wait time is reduced, but the complexity of managing and comparing different types increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wall-mounted board divides the collection of ceramic blocks into discrete, individually accessible receptacles arranged in a grid pattern. Each receptacle holds one or more blocks of similar characteristics, segmenting the overall inventory into manageable units. This segmentation simplifies the mental organization for the dentist, who can scan across the board rather than navigating complex drawer hierarchies.
Solution Approach 2:
The wall-mounted board serves multiple functions simultaneously: it stores ceramic blocks, displays them for comparison, tracks inventory levels, and provides an organized selection interface. This multi-functional design consolidates what would otherwise require separate systems (storage drawers, inventory records, comparison trays) into a single integrated solution, reducing overall system complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention is directed to a dental mount for receiving and retaining a plurality of different dental ceramic blocks used in dental restoration treatments, wherein the dental mount comprises a substantially flat front face having a plurality of dental ceramic block receiving holes located thereon; each of the dental ceramic block receiving holes being dimensioned to form a retaining fit with any one of the different dental ceramic blocks. The advantage of providing a dental mount with dedicated holes for retaining any one of the dental ceramic blocks is that the dental mount can be used to comparatively present all the different types of dental ceramic blocks next to one another in an organised and graded manner so that a dentist may make quick and accurate comparisons between the different types of dental ceramic blocks. Furthermore, the dentist can quickly asses their stock levels by glancing at the dental mount. A further advantage is that the dental ceramic blocks are securely held apart from one another on the dental mount and therefore cannot damage one another when they are moved or transported.