Dental Etch Template With Preloaded Wells for Precise Attachment Etching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current dental treatment methods involve manual application of etch material by professionals, leading to user errors such as excessive etching, longer treatment times, and increased patient inconvenience due to the need for cleaning up excess bonding agent.
Innovation Solution
The use of a dental appliance etch template with pre-formed wells containing etch material that precisely targets the areas where dental attachments are to be placed, reducing unnecessary etching and streamlining the application process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual application of etch material is used by treatment professional, then flexibility and adaptability are maintained, but user error occurs leading to excessive etching and longer treatment times
Solution Approach 1:
The etch template is pre-formed with wells positioned at exact locations where etching is needed. The etch material is applied to the template beforehand, and when the template is placed on the tooth, the etching action is automatically transferred to the precise locations through the pre-positioned wells, eliminating the need for manual positioning during the procedure
Solution Approach 2:
The etch template serves as an intermediary device between the treatment professional and the tooth surface. It mediates the etching process by providing a physical template that guides the etch material to exact locations through its pre-formed wells, ensuring precision without requiring manual dexterity or judgment during application
2Ease of operation
If manual etching is performed, then professional judgment is utilized, but excessive etching occurs requiring bonding agent cleanup
Solution Approach 1:
The template is pre-configured with wells of specific sizes and shapes that correspond exactly to the attachment areas. This preliminary preparation ensures that when etch material is applied, it is automatically limited to the precise areas needed, preventing overflow onto surrounding tooth surfaces that would require cleanup
Solution Approach 2:
The template provides different well configurations for different teeth and locations, with each well tailored to the specific requirements of that area. This localized customization ensures that etching is precisely confined to where attachments will be placed, eliminating excess etching and the need for bonding agent cleanup in surrounding areas
3Manufacturing precision
If precise etching is achieved through manual skill, then treatment accuracy is improved, but treatment time increases due to cleanup requirements
Solution Approach 1:
All precision work is done in advance when the template is fabricated. The wells are pre-positioned with exact accuracy, and the template is pre-loaded with etch material. During the actual treatment, the professional simply places the pre-prepared template on the tooth, and the etching occurs automatically at precise locations without requiring skill-based positioning or subsequent cleanup
Solution Approach 2:
The template performs the precision work autonomously once placed on the tooth. The pre-formed wells automatically guide the etch material to the correct locations and limit it to the appropriate areas, making the system self-regulating and eliminating the need for professional intervention to ensure precision or to perform cleanup operations
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 allows for faster and more precise etching, minimizing excess etching and bonding agent cleanup, thereby reducing treatment time and workload for professionals while enhancing patient convenience.
Implementation Method 1
The wafer includes etch material configured to etch a tooth of the patient
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides methods, devices, and systems that utilize dental appliance etch templates prior to or during dental treatment. One dental appliance etch template includes a removable shell having one or more cavities formed therein, where the one or more cavities are shaped to receive teeth of a patient, and the shell includes a well, the well including a wafer, where the wafer includes etch material to etch a tooth of the patient.