Dental Prosthetic Connection Fit Compensation Using 3D Simulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Dental prosthetic assemblies face manufacturing inaccuracies that can lead to misaligned, loose, or blocked fits due to deviations in the mechanical connection between elements, such as a crown and an abutment, which are not adequately addressed by existing methods.

Innovation Solution

A method involving 3D digital modeling and simulation to predict and compensate for manufacturing inaccuracies by modifying templates using machine learning algorithms, ensuring precise mechanical connections through iterative adjustments and simulations of machining or 3D printing processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If rapid prototyping techniques are used to manufacture dental prosthetic elements, then productivity is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to manufacturing inaccuracies

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing speedVSAvoidfitting precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing manufacturing simulations before actual production to predict and compensate for inaccuracies. The method simulates the manufacturing process on digital models, identifies potential deviations, and pre-adjusts the digital models to compensate for expected errors, ensuring precise fits are achieved despite using rapid prototyping techniques.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by using simulation results to inform and adjust subsequent manufacturing steps. The simulation provides information about expected manufacturing inaccuracies, which feeds back into modifying the digital models before final production, creating a closed-loop system that ensures precision while maintaining rapid prototyping benefits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Manufacturing precision

If digital models are modified to compensate for manufacturing deviations, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional simulation and modification steps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical connection accuracyVSAvoidprocess complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses copying by creating virtual copies (digital models) of the physical prosthetic elements. These digital replicas allow for simulation and modification without affecting the actual manufacturing process directly. The digital models serve as testable copies that can be adjusted to compensate for manufacturing errors before producing the final physical components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces physical trial-and-error manufacturing with computational simulation. Instead of physically manufacturing and testing prototypes iteratively, the method uses software-based simulation to predict outcomes and optimize designs digitally, substituting mechanical experimentation with computational analysis to reduce overall process complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Manufacturing precision

If simulations of both physical copies are performed, then manufacturing precision is improved by accounting for mutual dependences, but loss of time increases due to additional simulation steps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical connection fitVSAvoidsimulation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the simulation processes by performing simulations of both the first and second physical copies simultaneously or in an integrated manner. This allows the mutual dependences between connected components to be analyzed together, capturing how manufacturing inaccuracies in one component affect the other, and enabling comprehensive compensation strategies that account for their interaction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4395693B1Compensating deviations using a simulation of a manufacturing
Publication Date: 2025.07.09 EXOCAD
  • EP4395693B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4395693B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4395693B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a dental prosthetic assembly. The dental prosthetic assembly comprises a first and a second element. The first element comprises a first connection portion with a reception configured to establish a mechanical connection between the first and the second element by receiving a protrusion of a second connection portion comprised by the second element.