Dental impression kit with redundant assembly and segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional dental impressions made in a dental office are time-consuming and may require multiple visits if errors occur, while at-home kits can be difficult to administer and result in poor-quality impressions.
Innovation Solution
A dental impression kit with a container containing an initial and redundant dental assembly, along with instructions for administration and return, including a shipping container with a return mailing label, to facilitate easy and efficient at-home impression taking and submission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional dental impressions are made in a dental office, then the impressions can be professionally supervised, but the process requires significant time and multiple visits
Solution Approach 1:
The dental impression process is segmented into two distinct phases: (1) initial impression taking at home using the mailed kit, and (2) professional evaluation and secondary impression if needed at the dental office. This segmentation allows most patients to complete the process at home, reducing office visit time while maintaining quality through professional oversight for problematic cases.
Solution Approach 2:
The dental office performs preliminary evaluation of patient suitability before mailing the impression kit. This preliminary action ensures that only appropriate candidates receive home kits, and the office is prepared to evaluate results and perform corrective actions if needed, streamlining the overall process.
2Loss of time
If at-home dental impression kits are provided, then office visit time is reduced, but the kits are difficult to administer and result in poor quality impressions
Solution Approach 1:
Comprehensive instructions are provided in advance with the impression kit, including detailed administration guidelines, timing requirements, and evaluation criteria. This preliminary provision of information enables patients to successfully administer the kit at home without requiring professional supervision during the actual impression taking.
Solution Approach 2:
The dental office evaluates the initial impression results and provides feedback to determine whether the impression is acceptable or if a secondary impression is needed. This feedback mechanism ensures quality control while maintaining the efficiency benefits of at-home impression taking.
3Loss of time
If redundant dental assembly is included in the kit, then the need for multiple office visits is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The redundant dental assembly is segmented as a separate, removable layer within the kit packaging. This allows the redundant components to be included without complicating the basic kit structure, and enables selective use based on impression quality assessment.
Solution Approach 2:
The redundant dental assembly serves as a pre-prepared backup solution to cushion against potential impression failures. By having this backup ready in advance, the system ensures that patients can complete the process without requiring additional office visits, while the modular design keeps the overall kit complexity manageable.
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes sending a dental impression kit to a patient including dental trays of different sizes. The method includes receiving one or more dental impressions created using one or more dental trays having been selected by the patient from the plurality of dental trays, providing treatment plan data and a size indication to a provider computing device, receiving a communication approving the treatment plan, and manufacturing a plurality of dental aligners specific to the patient and being configured to reposition one or more teeth of the patient.