3D-Printed Dental Model Mounting With Prefabricated Distance Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for creating dental models for articulators are time-consuming, expensive, and impractical with current 3D printers due to the large size and storage challenges of conventional dental model structures, and there is a need for a seamless integration of digital and analog dentistry.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a digital workflow to generate a 3D-print data set for a dental model structure using prefabricated distance elements to reduce the size of the model, allowing direct mounting on an articulator without additional materials like gypsum, and a computer program to facilitate this process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional dental model structures are created for articulators, then the models can be used for simulation and analysis, but the models become large in size, expensive to manufacture, and difficult to store
Solution Approach 1:
The dental model is divided into two separate components: a small dental model structure containing only the essential dental elements, and a separate mounting structure with distance elements that provide the necessary articulator mounting functionality. This segmentation allows the dental model itself to remain small for easy storage and manufacturing, while the mounting structure handles the larger articulator interface requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting functionality and distance elements are extracted from the dental model structure itself and placed into a separate mounting structure. This extraction removes the bulky mounting components from the dental model, reducing its volume and making it more economical to manufacture and store, while the mounting structure is designed to interface with the articulator separately.
2Reliability
If conventional dental model structures are manufactured using traditional methods, then the models can be created, but the process is time-consuming and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The dental model structure is created as a digital 3D print based on digital data from intraoral scans or other digital dental data sources. This digital copying and 3D printing process eliminates the need for traditional analog modeling techniques, significantly reducing manufacturing time and cost while maintaining high accuracy through digital precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The traditional mechanical and manual processes of creating analog dental models are replaced with digital data capture and 3D printing technology. This substitution of mechanical modeling with digital fabrication methods dramatically improves productivity and reduces manufacturing expenses while preserving model accuracy.
3Ease of operation
If dental model structures are made large to fit articulator mounting requirements, then the models can be directly mounted, but storage becomes challenging and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting functionality is segmented into separate distance elements and mounting structures that can be independently manufactured and assembled. This allows the dental model itself to remain small for compact storage, while the separate mounting components provide the necessary articulator interface when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting structure with distance elements is pre-configured and pre-manufactured as a separate component that interfaces with the articulator. This preliminary preparation of the mounting system allows the dental model to be stored in a compact form and only expanded to full mounting size when actually used in the articulator.
4Productivity
If 3D printing is used for dental models, then manufacturing cost and time are reduced, but the large size of conventional models makes printing impractical
Solution Approach 1:
The dental model is segmented into a small printable dental model structure and a separate mounting structure. The dental model structure contains only the essential dental elements that need to be 3D printed, while the mounting structure with distance elements is designed to interface with the articulator. This segmentation enables the dental model to be printed in a compact, manageable size suitable for current 3D printing capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting components and distance elements are extracted from the 3D printing process and handled as separate pre-fabricated components. This extraction allows the 3D printing to focus only on the small dental model structure, making the printing process practical and cost-effective, while the mounting components are provided separately to complete the articulator interface.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for providing a 3D-print data set of a dental model structure (100) to be mounted on an articulator (5), comprising:providing an articulator data set of the articulator (5) on which the dental model structure (100) is to be mounted;providing a dental situation data set which represents a dental situation of an upper jaw and/or a lower jaw, the dental situation data set including data to display the dental situation as a virtual representation of the dental situation on a display;selecting at least one distance element (20) from a plurality of different predefined and/or prefabricated distance elements based on the articulator data set and the dental situation data set;generating a connecting structure data set representing at least a virtual connecting structure (15) arranged between the virtual representation of the dental situation and a virtual representation of the at least one selected distance element; andgenerating the 3D-print data set based on the dental situation data set and the connecting structure data set.Furthermore, the invention relates to a corresponding computer program product, a dental model structure, a mounting plate and a dental model system.