Dental Restoration Assembly System for Limited Inter-occlusal Space
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current dental implant systems do not provide a solution for individuals with limited inter-occlusal space, leading to high leverage forces and mechanical failures due to rigid coupling and inadequate control over implant height, which affects both durability and aesthetics.
Innovation Solution
A dental restoration assembly system that minimizes implant height by using a customizable interface member with a female connecting device, allowing for a releasable connection and parallel alignment of components, reducing torque and lever forces, and accommodating short inter-occlusal spaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a rigid screwed-in restoration is used to accommodate limited inter-occlusal space, then the restoration can be secured in very short spaces, but high leverage forces act on the implant assembly leading to mechanical failures
Solution Approach 1:
The implant assembly is segmented into modular components: implant anchor, abutment member, and prosthetic restoration that can be assembled in stages. This allows the use of a male-female attachment system within the limited inter-occlusal space while distributing mechanical stresses across separate components rather than a single rigid structure, thereby reducing leverage forces and preventing mechanical failure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the connection parameter from rigid fixed coupling to a controlled releasable connection with specific retention forces. The male-female attachment mechanism provides a defined range of retention and release forces, allowing the restoration to be secured in limited space while accommodating physiological movements and reducing stress concentration that would lead to mechanical failure.
2Strength
If the implant height is increased to improve aesthetics and force distribution, then the mechanical strength is improved, but the inter-occlusal space requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a purely vertical dimension solution to utilizing horizontal/radial dimensions. The male-female attachment mechanism extends laterally within the limited vertical space, allowing adequate connection surface area and mechanical strength to be achieved without increasing the vertical implant height, thus maintaining both strength and aesthetic requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The male attachment component is nested within the female attachment component, with the male component fitting into the female component's receptacle. This nested configuration maximizes the use of available inter-occlusal space by utilizing the radial dimension within the vertical constraint, providing sufficient mechanical engagement without increasing overall implant height.
3Adaptability or versatility
If state of the art releasable connections with male/female attachments are used, then a releasable connection is provided, but the attachments must be disposed within the interocclusal space increasing leverage forces
Solution Approach 1:
The abutment member serves as an intermediary component between the implant anchor and the prosthetic restoration. It provides a stable base that distributes and reduces leverage forces before they reach the implant anchor, while the male-female attachment mechanism is positioned on the abutment rather than directly within the limited inter-occlusal space, thereby reducing the mechanical disadvantage.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 1D~1E
Figure 2A~2B
AI summary
A device and a system for forming a releasable connection between a dental implant abutment and prosthetic restoration, and in particular to such a device and system that is configured for use in situations where the inter-occlusal space is very limited, the device having a female connection device having a hollow tubular body featuring an open lumen.