Dental Restoration Testing Model Scaling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dental restorations face challenges in achieving a precise fit due to the hardness and brittleness of materials like zirconium ceramics, making adjustments difficult after hardening.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a 3D digital model of a dental element, scaled using a first scaling factor that is the inverse of a second scaling factor quantifying the predicted scaling of a dental restoration due to hardening, is used to create a physical testing model. This model allows for testing and adjustment of the dental restoration before hardening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If dental restoration is hardened before testing fitting, then the restoration material gains high strength and hardness, but the restoration cannot be adjusted easily and fractures risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by creating a scaled physical testing model of the dental element before the restoration is hardened. This allows the fitting to be tested and adjusted in advance on the scaled model when the restoration material is still in its softer, more adjustable state. The scaling factor compensates for the anticipated shrinkage during hardening, ensuring that adjustments made on the scaled model translate accurately to the final restoration fit.
2Stability of the object's composition
If dental restoration material is made hard for long-lasting anchoring, then the anchoring stability improves, but the adjustment capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by performing the adjustment action in advance on a scaled physical testing model before the restoration material is hardened. The scaled model is created with dimensions compensated by a scaling factor that accounts for anticipated shrinkage during hardening. This preliminary testing and adjustment on the scaled model allows the restoration to be optimized for stability while retaining adjustability during the preparation phase.
3Manufacturing precision
If dental restoration is adjusted after hardening, then the final fit can be optimized, but the restoration may fracture due to brittleness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing all necessary fitting adjustments on the restoration while it is in its softer, pre-hardening state using a scaled physical testing model. The scaled model incorporates a scaling factor that compensates for anticipated shrinkage during hardening, ensuring that adjustments made preliminarily on the scaled model translate accurately to the final restoration. This eliminates the need for post-hardening adjustments, thereby preventing fractures caused by the brittleness of hardened restoration material.
4Measurement precision
If physical testing model is created with same scale as dental element, then the testing accuracy improves, but the scaling effect of hardening is not compensated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the scale parameter of the physical testing model. Instead of creating a 1:1 scale model, the patent uses a scaling factor that compensates for the anticipated shrinkage of the restoration material during hardening. This adjusted scaling parameter ensures that the physical testing model accurately represents the final dimensions of the hardened restoration, maintaining both testing accuracy and predicting the final fitting precision correctly.
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
The method enables precise fitting of dental restorations by allowing adjustments in a softer state, reducing the risk of fractures and ensuring a stable, long-lasting anchoring of the restoration.
Implementation Method 1
Dental restorations are often manufactured using materials, e.g., zirconium-bearing compounds, in a soft state such that they are easier to be shaped into a desired form, e.g., using milling. After a dental restoration with the desired shape has been manufactured, it has to be hardened, e.g., sintered, using a shape-preserving hardening process. Such hardening processes, in particular sintering, result in a change of the size of the dental restoration. For example, the dental restoration may shrink due to the hardening.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for providing a physical testing model for testing a fitting of a dental restoration to be hardened before the dental restoration being hardened. The dental restoration is required to fit onto a dental element after being hardened. The method comprises providing a 3D digital model of the dental element. Size of the 3D digital model of the dental element is scaled using a first scaling factor. The first scaling factor depends on an inverse of a second scaling factor quantifying a predicted scaling of the size of the dental restoration to be hardened due to the hardening. The scaling of the 3D digital model of the dental element results in a 3D digital testing model for the testing of the fitting of the dental restoration to be hardened. The 3D digital testing model is provided as a template for manufacturing the physical testing model.