Dental Appliance Seating Tool for Even Force Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Patients face difficulties in correctly seating removable dental appliances due to lack of dexterity, strength, or mobility, leading to discomfort, appliance damage, and delayed treatment, as existing methods for seating clear aligners are inefficient and often require assistance.
Innovation Solution
A dental appliance seating tool that attaches to a removal tool, allowing for adjustable placement and providing sufficient resistive force to aid in seating the appliance by biting down on it, ensuring firm and even seating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a patient uses hand pressure or paper towel biting to seat the appliance, then the appliance can be seated into place, but the patient lacks sufficient dexterity, strength, or mobility to apply equal and sufficient pressure evenly across the dental arch
Solution Approach 1:
The seating tool is divided into multiple segments or zones along its length, allowing the patient to apply pressure at different locations independently. This segmentation enables even distribution of force across the dental arch without requiring complex hand dexterity, as each segment can be engaged separately to apply localized pressure where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The seating tool acts as an intermediary device between the patient's biting force and the dental appliance. Instead of the patient directly manipulating the appliance with their hands, they bite on the seating tool which then transfers the force evenly to the appliance through its structured design, compensating for limited hand dexterity and strength.
2Reliability
If a patient applies insufficient or uneven pressure to seat the appliance, then the appliance may become loosened or disengaged, but applying excessive or uneven pressure can cause mouth discomfort or damage to the appliance
Solution Approach 1:
The seating tool incorporates parameter changes in its design, such as varying the hardness, thickness, or surface area of different sections along its length. This allows the tool to distribute pressure parameters evenly across the dental arch, ensuring reliable appliance seating while preventing localized excessive pressure that would cause mouth discomfort or appliance damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The seating tool is designed with cushioning elements or compliant materials built into its structure before use. This beforehand cushioning protects the patient's mouth tissues and the appliance from excessive or concentrated pressure, while still transmitting sufficient force to securely seat the appliance in place.
3Productivity
If existing seating methods are used, then the appliance can be inserted, but treatment delays and extended treatment times occur due to improper seating and tracking issues
Solution Approach 1:
The seating tool is designed for self-service use by the patient, eliminating the need for dental professional assistance or assistance from others. The tool's design allows the patient to independently and correctly seat their own appliance with proper force distribution, preventing tracking issues and treatment delays that would otherwise require professional intervention to correct.
Data Source
AI summary
A dental appliance seating tool is configured for a person to bite and provides sufficient resistive force to aid in seating of a removable dental appliance. The seating tool includes top and bottom surfaces configured to respectively engage with top and bottom teeth of an individual. The seating tool also includes a front surface coupling the top surface to the bottom surface and a rear surface opposite the front surface. An interior wall defines a cavity within the volume defined by the top, bottom, front surface, and rear surfaces. The cavity has a front opening in the front surface and a rear opening in the rear surface. The cavity allows a shaft to pass through the front and rear openings, thus enabling the dental appliance seating tool to slide along the shaft.