Custom Dental Splint With Guided Interdental Brush Insertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Patients face difficulties in inserting interdental brushes into the space between adjacent teeth, leading to injuries and insufficient cleaning due to incorrect use or improper fit of existing devices.
Innovation Solution
A computer-aided method for manufacturing a dental splint with insertion holes defined by insertion axes, created using additive manufacturing, which guides the interdental brush into the interdental space while avoiding gingival injury, by designing the splint to conform to the patient's teeth and gingiva, and defining the holes to accommodate the brush size and shape.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional interdental brush holders or supports are used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the patient has difficulties in inserting the brushes and may cause gingival injuries
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into a splint body with multiple insertion holes positioned at specific locations corresponding to interdental spaces. Each insertion hole is designed with specific dimensions and orientations to guide the interdental brush along the correct insertion axis, dividing the complex guidance function into multiple simple hole structures
Solution Approach 2:
The splint acts as an intermediary device between the patient's hand and the interdental brush. The insertion holes serve as guiding structures that mediate the insertion process, ensuring the brush enters the interdental space at the correct angle and position without requiring precise manual control from the patient
2Reliability
If custom-fitted dental splint with insertion holes is manufactured, then the cleaning efficacy is improved and gingival injuries are prevented, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The splint is manufactured in advance with pre-defined insertion holes whose positions, dimensions, and orientations are calculated based on the patient's specific dental anatomy. The insertion axes are determined beforehand through imaging and planning, allowing the brush guidance function to be built into the splint structure before use
Solution Approach 2:
The insertion holes are designed with specific parameters including diameter, length, and orientation angles that are optimized for each patient's interdental space dimensions. The hole parameters are adjusted to match the size and shape of the interdental gaps, ensuring proper brush guidance while maintaining splint integrity
3Manufacturing precision
If the insertion holes are precisely defined along insertion axes, then the brush insertion is guided correctly, but the design and manufacturing process requires more precision
Solution Approach 1:
The manual process of determining insertion hole positions and orientations is replaced with a computer-based system that processes dental images (X-rays, photos) to automatically calculate insertion axes. The software performs the complex geometric calculations and generates manufacturing data, substituting mechanical measurement and drafting with digital computation
Data Source
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AI summary
A computer implemented method for manufacturing a dental splint (100) is disclosed. The method comprises making at least one image (102, 112) of a patient's teeth (104) and gingiva (106), designing a model (110) of the dental splint (100) based on the image (102, 112) of the patient's teeth (104) and gingiva (106) by means of a computer, defining insertion axes (122) for insertion of interdental brushes (132) within each space (116) between approximal tooth surfaces (118) of the patient's teeth (104) in the model (110) by means of the computer, defining insertion holes (130) for insertion of interdental brushes (132) along the insertion axes (122) by means of the computer, and making the dental splint (100) including the defined insertion holes (130) at least partially by means of an additive manufacturing method under control of the computer.