Dental Restoration Support Structure Arrangement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current additive manufacturing processes for dental restorations produce support structures using general algorithms that do not account for dental-specific approaches, leading to inefficient and labor-intensive post-processing.
Innovation Solution
An automated procedure for arranging support structures in additive manufacturing, specifically targeting dental restoration areas by identifying and utilizing the ridge line in digital models, ensuring support structures are optimally placed and remain intact during the manufacturing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If general algorithms are used to generate support structures, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the support structures engage in dentally critical areas and require extensive rework
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making different parts of the support structure have different properties. The algorithm identifies and avoids dentally critical areas (such as occlusal surfaces and gingival margins) while providing support in non-critical areas. This localized differentiation allows the support structure to be simple to manufacture overall while avoiding the need for extensive rework in critical regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure algorithm performs self-service by automatically identifying and avoiding dentally critical areas without requiring manual intervention. The system autonomously analyzes the dental restoration geometry, determines which areas are critical, and generates support structures that naturally avoid these regions, eliminating the need for subsequent rework.
2Stability of the object's composition
If support structures are added to ensure stability during manufacturing, then construction stability is improved, but the number of support structures increases and complicates post-processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces the number of support structures by applying local quality - providing support only where it is actually needed rather than uniformly across the entire restoration. The algorithm identifies specific regions requiring support and places structures only in those locations, maintaining construction stability while minimizing the total number of support elements and simplifying post-processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by providing support only in the minimum necessary areas rather than excessive support throughout. The algorithm determines the precise locations where support is needed to maintain stability during manufacturing and places support structures only in those partial regions, avoiding unnecessary support structures that would complicate post-processing.
3Productivity
If automated algorithms are used to generate support structures, then productivity is improved, but the algorithms do not account for dental-specific requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates dental-specific requirements into the automated algorithm by applying local quality - the system automatically identifies dentally critical areas (such as occlusal surfaces, gingival margins, and anatomical features) and adjusts support structure placement to avoid these regions. This allows full automation while maintaining manufacturing precision specific to dental applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the algorithm's parameters to account for dental-specific requirements. The system incorporates dental geometry parameters, identifies critical areas based on dental anatomical features, and adjusts support placement parameters accordingly. This allows the automated algorithm to maintain high productivity while achieving manufacturing precision compliant with dental standards.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for arranging support structures for an additive manufacturing process on a dental restoration, comprising the steps of capturing (S101) a ridge line in a digital model of the dental restoration; and adding (S102) support structures to the digital model to support the dental restoration in the additive manufacturing process along the ridge line.