Dental Vertical Dimension Measurement Kit
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Solution Overview
Problem
In dental restoration, accurately measuring the difference between a patient's desired vertical dimension and their existing vertical dimension is challenging, especially for patients with ground-down teeth, as current methods rely on visual estimates rather than precise measurements.
Innovation Solution
A kit comprising a base with longitudinally extending grooves and legs, measurement sheets with identical thickness and ribs, and dental impression wax, allowing for incremental adjustment and accurate measurement of the vertical dimension difference by stacking sheets until the desired dimension is achieved.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If visual estimate is used to adjust articulator, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement system is segmented into multiple thin sheets of known thickness that can be individually stacked. Each sheet represents a discrete vertical dimension increment, allowing precise measurement through counting rather than visual estimation. This segmentation transforms the continuous adjustment problem into a discrete, countable measurement process.
Solution Approach 2:
The measurement sheets act as an intermediary tool between the dentist's visual estimate and the articulator adjustment. By placing stacked sheets between the occlusal surfaces, the system provides a physical reference that mediates the vertical dimension measurement, replacing direct visual estimation with an objective, measurable intermediary standard.
2Device complexity
If manual adjustment based on visual estimate is used, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement sheets are prepared in advance with known thicknesses before the dental restoration procedure. This preliminary preparation of measurement standards allows the dentist to directly apply pre-calibrated reference values during the procedure, eliminating the need for complex adjustment mechanisms while ensuring reliable, consistent measurements based on pre-determined standards.
3Ease of manufacture
If articulator records present shortened teeth position, then ease of manufacture is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of attempting to directly measure or restore the full desired vertical dimension in one step, the method uses multiple thin sheets that can be progressively stacked to approach the target dimension. This partial action approach allows incremental adjustment and verification, ensuring manufacturing precision by building up to the correct dimension through controlled additions rather than relying on a single potentially inaccurate measurement.
Data Source
AI summary
The kit for measuring vertical dimension for dental impression provides a tool for measuring a difference between a dental patient's desired vertical dimension and the patient's vertical dimension prior to a dental restoration procedure. The kit includes a base, a plurality of measurement sheets, and dental impression wax. The base includes a planar member having first and second longitudinally opposed ends and opposed upper and lower surfaces. The upper surface has at least one longitudinally extending groove defined therein. First and second legs are secured to the first and second longitudinally opposed ends of the planar member and extend downward from the lower surface. Each measurement sheet has opposed upper and lower surfaces and at least one longitudinally extending rib formed on the lower surface and at least one longitudinally extending groove defined in the upper surface. Each of the plurality of measurement sheets has a known thickness.