Horizontal Locking Denture Retention Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional implant-retained dentures require multiple dental visits and expensive components, necessitating a dentist for cleaning and reattachment, limiting user independence and increasing costs.
Innovation Solution
A denture abutment retention apparatus with a horizontal locking mechanism that allows users to securely attach and detach dentures without professional assistance, using a channel with varying aperture sections to lock the denture in place, reducing the need for expensive materials and labor-intensive processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional implant-retained dentures use vertical snap-in attachment, then the denture can be easily attached, but the denture becomes loose during chewing motions and requires multiple dental visits for adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional vertical snap-in attachment direction to a horizontal slide-in mechanism. The denture attachment member slides horizontally into the abutment retention member along a horizontal axis, then locks in place. This inversion provides both ease of attachment by the patient and reliable retention during chewing, as the horizontal locking mechanism resists vertical chewing forces more effectively than vertical snap-in attachments.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment system is segmented into distinct components: an attachment member on the denture and a retention member on the abutment. These separate elements work together through the horizontal sliding and locking mechanism, allowing independent optimization of each component for both ease of attachment and retention stability.
2Strength
If traditional implant-retained dentures use expensive titanium bars or zirconia, then the structural strength is sufficient, but the production process becomes labor-intensive and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameters from expensive titanium bars or zirconia to more cost-effective materials such as acrylic resin, metal alloys, or combinations thereof. The design compensates for material differences through optimized geometry of the attachment and retention members, maintaining sufficient structural strength while dramatically reducing production complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment members are designed to be replaceable and potentially disposable components. Rather than requiring durable, expensive materials for the entire denture structure, the critical load-bearing elements use cost-effective materials that can be replaced if needed, reducing overall production costs and complexity.
3Ease of operation
If traditional implant-retained dentures require dentist cleaning and reattachment, then the cleaning is thorough, but the user loses independence and requires frequent dental appointments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables self-service by allowing patients to independently attach and detach their dentures at home. The horizontal sliding mechanism can be operated by the patient without dental professional assistance. The design includes features that facilitate easy removal and reattachment, empowering users to maintain their own dentures while still allowing for periodic professional cleaning when desired.
Data Source
AI summary
A denture abutment retention apparatus and a denture including one or more denture abutment retention apparatuses configured to allow the denture to be easily engaged with and secured to a plurality of denture abutments in a user's mouth using sliding motion of the denture from the sides of the plurality of denture abutments.