Denture Plane Alignment Using Internal Ear Reference Points

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for determining the denture plane or biting plane based on external anatomical features like the Camper plane or outer ear entrances often result in incorrect positioning and orientation of teeth arches, leading to biomechanical and physiological issues such as jaw strain and malfunction, failing to achieve a physiologically perfect chewing function.

Innovation Solution

A method and equipment that utilize the internal ear points to define a target denture plane parallel to the internal ear line, minimizing deviations from the chewing surfaces of the teeth, ensuring correct chewing geometry and motion by aligning the teeth arches with this plane.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional methods using external ear openings and jaw joints are used to determine the denture plane, then the procedure is simple and widely applicable, but the positioning accuracy and orientation precision are insufficient leading to jaw joint strain

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracy of denture planeVSAvoidcomplexity of anatomical reference system
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the anatomical reference parameters from external ear openings to internal ear points (such as the center of the eardrum or inner ear structures). This parameter change in the reference system enables more accurate determination of the denture plane orientation, reducing positioning errors from up to 5mm and orientation errors from up to 3 degrees, thereby eliminating jaw joint strain while maintaining procedural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the target denture plane is oriented parallel to the internal ear line, then the chewing geometry becomes biomechanically correct, but the deviation from conventional anatomical references increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebiomechanical correctness of chewing functionVSAvoiddifficulty of locating internal ear points
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical/anatomical reference system based on external structures with an internal reference system using internal ear points. This substitution enables accurate determination of the target denture plane that ensures biomechanically correct chewing geometry, reducing jaw joint loads and strain, even though internal ear points require advanced imaging or measurement techniques for location.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP4039221B1Method of constructing an equipment for treatment of a person
Publication Date: 2026.04.29 FORSTGARTEN INT HLDG GMBH
  • EP4039221B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4039221B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4039221B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

It is provided an equipment for treatment of a person, wherein the equipment is configured to achieve a target denture geometry characterized by a target denture plane (3), the target denture plane lying parallel to an internal ear line (11) through a left internal ear point (7) and a right internal ear point (9) of the person. Further, a manufacturing method is provided.