Denture Tooth Array Fixture for Precise Crown Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for positioning artificial teeth on denture plates suffer from variations due to tolerance issues in setting holes, adhesive thickness, and technician skill, leading to deviations from ideal positions, affecting aesthetics and masticatory function.

Innovation Solution

An array device with recesses and positioning portions is used to precisely position artificial teeth on a denture plate, utilizing recesses conforming to tooth crowns and protrusions on the plate, ensuring accurate alignment and attachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If freehand arraying of artificial teeth is used, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidpositioning precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an array device as an intermediary tool between the technician and the artificial teeth. This device includes a body with recesses that receive the teeth and positioning portions that ensure accurate placement. The array device acts as a mediator that translates the technician's intent into precise positioning, eliminating the need for freehand placement while maintaining operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The array device is prepared in advance with recesses and positioning portions configured to match the desired tooth arrangement. By pre-configuring the positioning features on the array device and denture plate, the system ensures that when the teeth are placed, they automatically achieve the correct positions without requiring real-time measurement or adjustment during the arraying process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Device complexity

If common arrangement support is used, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidpositioning precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The array device is segmented into distinct functional components: a body with multiple recesses for holding different artificial teeth, and separate positioning portions for each recess. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while keeping the overall device relatively simple. The positioning portions can be integrated into the body structure without adding significant complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Manufacturing precision

If measurement and adjustment during arraying is performed, then manufacturing precision is improved, but productivity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoidwork efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

All positioning information is pre-encoded into the array device and denture plate through their respective positioning portions. The positioning portions are designed beforehand to match specific coordinates on the denture plate, so when the array device is placed on the plate, the teeth automatically align to the correct positions without requiring measurement or adjustment during the arraying process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3973917B1Array device, array method, and manufacturing method of array device
Publication Date: 2026.01.07 SHOFU INC
  • EP3973917B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3973917B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3973917B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The array device of an aspect of the present invention is an array device to be attached to a denture plate and one or more artificial teeth to thereby array the one or more artificial teeth on the denture plate, the array device comprising: a body having one or more recesses recessed in conformity with crown shapes of the one or more artificial teeth, wherein the body includes one or more positioning portions for positioning the one or more artificial teeth on the denture plate.