Digital Denture Duplication for On-Demand Exact Replacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Denture wearers face significant challenges in replacing lost or damaged dentures due to lengthy and costly traditional processes, leading to discomfort, self-esteem issues, and potential health problems, with no effective on-demand solutions available.
Innovation Solution
A system and method allowing denture wearers to create a negative mold of their existing dentures using an in-home kit, which is then processed by a dental laboratory to produce an exact replica using advanced CAD/CAM and 3D printing technologies, ensuring quick and cost-effective replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If traditional denture replacement processes are used, then replacement dentures can be obtained, but the process is lengthy (weeks or longer) and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by creating and storing a digital 3D model of the patient's denture in advance. This digital archive allows for rapid reproduction of the denture when needed, eliminating the need for lengthy traditional replacement processes while ensuring immediate availability of replacement dentures.
2Manufacturing precision
If traditional denture replacement processes are used, then replacement dentures can be obtained, but they are rarely exact replicas of the original
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses digital copying technology to create an exact digital replica of the original denture. The 3D scanning process captures precise geometric data, and the digital model is stored for future reproduction, ensuring that replacement dentures are exact copies without requiring multiple adjustment appointments.
3Ease of manufacture
If denture duplication services are offered by dentists, then replacement dentures can be obtained, but pricing concerns make them unacceptable to most patients
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces traditional mechanical denture fabrication methods with digital 3D scanning and modeling technology. This substitution reduces costs by eliminating manual labor-intensive processes and enables on-demand production, making denture duplication services affordable and accessible to most patients while ensuring reliable backup denture availability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Provides denture wearers with a rapid, comfortable, and affordable way to obtain an exact duplicate denture, reducing the inconvenience and financial burden of traditional replacement methods, maintaining oral functionality and self-esteem.
Implementation Method 1
a 3D scanner to create a digital 3D model of the patient's denture
Implementation Method 2
utilize a 3D printer to fabricate a replacement denture
Data Source
AI summary
Denture duplicating methods and systems are described that include a controller configured to scan a mold of a denture for a wearer using a scanner, create a denture specifications file associated with the mold of the denture, store the denture specifications file in non-transitory computer readable memory, upon request, retrieve the denture specifications file and load it into a milling design software program to generate a replacement denture platform design, and instruct a communicatively coupled three-dimensional printer to perform a print operation resulting in a replacement denture platform based in part on the replacement denture platform design before the replacement denture platform and milled teeth can then be sent to the wearer.