Dissolvable Pulp Chamber Spacer Prevents Coronal Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cotton wads used in endodontic procedures pose coronal leakage risks and are insoluble in water, leading to potential infections if not completely removed, as they can harbor bacterial growth.
Innovation Solution
A pulp chamber spacer made from a 70-80% hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohol polymer that is soluble in cool water, potentially modified with cyanoethylation, acetalization, or combined with polyvinyl pyrrolidone, and optionally infused with medicaments like calcium hydroxide and chlorhexidine for anti-microbial properties, to prevent linting and ensure complete removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cotton wads are used as spacers during endodontic procedures, then they provide temporary support and are easy to obtain, but they pose coronal leakage risks and harbor bacterial growth due to linting and insolubility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameter of the spacer material from cotton to water-soluble polymers (polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, carboxymethyl cellulose) with specific molecular weights and hydrolysis degrees. This parameter change eliminates linting while maintaining spacer functionality, and the water solubility enables complete removal without harboring bacteria.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite material formulations combining multiple water-soluble polymers (e.g., polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinyl pyrrolidone in various ratios) to achieve optimal balance of mechanical strength, water solubility, and non-linting properties. The composite approach allows tailoring material properties to prevent both coronal leakage and bacterial harboring.
2Ease of operation
If cotton wads are used as spacers, then they are readily available and easy to use, but they are insoluble in water requiring complete manual removal which is time-consuming and may leave fibers behind
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical removal process (manual extraction of cotton fibers) with a chemical dissolution process. The water-soluble polymer spacer automatically dissolves upon contact with irrigation water or saliva, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual removal and ensuring complete elimination of spacer material without leaving fibers behind.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer material performs self-removal through its water-soluble property. When exposed to water during irrigation or patient hydration, the spacer automatically dissolves and eliminates itself without requiring additional manual intervention, thereby reducing procedure time and ensuring complete removal.
3Reliability
If non-linting water-soluble material is used, then coronal leakage risk is reduced, but the material must maintain structural integrity long enough to support temporary filling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a gradient or specific structural configuration within the spacer material. The outer surface maintains higher structural integrity to support the temporary filling and prevent coronal leakage, while the inner structure contains hydrophilic components that facilitate controlled water absorption and gradual dissolution over time. This local differentiation allows the material to provide long-term support while eventually dissolving completely.
Data Source
AI summary
A pulp chamber dental spacer constructed of cold water soluble material, which may include portions of polyvinyl alcohol, to protect the pupal floor of a pulp chamber from a drilled hole following a root canal treatment or procedure. The spacer may be spherical or cubical in shape and that protects the pupal floor by providing a solid “space” for a practitioner to feel the end of a temporary filing such that the drill does not descend to and possibly damage the sensitive pupal floor. The dissolvable material preferably is non-linting, thereby providing for complete removal and preventing the “wicking” of contaminated salivary fluids and causing coronal damage.