Dynamic Dental Crown with Ball-and-Socket Pivot
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Solution Overview
Problem
Artificial teeth are rigid, leading to discomfort and soreness in the gums due to excessive pressure required for chewing, as they fail to mimic the natural tooth's flexibility during mastication, making it difficult for denture wearers to perform side-to-side and forward-to-backward jaw movements.
Innovation Solution
An artificial tooth design featuring a pivot assembly with a ball-and-socket connector and a sealing membrane that allows for flexible movement, mimicking natural tooth flexion, reducing pressure on the gums by enabling independent articulation of the crown portion during chewing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If artificial teeth are made rigid, then structural strength is improved, but chewing comfort and gum health deteriorate due to excessive pressure transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The artificial tooth is divided into separate components: a crown portion, a body portion, and a pivot assembly with ball-and-socket connector. This segmentation allows the crown to move independently relative to the body, enabling flexion during chewing while maintaining overall structural integrity. The pivot assembly acts as a hinge point that permits controlled movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic movement capability to the previously static artificial tooth structure. The crown portion can pivot and flex relative to the body portion through the ball-and-socket connector, mimicking the natural movement of teeth during chewing. This dynamic behavior reduces pressure transmission to the gums while maintaining chewing effectiveness.
2Ease of manufacture
If artificial teeth are made rigid, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but sensory feedback and chewing efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the tooth into manufacturable components (crown, body, pivot assembly), each part can be manufactured separately using standard dental fabrication techniques, then assembled together. This maintains ease of manufacture while enabling the complex dynamic functionality needed for efficient chewing.
3Stability of the object's composition
If artificial teeth are made rigid, then structural stability is improved, but ability to mimic natural tooth flexion deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The pivot assembly with ball-and-socket connector provides controlled flexibility while maintaining structural stability. The crown can flex and pivot during chewing movements, then return to its original position, mimicking natural tooth behavior. The membrane seal maintains the structural integrity of the tooth while allowing this controlled movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivot assembly acts as an intermediary mechanism between the crown and body portions, mediating the transmission of forces while allowing controlled movement. This intermediary structure enables flexion without compromising the overall stability of the artificial tooth in the denture.
Data Source
AI summary
An artificial tooth system, including a denture-engaging body portion, a first recess formed in the denture-engaging body portion, and a pivot base positioned within the first recess and operationally connected to the denture-engaging body portion. A generally spherical ball connector extends from the pivot base. A pivot platform is pivotably connected to the generally spherical ball portion and a resilient ring is positioned around the generally spherical ball connector and situated between the pivot base and the pivot platform. A membrane is sealingly connected around the pivot base and the pivot platform. The tooth also includes a crown portion with a second recess formed in the crown portion, wherein the pivot platform is positioned within the second recess.