Dynamic Dental Implant Head for Craniofacial Growth

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Dental implants face challenges due to craniofacial growth, which leads to jawbone deterioration and changes in occlusion, esthetics, and functional complications, such as opening of contacts between implant restorations and natural teeth, resulting in unfavorable stresses on the remaining dentition and esthetic discrepancies.

Innovation Solution

The development of a dental implant fixture with an elongated shaft section and a head section featuring narrower side surfaces or concave areas for bone growth, designed to accommodate craniofacial growth and prevent vertical and rotational movements, thereby maintaining implant stability and reducing bone resorption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional dental implant fixture is used, then the implant can be securely placed in the alveolus, but craniofacial growth causes jawbone deterioration and changes in occlusion over time, leading to functional complications and esthetic discrepancies

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimplant stabilityVSAvoidaccommodation of craniofacial growth

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The implant fixture incorporates a dynamic design where the head section can move relative to the shaft section, allowing the implant to adapt to craniofacial growth. The head section is permitted to move in vertical and rotational directions, enabling the implant to accommodate changes in occlusion and jawbone position over time while maintaining stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The implant design allows for changes in positional parameters between the head section and shaft section. The head section can change its vertical position and rotational orientation relative to the shaft, permitting the implant to adapt to growing craniofacial structures and maintain functional integrity throughout the patient's development.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If the implant fixture is designed with fixed structure, then manufacturing and installation are simplified, but it cannot accommodate craniofacial growth causing opening of contacts and unfavorable stresses on remaining dentition

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimplant fabricationVSAvoidopening of contacts and stresses on dentition

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The implant fixture is divided into two distinct segments: a shaft section that remains anchored in the jawbone and a head section that can move relative to the shaft. This segmentation allows each part to serve its specific function while accommodating growth, preventing harmful forces from transmitting to the remaining dentition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The head section is designed with dynamic movement capabilities, allowing it to shift vertically and rotate relative to the shaft section. This dynamic design prevents the head section from exerting unfavorable stresses on adjacent teeth by allowing it to adapt to changing occlusal relationships as the patient grows.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If conventional implant design is used, then initial placement is straightforward, but subtle growth causes esthetic discrepancies in incisal edge length, gingival margin height, and facial contour alignment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimplant placementVSAvoidesthetic alignment

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The head section is designed to move relative to the shaft section, allowing it to adapt to craniofacial growth. This movement capability maintains proper esthetic alignment by permitting the head section to adjust its position in response to growth changes, preventing discrepancies in incisal edge length, gingival margin height, and facial contour alignment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The implant fixture performs self-adjustment through the relative movement between the head and shaft sections. As the patient grows, the head section automatically moves to maintain proper esthetic relationships without requiring external intervention or revision surgery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Stability of the object's composition

If the implant fixture prevents all movement, then stability is maximized, but it cannot compensate for jawbone deterioration adjacent to the implant due to craniofacial growth

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimplant fixationVSAvoidjawbone deterioration and exposure

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The implant fixture incorporates controlled movement between the head and shaft sections, allowing the head to move vertically and rotate relative to the shaft. This dynamic design enables the implant to compensate for jawbone deterioration by adjusting the head position, preventing bone exposure while maintaining overall stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11090138B2Dental implant system and method

Publication Date: 2021.08.17 NOVEL LABORATORIES INC

AI summary

An implant fixture is disclosed. The implant fixture contains an elongated shaft section, a head section, wherein the head section comprises at least one concave area for bone growth therein, and a protrusion extending from the head section.