Elastic Dental Implant Superstructure for Controlled Bone Loading

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional temporary superstructures for dental implants often lead to sudden and excessive loading of the bone-implant border during healing, risking implant loss and bone remodeling issues due to uncontrolled force introduction, especially with immediate loading methods.

Innovation Solution

A temporary superstructure with an elastic modulus of 15 to 200 MPa, made from materials like silicones and polyethers, allowing for controlled physiological force application and gradual bone loading, enabling the use of normal food and reducing the risk of implant overload.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If immediate loading with conventional rigid temporary superstructures is applied, then treatment time is reduced and productivity is improved, but the bone-implant interface is overloaded causing implant loss and bone remodeling issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetreatment timeVSAvoidimplant retention
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the key parameter of the temporary superstructure material from rigid to elastic by selecting materials with specific elastic modulus ranges (15-200 MPa). This parameter change allows the structure to be flexible enough to accommodate bone remodeling while still providing functional loading, thus enabling immediate loading without compromising implant retention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite material strategies by combining elastic materials with specific mechanical properties to create temporary superstructures that exhibit both flexibility and sufficient strength. These composite solutions allow controlled force transmission to promote bone remodeling while preventing overload, resolving the contradiction between early loading and implant safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If rigid temporary superstructures are used, then structural strength is sufficient to support normal chewing forces, but the bone-implant border receives sudden excessive loading that risks implant loss

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidexcessive loading on bone-implant border
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by selecting elastic materials with specific elastic modulus values (15-200 MPa) that are lower than conventional rigid materials. This allows the temporary superstructure to deform elastically under chewing loads, absorbing excess force and preventing sudden excessive loading on the bone-implant border while still supporting normal functional forces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The elastic temporary superstructure acts as a pre-designed cushioning element between the chewing forces and the bone-implant interface. The material's inherent elasticity provides automatic force buffering, protecting the vulnerable bone-implant border from sudden excessive loads during the critical early healing period.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Reliability

If elastic materials with low modulus of elasticity are used, then controlled force introduction is achieved promoting bone remodeling, but the temporary superstructure may lack sufficient structural strength

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebone remodeling controlVSAvoidstructural strength
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the elastic modulus parameter within a specific range (15-200 MPa) to achieve the right balance. This parameter selection ensures the material is elastic enough to provide controlled force introduction for bone remodeling while maintaining sufficient structural strength to support functional loads. The lower bound ensures adequate elasticity, while the upper bound prevents excessive rigidity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes composite material approaches to enhance the structural strength of elastic temporary superstructures. By combining elastic base materials with reinforcing elements or creating composite formulations, the structures achieve both the required flexibility for controlled force transmission and sufficient strength to withstand functional demands.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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

The solution allows for controlled force introduction to the bone-implant interface, promoting optimal bone remodeling and reducing the risk of implant loss, while enabling patients to eat normally and maintaining aesthetic tooth gaps during the healing process.

Implementation Method 1

a temporary superstructure for a dental implant with a material with a modulus of elasticity of less than 300 MPa

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2068753B1Elastic temporary supraconstruction for a dental implant
Publication Date: 2017.12.06 VOCO GMBH
  • EP2068753B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2068753B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a temporary supraconstruction for a dental implant or a core for a temporary supraconstruction for a dental implant, characterised in that it consists of a material having an elasticity module of less than 300 MPa, preferably between 15 and 200 MPa.