Flexible Orthodontic Attachment Placement for Tooth Movement Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing attachment templates for orthodontic treatments are less than ideal due to misalignment, complexity, time consumption, and inadequate accommodation of tooth movement, leading to improper placement and increased treatment time.
Innovation Solution
A flexible attachment placement device with articulated registration elements and couplings that accommodate tooth movement, allowing for precise alignment and stabilization, enabling efficient and accurate placement of attachments using 3D printing technology.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If prior attachment templates are used, then attachment placement can be facilitated, but the templates may not properly align with the teeth, resulting in improper placement of the attachment
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment template is designed with pre-configured attachment positions and orientations based on the patient's specific tooth geometry obtained from digital scans. The template is customized beforehand to match the exact contours and positions of the patient's teeth, ensuring proper alignment when placed on the teeth during the attachment procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment template creates a precise physical copy or replica of the patient's tooth surfaces and geometries. By copying the digital tooth model into a physical template structure, the template naturally aligns with the actual teeth, transferring the digital precision to the physical placement process.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional attachment placement methods are used, then attachments can be placed on teeth, but the process is complex and time consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment template is divided into multiple segments or sections, each corresponding to different tooth regions. This segmentation allows for modular placement and simplifies the overall process, enabling the template to be applied more quickly and easily while maintaining precision across multiple teeth.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment template is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it guides attachment placement, provides positioning references, and ensures proper orientation. This multi-functionality consolidates several steps into one unified tool, reducing both complexity and time required for attachment placement.
3Measurement precision
If rigid attachment templates are used, then precise positioning can be achieved, but the templates cannot accommodate tooth movement between scanning and placement
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment template incorporates flexible or resilient materials and structural elements that allow it to adapt to tooth movement. The template can flex or deform within certain limits to accommodate changes in tooth position between the scanning and placement phases, while still maintaining sufficient precision for accurate attachment placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The template design includes adjustable parameters such as flexible connection points, resilient mounting structures, or compensatory mechanisms that allow the template to adjust its geometry. These parameter changes enable the template to accommodate tooth movement while preserving positioning accuracy through controlled adaptability.
4Ease of operation
If manual stabilization of the template is required, then the treatment professional can control template positioning, but it increases treatment time and limits the ability to use both hands
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment template is designed with self-aligning and self-stabilizing features that allow it to position and secure itself on the teeth without requiring manual stabilization. The template incorporates geometric interlocking elements, friction-fit mechanisms, or snap-fit features that automatically engage with the teeth, enabling the treatment professional to use both hands for other tasks during the procedure.
Data Source
AI summary
A dental attachment placement device comprises a plurality of articulated registration elements shaped for placement on a plurality of teeth, which can facilitate placement, accommodate tooth movement, and improve alignment of the registration elements with the teeth, so as to accurately position an attachment for placement. The plurality of registration elements may comprise one or more attachment supports and one or more retention supports extending from the plurality of registration elements. A dental attachment can be removably coupled to the attachment support. The plurality of registration elements and attachment supports may be located on opposing sides of one or more teeth in order to maintain placement prior to adhering the attachment to the tooth. In some embodiments, each of the plurality of registration elements comprises a tooth registration surface shaped to engage the tooth with a specific position and orientation for accurate positioning of the attachment.