Frangible Dental Marking Device for Occlusal Reduction Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current dental procedures for applying a crown require occlusal reduction of teeth, which can be challenging due to the need to identify and mark raised regions and ensure proper reduction height, often relying on the subjective 'tug test' for verification.
Innovation Solution
A dental device with a marking portion and a resistance testing portion, where the marking portion transfers a material to mark raised regions and the resistance testing portion assesses the reduction by measuring frictional resistance, ensuring accurate crown placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the tooth is occlusally reduced to allow crown placement, then the crown can be properly positioned, but the raised regions become difficult to identify and mark accurately
Solution Approach 1:
The marking portion is applied to the tooth surface before the actual crown placement procedure. This preliminary marking action identifies the raised regions and occlusal contacts while the tooth anatomy is still intact and recognizable, allowing the dentist to plan the occlusal reduction accurately without losing reference points.
Solution Approach 2:
The marking portion contains pigmented material that transfers color to the tooth surface, creating visible marks on the raised regions. This color change provides clear visual contrast that makes it easy to identify the areas that need to be preserved or reduced during occlusal preparation, solving the identification difficulty.
2Reliability
If traditional tug test is used to verify tooth reduction, then some resistance measurement is obtained, but the results are subjective and unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The resistance testing portion provides immediate tactile feedback to the dentist when applied to the reduced tooth surface. By feeling the resistance or lack thereof during insertion and removal, the dentist receives direct information about whether sufficient reduction has been achieved, eliminating the need for subjective interpretation of tug test results.
Solution Approach 2:
The resistance testing portion is designed to be self-indicating through its mechanical behavior. When the tooth has been reduced to the correct amount, the resistance testing portion will exhibit specific resistance characteristics during insertion and removal that automatically indicate proper reduction without requiring external measurement tools or subjective judgment.
3Ease of manufacture
If multiple separate tools are used for marking and resistance testing, then each function can be optimized, but the overall procedure becomes more complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The marking portion and resistance testing portion are combined into a single integrated device that can be applied to the tooth simultaneously. This merging eliminates the need for multiple separate tools and sequential procedures, reducing complexity while maintaining both marking and resistance testing functionalities in one application.
Solution Approach 2:
The single device serves multiple functions: it marks the raised regions through the marking portion and simultaneously provides resistance testing capability through the resistance testing portion. This multi-functionality allows the dentist to perform both critical assessment tasks with one tool, simplifying the overall crown preparation procedure.
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 device allows for precise marking and verification of tooth reduction, enhancing the accuracy and reliability of crown application by objectively determining if the tooth has been sufficiently reduced.
Implementation Method 1
the marking portion is separated from the resistance testing portion, and the marking layer is positioned against an upper surface of the tooth. The patient applies pressure to the marking portion by biting on the marking portion... This application of pressure transfers the transferable medium of the marking layer to raised regions of the upper surface of the tooth
Implementation Method 2
the resistance testing portion is inserted between the occlusally reduced tooth and the vertically opposed tooth. The patient bites down on the resistance testing portion, and the resistance testing portion frictionally engages both the upper surface of the occlusally reduced tooth and the vertically opposed tooth. By attempting to remove the resistance testing portion, and measuring the amount of resistance to removal the frictional engagement provides
Data Source
AI summary
The dental device for insertion of a crown is a tool for marking an occlusally reduced tooth prior to application of a crown thereon, and for testing whether the tooth has been sufficiently reduced for proper application of the crown. The dental device includes a marking portion frangibly joined to a resistance testing portion. The marking portion includes a marking layer formed of a transferable material so that, following occlusal reduction of the tooth, the marking portion is separated from the resistance testing portion, and the marking layer is positioned against an upper surface of the tooth. The patient bites down on the marking layer to mark raised regions of the upper surface of the tooth, and subsequently bites down on the resistance testing portion, to test if the tooth has been sufficiently reduced for application of a crown thereon.