Gum Tissue Guide for Precise Gingival Margin Cutting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dental professionals face challenges in accurately manipulating the gingiva during surgical procedures due to the inherent human error in hand-based techniques, which can lead to suboptimal aesthetics and symmetry issues.
Innovation Solution
A guide arrangement system is developed, utilizing electronic models of the patient's dentition to design and fabricate a custom guide arrangement with a mounting portion and a template portion that defines a precise incision path, allowing for accurate cutting of the gingival margin, and includes safety features to prevent accidental cutting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If hand-based techniques (laser or knife) are used to cut the gingiva, then the procedure can be performed with simple equipment, but human error occurs leading to inaccurate reproduction of the pre-operation plan
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a physical guide arrangement that is a copy of the virtual surgical plan. The guide arrangement includes a template portion with a guide edge that precisely reproduces the desired incision path from the electronic model, allowing the cutting tool to follow the pre-planned path accurately without human error during execution
Solution Approach 2:
The guide arrangement is fabricated before the surgical procedure based on the pre-operation plan. The mounting portion is customized to fit the patient's specific dentition, and the guide edge is pre-positioned to define the exact incision path, so that when surgery begins, the plan is already embodied in the physical guide
2Manufacturing precision
If a custom guide arrangement is fabricated based on electronic models, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide arrangement is divided into distinct functional segments: a mounting portion that attaches to the dentition and a template portion that provides the guide edge. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized independently and simplifies the fabrication process by breaking down the complex custom guide into manageable components
Solution Approach 2:
The guide arrangement serves as an intermediary device between the virtual surgical plan (electronic model) and the physical surgical execution (cutting tool). It translates the digital plan into a physical guide that the surgeon can use, mediating between different realms while maintaining precision
3Manufacturing precision
If the template portion extends towards the gingival surface to provide precise guidance, then cutting accuracy is improved, but the risk of accidental cutting of the guide arrangement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide edge is designed with a geometry that prevents the cutting tool from cutting into the template portion. The edge profile is engineered beforehand to act as a stop or barrier, so that even if the cutting tool deviates slightly, it cannot damage the guide arrangement itself, protecting the precision reference
Data Source
AI summary
A method, device and system for modifying the gingival margin of a patient is disclosed. A method includes obtaining an electronic model of the dentition of a patient, determining an incision path along the gingival surface based on the electronic model, generating and fabricating a guide arrangement to assist in cutting the gingival surface of the patient, mounting the guide arrangement to the dentition of the patient, and cutting the gingival surface of the patient with the assistance of the guide arrangement. A guide arrangement includes a mounting portion and a template portion coupled to the mounting portion along the gingival surface of the guide arrangement and positioned to provide a desired incision path. A system includes a three dimensional scanner, a computer system and a fabricating device.