Orthodontic Harmonizer with Tongue-Guiding Flanges
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing orthodontic devices fail to effectively harmonize skull-facial skeletal structures, correct dysmetria, and re-educate swallowing habits, leading to inadequate treatment of malocclusions and related skeletal issues, particularly due to limitations in design that do not account for individual anatomy and the role of the tongue in dental arch morphology.
Innovation Solution
An orthodontic elastic harmonizer device with elastically deformable occlusal bimaxillary guides, vestibular and lingual-palatal flanges that provide proprioceptive stimulation, and a steep inclined plane to guide the tongue into correct posture, ensuring proper alignment and repositioning of teeth and jaw, while accommodating various facial shapes and skeletal classes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional orthodontic devices are used, then basic tooth alignment may be achieved, but skull-facial skeletal structures remain unharmonized and dysmetria persists
Solution Approach 1:
The orthodontic device integrates multiple functions into a single apparatus: it provides tooth alignment through archwires, harmonizes skull-facial skeletal structures through specifically designed flanges that apply controlled forces to bone, and addresses dysmetria through adjustable components. This multi-functional design allows the device to simultaneously treat dental and skeletal issues that conventional single-function devices cannot address.
Solution Approach 2:
The device employs different structural components with specialized functions: vestibular flanges for external cheek support and skeletal guidance, lingual-palatal flanges for internal tongue and palate support, and differentiated archwires for specific tooth groups. Each component is designed with local quality characteristics tailored to its specific anatomical location and therapeutic purpose, enabling precise control over different regions of the oral and facial structures.
2Manufacturing precision
If standard orthodontic appliances are applied, then dental arch alignment may be improved, but tongue posture and swallowing habits are not re-educated
Solution Approach 1:
The lingual-palatal flanges are designed to automatically guide the tongue into the correct resting position against the palate during swallowing. The flanges create natural anatomical landmarks and pressure points that trigger the tongue to adopt the proper posture without requiring active patient intervention or complex mechanical mechanisms. The device leverages the patient's own swallowing reflex to achieve re-education.
Solution Approach 2:
The lingual-palatal flanges act as intermediaries between the orthodontic appliance and the tongue-musculature system. These flanges transmit controlled forces and positional guidance to the tongue, mediating the interaction between the rigid appliance and the soft, dynamic tongue tissue. This intermediary structure enables gentle, continuous guidance of tongue posture during natural swallowing movements.
3Strength
If rigid orthodontic devices are used, then structural support is provided, but trauma risk increases and comfort decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates flexible lingual-palatal flanges made from elastomeric or thermoplastic materials that can deform elastically under tongue pressure and swallowing forces. These flexible components maintain continuous contact with the tongue and palate surfaces, providing structural support while accommodating natural tissue movements without causing trauma. The flexibility allows the device to conform to individual anatomical variations while maintaining therapeutic effectiveness.
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 effectively harmonizes skull-facial structures, corrects malocclusions, and re-educates swallowing habits, improving muscle tone, posture, and overall craniofacial alignment without causing trauma, making it suitable for both children and adults with various skeletal malocclusions.
Implementation Method 1
an orthodontic elastic harmonizer device with elastically deformable occlusal bimaxillary guides
Implementation Method 2
vestibular and lingual-palatal flanges that provide proprioceptive stimulation
Data Source
Figure 1~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3~3B
AI summary
Orthodontic elastic harmonizer device for dental-skull- facial apparatus (1, 10, 20, 20', 30, 40, 50, 60) comprising: - at least a couple of vestibular flanges (2) extending up to cover maxilla and mandible teeth and gingival vestibular of the maxilla and mandible teeth; - at least a couple of lingual-palatal flanges (6) extending to cover the palatal and lingual surfaces of the maxilla and mandible teeth and comprising a steep inclined plane (6a) extending from the back incisive plantar edge until lower frontal teeth configured to drive the tongue; - at least an occlusal plane (3, 3', 3'', 3''') to connect said flanges (2, 6); and - concave and empty volumes (7) defined by said vestibular (2) and lingual-palatal flanges (6) and said occlusal plane (3, 3', 3'', 3'''); characterized in comprising: cross reference protrusions (9) configured on each edge of a back portion of the top lingual-palatal flange (6), in correspondence of the molar position and alignment grooves configured to accommodate alignment removable clamps on a lateral back portion of the upper surface of said occlusal plane (3, 3', 3'', 3''') at the corner among said occlusal plane (3, 3',3'', 3''') and said vestibular flanges (2) and lingual-palatal flanges (6).