Integrated Suction Mouthpiece for Hands-Free Dental Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current dental procedures require multiple dental equipment items, necessitating a dental assistant to coordinate their use, which can be inefficient and unsafe for patients.
Innovation Solution
A one-piece, flexible, translucent, high-heat-resistant, and autoclavable silicone mouthpiece with integrated suction and cheek retraction features, allowing for hands-free operation and efficient debris removal during dental procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple dental equipment items are used, then the functionality and effectiveness of dental procedures are improved, but the device complexity and operational coordination requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple dental equipment functions (suction, cheek retraction, isolation, and positioning) into a single integrated mouthpiece device. The mouthpiece incorporates a suction channel with openings for fluid removal, cheek retractor elements for jaw stabilization, and positioning features all within one device structure, eliminating the need for multiple separate equipment items and reducing coordination complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The mouthpiece is designed as a universal device that performs multiple dental procedure functions simultaneously. It provides suction for debris removal, cheek retraction for jaw stabilization, patient isolation for comfort, and positioning assistance all through a single device, making it adaptable to various dental procedures without requiring procedure-specific equipment changes
2Reliability
If multiple dental equipment items are used, then comprehensive dental care is provided, but the time required for coordination and setup increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mouthpiece is pre-assembled with all necessary functional components (suction channels, cheek retractors, isolation barriers) integrated into a single ready-to-use device. This preliminary integration eliminates the need for time-consuming coordination and setup of multiple separate equipment items during patient appointments, while ensuring all necessary dental care functions are available
3Productivity
If traditional dental equipment is used, then dental procedures can be performed, but patient comfort and safety are compromised due to multiple items in the mouth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple patient-affecting components (suction tubes, cheek retractors, isolation barriers, positioning elements) into a single mouthpiece device. This consolidation reduces the number of separate items in the patient's mouth, minimizing discomfort and safety concerns while maintaining all necessary procedural functions for efficient dental care
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
Enhances dental procedure efficiency and safety by providing simultaneous suction and isolation, reducing the need for multiple equipment items and minimizing patient discomfort.
Implementation Method 1
suction of air, fluids, and small debris from the patient's mouth, through the openings into the interior portion, and into the suction connector portion towards a suction source
Implementation Method 2
Because the mouthpiece may be made of a flexible and resilient material (e.g., silicone), the mouthpiece may be bent when placed in a patient's mouth to conform to the shape of the mouth
Data Source
AI summary
A dental mouthpiece is provided that may be attached to a high-suction dental adapter for the purpose of assisting the dental staff during dental procedures through chair-side, hands-free suction, and isolation. Such a mouthpiece may include a main body portion, a cheek retractor portion, and a suction connector portion. In some embodiments, the main body portion, cheek retractor portion, and suction connector portion (and sub-portions thereof) may be molded in one piece, preferably by injection molding. In an exemplary embodiment, the mouthpiece may be made of a material that is flexible, translucent, conducive to injection molding, high heat-resistant, and autoclavable. Such a material may include silicone. Because the mouthpiece may be made of a high heat-resistant and autoclavable material, such a mouthpiece may be reusable.