Layered Dental Preform With Elastic Modulus Gradient
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dental preforms fail to accurately replicate the mechanical characteristics of natural teeth, leading to adaptation issues with dental prostheses, and customizing such preforms is time-consuming and costly.
Innovation Solution
A dental preform with a central portion composed of first wire-like elements and a peripheral portion featuring an elastic modulus gradient, achieved through layers of second wire-like elements with specific orientations and resins, allowing for controlled mechanical properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If homogeneous composite materials or ceramic preforms are used, then manufacturing is simplified, but mechanical performances fail to match natural teeth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a preform with spatially varying mechanical properties. The central region has a first elastic modulus while the peripheral region has a second, different elastic modulus. This gradient structure allows the preform to better replicate the non-uniform mechanical characteristics of natural teeth, with the central area providing structural support and the peripheral area providing adaptability, thereby resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and mechanical performance matching.
2Reliability
If tailor-made dental preforms with adapted mechanical performances are created, then mechanical characteristics match dimensional constraints, but the process becomes lengthy and onerous
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs parameter changes by systematically varying the elastic modulus across different regions of the preform. By defining specific elastic modulus ranges for the central region (0.5-5 GPa) and peripheral region (5-20 GPa), the invention creates a standardized yet adaptable preform design that can be manufactured efficiently while maintaining tailored mechanical properties. This approach reduces the time and complexity associated with fully custom-made preforms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes composite materials to achieve the desired elastic modulus gradient. By combining materials with different mechanical properties in a controlled manner - with the central region having lower elastic modulus and the peripheral region having higher elastic modulus - the invention creates a preform that mimics natural tooth mechanics. This composite approach enables efficient manufacturing through standardized processes while achieving tailored mechanical performance.
Data Source
AI summary
A dental preform comprises a central portion formed by a plurality of first wire-like elements extending mostly in a first direction, and a first resin. An annular peripheral portion passes round the central portion perpendicularly to the first direction. The peripheral portion comprises second wire-like elements and a second resin. The peripheral portion comprises a plurality of layers arranged on one another perpendicularly to the first direction. Each layer has at least one turn formed by at least one of the second wire-like elements, the at least one second wire-like element presenting a longitudinal direction that is offset with respect to the first direction by an angle comprised between 10° and 80° or between 100° and 170°. The second wire-like elements of two consecutive layers present opposite orientations.