Dental Appliance Etch Template for Localized Tooth Etching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current dental treatment processes involve manual application of etch material by professionals, leading to user errors such as excessive etching, longer treatment times, and increased patient inconvenience due to the need for cleaning up excess bonding agent.
Innovation Solution
The use of a dental appliance etch template with pre-formed wells containing etch material that precisely applies the etch to the exact location where dental attachments are to be placed, reducing unnecessary etching and cleanup time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual application of etch material is used by treatment professional, then flexibility and adaptability are maintained, but precision and consistency deteriorate due to user error
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a template as an intermediary tool between the treatment professional and the tooth surface. The template includes a positioning member that fits over the tooth and an etch material application member that precisely delivers etch material only to the intended location. This intermediary system eliminates manual precision requirements while maintaining ease of operation through simple template placement and activation.
Solution Approach 2:
The template is designed to be self-aligning through the positioning member that fits over the tooth. Once positioned, the template automatically guides the etch material application member to the correct location without requiring manual precision. The system serves itself by using the tooth's own geometry to position the template, thereby eliminating the need for complex manual positioning while ensuring precise etch application.
2Reliability
If excessive etch material is applied to tooth surface, then complete coverage is achieved, but treatment time increases due to cleanup requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by designing the etch material application member to deliver etch material only to the specific location where the dental attachment will be placed. The template's geometry ensures that etch material is applied locally and precisely to the intended area rather than broadly across the tooth surface. This localized application achieves complete coverage of the necessary area while eliminating excess etch material that would require cleanup, thereby reducing treatment time without compromising reliability.
3Loss of substance
If precise etch application is achieved through manual skill, then material waste is reduced, but operator skill requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The template acts as an intermediary that translates simple operator actions into precise etch material application. The positioning member and etch material application member work together to ensure that etch material is delivered only where needed. This intermediary system eliminates the need for high operator skill while preventing material waste through geometric constraints that guide the etch material to the correct location automatically.
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
This approach allows for faster and more precise application of etch material, minimizing excess etching and bonding agent usage, thereby reducing treatment time and workload for professionals while enhancing patient convenience.
Implementation Method 1
a surface of a tooth of a patient at a particular location on the surface of the tooth
Data Source
AI summary
Methods of manufacturing dental etching templates. A virtual shell having one or more cavities shaped to receive one or more teeth of a virtual dental model of a patient's dentition may be formed. A virtual well may be formed at a position of the virtual shell based on an area on a tooth of the patient's dentition to be etched. Walls that define the virtual well may be shaped to accommodate a volume of a wafer that absorbs a liquid etching material and to accommodate a reservoir that extends beyond the volume of the wafer. The reservoir may be shaped to contain excess liquid etching material from the wafer. A physical etching template may be formed based on the virtual etching template.