Mesh Dental Base Structure for Thinner Intraoral Appliances
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dental intraoral devices, such as orthodontic aligners and oral appliances, are molded into solid shapes to ensure strength and fracture resistance, resulting in thick base portions that can cause discomfort and difficulty in opening the mouth, and may lead to ulcers and tooth decay due to mechanical irritation.
Innovation Solution
A dental intraoral device with a resin base portion formed into a mesh shape, featuring regularly arranged unit regions with holes, allowing for stress dispersion and reduced thickness while maintaining strength, enhancing comfort and oral function.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the base portion is molded into a solid shape to ensure strength and fracture resistance, then the strength and fracture resistance are improved, but the thickness increases causing discomfort and difficulty in opening the mouth
Solution Approach 1:
The base portion is divided into multiple unit regions arranged in a mesh pattern, creating a segmented structure that maintains strength while reducing overall thickness. Each unit region acts as an independent structural element that contributes to the overall strength of the base portion without requiring solid material throughout.
Solution Approach 2:
The base portion employs a mesh-shaped porous structure with regularly arranged unit regions containing holes. This porous configuration reduces material usage and thickness while maintaining structural integrity through the geometric arrangement of the mesh pattern, allowing the base to be thinner without sacrificing strength.
2Reliability
If the base portion is molded into a solid shape to ensure strength, then the fracture resistance is improved, but the comfort and ease of mouth opening deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the base portion into a mesh structure with multiple unit regions, the design achieves fracture resistance through distributed structural support while reducing the overall bulk that causes discomfort. The segmented mesh allows for flexibility and comfort while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The mesh-shaped base portion functions as a flexible structure with thin walls forming the unit regions. This flexible shell structure provides sufficient fracture resistance through its geometric configuration while allowing the base to be thin and comfortable for extended wear during mouth opening and speech.
3Strength
If the base portion is made thick to ensure sufficient strength, then the fracture resistance is improved, but the foreign object sensation and mechanical irritation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The porous mesh structure with regularly arranged unit regions reduces the amount of material in contact with oral tissues, thereby reducing mechanical irritation and foreign object sensation. The holes in the unit regions allow for tissue contact and reduce the bulkiness that causes discomfort, while the mesh structure maintains fracture resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
Segmenting the base into a mesh pattern with multiple small unit regions distributes the contact area with oral tissues, reducing the concentration of mechanical irritation. The segmented structure provides sufficient strength through its configuration while minimizing the harmful effects of a thick solid base.
Data Source
AI summary
A dental intraoral device that is worn within an oral cavity, the dental intraoral device comprising a resin base portion that follows a shape of the oral cavity. At least a part of the base portion is formed into a mesh shape. The part of the base portion is preferably formed by approximately regularly arranging unit regions having holes.