Modular Dental Tray with Ball Nut Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for producing dentures require multiple visits and measurements, which can be time-consuming and inefficient, and involve a large inventory of different dental trays for various measurement and calibration functions.
Innovation Solution
A modular dental apparatus comprising a lower dental tray with a tapered spherical opening and a ball nut, and an upper dental tray with a striking sector, allowing for adjustable measurements and calibrations to be taken in a single visit, reducing the need for multiple trays and visits by using snap-fit designs and adjustable components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple different dental trays are used for various measurement and calibration functions, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity and inventory requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The dental tray is designed with a modular adjustable mechanism that allows a single tray to perform multiple measurement and calibration functions. The ball nut and post assembly enables the tray to be adjusted for different measurement types (occlusal vertical dimension, centric relation position, etc.), eliminating the need for multiple specialized trays while maintaining measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The dental tray incorporates movable and adjustable components including a ball nut that can rotate within a tapered opening and a post that can be adjusted to different positions. This dynamic design allows the same tray to adapt to various measurement requirements through adjustment rather than requiring separate static trays for each function
2Measurement precision
If multiple visits are scheduled for taking measurements and calibrations, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable dental tray allows all necessary measurements and calibrations to be prepared and taken during a single visit. The tray can be pre-adjusted to accommodate different measurement types, enabling the practitioner to complete occlusal vertical dimension, centric relation position, and other calibrations in one session rather than requiring multiple follow-up visits
Solution Approach 2:
By designing a single dental tray that can perform multiple measurement functions (occlusal vertical dimension, centric relation, esthetic blue printing, neutral zone technique), the system enables all necessary measurements to be completed during one patient visit, eliminating the need for multiple visits while maintaining measurement precision
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple specialized dental trays are maintained in inventory, then adaptability to different measurement functions is improved, but loss of substance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dental tray is designed as a universal device that can accommodate various measurement and calibration functions through its adjustable mechanism. The ball nut and post assembly allows the same tray to be configured for different measurement types, reducing the need to maintain inventory of multiple specialized trays and the materials required to produce them
Data Source
AI summary
A dental apparatus and method of use for producing edentulous dentures, each including a lower dental tray having a removable modular contact plate with an upwardly extending shoulder surrounding a tapered opening, a ball nut retained in the tapered opening, and a post adjustably secured to the ball nut. A modular striking plate may be removably attached to an upper dental tray or an integrated striking sector on a bottom surface of the upper dental tray is utilized to accurately obtain an established occlusal vertical and centric relation positions. The contact plate and striking plate are each configured as snap-in components to the respective trays. Additionally, the contact plate may be utilized as a spacer between the dental trays once the post and ball nut are removed. Finally, the contact plate and striking plate may be removed for functional positioning and esthetic blue printing measurements.