Modular Tooth Veneer Segmentation for Bonding Strength
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for creating aesthetically pleasing oral prosthetics are time-intensive and prone to failure due to shrinkage and inadequate bonding strength, particularly when using preshaped tooth veneers that are limited to specific materials and tooth shapes, and do not account for the broader market of non-precious metal ceramics and composite materials.
Innovation Solution
The development of Modular Tooth Veneer (MTV) units that do not shrink during curing, available in various materials like wax, acrylic, and ceramic, with precise shapes and shades, and designed for both frontal and posterior teeth, offering substantial stability and strength, along with a code system for easy production and customization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If preshaped tooth veneers are used to reduce manufacturing steps, then productivity is improved, but bonding strength deteriorates due to inadequate adhesion to support frame surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The tooth veneer is divided into multiple segments corresponding to different tooth positions (central incisors, lateral incisors, canines, premolars, molars). Each segment can be independently bonded to the support frame, increasing the total bonded surface area and improving overall bonding strength while maintaining the productivity benefits of pre-shaped components
Solution Approach 2:
The bonding approach transitions from bonding only to the buccal and cephalic surfaces (2D limitation) to incorporating the lingual surface and interproximal areas (3D utilization). This multi-surface bonding approach dramatically increases the bonded area and bonding strength while maintaining the pre-shaped advantage
2Adaptability or versatility
If dentin paste is applied and cured to build tooth shape, then manufacturing flexibility is improved, but time consumption increases due to shrinkage requiring multiple restoration steps
Solution Approach 1:
The tooth shape, color, and shade are pre-determined and pre-formed in the laboratory before installation. The pre-shaped tooth veneers eliminate the need for multiple on-site application and curing steps, reducing time loss while maintaining the ability to customize appearance through pre-fabricated variations
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses pre-fabricated tooth veneers that are precise copies or representations of natural tooth morphology, colors, and shades. These pre-made copies eliminate the need for repetitive manual shaping and coloring processes, significantly reducing manufacturing time while maintaining aesthetic versatility
3Reliability
If veneers are limited to precious metal ceramics to ensure durability, then reliability is improved, but adaptability deteriorates by ignoring non-precious metal and composite materials
Solution Approach 1:
The support frame and tooth veneer system is designed to be universally compatible with multiple material types including precious metal ceramics, non-precious metal ceramics, zirconium, aluminum oxide, wax, composite, and acrylic. This universal design allows the same structural approach to work across different materials, providing both durability and material versatility
Solution Approach 2:
The invention embraces composite material construction, combining different materials for the support frame and tooth veneers based on specific clinical requirements. This allows optimization of each component's material properties while maintaining overall system reliability and expanding material selection beyond traditional precious metal ceramics
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A Modular Tooth Veneer system, comprising at least one MTV unit (100) having a cephalic body (158), an elongate buccal body (150) extending from the cephalic body, and a lingual body (184) extending from the cephalic body, the lingual body being spaced a distance from the buccal body. The present invention also covers a method for creating a Modular Tooth Veneer unit, the method including: - forming an MTV uni based on real human tooth shape; and - providing a lingual tab (156) on the MTV unit.