Low Profile Mouthguard With Sliding Bite Pad Assemblies
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dental guards for preventing Bruxism are uncomfortable due to bulky and inflexible adjustment mechanisms, leading many users to discontinue their use during sleep.
Innovation Solution
A low-profile dental appliance with sliding bite pad assemblies and a U-shaped buccal strap featuring adjustable channels and protrusions for size customization, allowing for comfortable fit and independent adjustment of bite pad positions, along with a color indicator for wear replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If adjustable bite pads with pin assembly and shank structure are used, then the mouthguard can be adjusted to fit different jaw sizes, but the bulky adjustment mechanism occupies considerable space and causes discomfort to the wearer
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment mechanism is divided into separate functional elements: a flat adjustment plate with receiver holes, a thin shank, and a cap. This segmentation allows each component to be minimized in size while maintaining the overall adjustability function, reducing the bulkiness that caused discomfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The bulky shank and cap structure is extracted and replaced with a minimal-profile adjustment plate that has receiver holes directly formed in the buccal strap. This removes the unnecessary bulk while preserving the adjustment capability through the pin assembly sliding through the receiver holes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If adjustable bite pads with shank and ball structure are used, then the bite pad position can be adjusted, but the ball structure extends outward and rubs against the wearer's cheek causing discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of extending the adjustment mechanism outward (ball structure), the design inverts the approach by embedding the adjustment plate directly into the buccal strap with receiver holes. The adjustment pin slides within the strap thickness rather than protruding outward, eliminating cheek irritation.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment mechanism is simplified to a two-dimensional adjustment plate with holes rather than a three-dimensional ball structure. This copying of the essential adjustment function in a reduced form eliminates the protruding element that caused discomfort.
3Adaptability or versatility
If prior dental guards with bulky adjustment mechanisms are used, then size adjustment is possible, but the large adjustment structures are uncomfortable for overnight wear
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment plate is designed as a thin, flat structure that can be comfortably worn against the cheek during sleep. This thin-film approach replaces bulky three-dimensional adjustment mechanisms with a minimal-profile two-dimensional adjustment interface.
Data Source
AI summary
A dental appliance for prevention of Bruxism includes a U-shaped buccal strap having opposing right and left aft end portions. A right bite pad assembly is slidingly connected to and completely encloses the right aft end portion of the buccal strap. A left bite pad assembly is slidingly connected to and completely encloses the left aft end portion of the buccal strap. The right bite pad assembly can include a right upper bite surface member for contacting right upper molars of a wearer and a right lower bite surface member for contacting right lower molars of the wearer. The left bite pad assembly can include a left upper bite surface member for contacting left upper molars of a wearer and a left lower bite surface member for contacting left lower molars of the wearer. A right channel extends through the right upper bite surface member and the right lower bite surface member. A left channel extends through the left upper bite surface member and the left lower bite surface member. The right channel receives the right aft end portion of the buccal strap, and the left channel receives the left aft end portion of the buccal strap.