4D Printed Oral Appliance with Stimuli-Responsive Force Component
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oral appliances are not well-suited for certain tooth movements, are less comfortable, and may weaken over time, leading to reduced effectiveness in tooth movement and increased patient discomfort.
Innovation Solution
The development of oral appliances that incorporate a passive component and an active force-generating component, which reacts to stimuli such as temperature or hydration to provide controlled tooth movement forces, addressing issues of comfort and effectiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If prior oral appliances are used, then tooth repositioning is achieved, but the appliances weaken over time due to stress relaxation resulting in reduced force to the tooth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the appliance's mechanical properties time-dependent through viscoelastic materials. The appliance transitions from a rigid structure to a dynamically adapting structure that changes its force-generation characteristics over time, allowing it to compensate for stress relaxation and maintain effective tooth movement forces throughout the treatment duration
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of material rigidity over time by incorporating viscoelastic materials whose mechanical properties evolve with time and environmental conditions. This parameter change allows the appliance to maintain optimal force levels by adapting its stiffness characteristics as it ages and undergoes stress relaxation
2Reliability
If prior oral appliances are used, then tooth repositioning is achieved, but patient comfort is reduced especially when advancing to new treatment stages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the appliance's mechanical properties time-dependent through viscoelastic materials. The appliance transitions from a rigid structure to a dynamically adapting structure that changes its force-generation characteristics over time, allowing it to compensate for stress relaxation and maintain effective tooth movement forces throughout the treatment duration
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of material rigidity over time by incorporating viscoelastic materials whose mechanical properties evolve with time and environmental conditions. This parameter change allows the appliance to maintain optimal force levels by adapting its stiffness characteristics as it ages and undergoes stress relaxation
3Quantity of substance
If traditional manufacturing approaches are used, then appliances can be produced, but the process is complex and involves multiple manufacturing steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the mold and the appliance into a single integrated structure. The mold material itself becomes part of the final appliance, eliminating the need for separate mold fabrication and appliance manufacturing steps. This consolidation reduces manufacturing complexity while maintaining production capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies self-service by designing a system where the mold automatically serves dual purposes: it shapes the appliance during manufacturing and then becomes a functional component of the appliance itself. This self-service approach eliminates the need for separate tooling and simplifies the manufacturing workflow
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
The described oral appliances improve patient comfort by gradually increasing tooth movement forces over time and counteracting stress relaxation, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of tooth repositioning.
Implementation Method 1
the force generating component is configured to respond to a stimulus and generate tooth movement forces
Implementation Method 2
directly fabricated dental appliances that swell have been proposed
Implementation Method 3
the passive component is configured to deflect when placed on one or more teeth and generate tooth movement forces
Data Source
AI summary
A method for fabricating an oral appliance may include forming, using a 3D additive manufacturing process, a polymeric shell having a plurality of teeth engaging structures shaped to engage the teeth of the patient and forming, using the 3D additive manufacturing process, a force generating component coupled to the plurality of teeth engaging structures, the force generating component may be configured to generate a force in response to a stimulus in order to reposition one or more teeth of the patient. The polymeric shell, the plurality of teeth engaging structures, and the force generating component may include a sequentially polymerized plurality of layers directly fabricated together using the 3D additive manufacturing process.