Orthodontic Aligner With Metal Wire Composite
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dental aligners require prolonged daily wear, which can be inconvenient and lead to non-compliance, resulting in unsatisfactory treatment outcomes due to reduced force on teeth over time and increased treatment duration.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a set of aligners with varying thicknesses and potentially incorporating light therapy, antiplasticizers, and metal reinforcements, designed to be worn for reduced daily periods while maintaining effective tooth movement through modified material properties and sequential use, allowing for increased force and reduced wear time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If conventional plastic trays are used to move teeth, then teeth can be mechanically moved to desired location, but the plastic material wears out over time providing less force to the teeth
Solution Approach 1:
The aligner combines a plastic tray with a metal wire component. The metal wire provides continuous force to the teeth without wearing out like conventional plastic, while the plastic tray provides the necessary fit and comfort. This composite structure resolves the contradiction by maintaining force effectiveness over the entire treatment duration.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material parameter from pure plastic to a composite of plastic and metal wire. This parameter change allows the aligner to maintain its force-giving capability over time without the degradation that occurs with conventional plastic materials alone.
2Productivity
If aligners are worn for twenty-two hours per day to maximize treatment effectiveness, then treatment duration is minimized, but users experience inconvenience and may not adhere to the recommended wear time
Solution Approach 1:
The aligner is designed with removable components including the metal wire that can be easily taken out for eating and cleaning. This segmentation makes the aligner more user-friendly and easier to comply with, as users can remove specific parts for necessary activities without compromising the overall treatment effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material properties by incorporating metal wire into the plastic tray, creating a hybrid structure that maintains treatment effectiveness while being more comfortable and manageable for users, thereby improving compliance.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional plastic trays are used, then aligners can be easily manufactured and worn, but the plastic material degrades over time reducing the force applied to teeth
Solution Approach 1:
The aligner combines a plastic tray with a metal wire component. The metal wire provides consistent force to the teeth without degrading over time like conventional plastic, while the plastic tray maintains ease of manufacture and wear. This composite structure resolves the contradiction by maintaining force consistency throughout the treatment duration.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material parameter from pure plastic to a composite of plastic and metal wire. This parameter change maintains the ease of wearing while improving the reliability of force application over time, as the metal component does not degrade like plastic.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for orthodontic treatment includes providing a first set of aligners to a user. The first set of aligners includes a first aligner, a second aligner, and a third aligner configured to move a tooth of a user. The first aligner, the second aligner, and the third aligner are created using a single physical dental model and are substantially the same shape. The first aligner has a first thickness, the second aligner has a second thickness, and the third aligner has a third thickness. The first thickness is different than the second thickness and the third thickness, and the second thickness is at least substantially equivalent to the third thickness.