Orthodontic Attachment Bodies for Secure, Removable Appliance Engagement
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing orthodontic appliances face challenges in securely adhering to teeth, particularly for complex tooth movements, and require attachments that can flexibly engage, be releasable, and predictably removable while efficiently transferring forces.
Innovation Solution
Orthodontic attachment devices with anchoring bodies featuring bonding surfaces and orthodontic appliance engagement surfaces, incorporating materials with varying elastic properties, light guides, and frangible regions to enhance bonding, force transfer, and ease of removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If attachments are made securely adhered to teeth, then reliability of tooth movement is improved, but complexity of application increases
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment device is divided into separate functional components: an anchoring attachment body for bonding to the tooth, and distinct orthodontic appliance engagement surfaces for interacting with the appliance. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while simplifying the overall application process.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment device acts as an intermediary element between the orthodontic appliance and the tooth. It provides a reliable bonding interface to the tooth while simultaneously engaging with the appliance to transfer forces, thus mediating the interaction between these two components.
2Adaptability or versatility
If attachments flexibly engage with the appliance, then adaptability to complex movements is improved, but stability of connection decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment device incorporates dynamic engagement features that allow it to adapt to complex tooth movements while maintaining stable connection. The orthodontic appliance engagement surfaces are designed to provide flexible engagement with the appliance, enabling the attachment to move with the tooth during treatment while maintaining reliable force transfer.
3Reliability
If multiple attachments are used on teeth, then effectiveness of complex tooth movements is improved, but difficulty of application increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple attachment devices can be merged into a single integrated structure or applied in a standardized sequence, reducing the overall complexity of the application process. The consistent design of the attachment body and engagement surfaces allows for efficient placement of multiple attachments without significantly increasing the time or skill required for application.
4Ease of operation
If attachments are made predictably removable, then ease of future treatment is improved, but strength of bonding decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment device is designed with preliminary consideration for future removal. The bonding surface and anchoring structure are configured to provide strong initial bonding while incorporating features that facilitate predictable removal when needed. This preliminary design consideration allows the attachment to maintain strong bonding during treatment while enabling easy removal for future treatment stages.
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 devices provide secure, efficient, and predictable attachment to teeth, facilitating precise tooth movement, while being lightweight and aesthetically compatible, with features for easy removal and reduced application steps.
Implementation Method 1
The bonding surface may be configured to diffuse light, and particularly light at the wavelength useful for crosslinking or otherwise activating the epoxy/cement
Implementation Method 2
light at the wavelength useful for crosslinking or otherwise activating a photosensitive or photcurable epoxy/cement
Implementation Method 3
an orthodontic appliance engagement surface on the anchoring attachment body, the orthodontic appliance engagement surface configured to contact the orthodontic appliance and apply a locking force between the anchoring attachment body and the orthodontic appliance
Data Source
AI summary
Orthodontic attachment devices for interacting with orthodontic appliances. An anchoring attachment body may include an orthodontic appliance engagement surface on a first portion of the anchoring attachment body and a bonding surface on a second portion of the anchoring attachment body. The orthodontic appliance engagement surface may be oriented to contact the orthodontic appliance and apply a force between the anchoring attachment body and the orthodontic appliance when the orthodontic appliance engages the orthodontic appliance engagement surface. The bonding surface may be configured for anchoring the anchoring attachment body to a tooth. Protrusions that protrude from the bonding surface may be arranged to provide spacing between the bonding surface and the tooth.