Orthodontic Attachment Mounting Template Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for attaching protrusions to teeth using shell-shaped tooth repositioners face challenges in ensuring precise and cost-effective placement, as they often require costly photocurable materials and struggle with correct directional alignment due to the small size of the attachments.
Innovation Solution
An attachment and attachment holder assembly is introduced, where the attachment holder is integrated with the attachment and features a one-piece shell design with a tooth-receiving cavity and an attachment holder receiving portion, allowing for correct positioning and adhesion using a preformed attachment and adhesive, reducing costs and improving directional accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If uncured photocurable material is used to fabricate the attachment in the receiving cavity, then the attachment can be firmly adhered to the tooth, but the overall cost becomes very high
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into separate components: a preformed attachment made from economical materials and a photocurable adhesive material. The attachment is fabricated separately using cost-effective materials, then bonded to the tooth using a minimal amount of photocurable adhesive applied only at the bonding interface, rather than using photocurable material for the entire attachment structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment is preformed as a separate component that replicates the required geometric shape and bonding surface characteristics. This preformed attachment can be manufactured economically using conventional materials and processes, then copied onto the tooth model or directly onto the tooth using adhesive, eliminating the need for expensive photocurable material to form the entire attachment structure.
2Reliability
If a preformed attachment with adhesive on the bottom is placed into the receiving cavity, then the attachment can be adhered to the tooth, but it is very difficult to ensure correct directional placement due to the small size of the attachment
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving cavity acts as an intermediary structure that guides and positions the preformed attachment during placement. The cavity's geometry, including tapered walls and matching features, serves as a mechanical guide that ensures the attachment is oriented correctly as it is inserted, eliminating the need for precise manual directional control of the small attachment component.
Solution Approach 2:
The receiving cavity is pre-formed on the tooth model or shell with specific geometric features (tapered walls, matching contours) that prepare the placement site in advance. These pre-formed features create a self-aligning system that automatically orients the attachment correctly during insertion, rather than requiring precise manual positioning of the small attachment component.
3Measurement precision
If the attachment size is reduced to 2-3 mm for precise tooth positioning, then the tooth can be accurately repositioned, but it becomes a challenge to precisely and firmly fix the attachment at a predetermined position
Solution Approach 1:
The small attachment (2-3 mm) is nested within a larger receiving cavity structure that provides the mechanical means for fixation. The receiving cavity encompasses the small attachment, allowing conventional adhesive application and curing procedures to be used on the larger cavity-attachment assembly, thereby making the fixation process easier despite the small size of the actual attachment component.
Solution Approach 2:
The receiving cavity serves as an intermediary structure that facilitates the fixation of the small attachment. By providing a larger working area and mechanical guidance features, the receiving cavity makes it easier to apply adhesive and position the tiny attachment accurately, overcoming the handling difficulties associated with such small dimensions.
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
This solution enables precise and cost-effective attachment of protrusions to teeth, ensuring accurate alignment and reducing the overall cost by using preformed attachments made from economical materials, while the attachment holder's design facilitates easy and correct placement.
Implementation Method 1
fill an uncured attachment material in a receiving cavity... after the attachment template is worn on a patient's teeth, let the attachment material to cure
Data Source
AI summary
One aspect of the present application provides an attachment mounting template assembly for adhering an attachment at a selected position on a surface of a selected tooth, wherein the attachment mounting template assembly comprises an attachment mounting template, which is a one-piece shell, and forms a tooth-receiving cavity and an attachment holder receiving portion at a selected position; an attachment holder received in the attachment holder receiving portion for retaining and correctly positioning an attachment within the attachment holder receiving portion; and an attachment which is to be adhered onto a tooth' surface to form a protrusion, and to interact with a shell-shaped tooth repositioner to provide an auxiliary force system for an orthodontic treatment, wherein the attachment holder is located between the attachment holder receiving portion and the attachment, when the attachment mounting template assembly is put on a patient's teeth, the attachment is located at a selected position on a surface of a selected tooth.