Orthodontic Bracket Applicator for Precise Tooth Orientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional orthodontic brackets are not designed to fit individual patients' teeth precisely, leading to non-optimal results such as insufficient or excessive force application, pain, and detachment, due to their non-personalized nature.
Innovation Solution
A method and device for applying orthodontic brackets that involve determining the optimal orientation for each bracket using a 3D model of the teeth, and producing a bracket applicator to mount the brackets with a bonding material, ensuring precise positioning and secure attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If pre-manufactured orthodontic brackets with preset design options are used, then manufacturing complexity and cost are reduced, but the precision of fit and optimal orientation for individual patient teeth deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary scanning of the patient's teeth to create a digital model before bracket application. This advance preparation allows the customization of bracket orientations to precisely match the patient's specific tooth anatomy, resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and manufacturing precision by preparing the customization data beforehand
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the orientation parameters of brackets based on the scanned tooth geometry. By adjusting tip, torque, and rotation parameters according to the patient's specific tooth shapes and positions, the system achieves precise fit while maintaining manufacturing efficiency through digital parameter adjustment rather than physical customization
2Device complexity
If non-personalized orthodontic brackets are used, then device complexity is reduced, but the accuracy of force application to individual teeth deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from the scanned tooth model to determine optimal bracket orientations. The digital representation of the patient's teeth provides feedback on tooth geometry, which is then used to calculate and set the precise orientation parameters for each bracket, ensuring accurate force application while keeping the brackets themselves relatively simple in design
3Productivity
If conventional bracket application methods are used, then application speed is maintained, but the precision of bracket positioning on individual teeth deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces a digital model as an intermediary between the conventional bracket application process and the patient's specific tooth anatomy. This digital intermediary contains all the positioning information needed, allowing brackets to be quickly applied with high precision by simply following the digital guidance rather than requiring complex manual measurement and adjustment during the application process
Data Source
AI summary
The various embodiments described herein include a method for applying a set of orthodontic brackets to a set of teeth of a patient. The method includes: (1) for each tooth in the set of teeth, determining an optimal orientation for a respective orthodontic bracket in the set of orthodontic brackets to be mounted to the tooth; (2) producing a bracket applicator configured to mount each orthodontic bracket in the set of orthodontic brackets to the respective tooth in the set of teeth in the respective optimal orientation; and (3) mounting the set of orthodontic brackets to the set of teeth using the bracket applicator and a bonding material.