Orthodontic Bracket Trenches for Bonding Precision
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional orthodontic brackets are not custom-made for individual patients, leading to errors in placement and increased treatment time and cost due to the need for clinician adjustment and potential misplacement during bonding.
Innovation Solution
The development of orthodontic appliances with trenches that facilitate indirect bonding, allowing for precise adhesive application and secure fit, and the use of ceramic slurry-based additive manufacturing to create customized brackets with retentive structures that match individual dental features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If preformed brackets are used without customization, then manufacturing cost and device complexity are reduced, but manufacturing precision and reliability of placement deteriorate due to clinician error
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket base is pre-customized with patient-specific retentive structures and adhesive trenches created before clinical placement. This preliminary customization ensures accurate fit and placement without requiring complex clinician adjustments during treatment, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing precision and device complexity.
2Manufacturing precision
If traditional bonding methods are used without adhesive trenches, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision and reliability of bonding deteriorate due to uneven adhesive distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket base is segmented with multiple adhesive trenches that divide the bonding surface into controlled regions. This segmentation ensures uniform adhesive distribution across the base, improving bonding accuracy while adding minimal structural complexity through the trench design.
3Reliability
If off-the-shelf brackets are used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but reliability of treatment deteriorates due to misplacement and increased treatment time
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket base incorporates localized retentive structures with specific geometries (cones, cylinders, or undercuts) tailored to match the patient's specific tooth surface morphology. This local customization improves treatment reliability by ensuring precise bracket positioning while maintaining relative manufacturing simplicity through standardized design elements.
Data Source
AI summary
An orthodontic appliance includes a body portion for effecting an orthodontic treatment and a base portion affixed to the body portion. The base portion includes a surface defining a plurality of trenches. At least one trench is formed at an acute angle to a gingival surface of the base portion.