Orthodontic system with variably-sized archwire slot
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional orthodontic appliances require repeated adjustments and prolonged treatment times to align teeth effectively, which can be inconvenient for patients.
Innovation Solution
The orthodontic system employs varying archwire slot dimensions along the dental arch, with square slots for anterior teeth and rectangular slots for posterior teeth, allowing for precise positioning of anterior teeth while maintaining sufficient freedom of movement for posterior teeth, using a sequence of archwires with different cross-sections to optimize tooth alignment and reduce treatment duration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a single uniform archwire slot size is used for all teeth, then the bracket design is simple and easy to manufacture, but the control over tooth movement is less precise and treatment time is prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different slot dimensions to different regions of the dental arch. Anterior teeth brackets have square slots (e.g., 0.022" x 0.028") while posterior teeth brackets have rectangular slots (e.g., 0.022" x 0.032" or 0.022" x 0.036"). This local differentiation provides precise control for anterior teeth alignment while allowing greater freedom of movement for posterior teeth, thereby improving overall tooth positioning precision without requiring completely different bracket designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The dental arch is segmented into different regions (anterior and posterior) with each region receiving brackets with appropriately sized slots for its specific functional requirements. This segmentation allows the orthodontic system to address the unique movement needs of different tooth groups simultaneously, improving manufacturing precision for tooth alignment while maintaining manageable device complexity through a systematic approach.
2Manufacturing precision
If repeated adjustments are made to align teeth, then tooth alignment is achieved, but treatment duration is prolonged and patient convenience is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The brackets are pre-configured with optimally sized slots before treatment begins. The slot dimensions are selected in advance based on the specific tooth position and required movement characteristics. This preliminary configuration allows the archwire to immediately apply appropriate forces when inserted, reducing the need for repeated adjustments and thereby shortening treatment duration while maintaining high alignment accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the slot dimension parameters (width and height) to match the specific requirements of different tooth positions and movement stages. By optimizing these parameters in advance for each bracket location, the system achieves better tooth alignment accuracy with fewer adjustments, thus reducing treatment time and improving patient convenience.
3Manufacturing precision
If tighter control is applied to anterior teeth, then positioning precision is improved, but freedom of movement for posterior teeth is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by assigning different slot geometries to different dental regions. Anterior teeth brackets feature square slots (e.g., 0.022" x 0.028") that provide tighter control and precision for aesthetic regions, while posterior teeth brackets feature rectangular slots (e.g., 0.022" x 0.032" or 0.022" x 0.036") that offer greater freedom of movement for functional regions. This resolves the contradiction by allowing both tight control where needed and movement freedom where required.
Solution Approach 2:
The dental arch is segmented into anterior and posterior zones, each with brackets optimized for their specific functional requirements. This segmentation enables the system to simultaneously achieve precise positioning control in the anterior region while maintaining adaptability and movement freedom in the posterior region, eliminating the need to compromise either requirement.
Data Source
AI summary
An orthodontic system having brackets with variably sized slots.