Orthodontic Appliance Insertion Path Using Undercut Volume Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manufacturing removable transparent orthodontic appliances by 3D printing poses challenges in determining the ideal insertion path that optimally fits the patient's dentition, affecting both orthodontic performance and user convenience.
Innovation Solution
A method involving displaying the insertion path on a screen, designating teeth for path setting, calculating and minimizing undercut volumes, and adjusting the path to ensure minimal undercuts for easy attachment and detachment while maintaining orthodontic force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the insertion path is arbitrarily set during 3D printing of orthodontic appliances, then the manufacturing process is simple and fast, but the fitting precision and orthodontic performance are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating and determining the optimal insertion path before the actual 3D printing manufacturing process. The system analyzes the patient's dentition data, identifies undercut regions, and computes the ideal insertion trajectory in advance, allowing the 3D printer to directly fabricate the appliance with precise insertion path guidance built into the design, thus achieving both high manufacturing efficiency and precision without requiring manual adjustment during production
2Manufacturing precision
If the insertion path is optimized for perfect fitting, then orthodontic performance is maximized, but the appliance becomes difficult to insert and remove
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by systematically varying the insertion path parameters (angle, direction, depth) to find the optimal balance between fitting precision and ease of insertion. The system calculates multiple potential insertion paths with different parameters, evaluates each path's undercut volume and insertion difficulty, and selects the parameter set that achieves the best compromise - sufficient fitting accuracy while maintaining acceptable ease of insertion and removal for the patient
3Manufacturing precision
If detailed analysis of undercuts is performed for each tooth, then the insertion path can be precisely optimized, but the design time and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the dentition into individual tooth units and analyzing the undercut characteristics of each tooth separately. The system processes each tooth's geometry independently to identify its specific undercut regions, then integrates these individual analyses to determine the overall optimal insertion path. This segmented approach allows for precise optimization while managing computational complexity through modular processing of discrete tooth elements
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a program for designing an orthodontic appliance. The method comprises: displaying, on a screen, the insertion path for determining the insertion direction of the appliance (S01); designating a tooth targeted for the insertion path setting (S02); setting the insertion path for the designated tooth in an arbitrary direction (S03); displaying, on the screen, undercuts of each tooth caused by the set insertion path (S04); calculating and storing depth values of the undercuts for each tooth (S05); and calculating and storing the total sum of undercut volumes for each tooth according to the insertion path (S06).