Surgical Guide for Orthodontic TAD Placement
Solution Overview
Problem
In orthodontics, accurately implanting temporary anchorage devices (TADs) without damaging tooth roots is challenging due to the need for precise location and orientation, which existing methods often fail to provide effectively.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented system with a 3D modeling environment allows practitioners to visualize and manipulate digital representations of TADs relative to dental arches, generating surgical guides with markers for accurate implantation, including precise location, orientation, and insertion depth, to avoid tooth roots.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional manual implantation methods are used, then the procedure is simple and quick to perform, but the precision and accuracy of TAD placement is insufficient, risking root damage
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary 3D planning and visualization of TAD placement before actual surgery. Practitioners can simulate and evaluate multiple implantation scenarios in a virtual environment, determining optimal insertion points, angles, and depths without physically touching the patient's jaw. This preliminary digital planning phase allows precise determination of implantation parameters before the actual surgical procedure begins.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a computer-based 3D modeling and simulation system as an intermediary between the practitioner and the actual implantation process. This intermediary system processes patient-specific anatomical data, visualizes root locations and TAD insertion paths, and provides guidance during surgery, thereby enhancing precision without requiring the practitioner to directly perform complex measurements and calculations during the procedure.
2Reliability
If detailed 3D modeling and surgical guides are used, then placement accuracy is significantly improved, but the time and resources required for preparation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a digital 3D copy or replica of the patient's jaw anatomy, including tooth roots and bone structure, from medical imaging data. This virtual model serves as a accurate representation that can be manipulated, measured, and used for planning without requiring physical models or repeated patient visits. The digital copy allows practitioners to explore different implantation scenarios and finalize the treatment plan before surgery.
Solution Approach 2:
The 3D modeling system serves multiple functions: it visualizes patient anatomy, plans TAD insertion paths, determines optimal angles and depths, simulates treatment outcomes, and can generate surgical guides. This multi-functional platform consolidates various preparation tasks into a single integrated system, reducing the need for multiple separate tools and procedures that would otherwise increase preparation time.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If visual guidance systems are implemented, then the risk of root perforation is reduced, but the complexity of the surgical procedure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The 3D visualization system uses color-coded representations to differentiate between anatomical structures (such as tooth roots in red or orange) and safe implantation zones. This visual differentiation allows practitioners to quickly identify areas to avoid and safe insertion paths without requiring complex mental processing of monochromatic images or measurements, thereby maintaining ease of operation while reducing root damage risk.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3~4A
AI summary
A system for implanting a temporary anchorage device (24) in a jaw bone of a patient makes use of a digital representation of at least a portion of the patient's dental arch (10), including teeth and corresponding roots, in order to select a temporary anchorage device (TAD) implant site (25) that does not interfere with a tooth root. A surgical guide (30) relates the information from the digital representation to an actual location in the patient's jaw bone. The surgical guide is formed to fit over at least a portion of the occlusal, buccal, labial, and/or lingual surfaces of the dental arch proximate to the selected TAD implant site and includes a physical and/or visual marker (34) that indicates the selected TAD implant site.