Pearl Orthodontic Bracket Honeycomb Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional orthodontic brackets are aesthetically unpleasing and can cause discomfort, especially when placed on the lingual surface of teeth, due to their visibility and potential contact with the tongue.
Innovation Solution
A pearl-shaped orthodontic bracket with a smooth, honeycomb structured surface that blends with the tooth, featuring a first surface for contact and a second smooth surface with openings for an archwire passage, enhancing rigidity and aesthetics, and potentially made through additive manufacturing using biocompatible materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional bracket is used for orthodontic treatment, then the bracket can effectively hold the archwire and provide orthodontic force, but the bracket is easily visible and aesthetically unpleasing
Solution Approach 1:
The pearl is designed to be transparent or translucent, allowing it to blend with the natural tooth structure. This optical property makes the orthodontic appliance nearly invisible while maintaining its structural function for archwire retention and force application.
Solution Approach 2:
The bracket is designed in a pearl-like spherical or ovoid shape that contours to the natural curvature of the tooth surface. This curved geometry provides aesthetic blending with the tooth while maintaining adequate surface area for bonding and archwire engagement.
2Reliability
If a conventional bracket is placed on the lingual surface of a tooth, then orthodontic treatment can be provided, but it causes discomfort when the tongue touches the bracket
Solution Approach 1:
The pearl's smooth spherical shape with rounded contours eliminates sharp edges and corners that could irritate the tongue. The curved surface is more compatible with the natural anatomy of the oral cavity, reducing discomfort during speech and swallowing.
Solution Approach 2:
The transparent or translucent material allows the pearl to blend with the natural tooth and oral tissues, making it less noticeable and potentially more comfortable for patients as it feels more like a natural extension of the tooth rather than a foreign object.
3Ease of manufacture
If the pearl has a smooth second surface for aesthetics and comfort, then the pearl blends with the tooth and is comfortable, but the structural rigidity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The pearl incorporates a honeycomb internal structure with controlled porosity that provides high strength-to-weight ratio. This cellular architecture maintains structural rigidity and archwire retention capability while using minimal material, allowing for a smooth external surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The pearl is manufactured as a monolithic piece with integrated hollow channels, combining the smooth aesthetic exterior with an internal honeycomb reinforcement structure. This composite design within a single material provides both cosmetic smoothness and structural strength.
Data Source
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AI summary
The disclosure concerns a pearl (10) to be placed on a tooth (14) for an orthodontic treatment and a method of manufacturing a pearl (10) to be placed on a tooth (14) for an orthodontic treatment, the pearl (10) having a surface (16), the surface (16) consisting of a first surface (18) and a second surface (22), the first surface (18) being destined to be in contact with a tooth (14) and the second surface (22) being opposite to the first surface (18), wherein the second surface (22) does not comprise any sharp corner.