Personalized Oral Insert With Fluid Jets for Interproximal Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current oral care devices, such as water flossers and electric toothbrushes, are cumbersome and time-consuming, leading to inconsistent and incomplete oral hygiene practices, which can result in increased bacterial levels and systemic inflammation, potentially contributing to cardiovascular diseases.
Innovation Solution
A personalized oral care system with a customized oral insert featuring fluid nozzles and an effluence conduit, combined with a handle and fluid pump, that delivers pressurized fluid to interproximal spaces for efficient cleaning, optionally incorporating an elastomeric substrate for vibratory motion to mimic brushing, and a fluid reservoir for antiseptic solutions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If water flossers and electric toothbrushes are used to provide high-speed fluid jets and vibrating bristles for efficient plaque removal, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple oral care functions (flossing, rinsing, brushing) into a single integrated device. The oral insert includes fluid nozzles for flossing, vibrating bristles for brushing, and fluid reservoirs for rinsing, all in one unit. This merging eliminates the need for multiple separate devices and reduces overall complexity while maintaining high cleaning effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The oral care device is designed with multi-functionality to perform various oral hygiene tasks simultaneously. The single device can deliver pressurized fluid jets for flossing, provide vibrating bristles for brushing, and distribute antiseptic solutions for rinsing, making it a universal solution that replaces multiple specialized devices.
2Productivity
If high-speed fluid jets and vibrating bristles are used to remove plaque and biofilms more efficiently, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device enables continuous oral care by allowing simultaneous performance of multiple cleaning actions. The vibrating bristles can continuously brush teeth while fluid jets continuously clean interproximal spaces, and antiseptic solutions continuously rinse the oral cavity, eliminating idle time between different cleaning steps and maintaining constant useful action throughout the oral hygiene routine.
Solution Approach 2:
By merging flossing, rinsing, and brushing functions into a single simultaneous operation, the device reduces the total time required for oral care. Instead of sequentially completing each task, all functions can be performed concurrently, significantly reducing time consumption while maintaining comprehensive cleaning effectiveness.
3Productivity
If comprehensive oral care including flossing, rinsing, and brushing is provided, then oral hygiene effectiveness is improved, but ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The device merges multiple oral care functions into a single integrated unit that operates with one hand. The oral insert combines fluid nozzles, vibrating bristles, and fluid reservoirs in one structure, eliminating the need to switch between multiple devices or perform complex sequential operations, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining comprehensive hygiene effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The universal design allows users to perform all oral hygiene tasks (flossing, rinsing, brushing) with a single device, simplifying the operation process. The multi-functional capabilities are integrated into one unit that can be easily manipulated and operated, reducing the complexity of the user experience while delivering comprehensive care.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides thorough oral care by simultaneously cleaning interproximal spaces and reducing microbial populations, combining flossing and rinsing in a single step, promoting better adherence to daily oral hygiene routines and reducing systemic inflammation risks.
Implementation Method 1
a fluid pump that is configured to pressurize the fluid from the reservoir
Implementation Method 2
The fluid jets passing through the spaces/gaps between teeth may generate a flossing effect
Implementation Method 3
an elastomeric substrate that is configured to vibrate and/or otherwise mechanically agitate
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein are systems and methods for providing personalized oral care. A system for oral care comprises an oral insert. The oral insert is sized and shaped according to a user's oral cavity, and has a plurality of fluid nozzles and an effluence conduit to channel fluid out of the user's oral cavity. Pressurized fluid provided through the nozzles are directed to, for example, the interproximal spaces between the user's teeth. In some variations, a system comprises an oral insert and an elastomeric substrate that is attached to the oral insert. In some variations, the elastomeric substrate comprises a textured surface vibrates and/or mechanically agitates and/or translates along the surface of the user's teeth. In some variations, a system for oral care comprises a microbiome collection chamber. Some variations comprise dental shim devices that are used for acquiring oral structure data and alignment between the upper and lower arches.