Pontic with Archwire Connection and Stabilizers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pontics with archwire connections pose hazards due to debonding and lack of control over labiopalatal rotation, leading to potential swallowing or choking risks and unpredictable treatment outcomes.
Innovation Solution
The development of pontics with archwire connections manufactured as a single body using additive manufacturing, incorporating stabilizers to control rotation and a material softer than tooth enamel for safety, reducing the risk of debonding and enhancing treatment precision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a pontic is formed from acrylic material with a stock orthodontic bracket bonded to it, then the pontic can be manufactured, but the bond between the pontic and bracket can fail causing the pontic to become loose and potentially swallowed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the pontic and bracket into a single integrated appliance manufactured as one piece using additive manufacturing. This eliminates the separate bonding step and potential bond failure between the pontic and bracket, directly resolving the reliability issue while maintaining ease of manufacture through digital fabrication.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces stabilizers as intermediary elements that connect the pontic to the archwire system. These stabilizers provide additional anchorage points and distribute forces, preventing the pontic from becoming loose while maintaining the integrated design.
2Ease of manufacture
If a pontic is used to fill a gap during orthodontic treatment, then aesthetic appearance is improved, but the pontic lacks control over labiopalatal rotation leading to unpredictable treatment outcomes
Solution Approach 1:
The stabilizers serve as intermediary elements that provide rotational control. They extend from the pontic to engage with the archwire, creating a mechanical constraint that prevents unwanted labiopalatal rotation while maintaining the aesthetic appearance of the pontic.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a new dimensional aspect to the pontic design by incorporating stabilizers that extend in multiple directions. This creates a three-dimensional structure that provides rotational control through spatial distribution of attachment points, preventing movement in multiple planes.
3Ease of operation
If a stock orthodontic bracket is bonded to an acrylic pontic, then the appliance can be assembled, but the assembly is laborious and requires a medical professional to build or modify it
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the pontic and bracket into a single integrated component manufactured through additive manufacturing. This eliminates the need for separate bonding procedures and professional modification, allowing for rapid production and direct placement without requiring medical professionals to build or modify the appliance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the manufacturing parameters from traditional multi-step fabrication requiring professional intervention to additive manufacturing that produces the final appliance ready for immediate use. This digital fabrication approach reduces production time and eliminates the need for professional building or modification steps.
4Strength
If the pontic material is hard to maintain structural integrity, then the pontic provides durability, but it can damage tooth enamel upon contact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different material properties to different parts of the appliance. The main structural components maintain hardness for durability, while the surfaces that contact teeth are made from softer materials or treated to reduce enamel damage risk. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between durability and safety.
Data Source
AI summary
The techniques described herein relate to exemplary pontics with archwire connections. An example appliance for spanning a mesiodistal width of a missing tooth includes a pontic portion at least partially coated with a material that is softer than tooth enamel, an archwire connection portion attached to a first side of the pontic portion, and at least one stabilizer affixed to a second side of the pontic portion, the second side opposite the first side.