Preloaded Indirect Orthodontic Bonding Trays
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Solution Overview
Problem
The process of loading orthodontic brackets into indirect orthodontic bonding (IDB) trays is time-consuming and prone to errors, with brackets often being dropped on contaminated surfaces, requiring additional cleaning and potentially leading to inadequate or excessive adhesive application, which decreases bonding reliability.
Innovation Solution
Preloaded IDB trays are custom designed and formed for a patient's dental arch, with orthodontic brackets already loaded into wells and adhesive applied, allowing for efficient and error-minimized bracket placement directly onto the patient's teeth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If orthodontic brackets are manually loaded into IDB trays by orthodontists, then flexibility and customization are improved, but time consumption and error rates increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-loading orthodontic brackets into IDB trays at a manufacturing facility before shipment to the orthodontist. This advance preparation eliminates the time-consuming manual loading process during patient appointments while maintaining customization through patient-specific tray design based on digital scans. The brackets are positioned and adhesive is applied in advance, ready for direct placement on the patient's teeth.
2Adaptability or versatility
If orthodontic brackets are manually loaded into IDB trays, then adaptability is improved, but reliability decreases due to contamination risks and improper adhesive application
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the bracket loading and adhesive application process from the clinical setting to a controlled manufacturing environment. This separation removes the source of contamination risks and adhesive application errors from the orthodontist's workspace, transferring these tasks to a facility with specialized equipment and controlled conditions, thereby improving bonding reliability while maintaining customization capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
By performing adhesive application in advance during the pre-loading process, the system ensures consistent and controlled adhesive placement before the brackets are shipped to the orthodontist. This preliminary adhesive application eliminates variability in adhesive quantity and placement that occurs during manual loading, directly improving bonding reliability.
3Productivity
If brackets are preloaded with adhesive in advance, then productivity is improved, but adhesive curing issues may arise during storage and shipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by controlling the physical and chemical conditions of adhesive storage through specialized containers that maintain specific temperature ranges and prevent moisture exposure. These controlled parameters keep the adhesive in a stable, uncured state during shipment, allowing pre-loaded trays to be efficiently prepared in advance without compromising adhesive stability or causing premature curing.
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 preloaded IDB trays significantly reduce the time and errors associated with bracket loading, improve bonding reliability by ensuring consistent adhesive application, and streamline the orthodontic care process.
Implementation Method 1
An adhesive can be applied to a bonding surface of the orthodontic bracket. The IDB tray can be placed over a dental arch of the patient to apply the bonding surface of the orthodontic brackets to the patient's teeth. The adhesive can bond the bonding surfaces of the orthodontic brackets to the surfaces of the patient's teeth
Data Source
AI summary
An indirect orthodontic bonding (IDB) tray preloaded with one or more orthodontic brackets with uncured pre-pasted adhesive. The loaded IDB tray can be produced by an IDB tray manufacturer and distributed to an orthodontist in a container that prevents the adhesive from curing. The loaded IDB tray can be removed from the container when the patient is ready for treatment. The loaded IDB tray can be placed over the dental arch of the patient such that the one or more orthodontic brackets can bond, via curing of the adhesive, to the teeth of the patient.