Pressure Wave Tooth Cleaning for Selective Caries Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current dental caries treatment techniques often fail to differentiate between diseased and healthy tooth tissue, leading to incomplete removal of decayed material or excessive damage to healthy dentin, resulting in inadequate bonding and potential post-procedure complications.

Innovation Solution

A system utilizing a pressure wave generator and fluid platform to generate pressure waves within a sealed chamber on the tooth, effectively cleaning carious regions without invasive mechanical tools, preserving healthy tooth structure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If mechanical instruments (burs, excavators) are used to remove caries, then decayed tissue can be removed, but healthy dentin may be damaged or insufficient decay removal may occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprecision of decay removalVSAvoiddamage to healthy dentin

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical cutting instruments (burs, excavators) with an acoustic system consisting of a pressure wave generator that emits sound waves through a fluid medium to remove decayed tissue. This substitution eliminates the need for mechanical contact, allowing selective removal of carious tissue based on acoustic impedance differences between healthy and decayed dentin, thereby preventing damage to healthy structures while thoroughly removing decay.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If mechanical drilling is used to remove caries, then decayed material can be removed, but patient discomfort and invasiveness increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveefficiency of decay removalVSAvoidpatient discomfort

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical drilling process with an acoustic cavitation-based removal system. The pressure wave generator creates acoustic waves that propagate through a fluid-filled chamber, causing cavitation bubbles to form and collapse, generating localized mechanical forces that selectively remove decayed tissue without the need for invasive drilling, thereby reducing patient discomfort while maintaining efficient decay removal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a fluid medium as an intermediary between the pressure wave generator and the tooth tissue. The fluid serves as a transmission medium for acoustic waves and enables cavitation-based tissue removal. This intermediary approach allows energy transfer to the decayed tissue without direct mechanical contact, reducing invasiveness and patient discomfort while maintaining treatment effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If incomplete decay removal is performed, then healthy dentin is preserved, but bonding adequacy and treatment reliability decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepreservation of healthy dentinVSAvoidbonding adequacy

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The acoustic cavitation system provides selective tissue removal based on the acoustic properties of different tissue types. Decay ed tissue has different acoustic impedance and cavitation thresholds compared to healthy dentin, allowing the pressure wave generator to selectively remove carious tissue while preserving healthy structures. This selectivity ensures complete decay removal with adequate bonding surfaces while maintaining healthy dentin integrity, thereby improving treatment reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 non-invasively removes carious regions while maintaining the structural integrity of the tooth, allowing for thorough decay removal and minimizing patient discomfort.

Implementation Method 1

A pressure wave generator can have a distal end configured to be positioned in the chamber. The pressure wave generator can be configured to generate pressure waves in the retained fluid sufficient to clean the carious region.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure waves: Shock Wave

Implementation Method 2

The chamber can be configured to be coupled to and at least partially seal against an external surface of the tooth over the carious region.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSealing:

Data Source

PatentUS12551322B2Apparatus and methods for cleaning teeth

Publication Date: 2026.02.17 SONENDO INC

AI summary

Various embodiments for cleaning carious regions of a tooth are disclosed herein. For example, a dental apparatus can include a fluid platform having a chamber sized and shaped to retain fluid. The chamber can be configured to be coupled to the tooth over the carious region. A pressure wave generator having a distal end may be configured to be positioned in the chamber. The pressure wave generator may be configured to generate pressure waves in the retained fluid sufficient to clean the carious region.