Prophylaxis Cup with Projections for Sub-Gumline Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dental prophylaxis cups are ineffective at reaching under the gumline and require frequent dipping into abrasive paste, causing discomfort and inefficiency for dental professionals.
Innovation Solution
A prophylaxis cup with a second end featuring projections and an inner surface coated with abrasive material, allowing it to be used with a powered dental handpiece without paste, enabling effective cleaning and polishing under the gumline.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional prophy cups are used with abrasive paste, then tooth polishing can be achieved, but the cups cannot effectively reach under the gumline and require continuous dipping into paste
Solution Approach 1:
The abrasive material is pre-applied to the inner surface of the cup during manufacturing, eliminating the need for continuous dipping into paste during operation. This preliminary preparation of the abrasive layer allows the cup to function independently without requiring external paste replenishment.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the abrasive material from the external paste container and integrates it directly onto the cup's inner surface. This separation of the paste reservoir from the application tool eliminates the need for continuous dipping and paste management during the polishing procedure.
2Ease of operation
If conventional prophy cups are used, then tooth polishing can be performed, but they are uncomfortable due to abrasive paste contact
Solution Approach 1:
The abrasive material is applied locally and only to the necessary contact surfaces of the cup's inner surface, creating a controlled abrasive zone. This localized application allows effective polishing while minimizing unnecessary abrasive contact with surrounding tissues, improving comfort during the procedure.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional prophy cups without projections are used, then simple manufacturing is possible, but they cannot reach under the gumline effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The cup's second end is segmented into multiple projections rather than a continuous surface. This segmentation creates discrete contact points that can flex and adapt to the contours of teeth and gumline, enabling effective access to sub-gumline areas while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standard molding processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The projections are designed to be flexible and dynamic, allowing them to deform and adapt to the varying geometries of teeth and gumline during operation. This dynamic characteristic enables the rigid cup structure to effectively reach and clean under the gumline without requiring complex mechanical adjustments.
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 cup effectively reaches under the gumline and eliminates the need for paste, providing comfortable and efficient tooth cleaning and polishing without the need for continuous reapplication of paste.
Implementation Method 1
The cup includes an inner surface and an abrasive material on the inner surface
Data Source
AI summary
A prophylaxis angle that is configured to be attached to and operated by a powered dental handpiece. The prophylaxis angle includes a cup having a first end and a second end. The first end is couplable to the dental handpiece and at least one projection is at the second end of the cup.