Prying Dental Covering Removal Tool

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current dental tools for removing temporary and permanent crowns often cause damage to the crowns or underlying teeth due to the need for compression forces on opposing surfaces, and they are not easily maneuverable in the confined space of the mouth, leading to patient discomfort and inefficiency.

Innovation Solution

A small, easy-to-insert dental covering removal tool with a planar engagement portion and a load applying portion that allows for ambidextrous use, enabling a prying action without compression forces, and is partially disposable for single-use convenience.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If forceps style dental tools are used to remove dental coverings, then the operator can access the covering in restricted spaces, but the compression forces applied to opposing surfaces may damage the dental covering or underlying teeth

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to restricted spacesVSAvoiddamage to dental covering or teeth

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of applying compression forces to opposing surfaces of the dental covering, the invention applies a prying force at a single access point. The tool inserts into a gap between the dental covering and surrounding structures, then leverages against the covering's edge to lift it off, inverting the traditional compression-based removal approach.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts only the essential function of removal without the harmful compression mechanism. By using a simple prying tool that leverages against the dental covering's edge rather than compressing opposing surfaces, it achieves removal while eliminating the damaging force application method.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of manufacture

If hand pinching grip is used to remove temporary dental covering, then no special tool is needed, but hand and finger access is limited and visual access is blocked

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveno special tool neededVSAvoidhand access and visual access

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces a simple intermediary tool that acts as an extension of the operator's finger. This thin prying tool can access restricted spaces where fingers cannot reach, while its slender profile does not block visual access to the dental covering like a hand would.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If forceps style tools are used for dental covering removal, then control and visual access are improved, but the tool size may cause patient discomfort

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol and visual accessVSAvoidpatient discomfort

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention employs a thin, flexible prying tool that can be inserted into narrow gaps without causing patient discomfort. The tool's slender profile allows it to navigate restricted oral spaces while maintaining the leveraging capability needed for effective dental covering removal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 tool effectively removes dental coverings without damaging them or adjacent teeth, providing better control and comfort for the operator and patient, while being cost-effective and space-efficient for storage and use.

Implementation Method 1

A portion of the device may be adapted for pivoting within a mouth of a patient to pry a dental covering off from an underlying surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLever: Lever

Implementation Method 2

The load applying portion connected to the engagement portion which is adapted to rest upon an adjacent surface relative to the dental covering and be pivoted upwardly or downwardly by application of the prying load

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Advantage: Mechanical Advantage

Data Source

PatentUS10420628B2Dental covering removal tool

Publication Date: 2019.09.24 MAASSARANI SAMI

AI summary

A device for removing a dental covering having: (a) an engagement portion, having a first plate portion which is substantially flat, that is configured to contact a portion of the dental covering along only one of a facial side or a lingual side of the dental covering; (b) a load applying portion, connected to the engagement portion and having a second plate portion which is substantially flat, which is adapted to rest upon an adjacent surface relative to the dental covering; and (c) an intermediate portion which is integral with and adjacent to both the engagement portion and the load applying portion; and wherein the first plate portion is parallel to the second plate portion. The device may be a dental covering removal tool which may find particular use in removing dental coverings, such as temporary and permanent crowns.