Room-Temperature Reactive Resin Mouthguard Customization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional mouthguards are either difficult to mold correctly, leading to poor fits and potential irritation, or are expensive and inconvenient, requiring multiple dental appointments for custom formation.
Innovation Solution
A dental form comprising a first and second composition that react to form a third composition, allowing for easy customization and use, with options for an exterior shell or flexible membrane, and kits that include separate compartments and barriers for mixing, enabling users to create a customized mouthguard with minimal steps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If boil-and-bite method is used to create mouthguard, then cost is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but manufacturing precision and fit quality deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter from high heat (boil-and-bite) to room temperature, and changes the material state from thermoplastic to two-part reactive resin system. This allows the material to be easily mixed and molded at room temperature while achieving superior fit precision through chemical curing rather than thermal softening.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite two-part resin system (first and second compositions that react together) instead of a single thermoplastic material. This composite approach enables both ease of mixing at room temperature and precise fit through controlled chemical reaction and curing, resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and fit quality.
2Manufacturing precision
If custom-formed mouthguard is obtained through dental professional, then manufacturing precision and fit quality are improved, but loss of time and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the user to perform the mouthguard customization themselves at home without requiring dental professional appointments. The two-part resin system is designed for easy mixing and molding by the end user, achieving custom-fit quality through self-service rather than professional assistance, thereby eliminating time loss to multiple appointments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent provides the user with pre-packaged two-part resin compositions and a pre-formed dental form in a ready-to-use kit. The user simply needs to mix the compositions and insert them into the dental form, which has already been shaped to accommodate the user's teeth. This preliminary preparation of materials and form eliminates the need for multiple professional appointments while maintaining custom-fit quality.
3Manufacturing precision
If custom-formed mouthguard is obtained through dental professional, then manufacturing precision is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses inexpensive two-part resin compositions that can be purchased in advance and used at home, replacing the expensive custom-formed mouthguards from dental professionals. The material is designed for single-use or limited-use applications, providing cost-effective customization without requiring expensive professional services while maintaining adequate fit quality.
4Ease of manufacture
If thermoplastic material is used at high temperature, then ease of formation is improved, but object-generated harmful factors increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter from high heat to room temperature and replaces thermal softening with chemical curing. The two-part resin system remains moldable at room temperature through its reactive properties, eliminating the harmful high temperatures that cause tissue irritation and burning while maintaining ease of formation and customization.
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 solution provides a cost-effective, easy-to-use method for creating customized mouthguards with improved fit and reduced risk of irritation, eliminating the need for multiple dental appointments and costly custom formations.
Implementation Method 1
at least one first composition and at least one second composition that react when mixed to form a third composition in the dental form
Implementation Method 2
flexible membrane that is either rigid or pliant but allows the user to handle with ease
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a dental form comprising at least one first composition and at least one second composition, wherein the at least one first composition and the at least one second composition react when mixed to form a third composition. Also disclosed herein are mouthguards and kits comprising dental forms.