Orthodontic Retainer Cervix Wire Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional orthodontic retainers are aesthetically unpleasing, hinder pronunciation, and cause discomfort due to wire exposure and resin contact with the palate, leading to low attachment rates and instability of dental arch positions post-treatment.
Innovation Solution
An orthodontic retainer that surrounds the dental arch with an inner surface contacting the front and back surfaces near the tooth cervix, applying constraint forces from both sides to minimize wire exposure and provide a comfortable, aesthetically pleasing attachment by using a resin-molded product with appropriate elasticity, positioned close to the gums to facilitate smooth pronunciation and long-term wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wires are positioned on the front surface of the dental arch at the center of the tooth crown, then the orthodontic retainer can effectively hold the teeth in position, but the wires are exposed in conversation which does not provide an aesthetically favorable impression
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the wire positioning from the vertical dimension (center of tooth crown) to the horizontal dimension (tooth cervix area), changing the spatial arrangement to achieve both retention and aesthetics. The wire is now positioned at the cervix level where it contacts the tooth from the front and back surfaces, keeping it hidden from external view while maintaining retention function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a resin plate as an intermediary element that covers and hides the wire. The resin plate extends from the palate side and conceals the wire portion that would otherwise be visible, allowing the wire to perform its retention function while the resin provides the aesthetic appearance.
2Reliability
If wires are intervened between the dental arch and the lips, then the teeth can be retained, but it is difficult to pronounce and attachment feeling is unfavorable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the wire from an anterior location (between lips and teeth) to a posterior location (at the tooth cervix near the gums). This dimensional change moves the wire away from the speech area, allowing lips to move freely for pronunciation while the wire continues to retain teeth from the rear.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the wire from the problematic anterior position where it interfered with pronunciation and attachment feeling, and relocates it to the posterior cervix area where it performs its retention function without compromising speech or comfort.
3Reliability
If resin on a palate side touches the tongue, then the teeth can be retained, but it makes it difficult to pronounce and cause a vomiting reflex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the resin plate transparent or translucent in the area that contacts the tongue. This allows light transmission that reduces the vomiting reflex while maintaining the retention function. The transparency is applied locally only where needed, not throughout the entire retainer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the optical property (transparency) of the resin material in specific areas. By making the resin transparent or translucent in the tongue-contact region, it reduces the harmful effect of causing vomiting reflex while maintaining structural integrity and retention function.
4Reliability
If the orthodontic retainer is continuously attached to stabilize the dental arch, then the teeth positions can be maintained, but the attachment ratio is low due to aesthetic and functional problems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the wire from an anterior location to a posterior location at the tooth cervix. This dimensional change allows the retainer to be continuously attached for stability while the wire remains hidden from view, improving aesthetic appearance and reducing social anxiety that would otherwise lower attachment ratio.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the wire from the visible anterior position and relocates it to the hidden posterior cervix area. This removes the aesthetic and functional problems that were preventing continuous attachment, allowing patients to wear the retainer indefinitely for maintaining dental arch stability.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention addresses the problem of providing an orthodontic retainer with which there are no aesthetic concerns and smooth pronunciation during conversation is possible, and which is able to secure favorable fitting and can be worn for long periods. The retainer is configured so that, by being fitted so as to surround the entire dental arch (T) of the maxilla (A) or the mandible and by the inner surface being fitted, on the front and back surfaces of the entire dental arch (T), with a specified vertical width (H) that encompasses the cervical sections (T1, T2) of said teeth, a retaining force is applied on a portion of the crown (T3) of each tooth from the front and back surfaces.