Reversible Dental Interphase with Activator Screw
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current dental interphases require permanent attachment methods, such as cementing or welding, which are not reversible and can lead to mechanical deterioration due to the abrasive nature of zirconium prosthetics on titanium implants, limiting flexibility in manufacturing and handling.
Innovation Solution
A dental interphase comprising an expander core with notches and an activator screw that allows for reversible attachment by adjusting the screw depth, enabling both permanent and temporary fittings, and a connection element for direct attachment to prosthetic structures manufactured by CAD/CAM or hand, with a guide cylinder for channel machining in hand-manufactured prosthetics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If cementing or welding is used to attach the prosthetic structure to the interphase, then permanent attachment is achieved, but reversibility is lost and destructive methods are required for removal
Solution Approach 1:
The interphase system transitions from static permanent attachment to dynamic reversible attachment by introducing an activator screw that can be adjusted between different depths. When the screw engages the notches, it creates a locked permanent attachment; when disengaged, it allows reversible removal. This dynamic mechanism resolves the contradiction between strong attachment and reversibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment state is changed by modifying the depth parameter of the activator screw. By adjusting the screw depth between two extreme positions (fully engaged for permanent attachment, disengaged for reversible attachment), the system achieves both strong attachment when needed and reversibility when needed, eliminating the need for destructive removal methods.
2Productivity
If zirconium prosthetic structures are directly screwed onto titanium implants, then manufacturing time is reduced, but mechanical deterioration occurs due to abrasive wear between zirconium and titanium
Solution Approach 1:
The titanium interphase acts as an intermediary element between the zirconium prosthetic structure and the titanium implant. This mediator prevents direct contact between the abrasive zirconium and the implant, eliminating wear damage while maintaining the efficient screw-down attachment process. The interphase preserves both the productivity benefit and the reliability requirement.
3Strength
If the activator screw is fully engaged to achieve permanent attachment, then attachment strength is maximized, but reversibility is completely lost
Solution Approach 1:
The activator screw mechanism provides dynamic control over attachment permanence. By designing the screw to engage with notches at specific depths, the system allows the operator to choose between permanent attachment (screw fully engaged, heads butting against each other) and reversible attachment (screw partially engaged, allowing disassembly). This resolves the contradiction by making the attachment state adjustable rather than fixed.
Data Source
AI summary
A dental interphase with a mode for the reversible fitting of a prosthetic structure to a dental implant that includes an expander core (2), an activator screw (3) and a connection element (26), wherein the activator screw (3) incorporates an external thread (31) for being attached to the expander core (2) by screwing onto an internal thread (22) in the area of notches (23) to a specific depth, the connection element being intended for being coupled to the expander core (2) by attaching a coupling area (14) incorporated in a complementary coupling area (24) incorporated in the expander core (2) such that, once the activator screw (3) is inserted into the expander core (2) the attachment of the interphase to the implant (6) may be permanent, or it may be reversible, where it can be taken apart.