Shell Mould Positioning for Dental Prosthesis Manufacturing

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Solution Overview

Problem

The traditional manufacturing process of dental prostheses is time-consuming due to steps such as boiling and cooling the muffle, and manual handling of wax models, which delays the production and requires additional handling of artificial teeth.

Innovation Solution

A digital manufacturing process involving a digital design of a dental prosthesis model, additive manufacturing of a jaw part and denture replica, and the use of a shell mold with complementary positioning organs to eliminate manual handling and boiling steps, allowing for precise positioning and direct placement of artificial teeth.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional manual molding process is used, then manufacturing precision is maintained, but production time increases significantly due to boiling, cooling, and manual handling steps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction timeVSAvoidprocess complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a digital 3D model of the wax prosthesis model to generate the jaw part and denture replica through additive manufacturing. This digital copy eliminates the need for physical wax models and manual molding, reducing production time while maintaining precision through digital data accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical operations (boiling, cooling, manual handling of wax models) with automated additive manufacturing processes. The digital design directly generates the jaw part and denture replica through computer-controlled deposition, eliminating time-consuming thermal and manual steps

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If manual handling of wax models is used, then flexibility in customization is maintained, but labor intensity and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing speedVSAvoidhandling complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates digital copies of the prosthesis design that can be directly manufactured without manual wax model handling. The digital model serves as the master copy, eliminating the need for physical manipulation of wax materials and reducing labor intensity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the material state from physical wax to digital data format. This parameter change allows the design to be stored, modified, and manufactured through automated processes, increasing manufacturing speed while reducing operational complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If traditional multi-step process is used, then manufacturing precision is achieved through multiple steps, but the number of process steps increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoidnumber of steps
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the design of the jaw part and denture replica into a single integrated digital model. This consolidation allows both components to be manufactured simultaneously in one additive manufacturing process, reducing the number of steps while maintaining positioning precision through unified digital design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs all positioning and design decisions in advance during the digital modeling stage. The jaw part and denture replica are pre-configured with precise dimensions and positions in the digital model, eliminating the need for subsequent adjustment steps and reducing overall process complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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

This process significantly reduces production time, enhances precision, and allows for easy customization, while eliminating the need for manual polishing and wax handling, resulting in a ready-to-use prosthesis with minimal post-treatment.

Implementation Method 1

a step of pouring a filling material into the residual volume formed in the impression

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP4312874B1Method for manufacturing a dental prosthesis and shell mould configured to carry out the method
Publication Date: 2026.02.04 CIRCLE ANATOSCOPE INTUITIVE DESIGN
  • EP4312874B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4312874B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP4312874B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a dental prosthesis, comprising a step of digitally designing a dental prosthesis model from a replica model of a patient's teeth, a step of generating a jaw portion model comprising the teeth replica model and the dental prosthesis model, a step of manufacturing a jaw portion (20) comprising a positioning member based on the model of the jaw portion, and a step of positioning the jaw portion (20) on a shell (32) of a shell mould (30) by the interaction of the positioning member of the jaw portion (20) with a complementary positioning member (36) arranged in said shell (32). The invention also relates to a shell mould (30) used in such a method.