Shell Tooth Repositioner Design via Force Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional designs of shell-shaped tooth repositioners lack analysis of forces applied during treatment and verification of tooth movements, leading to inconsistent tooth positioning and potential excessive or inadequate force application, which compromises the repositioning capability and treatment plan.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method for designing shell-shaped tooth repositioners that calculates and optimizes the force system applied to teeth, modifying the geometry of the repositioner to achieve the desired repositioning targets, ensuring accurate and efficient tooth movement by adjusting the geometry of the tooth cavities and adding structures to improve force application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional geometry design methods are used for shell-shaped tooth repositioners, then the design process is simple and quick, but the tooth positioning accuracy deteriorates due to lack of force analysis and verification
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional geometry-based design methods with a mechanics-based design system that uses finite element analysis (FEA) to calculate forces and tooth movements. This substitution enables quantitative prediction of tooth positioning accuracy while maintaining design efficiency through computer-aided analysis and optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements an iterative design process where FEA results are used to verify and adjust the repositioner geometry. The system calculates actual tooth movements based on applied forces, compares them with target positions, and modifies the design accordingly to achieve desired positioning accuracy.
2Force
If the repositioning path of teeth is changed to satisfy mechanics performance, then force application is improved, but occlusion relationship and process control are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses FEA to calculate and optimize force distribution parameters across the tooth structure. By adjusting geometric parameters of the repositioner such as cavity shapes, wall thicknesses, and material properties, the system achieves desired force application while maintaining occlusion relationships through systematic parameter optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different geometric characteristics to different regions of the repositioner based on local force requirements. The FEA analysis identifies high-stress areas and optimizes local geometry to distribute forces appropriately, ensuring both effective tooth movement and preservation of occlusion.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple repositioning steps are used to accumulate tooth movements, then the target tooth arrangement can be achieved, but deviations accumulate and repositioning capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs FEA analysis and force calculation in advance during the design phase to predict actual tooth movements before treatment begins. This preliminary verification allows for design adjustments that compensate for potential deviations, ensuring that each repositioning step contributes accurately to the final target arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where FEA results from each repositioning step are used to verify and adjust subsequent design iterations. This continuous verification prevents deviation accumulation by identifying and correcting errors early in the treatment process.
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 method ensures consistent and precise tooth repositioning by optimizing the force system and geometry of the shell-shaped tooth repositioners, reducing deviations and improving the overall repositioning capability while adhering to mechanical performance requirements.
Implementation Method 1
the shell-shaped tooth repositioner is subject to elastic deformation due to the difference between the current tooth arrangement and the target tooth arrangement, and the elastically deformed shell-shaped tooth repositioner applies an elastic force on the corresponding teeth to reposition the patient's teeth to the target tooth arrangement
Data Source
AI summary
One aspect of the present application provides a computer-implemented method of generating designs of shell-shaped tooth repositioners, the method comprising: obtaining an orthodontic treatment plan comprising a series of successive repositioning steps whose repositioning targets are successive tooth arrangements including a first intermediate tooth arrangement, . . . a final intermediate tooth arrangement and a target tooth arrangement; obtaining reference designs of a series of successive shell-shaped tooth repositioners corresponding to the series of successive repositioning steps; calculating whether the reference designs of the series of successive shell-shaped tooth repositioners can achieve corresponding repositioning targets; and if the reference design of a shell-shaped tooth repositioner in a repositioning step cannot achieve the repositioning target of the repositioning step, modifying the geometry of a corresponding part of the reference design of the shell-shaped tooth repositioner of the repositioning step, to improve force application of the shell-shaped tooth repositioner to obtain an optimized design of the shell-shaped tooth repositioner of this repositioning step.