Dental Appliance With Simulated Teeth For Chewing And Tooth Repositioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional orthodontic aligners lack both esthetic and orthodontic functionalities, requiring patients to use separate appliances for appearance and tooth repositioning, and they are unsuitable for chewing due to blunt occlusal surfaces and lack of external dentition features.

Innovation Solution

A dental appliance with an outer shell featuring simulated teeth and inner cavities designed to reposition teeth, incorporating varying thicknesses and occlusal surfaces for both esthetic and orthodontic functions, manufactured using additive manufacturing to control local thickness variations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional clear aligners are used, then orthodontic function is provided, but esthetic appearance is compromised and chewing functionality is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedual esthetic and orthodontic functionalityVSAvoidneed for multiple separate appliances

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines esthetic and orthodontic functions into a single appliance by integrating an outer shell with simulated teeth that provides esthetic coverage, while inner cavities within the same appliance structure provide orthodontic force application to reposition teeth, eliminating the need for separate esthetic and orthodontic appliances

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The appliance is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: the outer shell with simulated teeth provides esthetic improvement, while the inner cavities provide orthodontic tooth repositioning, and the occlusal surfaces enable chewing functionality, making a single device universal for all three purposes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If conventional clear aligners are made thin and transparent, then esthetic appearance is improved, but chewing functionality is lost due to blunt occlusal surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechewing functionalityVSAvoidocclusal surface compliance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different properties to different parts of the appliance: the occlusal surfaces are designed with specific geometry and compliance characteristics suitable for chewing, while the outer shell maintains thin and transparent properties for esthetics, and the inner cavities maintain precision geometry for orthodontic function, with each region optimized for its specific purpose

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Manufacturing precision

If braces are used to correct malocclusion, then orthodontic function is provided, but frequent long visits to dental office are required and positioning accuracy is difficult to maintain

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebracket positioning accuracyVSAvoidfrequency and duration of dental visits

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The appliance is manufactured with pre-determined precise geometry that incorporates the entire treatment plan in advance, with inner cavities designed to guide tooth movement through precise geometric constraints rather than requiring repeated adjustments, eliminating the need for frequent dental visits for repositioning

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12409009B2Dental appliance and method for making the same

Publication Date: 2025.09.09 JAMES R GLIDEWELL DENTAL CERAMICS

AI summary

Disclosed are example embodiments of methods and systems for improving teeth appearance and repositioning of the teeth. One of the systems is an appliance that includes: an outer shell with simulated teeth that approximate a final teeth arrangement; and inner cavities configured to receive a patient's teeth and to incrementally reposition the teeth toward the final teeth arrangement.