Subgingival Tooth Measurement Using a Stylus and Visible Reference
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dental measurement methods, both physical and digital, struggle to accurately measure subgingival areas without causing trauma to the gingiva, leading to inaccurate prosthetics or invasive procedures.
Innovation Solution
A device and method using a stylus tip inserted between the tooth and gingiva, coupled with an imager, estimates the stylus location relative to a visible tooth reference to measure subgingival surfaces, allowing for non-invasive and precise modeling of these areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If cord packing is used to separate gingiva from teeth for subgingival measurements, then measurement access is improved, but patient comfort and gingiva health deteriorate due to pain, trauma, and inflammation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts only the essential measurement function from the invasive cord packing procedure. By using a fine probe to selectively access subgingival areas solely for measurement purposes without packing cords, the method achieves measurement access while eliminating the traumatic separation and associated pain, bleeding, and inflammation caused by traditional cord packing techniques
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a fine probe as an intermediary tool that can access subgingival areas without causing trauma. This probe serves as a mediator between the measurement need and the sensitive gingival tissue, allowing measurement access while minimizing harm through its delicate design and non-invasive interaction with the tissue
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If cord packing is used to separate gingiva from teeth, then subgingival measurement is enabled, but procedure time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts only the necessary measurement function from the multi-step cord packing procedure. By using a fine probe that can directly access subgingival areas without the need for cord insertion, packing, and subsequent removal steps, the method enables subgingival measurement while significantly reducing procedure time and simplifying the clinical workflow
Solution Approach 2:
The invention eliminates the need for preliminary cord packing actions before measurement. The fine probe can be directly inserted and used for measurement without requiring prior gingival separation or cord placement, thereby removing unnecessary preparatory steps and reducing overall procedure time
3Measurement precision
If digital scanning techniques are used, then measurement accuracy is improved, but subgingival imaging capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the advantages of digital scanning accuracy with subgingival imaging capability. By integrating a fine probe for precise positioning with an imager that can capture images through or near the probe tip, the system combines the measurement precision of digital techniques with the subgingival visualization capability traditionally only available through invasive methods
Solution Approach 2:
The fine probe serves as an intermediary that enables both precise measurement and subgingival imaging. It positions the imager accurately while allowing optical access to subgingival areas, thereby mediating between the need for measurement precision and the need for subgingival visualization capability
4Measurement precision
If visible tooth portions are used as references, then measurement accuracy is improved, but subgingival area measurement is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extends measurement into the subgingival dimension by using the fine probe to access areas below the gum line. While visible tooth portions serve as references for accuracy, the probe enables measurement in the previously inaccessible subgingival dimension, effectively adding a new measurement dimension beyond what is visible
Solution Approach 2:
The fine probe acts as an intermediary that bridges the visible reference area and the hidden subgingival area. It uses the visible tooth portion as a reference point for accurate positioning while extending measurement capability into the subgingival region, thereby mediating between the known visible area and the unknown subgingival area
Data Source
AI summary
A method for measuring regions of a tooth in a mouth including: measuring at least one surface point on a surface of the tooth with respect to an element mechanically coupled to said surface point; determining a location of at least one visible reference mechanically coupled to said surface point with respect to said element; estimating a location of said surface point with respect to said visible reference. A device used for such measuring may include a main body comprising a final optical element of an imager which defines an optical field of view directed in a first direction; and a measurement element coupled to said main body extending generally in said first direction; where a tip of said measurement element is sized and shaped to be inserted between a tooth and adjacent gingiva; where said optical field of view is sized to image at least part of a tooth.