Teeth-Only Full-Arch Bridge Design Using Straight Implants
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional full-arch dental implant procedures, such as the All On 4™ technique, require significant bone and tissue removal, leading to complications like chronic inflammation, speech difficulties, and prosthetic breakage, while angulated implants cause soft tissue irritation and limit prosthetic design flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A computer-aided design and fabrication method for a teeth-only, gingiva-free dental restoration device using straight implants that preserve the natural bone and gum line, allowing for a custom-fit, lightweight, and hygienic full-arch bridge that seats directly against the patient's gums, eliminating the need for artificial gingiva and angulated implants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional full-arch dental implant procedures (All On 4 technique) are used, then full-arch dental replacement is achieved, but significant bone and tissue removal is required leading to chronic inflammation and complications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the harmful practice of significant bone and tissue removal from conventional implant procedures. The teeth-only bridge design removes the need for aggressive bone resection and angulated implant placement, thereby eliminating the source of chronic inflammation and tissue damage while maintaining full-arch replacement functionality
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of removing bone and tissue to accommodate implants (conventional approach), the patent inverts the approach by placing straight implants into preserved natural bone and gum structures, then building the bridge to fit against the natural gingiva. This reversal eliminates the harmful effects of tissue removal while achieving the same dental replacement goal
2Ease of manufacture
If angulated implants are used, then implant placement is achieved, but soft tissue irritation and limited prosthetic design flexibility occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes angulated implants from the treatment protocol entirely, replacing them with straight implants that do not cause soft tissue irritation. This extraction of the problematic implant type eliminates the harmful effect while maintaining the ability to achieve full-arch replacement through alternative design
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the implant orientation parameter from angulated to straight, and modifies the prosthetic design parameter to allow the bridge to seat against natural gingiva rather than requiring artificial gingiva. These parameter changes eliminate soft tissue irritation while maintaining implant placement feasibility
3Area of stationary object
If artificial gingiva is used in the prosthetic, then full-arch coverage is achieved, but natural feel and look are compromised along with cleaning ease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates artificial gingiva from the prosthetic design, replacing it with a teeth-only bridge that interfaces directly with the patient's natural gingiva. This removal of artificial components restores natural appearance, feel, and significantly improves cleaning accessibility
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of covering the gingiva with artificial material (conventional approach), the patent inverts the design to expose and utilize the natural gingiva as the interface between the bridge and oral tissues. This inversion maintains full arch coverage while eliminating the drawbacks of artificial gingiva
4Quantity of substance
If straight implants are used with teeth-only bridge design, then fewer implants are needed and natural structures are preserved, but complex computer-aided design and fabrication is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual design and fabrication methods with computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) systems. This substitution enables precise planning of straight implant placement and custom bridge fabrication, reducing the number of implants needed while managing the increased design complexity through digital tools
Data Source
AI summary
A method of making a teeth-only, gingiva-free dental restoration device for a full-arch dental replacement of a replacement arch of a patient may include using a computing device for: receiving a model of a replacement arch of a patient having post-extraction tooth sockets defined by a substantially original interdental and interradicular ridge of the patient; generating a model of a teeth-only, gingiva-free dental restoration device having individual replacement teeth portions each having a tooth axis extending between a gingival section and an incisal/occlusal section; designating individual replacement teeth portions to include abutment holes based on a location in the model of the replacement arch of straight implants secured within corresponding post-extraction tooth sockets; modifying at least one of a location, shape, and size of one or more of the teeth portions; and outputting information regarding the model for fabricating a teeth-only, gingiva-free dental restoration device.