Teeth-Only Full-Arch Bridge Design Without Artificial Gingiva

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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 breakage due to angulated implants and artificial gingiva, while traditional methods with fewer implants lack stability and natural feel.

Innovation Solution

A computer-aided design and fabrication method for a full-arch, teeth-only dental bridge that uses non-angulated implants secured in preserved tooth sockets, preserving the natural gum line and bone, with a custom-made bridge that seats directly against the gum line, mimicking natural tooth alignment and avoiding artificial gingiva.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering 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

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability of dental restorationVSAvoidchronic inflammation and bone loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the harmful artificial gingiva component from the dental restoration system, replacing it with a teeth-only bridge design that eliminates the source of chronic inflammation while maintaining the structural support function through implant-integrated abutment holes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of removing natural bone and tissue to accommodate artificial gingiva, the invention inverts the approach by preserving the natural gum line and bone structure, allowing the dental bridge to seat directly against the preserved natural tissues without requiring angulated implants or bone removal

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Ease of manufacture

If angulated implants and artificial gingiva are used, then full-arch replacement is achieved, but speech difficulties and breakage occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefeasibility of full-arch replacementVSAvoidspeech clarity and patient comfort

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the complex, problematic artificial gingiva structure with a simpler teeth-only bridge design that eliminates speech interference and breakage risks associated with artificial tissues, while maintaining full-arch replacement functionality through the bridge structure itself

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention inverts the conventional approach by eliminating artificial gingiva entirely and using the teeth-only bridge structure to provide both aesthetic and functional outcomes, improving speech clarity and patient comfort while maintaining ease of manufacture

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If fewer implants are used, then less bone removal is required, but stability and natural feel are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebone preservationVSAvoidstability of dental restoration

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the support function traditionally provided by artificial gingiva with the teeth-only bridge structure itself, integrating abutment holes directly into the bridge to combine aesthetic, structural, and stabilizing functions into a single unified design that works with minimal implants

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention performs preliminary stabilization by integrating abutment holes into the bridge structure during fabrication, allowing the bridge to be pre-stabilized and then secured to minimal implants, achieving both bone preservation and stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Area of stationary object

If artificial gingiva is used, then full-arch coverage is achieved, but cleaning difficulty and inflammation increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoverage area of dental restorationVSAvoidease of cleaning

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the artificial gingiva component that creates cleaning difficulties and inflammation risks, replacing it with a teeth-only bridge design that exposes the gum line and allows natural tissue to remain visible and accessible for cleaning

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS20260047914A1System and method for full arch, teeth-only bridge design

Publication Date: 2026.02.19 TRUBRIDGE DENTAL LLC

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.