Therapeutic tooth bud ablation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The traditional surgical removal of third molars, or wisdom teeth, is a highly invasive and painful procedure associated with significant complications, including pain, swelling, bruising, and nerve damage, with over 11 million patient days of discomfort annually and over 11,000 cases of permanent paraesthesia, and is often performed prophylactically without clear evidence of future pathology, leading to unnecessary costs and lifelong discomfort.
Innovation Solution
A minimally invasive tooth bud ablation procedure using a custom surgical stent and ablation probe tip that selectively ablates third molar tooth buds before they form, minimizing tissue damage and avoiding complications, with the ablation probe tip guided to the precise location within the tooth bud using pre-defined angles and depths determined by volume scan images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional surgical removal of third molars is performed, then the teeth are removed, but significant pain, swelling, bruising, and nerve damage occur
Solution Approach 1:
The ablation probe is inserted into the tooth bud before the third molar fully develops and erupts. By performing the ablation at this early stage, the procedure prevents future pathology while avoiding the complications associated with removing fully formed teeth, including less pain, swelling, and nerve damage risk
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical surgical extraction with a minimally invasive ablation procedure. The ablation probe uses energy-based ablation rather than mechanical force to remove the tooth bud, eliminating the need for invasive surgery, forceps, and associated traumatic mechanical extraction
2Reliability
If prophylactic extraction of third molars is performed, then future pathology is prevented, but unnecessary surgery and costs are incurred
Solution Approach 1:
The procedure performs ablation of the tooth bud at an early developmental stage (ages 6-12) before the third molar becomes fully formed. This preliminary action prevents future pathology while significantly simplifying the procedure compared to extracting fully developed teeth, reducing it from complex surgery to a minimally invasive office-based treatment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the timing parameter of the intervention from adult extraction (after full development) to pediatric ablation (during early development). This parameter change transforms the procedure from complex invasive surgery to a simplified minimally invasive treatment, while maintaining pathology prevention benefits
3Productivity
If third molars are extracted in adolescents and young adults, then the procedure is performed, but significant pain and lifelong risks remain
Solution Approach 1:
The ablation is performed during childhood (ages 6-12) when the tooth bud is small and accessible, before the third molar fully develops. This preliminary timing prevents the need for later extraction during adolescence or adulthood, eliminating the risk of permanent paraesthesia and other serious complications associated with extracting larger, more developed teeth
Solution Approach 2:
The procedure segments the intervention timing into early childhood ablation versus adolescent/adult extraction. By choosing the earlier segment, the tooth bud is removed when it is small and isolated, preventing damage to surrounding developed structures and nerves that would be at risk during later extraction
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 procedure eliminates the need for invasive surgery, reduces costs by 25%, and eliminates risks and complications associated with traditional third molar extractions, providing a painless and risk-free solution for prophylactic removal of wisdom teeth.
Implementation Method 1
tooth bud ablation procedure
Implementation Method 2
ablation probe unit to deliver energy
Data Source
AI summary
Ablation probe tips (108, 148, 320, 360) and physical and virtual stents (110) for use in tooth bud ablation procedures that result in tooth agenesis as well as tooth bud ablation methods are described herein.