Tooth Cap Support Structure for Sealed Root Canal Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional dental and endodontic procedures are painful and often fail to completely remove diseased material from teeth, leading to post-procedure complications such as infection, and it is challenging to support treatment devices during procedures, especially when large portions of the tooth are diseased or weakened.

Innovation Solution

The use of a tooth cap that supports a treatment device during procedures, providing a stable platform and access port for treatment, along with a wall that attaches to the tooth or gum tissue, and a monitoring system to track treatment progress.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If mechanical instruments such as drills and files are used to clean unhealthy material from teeth, then diseased material can be removed, but the procedure becomes painful and may not completely remove all diseased material

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomplete removal of diseased materialVSAvoidpain to patient

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical drilling and filing instruments with a pressure wave generator that uses acoustic pressure waves to remove diseased material. The pressure wave device creates cavitation bubbles that collapse to mechanically disrupt and remove carious tissue and organic material from root canals without the need for traditional mechanical contact, thereby reducing patient pain while improving complete removal of diseased material.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The pressure wave generator utilizes phase transitions of water (liquid to vapor and back) to create cavitation bubbles that collapse and generate mechanical forces for removing diseased tissue. The acoustic waves cause water molecules to undergo rapid compression and expansion cycles, creating micro-explosions that fragment and remove unhealthy material without direct mechanical contact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

2Ease of operation

If an opening is drilled through the crown or side of a diseased tooth for root canal treatment, then access to root canal system is achieved, but structural support of the tooth is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to root canal systemVSAvoidstructural support of tooth

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The tooth cap serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support to the weakened tooth, creates a fluid-tight seal to prevent contamination, and incorporates an access port for the pressure wave device. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate access drilling while maintaining tooth integrity and providing all necessary treatment capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The tooth cap acts as an intermediary structure that provides access to the root canal system without requiring direct drilling into the tooth. The cap is placed over the tooth surface and includes an access port that allows the pressure wave device to reach the root canal system through the cap rather than through the tooth structure itself, preserving tooth strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If conventional drilling procedures are used to access root canal, then treatment access is obtained, but fluid exchange between oral cavity and root canal cannot be prevented

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment accessVSAvoidprevention of infection

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The tooth cap creates a fluid-tight seal over the tooth surface using a flexible sealing mechanism that conforms to the tooth anatomy. This seal prevents fluid exchange between the oral cavity and the root canal system during treatment, blocking the entry of bacteria and contaminants while allowing the pressure wave device to access and treat the root canal through the sealed cap structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

4Reliability

If large portions of the tooth are diseased or weakened, then treatment is needed, but it becomes challenging to support the treatment device throughout the procedure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveneed for treatmentVSAvoidsupport of treatment device

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The tooth cap provides structural support for the pressure wave device by serving as a stable mounting platform. The cap's rigid structure compensates for the weakness of the diseased tooth, allowing the treatment device to be securely positioned and operated throughout the procedure without requiring the tooth itself to provide adequate support.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12533218B2Apparatus and methods for treating teeth

Publication Date: 2026.01.27 SONENDO INC

AI summary

An apparatus for treating a tooth or gum tissue is disclosed. The apparatus can include a tooth cap for supporting a treatment device during a treatment procedure. The tooth cap can comprise a platform to support the treatment device. The platform can include an access port to provide a portion of the treatment device with access to a treatment region of the tooth or gum tissue. The tooth cap can also include a wall coupled with and angled relative to the platform, the wall configured to be attached to the tooth or gum tissue during treatment.