Tooth Clearing Process Using Non-Alcoholic Dehydration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for clearing and illustrating the internal structure of teeth, such as those used in endodontology, often damage the tooth by creating injection sites and rely on alcohol for dehydration, which dissolves blood clots and provides inaccurate representations of the pulpal anatomy.

Innovation Solution

A process that involves allowing blood to clot and dry within the tooth, causing shrinkage and air expansion to reveal the internal structure without the need for injection or alcohol, using non-alcoholic dehydration agents and compatible clearing agents to maintain the tooth's integrity and accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If alcohol is used for dehydration, then the tooth is dehydrated, but the blood clots are dissolved and the internal structure is distorted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedehydration effectivenessVSAvoidaccuracy of internal structure representation

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameter of the dehydrant from alcohol to a non-alcoholic solution (such as a salt solution or other non-alcoholic liquid). This parameter change allows dehydration to occur without dissolving the blood clots, thereby maintaining the accuracy of the internal structure representation while still achieving effective dehydration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of information

If dye or stain injection is used to reveal internal structure, then the internal structure is visualized, but the tooth is damaged and the illustration may be false

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisibility of internal structureVSAvoidaccuracy of internal structure representation

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the need for external dye or stain injection by utilizing the natural blood clots already present within the tooth. The blood clots serve as the natural contrast medium to reveal the internal structure, eliminating the need to penetrate the tooth with foreign substances that could damage it or provide inaccurate illustrations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies the self-service principle by using the tooth's own blood clots to reveal its internal structure. Instead of requiring external dyes or stains to be injected into the tooth, the natural blood clots that form during the drying process provide the necessary contrast to visualize the internal anatomy, thereby avoiding damage from injection procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Loss of information

If injection sites are created to insert dye, then the internal structure can be stained, but the tooth structure is compromised and weakened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisibility of internal structureVSAvoidtooth structural integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the harmful injection procedure entirely by utilizing the natural blood clots within the tooth to reveal its internal structure. This eliminates the need to create injection sites that would compromise the tooth's structural integrity, while still achieving clear visualization of the internal anatomy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Force

If alcohol is used for dehydration, then the tooth is dehydrated, but the blood is removed from the canal area

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedehydration effectivenessVSAvoidpresence of blood in canal area

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameter of the dehydrant from alcohol to a non-alcoholic solution. This parameter change allows the dehydration process to proceed effectively while preserving the blood clots in the canal area, as the non-alcoholic solution does not dissolve blood proteins like alcohol does.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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

This method provides a cleaner, more accurate depiction of the tooth's internal structure, preventing damage and distortion, and allows for easier photography, enhancing the ability to diagnose and treat dental pulp diseases.

Implementation Method 1

As the tooth dries, some shrinkage occurs having the effect of enlarging the internal areas of the tooth where the nerve resided

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectShrinkage: Length Contraction

Implementation Method 2

the air expands into all the internal areas where the nerve of the tooth had resided

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir expansion: Thermal Expansion

Implementation Method 3

immersing the tooth in methyl salicylate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectClearing: Refraction

Data Source

PatentUS9659507B2Process for clearing a tooth and illustrating the internal structure

Publication Date: 2017.05.23 BARRINGTON CRAIG

AI summary

A process for clearing an extracted tooth comprising the steps of drying the extracted tooth by exposure to air to produce a dried tooth, exposing the dried tooth to a decalcifying solution to produce a decalcified tooth, exposing the decalcified tooth to a non-alcohol dehydrant to produce a dehydrated tooth, exposing the dehydrated tooth to a clearing agent in a container until a desired amount clearing occurs, whereby the tooth is rendered translucent revealing its internal anatomy.