Tunnel-like Recess Bite Splint for Lateral Guidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing anterior bite splints lack lateral guidance, leading to shifting or slipping during use, which compromises their effectiveness in reducing muscle tension and pain associated with temporomandibular disorders.
Innovation Solution
A bite splint with a tunnel-like recess design featuring inclined walls and a base element, providing axial load distribution and ensuring a stable bite contact surface, adaptable to various tooth positions and occlusions, made from materials like liquid crystal polymers for durability and low friction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate small appliances are used to receive mandibular incisor teeth, then the neural relaxation reflex can be activated to reduce muscle tension, but the appliances lack lateral guidance and may shift or slip during use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the maxillary and mandibular appliances into a single integrated bite splint that receives both maxillary and mandibular incisor teeth simultaneously. This unified structure provides lateral guidance and prevents shifting or slipping during use, while still activating the neural relaxation reflex to reduce muscle tension in the muscles of mastication.
2Reliability
If the second wall is inclined downwards to create a bite contact surface, then axial load is exerted onto the teeth during clenching to prevent pathological load distribution, but the design must be adapted to various tooth positions and occlusions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates an inclined second wall that creates a bite contact surface angled at approximately 20-30 degrees relative to the horizontal plane. This localized inclination ensures that axial load is exerted onto the teeth during clenching, preventing pathological load distribution. The design can be adapted to various tooth positions and occlusions by modifying the specific inclination angle and position of the bite contact surface while maintaining the fundamental inclined wall structure.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a bite splint (1) having a tunnel-like recess (19) wherein the recess (19) is defined by two walls (3; 5) being connected to each other via a base element (7). The first wall (3) protrudes straight downwards from the base element (7), wherein at least a part of an upper surface (13) of the second wall (5) is inclined downwards with respect to an upper surface (11) of the base element (7).