UV-Blocking Dental Template for Orthodontic Bracket Bonding
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for bonding orthodontic brackets to teeth face challenges in cleaning adhesive 'flash' that forms around the edges of the brackets, particularly due to the difficulty in accessing and removing it before the adhesive cures, which increases the time and complexity of the direct bonding procedure.
Innovation Solution
A dental template is fabricated using a digital model of the patient's teeth, incorporating ultraviolet light-blocking materials or chemical inhibitors to prevent complete curing of adhesive flash underneath the template, allowing for easier cleanup before the adhesive is fully set.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If direct bonding with template is used, then bracket positioning precision is improved, but adhesive flash cleanup difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The template incorporates UV-transparent or UV-blocking windows at specific locations corresponding to bracket positions. This allows selective UV light transmission only where needed for curing bracket adhesive, while blocking UV light in areas where adhesive flash cleanup is needed, keeping the flash uncured and removable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces UV light-blocking material as an intermediary between the UV curing light and the adhesive flash areas. This intermediary selectively prevents UV light from reaching certain regions, allowing the flash to remain uncured and easily removable while still curing the adhesive at bracket locations.
2Strength
If adhesive is fully cured before template removal, then bonding strength is improved, but cleanup time and difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The template creates localized differences in adhesive curing state: areas under UV-transparent windows are fully cured for strong bonding, while areas under UV-blocking windows remain uncured for easy cleanup. This spatial variation in curing quality resolves the contradiction between strength and cleanup ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The template is designed in advance with specific UV-transparent and UV-blocking regions to pre-determine which areas will be cured and which will remain uncured. This preliminary design of the curing pattern allows selective cleanup of flash while preserving bond strength at bracket locations.
3Speed
If UV light is used for curing, then curing speed is improved, but adhesive flash under template becomes difficult to clean
Solution Approach 1:
The template creates localized differences in UV light transmission: UV-transparent windows allow rapid curing at bracket positions, while UV-blocking windows prevent curing of adjacent flash areas, keeping them soft and accessible for cleanup. This resolves the contradiction by making the uncured flash accessible despite using fast UV curing.
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 template enables precise placement of orthodontic brackets while minimizing adhesive flash, reducing treatment time and improving precision, even for less trained practitioners, by allowing cleanup of adhesive flash prior to curing and ensuring accurate bracket positioning.
Implementation Method 1
The dental template includes an ultraviolet light-blocking material configured to at least partially block ultraviolet light
Implementation Method 2
Once the adhesive has hardened or cured, the bracket is bonded to the tooth with sufficient strength to withstand subsequent orthodontic forces
Data Source
AI summary
A dental template formed of an ultraviolet light-blocking or chemical cure inhibition material configured to restrict the curing of excess adhesive flash during the bonding of orthodontic devices to teeth. The dental template is configured to be positioned over a patient's teeth to guide placement of brackets on the teeth. The brackets are secured to the teeth using adhesive, which is cured by exposure to ultraviolet light or chemically cured. The dental template at least partially blocks ultraviolet light or restricts the chemical cure process from fully curing the adhesive underneath the template so that any exposed adhesive “flash” underneath the template can be easily cleaned after the template is removed from the teeth. The adhesive securing the brackets to the teeth can be fully cured after the “flash” is cleaned.