Vibrating Crown Remover with Spring-Biased Jaws

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing dental tools for removing crowns and bridges often result in broken or fractured structures due to the application of blunt force, causing complexity and discomfort, especially when the crown-tooth interface is smooth or the teeth are close together, and existing ultrasonic tools face challenges in positioning and penetrating the crown-tooth junction.

Innovation Solution

A dental crown removal apparatus with a handle and an elongated post connected to a motor, featuring a tool adaptor with pivotally connected jaws that are spring-biased together, allowing for adjustable length and vibration-assisted separation of crowns from teeth, minimizing horizontal force and maximizing vertical grip.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If blunt force is applied to remove crowns, then removal can be achieved, but the crown or tooth often breaks resulting in complexity and expense

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecrown removal efficiencyVSAvoidintegrity of crown and tooth

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The device employs an ultrasonic transducer that generates high-frequency vibrations in a slender tip, which is inserted into the crown-tooth interface. These vibrations create micro-fractures in the adhesive bonding layer, enabling clean separation without applying disruptive blunt force, thus preventing crown or tooth breakage while maintaining removal efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #18Mechanical vibration

Solution Approach 2:

The bonding interface between crown and tooth is segmented through ultrasonic vibration that creates multiple micro-fractures along the adhesive layer. This segmentation allows the crown to be separated into clean portions without forcing it apart as a single unit, reducing the risk of breakage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If a steel string is used to separate crown from root, then separation can be achieved, but the string is difficult to position when teeth are close together and cannot penetrate smooth interfaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to handle different crown-tooth interfacesVSAvoidpositioning difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The mechanical steel string system is replaced with an ultrasonic vibration system. The ultrasonic tip can penetrate smooth crown-tooth interfaces through high-frequency oscillations that overcome surface tension and adhesion forces, eliminating positioning difficulties associated with steel strings

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the physical parameters of the separation mechanism from static mechanical force (steel string) to dynamic high-frequency vibration (ultrasonic tip). This parameter change enables penetration of smooth interfaces and adaptability to varying crown-tooth geometries, including closely spaced teeth

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If pressure is applied on one side of the crown, then separation can be achieved, but the crown almost invariably breaks during removal

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseparation capabilityVSAvoidcrown integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The ultrasonic tip extracts or removes the adhesive bonding material from the crown-tooth interface through high-frequency vibrations. By taking out the bonding agent rather than forcing the crown off, the crown remains intact while achieving complete separation from the tooth

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Reliability

If existing ultrasonic tools are used, then some separation capability is achieved, but they suffer from positioning difficulties and inability to penetrate the crown-tooth junction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseparation capabilityVSAvoidpositioning and penetration difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The ultrasonic transducer generates high-frequency mechanical vibrations in a slender tip that can penetrate the crown-tooth junction. The vibrational energy allows the tip to overcome smooth surfaces and adhesive bonding, enabling reliable positioning and penetration that previous ultrasonic tools could not achieve

Inventive Principle:

Principle #18Mechanical vibration

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 apparatus effectively removes crowns and bridges with reduced risk of breakage and discomfort by providing a precise, vibration-assisted separation mechanism that minimizes horizontal force on the tooth, enhancing the efficiency and safety of the dental procedure.

Implementation Method 1

ultrasonic dental tools are known... ultrasonic energy is transferred through the bracket to the adhesive layer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltrasonic vibration: Ultrasonic Vibration

Data Source

PatentUS10973609B2Vibrating crown and bridge remover

Publication Date: 2021.04.13 PONA ZBIGNIEW

AI summary

A dental crown removal apparatus is provided, including a handle for placement in an operator's hand, an elongated post projecting along a first axis, the post being connected for reciprocal motion with respect to the handle, a motor in the handle for moving the post, a tool adapter connected with the post opposite the handle, the tool adapter having an extension arm extending away from the handle with a pivot arm connected with the extension arm and spaced from the handle, and first and second opposing jaws having claw ends spring biased together, the first and second jaws having independent and unitary pivotal connection with the pivot arm.