Vibrating Dental Mouthpiece for Bone Density
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current dental devices fail to effectively stimulate bone formation and increase bone density in the mouth, particularly for orthodontic retention, using high-frequency forces at low magnitudes.
Innovation Solution
A dental device with a mouthpiece featuring raised dimples and a motor that vibrates between 60 Hz and 130 Hz with an acceleration of 0.035 G to 0.100 G, applied to the occlusal surfaces of teeth to simulate a chewing motion and enhance bone growth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If high frequency forces are applied to stimulate bone formation, then bone density increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies mechanical vibration through a motor-driven mouthpiece that generates high-frequency forces (60-130 Hz) at low acceleration (0.035-0.100 G) to stimulate bone formation and increase bone density in the jaw, directly addressing the technical contradiction by using vibration to achieve bone strengthening without complex surgical intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The device leverages the body's natural bone remodeling response to mechanical stimulation, where the patient's own physiological processes do the work of bone formation when subjected to the vibratory forces, eliminating the need for external bone grafting materials or complex surgical procedures
2Strength
If vibration frequency is increased to enhance bone growth, then bone density improves, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the vibration parameters by operating at high frequency (60-130 Hz) but low acceleration (0.035-0.100 G), creating a specific parameter combination that effectively stimulates bone formation while minimizing energy consumption. The motor is designed to operate within this optimized parameter range to achieve bone density improvement with low power requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The device applies partial action by using low-magnitude vibration (0.035-0.100 G acceleration) that is sufficient to stimulate bone formation through the piezoelectric effect in bone tissue, without requiring high-energy inputs. This partial action approach achieves bone density improvement with minimal energy consumption
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 device stimulates periodontal ligament growth around teeth, strengthening bone density and potentially reducing the time required for orthodontic retention, with customizable settings and a lightweight, low-power motor design.
Implementation Method 1
The motor configured to vibrate the mouthpiece at a frequency between 60 Hz and 130 Hz and an acceleration between 0.035 G and 0.100 G such that the mouthpiece places an axial vibratory force on the occlusal surfaces
Data Source
AI summary
A dental device includes a mouthpiece configured to sit against occlusal surfaces of a patient's teeth and a motor connected to the mouthpiece. The motor is configured to vibrate the mouthpiece at a frequency between 60 and 120 Hz and an acceleration between 0.03 G and 0.06 G such that the mouthpiece places an axial vibratory force on the occlusal surfaces.