Vibratory Orthodontic Appliance for Accelerated Bone Remodeling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional orthodontic treatments using static forces are often painful, uncomfortable, and lengthy, with compliance issues leading to relapses, and they do not effectively accelerate bone remodeling for faster tooth movement.
Innovation Solution
An orthodontic appliance system that applies non-static, cyclic forces to the teeth using an extraoral or intraoral vibratory source, coupled with a bite plate or platform, which can be controlled by a processor to adjust force, frequency, and duration, and includes features for monitoring patient compliance and providing feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If static forces are used for orthodontic treatment, then treatment is simple and easy to apply, but treatment duration is lengthy and bone remodeling is slow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic vibratory forces through a transducer that generates oscillations at specific frequencies (e.g., 30-300 Hz) to accelerate bone remodeling. This periodic action stimulates osteoblasts and osteoclasts more effectively than static forces, thereby speeding up tooth movement and reducing overall treatment duration while maintaining patient comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes mechanical vibration through an orthodontic transducer that delivers controlled vibratory forces to the teeth and surrounding bone tissue. This mechanical vibration enhances bone metabolism and accelerates the bone remodeling process, enabling faster tooth movement compared to traditional static force application methods.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If static forces are applied continuously, then treatment process is simple, but patient pain and discomfort increase
Solution Approach 1:
By applying forces periodically rather than continuously, the system allows rest periods that reduce cumulative stress on periodontal tissues and bone. This periodic application diminishes patient pain and discomfort while maintaining treatment effectiveness, as the bone and surrounding tissues have time to adapt between force applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from static to dynamic force application using a controllable transducer that can adjust frequency, amplitude, and duration of vibratory forces. This dynamic approach allows optimization of force parameters to minimize patient discomfort while maximizing bone remodeling efficiency, and includes feedback mechanisms to monitor patient response and adjust treatment parameters accordingly.
3Quantity of substance
If traditional orthodontic appliances are used, then initial cost is lower, but ongoing material costs and disposable components increase
Solution Approach 1:
The reusable transducer device is designed to be sterilized and reused across multiple patients, eliminating the need for disposable components. The device performs self-monitoring of treatment parameters and compliance, reducing the need for frequent clinical adjustments and follow-up visits, thereby reducing overall material consumption and long-term costs.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using disposable brackets, archwires, and other single-use orthodontic components, the system employs a durable, reusable transducer that can be recovered, sterilized, and reused. This approach significantly reduces material waste and ongoing consumable costs while maintaining effective treatment capability.
4Stability of the object's composition
If retainers are worn indefinitely for stability, then post-treatment results are stable, but patient compliance becomes difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates compliance monitoring that tracks patient usage of the appliance and provides feedback to both patient and clinician. This feedback mechanism includes reminders, progress tracking, and alerts that motivate patients to maintain proper wear time, thereby improving long-term compliance without requiring indefinite retainer wear. The system can adjust treatment parameters based on compliance data to optimize outcomes.
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 system accelerates bone remodeling, reduces pain and discomfort, enhances patient compliance, and improves tissue integrity, allowing for faster tooth movement and more stable post-treatment results, while also offering a cost-effective and efficient treatment model.
Implementation Method 1
an extraoral vibratory source and an intraoral dentition interface in the form of a bite plate or platform
Data Source
AI summary
An orthodontic remodeling system includes an extraoral vibratory source coupled to a bite plate, where the extraoral vibratory source is operable to vibrate the bite plate at a frequency in a range of 0.1 to 400 Hz. The bite plate is configured to deliver cyclic forces simultaneously to teeth of the maxillary and mandibular arches, and the bite plate and the extraoral vibratory source are held during use only by clamping with the teeth. A battery is operable to power the extraoral vibratory source, and a processor is configured to control the extraoral vibratory source. Electronic media is operable to capture data indicating usage duration and usage frequency to allow patient compliance to be determined.