Virtual Force Testing for Orthodontic Tooth Repositioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current dental treatments for repositioning misaligned teeth often rely on experienced professionals' assumptions about the forces applied by appliances, leading to unpredictable results due to differences between expected and actual forces at work, which can result in inadequate or excessive tooth movement.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for virtually testing the force applied to teeth using computer-aided design and manufacturing, where initial orthodontic data is used to compute and adjust the forces and torque applied by dental attachments, allowing for custom appliance design and precise treatment planning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If dental appliances are designed based on treatment professional's experience and assumptions, then the treatment process can be initiated, but the actual forces applied may differ from expected forces leading to unpredictable tooth movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary virtual testing and optimization of appliance design before actual manufacturing. The system simulates tooth movement and force application in a virtual environment, allowing designers to predict and adjust forces before the appliance is fabricated and applied to the patient's teeth.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where virtual simulation results are used to refine and optimize appliance design. The system calculates actual forces applied by the appliance design, compares them to desired forces, and iteratively adjusts the design to achieve better force accuracy before final manufacturing.
2Measurement precision
If custom appliance design with virtual testing is implemented, then force application accuracy is improved, but the complexity of the treatment planning process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual trial-and-error design methods with computer-based virtual simulation and optimization. The system uses computational algorithms to automatically calculate forces, predict tooth movement, and optimize appliance geometry, substituting complex manual analysis with automated computational processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates virtual copies of the patient's dentition and the proposed appliance design to perform simulations. These digital models allow for repeated testing and optimization without affecting the actual patient or requiring physical prototypes.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure include computing device related, system, and method embodiments for virtually testing force placed on a tooth are described herein. One method embodiment includes receiving initial orthodontic data (IOD) of teeth, and receiving a desired position of a tooth contained in the IOD. The method embodiment can also include computing a desired force and torque to be applied to the tooth to reach the desired position, wherein the force and torque are applied using a dental attachment. The method embodiment can include virtually testing and adjusting the attachment iteratively to reach the desired force and torque, and displaying the force and torque applied to the tooth via a user interface.