Wax Prosthesis Production Using Virtual 3D Model and Preformed Sockets

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for producing dental prostheses are prone to errors and require manual adjustment of prosthetic teeth, leading to misalignment and uneven bite height, with prefabricated teeth needing reworking and adhesive issues affecting the stability and aesthetic quality of the final product.

Innovation Solution

A method using a virtual three-dimensional dental prosthesis model to create a wax prosthesis with preformed tooth sockets for prefabricated teeth, allowing for precise alignment and attachment without manual occlusal processing, utilizing generative and subtractive CAM processes for efficient production.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If manual placement and adjustment of prefabricated teeth is used, then adaptability to patient's oral situation is improved, but manufacturing precision and alignment accuracy deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to patient's oral situationVSAvoidalignment accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention creates a wax model with pre-formed tooth sockets and positions the prefabricated teeth in the correct alignment before the final prosthesis is made. This preliminary positioning in the wax model ensures that when the teeth are transferred to the final prosthesis, their alignment is already optimized, eliminating the need for manual adjustment and ensuring both adaptability and precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The wax model serves as an intermediary between the digital design and the final prosthesis. It allows the technician to physically manipulate and verify the position of prefabricated teeth before final production, combining the precision of digital planning with the adaptability of manual adjustment in a intermediate step.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If prefabricated teeth are bonded to denture base, then productivity is improved, but reliability of attachment and stability deteriorate due to adhesive issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction efficiencyVSAvoidattachment stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention prepares the basal surfaces of the prefabricated teeth by machining them in the wax model before bonding. This preliminary preparation ensures that the bonding surfaces are properly conditioned and fitted, improving the reliability of the adhesive attachment while maintaining the efficiency of using prefabricated teeth.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If excessive occlusal processing is performed on prefabricated teeth, then adaptability to patient's bite is improved, but manufacturing precision and aesthetic quality deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to patient's biteVSAvoidocclusal fit accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention performs preliminary occlusal adjustments in the wax model before the final prosthesis is manufactured. By establishing the correct occlusal relationships in the wax stage, minimal processing is needed later, preserving the precision of the prefabricated teeth and their aesthetic quality while still achieving adaptability to the patient's bite.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Adaptability or versatility

If manual checking and adjustment of teeth position is required, then adaptability is improved, but loss of time and productivity worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecustomization capabilityVSAvoidpost-processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention performs all necessary positioning and adjustment actions in the wax model before final production. This preliminary completion of customization tasks eliminates the need for time-consuming manual checking and adjustment after the prosthesis is made, reducing loss of time while maintaining full adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3743012B1Method for producing a dental prosthesis
Publication Date: 2021.12.08 HERAEUS KULZER GMBH
  • EP3743012B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3743012B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C
  • EP3743012B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3C

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for producing a wax prosthesis comprising a prosthetic base (8) and a plurality of prosthetic teeth (2), said method being implemented using a virtual three-dimensional dental prosthesis model and comprising the following steps: A) using at least one virtual three-dimensional model of the prosthetic teeth and an available virtual three-dimensional model of the prosthetic base (8), B) producing a preformed blank (8) from wax or plastic using a CAM device, where C) a plurality of tooth sockets (9) is produced in the upper side of the preformed blank (8), a tooth socket (9) being produced in the blank (8) for each preproduced prosthetic tooth (2) to be used according to the virtual three-dimensional dental prosthesis model, D) inserting and fixing the unmachined preproduced prosthetic teeth (2) into the respective tooth sockets (9) of the preformed blank (8), E) shortening the basal side (4) of the preproduced prosthetic teeth (2) fixed in the preformed blank (8) according to the data relating to the lower side of the virtual three-dimensional model of the prosthetic base, the preproduced prosthetic teeth (2) being significantly shortened as indicated by the data relating to the lower side of the virtual three-dimensional model of the prosthetic base, and F) subtractive machining of the lower side of the preformed blank (8) according to the data relating to the lower side of the virtual three-dimensional model of the prosthetic base. The invention also relates to a wax prosthesis and a dental prosthesis produced using such a method, and to a device for implementing such a method.