Wire Attachment Appliance for Precise Orthodontic Retainer Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dental wire attachment methods are imprecise and require specialized knowledge, leading to potential misalignment and difficulty in positioning teeth after orthodontic treatment, necessitating improved retention solutions.
Innovation Solution
A wire attachment appliance with customizable shell cavities, wire attachment members, and attachment material reservoirs is designed using virtual and physical models, allowing precise placement and securement of dental wires without professional expertise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional wire attachment methods are used by treatment professionals, then wire attachment can be achieved, but positioning precision is poor and requires specialized knowledge
Solution Approach 1:
The appliance is pre-formed with cavities and wire attachment members positioned at precise locations before patient treatment. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for complex positioning during the attachment procedure, achieving high precision without requiring specialized professional knowledge during execution.
Solution Approach 2:
The appliance serves as an intermediary device that facilitates wire attachment. It includes pre-positioned cavities and attachment members that guide the wire into the correct position, acting as a mediator between the treatment professional and the tooth, simplifying the attachment process while ensuring precision.
2Reliability
If custom-shaped retainers are formed by treatment professionals prior to attachment, then retention can be achieved, but the process is difficult and requires special knowledge
Solution Approach 1:
The appliance is manufactured in advance with the correct shape and wire attachment components pre-integrated. This eliminates the need for treatment professionals to manually shape retainers during patient visits, making the process easier while maintaining reliable retention through precise pre-fabrication.
Solution Approach 2:
The appliance is designed to be self-contained with all necessary components (cavities, wire attachment members, positioning features) integrated into a single unit. This self-service design allows for straightforward attachment without requiring complex manual shaping or adjustment by the treatment professional.
3Manufacturing precision
If manual wire attachment is performed, then wire can be secured to teeth, but positioning accuracy is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The appliance is pre-formed with cavities and wire attachment members at precisely determined locations and orientations. This preliminary positioning ensures that when the wire is attached, it achieves accurate positioning without requiring complex adjustment tools or techniques during the attachment procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The appliance acts as a positioning intermediary that physically guides the wire into the correct position. The pre-formed cavities and attachment members serve as mechanical guides that constrain the wire to the desired location, achieving manufacturing precision through the intermediary structure rather than manual skill.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods of forming wire attachment appliances. Methods may include forming a shell having multiple cavities and an attachment material reservoir within a first cavity of the multiple cavities. The attachment material reservoir may be positioned such that, when the wire attachment appliance is positioned on a dental arch, an attachment material provided within the attachment material reservoir is arranged to contact a surface of a particular tooth for attaching a wire to the particular tooth. Forming the wire attachment appliance may further include forming at least two wire attachment members on an interior surface of at least two second cavities of the multiple cavities. The at least two wire attachment members may be shaped to hold the wire in position with respect to the particular tooth.