JP-2026076377-A - Methods and systems for homogeneous dental instruments

Abstract

[Problem] The method and system described herein receive patient dental arch data, process the dental arch data on a server, determine vertical displacement and mandibular anterior position, and open the patient's airway to enable the patient to breathe during sleep. [Solution] A homogeneous dental instrument is formed by direct manufacturing using processed dentition data, vertical displacement, and mandibular anterior position, and the dental instrument includes a lower dental tray and an upper dental tray, the lower dental tray includes a pair of vertical displacement occlusal pads with vertical displacement and a first pair of button protrusions, and the upper dental tray includes a second pair of button protrusions, the first pair of button protrusions and the second pair of button protrusions provide the mandibular anterior position when two elastic bands are attached and connected to the upper dental tray and the lower dental tray. [Selection Diagram] Figure 5

Inventors

• フランツ，ジョセフ リー
• フランツ，ドナルド イー

Assignees

• フランツ デザイン インコーポレイテッド

Dates

Publication Date

20260511

Application Date

20260221

Priority Date

20180531

Claims (10)

1. The steps include: the server receiving one or more datasets associated with a patient, A step in which a server determines one or more positions for positioning a button protrusion based on a dataset received from a scanner, wherein the received dataset includes at least the patient's dental arch pattern, palatal measurements of the soft palate shape, and measurements of the uvula position and gingival line relative to the patient's soft palate shape, A method comprising the step of a server communicating one or more positions for positioning a button protrusion and vertical displacement, The aforementioned communication step is: A step of assigning a value associated with each of one or more positions for positioning the button protrusion, wherein each value represents the distance between the upper tray button protrusion and the lower tray button protrusion with respect to mandibular advancement, The step of transmitting the aforementioned value to one or more of a 3D printer, a milling machine, and an injection molding machine, The above method further, A method comprising the step of forming a dental instrument by direct manufacturing using one or more 3D printers, milling machines, and injection molding machines, using the values associated with each of one or more positions for positioning button protrusions, wherein the dental instrument includes a lower dental tray and an upper dental tray, the upper and lower dental trays being homogeneous, the lower dental tray including vertical displacement and a first pair of button protrusions, and the upper dental tray including a second pair of button protrusions, the first pair of button protrusions and the second pair of button protrusions providing an anterior mandibular position when two elastic bands are attached and connected to the upper dental tray and the lower dental tray.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the dental instrument is formed by three-dimensional (3D) printing of one or more of a photopolymerizable liquid thermosetting crosslinked polymer, polyurethane, methacrylate, or copolymer.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the dental instrument is milled or injection molded using one or more ethylene-propylene copolymers and polyoxymethylene copolymers.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the dental instrument is formed by three-dimensional (3D) printing of a polymerizable resin composition comprising a urethane monomer, an acid monomer, and 17 or more hydrophobic monomers of urethane dimethacrylate (UDMA).
5. The dental instrument is injection molded using a thermoplastic olefin, thermoplastic polyolefin, or olefin-based thermoplastic elastomer, according to claim 1.
6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the vertical displacement is a function of the shape of the patient's soft palate.
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the vertical displacement is provided by one or more of the pair of occlusal pads on the lower dental tray, or by the thickness of the lower dental tray.
8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determination of the gingival line identifies the maxillary crown-gingival junction and the mandibular crown-gingival junction, the upper dental tray is formed to reach a distance of 3 millimeters below the maxillary crown-gingival junction, and the lower dental tray is formed to reach approximately 3 millimeters below the mandibular crown-gingival junction.
9. A computer program that, when executed by a computer, includes instructions causing the computer to perform the method described in claim 1.
10. A system comprising a server adapted to receive patient-related datasets from a scanner, and means for transmitting data to one or more of a 3D printer, a milling machine, and an injection molding machine, further comprising a processor and a non-volatile computer-readable storage medium storing the computer program described in claim 9.

Description

[Cross-reference of related applications] This application is a non-provisional application of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/679,007, filed on 31 May 2018, which is incorporated herein by whole reference in its entirety, and which claims interest under Section 119(e) of the U.S. Patent Act. Treatment for sleep apnea and obstructive sleep apnea includes surgery, positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices, and dental appliances. Known dental appliances include the "Elastic Mandibular Advancement Appliance" (EMA®) and related devices. EMA® devices work by promoting mandibular forward fixation and increasing airflow. A problem with EMA® devices is the risk of the button protrusions, attached to elastic bands on each side of the device, becoming detached. One method of attaching the button protrusions is adhesive. However, adhesive attachment increases the risk of detachment over time with increased use. What is needed is a dental appliance with a low risk of button protrusion detachment. One embodiment of the method involves receiving patient oral characteristic data on a server, processing that data, determining dentition data, vertical displacement, and mandibular anterior position, and opening the patient's airway to allow the patient to breathe during sleep. It also involves directly manufacturing a dental instrument using the dentition data, vertical displacement, and mandibular anterior position. The dental instrument includes a lower dental tray and an upper dental tray, both of which are homogeneous. The lower dental tray includes vertical displacement and a first pair of button protrusions, while the upper dental tray includes a second pair of button protrusions. The first and second pairs of button protrusions provide the mandibular anterior position when two elastic bands are attached and connected to the upper and lower dental trays. In one or more embodiments, the dental instrument is formed by three-dimensional (3D) printing of one or more photopolymerizable liquid thermosetting crosslinked polymers, polyurethanes, methacrylates, or copolymers. In one or more embodiments, the dental instrument is formed by three-dimensional (3D) printing of a polymerizable resin composition comprising a urethane monomer, an acid monomer, and one or more hydrophobic monomers of urethane dimethacrylate (UDMA). In one or more embodiments, the dental instrument is milled or injection molded using one or more ethylene-propylene copolymers and polyoxymethylene copolymers. In one or more embodiments, the dental instrument is injection molded using one or more materials selected from thermoplastic olefins, thermoplastic polyolefins, and olefin-based thermoplastic elastomers. In one or more embodiments, receiving patient oral characteristic data includes scanning the patient's teeth with a scanner or camera and transmitting the oral characteristic data to a server. In one or more embodiments, receiving patient oral characteristic data includes scanning the patient's oral cavity, photographing the oral cavity to determine the dentition data, and transmitting the oral characteristics to a server. The oral characteristic data, as used herein, includes one or more images of the patient's teeth and gingival line, and one or more images of the patient's soft palate. In one or more embodiments, the method includes determining the vertical displacement as a function of the patient's soft palate shape via oral characteristic data. In one or more embodiments, determining vertical displacement as a function of the patient's soft palate shape via oral characteristic data includes determining a vertical displacement of 5 to 7 millimeters if there is a 5 to 7 millimeter space between the patient's posterior edge of the soft palate and the posterior wall of the pharyngeal orifice. In one or more embodiments, determining the vertical displacement as a function of the patient's soft palate shape via oral characteristic data includes processing the oral characteristic data and measuring the distance between the gingival-coronal junction of the maxillary central incisors and the gingival-coronal junction of the mandibular central incisors. In one or more embodiments, determining vertical displacement as a function of the patient's soft palate shape via oral characteristic data includes determining if there is a 3-5 mm gap between the patient's posterior soft palate and the posterior wall of the pharyngeal orifice, if the posterior soft palate is longer than normal, and providing a vertical displacement of 8-10 mm. In one or more embodiments, determining vertical displacement as a function of the patient's soft palate shape via oral characteristic data includes determining when the posterior edge of the soft palate is longer than a normal soft palate and the jaw is pterygoid, when there is a space of 2 mm or less between the soft palate and the posterior wall of the pharyngeal orifice, and providing a vertical displacement of at lea