Design Criteria: Moldable, Flexible Mouthpiece

The mouthpiece will be made up of two pieces: a main mouthpiece which attaches to the vibrational device and clear aligners which attach to the main mouthpiece and conform to the patient’s teeth.

First, the conforming aligners will be made using methods at the forefront of modern orthodonistry. Digital impressions of the patient’s mouth will be obtained using a modern intraoral scanner, such as TRIOS. The scan can then be input into computer algorithms to develop a treatment plan. The scans can then be turned into 3D models which can be printed with a 3D printer using polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PET G) material, a commonly used and biocompatible thermoplastic. The aligners will then be coated in a photopolymer, such as Ormocomp, which can harden when exposed to UV light, further enhancing the structural integrity of the device.

The aligner piece will then clip into the main mouthpiece bite plate, which can also be made from PET G. This will then attach to the main base of the vibrator, therefore being able to transmit the vibrations to the teeth.

 

Design Criteria: Different Settings for Vibrations

A patient’s comfort while using this device is one of our top priorities, we want to ensure that while the patient is straightening their teeth, they are also not hurting themselves in the process. Different people have different sized roots which may cause them to have very sensitive teeth, having different options for vibrations helps cater to any adjustments patients may need to make due to their own personal tooth sensitivity.

Our device includes a thin bite plate made of a stiff poly-carbonate as to ensure that it’s more pleasant to bite on. This bite plate is attached to the motor in the handle which helps provide power to the small vibrating motors along the plate. The motor in the handle will be powered by a rechargeable battery and will have a switch between three different frequency settings, 90 Hz, 100 Hz, and 110 Hz. These frequencies may seem rather high but research has shows that they are the most effective in loosening up the teeth and helping them move. This helps the patient have a much more personalized use when it comes to our orthodontic vibrations system, something that they’ll feel is more tailored to them, and something that’ll decrease any pain felt due to sensitivity.

Design Criteria: Monitoring Vibrations

In order to ensure that the vibrations being sent through the mouthpiece are at the right frequency, a monitoring accelerometer will be utilized. A single axial accelerometer is capable of measuring vibration levels, which is ideal for our device. Probe tips can be connected from the accelerometer that will be integrated within the handle of our device to the flexible mouthpiece to precisely measure what vibration frequency exists in the area of treatment. However, we need to ensure that the accelerometer we use is significantly smaller in mass and dimension than the mouthpiece. When fully constructed, it should not weigh more than 10% of the device mass and should be about 3 mm on each side. Ultimately, the reading received by the accelerometer will be displayed on a small electronic screen that is on the exterior portion of the handle. This will allow the patient to concretely see what frequency their treatment is operating at.

 

Collective Design:

  • A motor will be within the vibrator along with a rechargeable battery to power it
  • An accelerometer will be within the area of the mouthpiece to measure the frequency and connect with the monitor to show the value
  • On the mouthpiece, there will be an aligner connected to itÂ