MODEL FOR TEACHING IN DENTAL DISCIPLINES

Abstract

The invention relates to a model for teaching in dental disciplines, con-sisting of a structure (1) that reproduces a part of the human or animal stomatognathic system, and which comprises two or more areas (a, b, c, d) with different mechanical properties, differentiated from each other by delimiting the various tissues that they reproduce and/or the natural or affected state of same and/or areas to be removed, which areas have a different density and, optionally, a different colour and/or porosity and/or elasticity and/or flexibility. The structure (1) also comprises compatible means (2) for attaching same to a practice phantom.

Claims

1. A model for teaching in dental disciplines, comprising: a structure that reproduces a part of the human or animal stomatognathic system and comprises two or more areas with different mechanical properties, differentiated from each other by delimiting the different tissues that they reproduce and/or the natural or affected state of same and/or areas to be removed, which areas have at least a different density, based on the type and discipline for which they are intended, providing realism and guidance when a student uses same for practice so as to make it easier to learn the work to be performed, wherein the structure of the model reproduces a model selected from: i) a tooth or several teeth integrated within an external body to be removed by means of subtraction techniques with cutting tools until said tooth or teeth is/are exposed, the density of which is different from the density which forms said tooth or teeth constituting respectively the at least first and second areas with different mechanical properties having a different density, to learn about dental anatomy; or ii) a tooth or group of temporary or permanent teeth in which there is contemplated at least a first area with different mechanical properties having a density different from the rest of the tooth or teeth forming a part to be removed by the student and the shape, hardness, and density, as well as the colour of which varies from the rest that must be preserved, for teaching the opening of cavities and/or predefined dental preparations; or iii) a tooth or group of teeth in which there is contemplated at least a part with caries lesion to be removed with cutting instruments which constitutes a first area with different mechanical properties and different density with respect to the rest of said tooth in turn constituting a second area with different mechanical properties, for learning the removal of carious dental tissue.

2. The model for teaching in dental disciplines according to claim 1, wherein the areas with different mechanical properties that the model comprises further have different colour and/or porosity and/or elasticity and/or flexibility.

3. The model for teaching in dental disciplines according to claim 1, wherein said structure further comprises compatible means for attaching same to a practice phantom.

4. The model for teaching in dental disciplines according to claim 1, wherein in the variant for learning dental anatomy, the structure comprises two or more teeth or groups of teeth which are integrated, inside each other in different scales of proportion, from largest to smallest, within the external body so that they are successively exposed by means of subtraction techniques accessing teeth having smaller proportions or scales, said inner teeth constituting respective third and fourth areas with different mechanical properties, which in turn have a different density with respect to each other and to the external body.

5. The model for teaching in dental disciplines according to claim 4, wherein each of the teeth successively incorporated inside each other and within the external body constituting the respective areas with different mechanical properties of the structure are also different in colours from each other.

6. The model for teaching in dental disciplines according to claim 5, wherein the structure comprises: a polyhedral outer body to be removed, having a colour and density different from the rest, constituting a first area with different mechanical properties, a 3× scale tooth, incorporated within the external body, which can also be removed with cutting instruments, having a colour and density different from the rest, constituting a second area with different mechanical properties, a 2× scale tooth, incorporated within the 3× scale tooth, which can be removed with cutting instruments, in turn having a colour and density different from the rest, constituting a third area with different mechanical properties, and a life-size scale tooth, incorporated within the 2× scale tooth, having a colour and density different from the rest, constituting a fourth area with different mechanical properties.

7. The model for teaching in dental disciplines according to claim 1, wherein, in the variant for learning the opening of cavities and/or predefined dental preparations, the structure reproduces a single tooth comprising: a first area with different mechanical properties, forming a part to be removed with cutting instruments, having a colour and/or density different from the rest, a second area (b) with different mechanical properties to be preserved, and having a colour and/or density different from the area to be removed mentioned above, a third area (c) with different mechanical properties, having a colour and/or density different from the rest and constituting an intermediate part to be preserved between the part to be removed and the part of the rest of the tooth (5) to be preserved.

8. The model for teaching in dental disciplines according to claim 1, where, in the variant for learning the removal of carious dental tissue, the structure (1) comprises: a part to be removed with cutting instruments, having a density and consistency similar to a carious, infected, and irreversibly affected tissue, constituting the first area with different mechanical properties, a part of the rest of the tooth to be preserved, having a density similar to a healthy tooth and different from the density of the carious tissue area to be removed, constituting the second area with different mechanical properties, an intermediate part to be preserved, having a density and consistency different from the rest which reproduces the area of the lesion to be preserved due to its ability to recover, and constituting a third area with different mechanical properties, and a pulp tissue part, having a density and consistency different from the rest, reproducing the colour and consistency of a healthy pulp, constituting a fourth area with different mechanical properties.

9. The model for teaching in dental disciplines according to claim 8, wherein said pulp tissue part constituting this fourth area incorporates sensors which, when connected to a device provided to that end, record the damage caused by errors during the removal of hard tissue from the part to be removed of the tooth.

10. The model for teaching in dental disciplines according to claim 7, wherein the structure is integrated in a phantom, being a permanent part thereof along with other teeth.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] To complement the description that is being made and for the purpose of helping to better understand the features of the invention, a set of drawings is attached to the present specification as an integral part thereof in which the following is depicted in a non-limiting, illustrative manner:

[0043] FIG. 1 shows a sectioned perspective view of another example of the model of the invention, specifically of a variant thereof applicable for learning dental anatomy by means of subtraction techniques, in which the configuration depicting the structure thereof with a different density, which in this case comprises several teeth of different proportion integrated within an external body, can be seen;

[0044] FIGS. 2 and 3 show respective side and plan views, respectively, of an example of the model of the invention in another variant thereof applicable for learning the opening of cavities and/or predefined dental preparations, with this example reproducing in this case a tooth in which the configuration depicting the structure thereof with a different density in the area provided for making said cavity and the rest of the tooth can be seen; and

[0045] FIGS. 4 and 5 show respective side and plan views, respectively, of another example of the model of the invention in another variant thereof applicable for learning the removal of carious dental tissue, with this example also reproducing a tooth in which the configuration depicting the structure thereof with a different density in the carious area and the rest of the tooth can be seen.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0046] In view of the mentioned figures and according to the numbering used, several non-limiting examples of the various embodiment variants of the proposed model for teaching in dental disciplines can be seen therein, which model comprises the parts and elements indicated and described in detail below.

[0047] In that sense, as can be seen in said figures, the model in question consists of a structure (1) that reproduces a part of the human or animal stomatognathic system, consisting of a jaw and/or maxilla bone or a portion thereof, with or without teeth (5) and/or edentulous gum areas, or of a temporary or permanent tooth (5) or a group of adjacent teeth, and said model is distinguished by comprising two or more areas (a, b, c, d) with different mechanical properties, differentiated from each other in order to delimit the different tissues that they reproduce and/or the natural or affected state of same, having at least a different density and possibly also a different colour and/or porosity and/or elasticity and/or flexibility, depending on the specific type of model and on the discipline for which it is intended, providing realism and guidance when a student uses same for practice so as to make it easier to learn the work to be performed.

[0048] Furthermore, the structure (1) of the model object of the invention also preferably comprises compatible means, such as a base (2), for attaching same to a practice phantom, usually a head.

[0049] FIG. 1 shows how, in a first embodiment variant applicable for learning dental anatomy, the structure (1) of the model reproduces a tooth or several teeth (5) integrated within an external body (7) that the student must remove by means of subtraction techniques with cutting tools until said tooth or teeth (5) is/are exposed, and the density of which is different from the density which forms said tooth or teeth (5) constituting respectively the at least first and second areas (a, b) with different mechanical properties of the model which in this case serve as a guide when the student performs practice to learn about dental anatomy and instrument handling.

[0050] Optionally, in this embodiment variant of the model (1), the structure (1) comprises two or more teeth or groups of teeth (5) which are integrated, inside each other in different scales of proportion, from largest to smallest, within the external body (7) and which the student must successively expose by means of subtraction techniques accessing teeth having smaller proportions or scales, said inner teeth (5) constituting the corresponding third and fourth areas (c, d) with different mechanical properties which also have a different density with respect to each other and to the external body (7).

[0051] Furthermore, each of the teeth (5) successively incorporated inside each other and within the external body (7) constituting the aforementioned areas (a, b, c, d) with different mechanical properties in the structure (1) of the model are also preferably different in colours from each other.

[0052] In a preferred embodiment like the one shown in FIG. 1, the structure (1) of the model in this variant comprises: [0053] A polyhedral outer body (7) to be removed, having a colour and density different from the rest, constituting a first area with different mechanical properties (a). [0054] A 3× scale tooth (5), incorporated within the external body (7), which can also be removed with cutting instruments, having a colour and density different from the rest, constituting a second area (b) with different mechanical properties. [0055] A 2× scale tooth (5), incorporated within the 3× scale tooth (5) and can likewise be removed with cutting instruments, in turn having a colour and density different from the rest, constituting a third area (c) with different mechanical properties. [0056] And a life-size scale tooth (5), incorporated within the 2× scale tooth, having a colour and density different from the rest, constituting a fourth area (d) with different mechanical properties.

[0057] In a second embodiment variant, the structure (1) of the model is applicable for learning the opening of cavities and/or predefined dental preparations, and as can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, it reproduces a tooth or group of temporary or permanent teeth (5) in which there is contemplated at least a first area (a) with different mechanical properties having a density different from the rest of the tooth or teeth (5) forming a part to be removed (51) by the student and its shape, hardness, and density, as well as its colour, can vary in each case, serving as a guide for differentiating the part of the tooth to be removed (51) from the part that must be preserved using different techniques.

[0058] Preferably, the structure (1) also comprises a compatible base (2) for attaching same to a phantom so that the practice can be carried out in a more realistic position.

[0059] In a preferred embodiment of this variant of the model, the structure (1) reproduces a single tooth (5) comprising: [0060] A first area (a) with different mechanical properties, forming a part to be removed (51) with cutting instruments, having a colour and density different from the rest. [0061] A second area (b) with different mechanical properties to be preserved, and having a colour and density different from the area to be removed mentioned above. [0062] A third area (c) with different mechanical properties, having a colour and/or density different from the rest and constituting an intermediate part (52) to be preserved which performs the function of an interphase between the part to be removed (51) and the rest of the tooth (5) to be preserved, corresponding to the respective first and second areas (a, b) with different mechanical properties, establishing a guide of the limit up to which the student must spread the preparation. [0063] And a base (2) compatible with a phantom.

[0064] The model of this variant for teaching the opening of cavities and/or predefined preparations preferably has a structure (1) which reproduces the tooth (5) individually, such that it can be attached to a phantom by means of the compatible base (2), as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, although optionally, said structure (1) can be a permanent part of the practice phantom itself, and the tooth (5) can be included along with other teeth found in a human or animal mouth.

[0065] Lastly, FIGS. 4 and 5 show how the model contemplates a third embodiment variant applicable for learning the removal of carious dental tissue, wherein the structure (1), like in the preceding variant, reproduces a tooth or group of teeth (5) in which there is contemplated at least a part with caries lesion to be removed (51) with cutting instruments which constitutes a first area (a) with different mechanical properties and different density with respect to the rest of said tooth (5) in turn constituting a second area (b) with different mechanical properties and different density.

[0066] In the preferred embodiment of this variant, the structure (1) of the model reproduces a single tooth (5) comprising: [0067] A part to be removed (51) with cutting instruments, having a density and consistency similar to the carious, infected, and irreversibly affected tissue, which constitutes the first area (a) with different mechanical properties. [0068] A part of the rest of the tooth (5) to be preserved, having a density similar to a healthy tooth, and different from the density of the carious tissue area to be removed, constituting the second area (b) with different mechanical properties. [0069] An intermediate part (52) to be preserved, having a density and consistency different from the rest which reproduces the area of the lesion to be preserved due to its ability to recover, and constituting a third area (c) with different mechanical properties [0070] A pulp tissue part (53), having a density and consistency different from the rest, reproducing the colour and consistency of a healthy pulp, constituting a fourth area (d) with different mechanical properties.

[0071] Optionally, said pulp tissue part (53) constituting this fourth area (d) incorporates sensors (8) which, when connected to a device (not depicted) provided to that end, record the damage caused by errors during the removal of hard tissue from the part to be removed (51) of the tooth (5).

[0072] Preferably, in this variant, the structure (1) also has a base (2) compatible with a practice phantom, or alternatively is integrated in the phantom itself, being a permanent part thereof along with other teeth of a set of human or animal teeth.

[0073] Having sufficiently described the nature of the present invention, as well as the manner of putting it into practice, it is not considered necessary to expand on this explanation so that one skilled in the art will understand its scope and the advantages derived from it, hereby stating that within its essential nature, the invention may be carried out to practice in other embodiments which differ in detail from that indicated by way of example and which will likewise attain the protection that is sought provided that its fundamental principle is not altered, changed, or modified.