Project number
25510
Organization
Tucson Biological Dentistry
Offering
ENGR498-S2025-F2025
1. Work with dentist at Tucson Biological Dentistry (TBD) to understand how the dental instruments are used and held by dental professionals during the dental procedures. Tucson Biological Dentistry will provide samples of different types of dental instruments that are used during the dental procedures.
2. Understand the current design of dental instruments and how a new design will help to minimize strain that can play a pivotal role in reducing hand and wrist issues during dental procedures. Dental procedures often require continuous, repetitive movements such as drilling, scaling, and polishing.
3. Evaluate existing dental instruments to determine if new dental instruments need to be designed or existing instruments can be modified.
4. Design a setup that allows evaluation of hand/thumb/joint stress and fatigue when dental instruments are being used.
5. Build prototype instruments that can withstand high temperatures between 121C to 134C in an autoclave unit.
6. Determine if new instruments need to be developed or only a handle that could fit over the handle of current instruments.
7. Develop design fabrication method.
8. Test dental instruments in dental offices with dentists, dental hygienist, and dental assistants.
9. Develop a plan to turn the lab prototype into marketable dental instruments available to other dental professionals.
10. Develop results in a video and power point presentation that can be present to people in the dental field to explain how the newly developed instrument will be more ergonomic and mitigate hand and wrist pain.
2. Understand the current design of dental instruments and how a new design will help to minimize strain that can play a pivotal role in reducing hand and wrist issues during dental procedures. Dental procedures often require continuous, repetitive movements such as drilling, scaling, and polishing.
3. Evaluate existing dental instruments to determine if new dental instruments need to be designed or existing instruments can be modified.
4. Design a setup that allows evaluation of hand/thumb/joint stress and fatigue when dental instruments are being used.
5. Build prototype instruments that can withstand high temperatures between 121C to 134C in an autoclave unit.
6. Determine if new instruments need to be developed or only a handle that could fit over the handle of current instruments.
7. Develop design fabrication method.
8. Test dental instruments in dental offices with dentists, dental hygienist, and dental assistants.
9. Develop a plan to turn the lab prototype into marketable dental instruments available to other dental professionals.
10. Develop results in a video and power point presentation that can be present to people in the dental field to explain how the newly developed instrument will be more ergonomic and mitigate hand and wrist pain.