Validation of an Innovation Mining Framework

The driving hypothesis of this thesis is that a quantitative approach linking business objectives of an organization with technological limitations of the physical product would enable industry to create more innovative products. The main goal of this research is to validate the applicability and reliability of the innovation mining framework developed by Peyyeti (2016) to identify innovation opportunities and components worth innovating in a product. In this work, the innovation mining framework is applied with minor modifications to a mechanical pencil, innovation scenarios were then compared to existing innovations in mechanical pencils. Based on the success of the feasibility trial, the innovation mining framework was applied to a Dirt-Devil vacuum and compared to innovations implemented in the Dyson-V6 vacuum to improve a set of chosen value-metrics. Based on this study, the following insights were developed: (1) The model sufficiently identified several innovation opportunities to improve each value-metric (2) Varying weighting schemes do not have significant effects on filtered data (3) The top-half of the dendrogram contains the most relevant clusters that present viable innovation opportunities (4) The relevant clusters must be viewed from a systems thinking perspective as a single chain that must be innovated for the most benefit (5) Implementing this model provokes systems thinking approach in the user. This gives a substantial advantage over intuitive and qualitative approaches by providing insights on hidden relationships and identifying innovation opportunities in a system that may otherwise be ignored or unexplored. Opportunities for future-work include developing a transfer-function system representing true relationships, performing SVD at every level of the coupling matrices to gain insights into the nature of transformation and cluster formation, comparing clusters obtained to failure-modes associated with the corresponding value-metric for systematic prioritization and comparing dendrogram clusters with function-structure map to get detailed insights on clusters and their interactions

Comparative evaluation of orthodontic bracket base shapes on shear bond strength and adhesive remnant index : an in vitro study

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of orthodontic bracket base shape on shear bond strength and adhesive remnant index. In this in vitro study using 140 bovine incisors, shear bond strength (SBS) of brackets with different base shapes (rectangle, flower, round, heart, diamond, star, and football) were measured with an Instron testing machine and tested until bond failure. Adhesive Remnant Index (ARI) scoring was evaluated after debonding to evaluate the location of bond failure. Descriptive and one-way ANOVA post-hoc Tukey statistical analyses were performed with a statistical significance set at p?0.05. Statistically significant difference in mean SBS in Newtons was observed for multiple base shapes (p<0.05). The highest mean SBS (N ± SD) was observed in football and flower base shapes (73.83 N ± 53.46; 65.82 N ± 37.89 respectively); the lowest mean was observed with diamond and heart shapes (30.51 N ± 11.73; 33.28 N ± 16.89 respectively). When reported in Megaspascals, statistically significant difference was observed for rectangle base shape (3.54 MPa ± 2.69) when compared to all other base shapes. Bracket base shape has an effect on SBS. Higher SBS (N) for rectangle, flower, and football base shape indicates even stress distributions throughout the bracket base. Base shape with a pronounced converging tip over the axial plane may contribute to the reduction in SBS due to increased peak stress concentration resulting in bond failure

The effect of pre-cure bracket movement on shear bond strength during placement of orthodontic brackets, an in vitro study

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of linear and rotational pre-cure bracket displacement during the bonding procedure on shear bond strength (SBS) of orthodontic brackets. Material and Methods: Stainless steel orthodontic premolar brackets were bonded to the buccal surfaces of 50 human pre-molars with a conventional two-step bonding protocol. Extracted human pre-molars were divided into 5 groups (n=10/group). In the Control Group, the brackets were bonded with no pre-cure bracket displacement or rotation. The Rotation Group was bonded with 45 degrees of pre-cure rotation. The Displacement Group was bonded with 2mm pre-cure linear displacement. The Rotation-Displacement Group was bonded with pre-cure movements of 45º counter-clockwise rotation and 2mm displacement. The Slippage Group was bonded with 2mm each of mesial and distal pre-cure linear displacement. Photo-activation was carried out on the lateral sides of the bracket. Shear debonding force was measured, 24 hours after initial bonding, with an Instron universal testing machine using a knife-edged chisel. Data was analyzed using one-way ANOVA test. Adhesive Remnant Index (ARI) was scored under 15x magnification. The ARI data was analyzed using the Chi-square test ( p -value < 0.05). Results: No statistically significant differences were detected among the control and experimental groups ( p = 0.331). The rotation and displacement group showed the highest mean SBS than all other groups. Mean SBS for all groups were above the clinically acceptable range. No statistically significant differences were detected in ARI scores among groups ( p = 0.071). Conclusions: Linear and rotational pre-cure bracket displacements do not appear to effect the shear bond strength of orthodontic brackets

An overview of orthodontic malpractice liability based on a survey and case assessment review

The purpose of this survey study and case review was to identify 1) the common causes related to filing a malpractice claim against an orthodontist and, 2) the factors mitigating against a potential malpractice claim in the United States (U.S). The objec

The effect of orthodontic bracket pad shape on shear bond strength, an in vitro study on human enamel

To evaluate the effect of bracket pad shape on shear bond strength (SBS) of orthodontic brackets bonded to human enamel. One hundred and five extracted human maxillary permanent molars were divided into 7 groups of 15 specimens per group (n=15). Each group of teeth was bonded with 6 different shaped WildSmiles® brackets (Star, Heart, Soccer ball, Football, Flower, and Diamond) and GAC® rectangle shaped brackets. Shear debonding force was measured with an Instron universal testing machine using a knife-edged chisel 24 hours after initial bonding. Descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, and range) for each bracket pad shape was calculated. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) using SPSS software version 24.0 was performed with P-value set at 0.05. Post-Hoc Tukey analysis was used to analyze differences among groups. Differences in Adhesive Remnant Index (ARI) scores among groups were analyzed using Chi-square test. Debonding force values (N ± SD) ranged from 205.51 ± 49.12 (Star) and 275.96 ± 69.05 (Soccer). SBS values (MPa ± SD) ranged from 13.34 ± 3.18 (Star) and 17.77 ± 6.94 (Rectangle). Even though intergroup comparison of SBS in Newtons revealed statistical significance (p = 0.014) between Star-Soccer and Star-Football group, it does not have any clinical significance since ranges of SBS of all groups are clinically acceptable. Analysis of ARI scores showed no significant differences in mode of bond failure among groups (P = 0.82). Orthodontic bracket pad shape has no effect on SBS and does not affect the mode of fracture pattern

Screening for obstructive sleep apnea by orthodontists in the United States - A survey study

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), a sleep-related breathing disorder that can affect both children and adults with systemic co-morbidities beyond disrupted sleep yet remains underdiagnosed in a substantial portion of the pediatric and adult orthodontic pati

Practice of lingual orthodontics and practitioners' opinion and experience with lingual braces in the United States

A survey was done on practicing Orthodontists in the United States on their experience with lingual orthodontics. The objectives of this survey study were to assess 1) the satisfaction level with cases treated with lingual orthodontics, 2) factors that i

In vitro evaluation of shear bond strength of orthodontic stainless steel brackets using transillumination

The objective of this study was to compare the effect of transillumination techniques to conventional light curing on shear bond strength (SBS) and adhesive remnant index (ARI) of orthodontic stainless steel brackets. 240 extracted human maxillary incisors, canines and premolars were randomly separated into four control and four experimental groups, based on tooth type. Labio-lingual thickness was measured. Control groups were light cured from buccal surface and experimental groups from lingual surface (transillumination) from four directions (mesial-distal, incisal-direct, direct, mesial-distal-incisal). SBS was measured using an Instron machine and ARI evaluated by microscopic inspection. Mean SBS on maxillary central incisors was lower when cured from lingual side in comparison with buccal side for three light cure directions, but direct cure direction showed nearly equal SBS. Statistical significance was observed for mesial-distal cure direction only. In contrast to central incisors, lateral incisors showed a higher mean SBS when treated from lingual side, for two cure directions (mesial-distal and incisal-direct) with statistical significance observed only for mesial-distal light cure direction. Mean SBS was lower when cured from lingual direction in comparison with buccal direction for all cure directions for canines and premolars. For canines statistical significance was observed for all directions, except incisal-direct; whereas for premolars statistical significance was observed for direct and mesial-distal-incisal directions only. Transillumination is an effective and clinically acceptable light curing technique for bonding orthodontic stainless steel brackets to maxillary central and lateral incisors. For the other teeth groups (canines and premolars) tested, the mean SBS values, using transillumination light curing fell below the acceptable clinical SBS values, indicating that transillumination is not beneficial in light curing brackets on these teeth

Orthodontic treatment of patient with maxillofacial fibrous dysplasia : a case report

Fibrous dysplasia is a benign skeletal disorder in which the normal bone and marrow are replaced by fibrous tissue and haphazardly distributed woven bone. The aim of this case report is to discuss the orthodontic treatment of a 13-year-old patient with fibrous dysplasia in the left maxilla. The patient had rotated maxillary second premolars, moderate crowding in both maxillary and mandibular arches with low maxillary frenal attachment. Orthodontic treatment was done with full fixed appliance and extraction of maxillary and mandibular third molars. Maxillary frenectomy and free gingival graft in mandibular anterior region were performed by a periodontist. The oral and maxillofacial surgery team monitored fibrous dysplasia in the left maxilla on a yearly interval. There is very limited information about orthodontic management of patients with craniofacial fibrous dysplasia. This case report discusses the orthodontic treatment and the importance of interdisciplinary approach in the management of patient with maxillofacial fibrous dysplasia