The invention relates to a method for calculating a stimulus for the change of shape of a medical aid in order to change the position of the medical aid from an actual position to a final target state. In order to achieve optimized treatment for the patient, a method comprising the following steps is provided: Detecting the actual position of the body part to be corrected after a first correction step in a control unit, Comparing the actual position of the body part to be corrected with a target position that is stored in the control unit, If applicable, detecting, by the control unit, the deviation between the actual position and target position of the body part to be corrected, Calculating with the control unit the stimulus that has to act on the medical aid to perform a second correction step, taking into account the deviation between the actual state and target state of the body part to be corrected, wherein the effect of the stimulus on the medical aid is saved in the control unit.

The invention further relates to a control unit.

A model includes a model main body, an opening defining portion, and a target model portion. A space is formed between the opening defining portion and the target model portion to allow visual recognition of a range present between the opening defining portion and the target model portion. The range includes a reachable range of the distal end of the procedural instrument from the opening defining portion toward the target model portion and a reachable range of the distal end of the procedural instrument from the opening defining portion in a teeth alignment direction and a direction intersecting the teeth alignment direction.

Provided is a method for generating an orthodontic teeth alignment shape for the orthodontic treatment of a patient. According to the present invention, there is provided a method for generating an orthodontic teeth alignment shape, the method including the steps of: acquiring a patient's teeth shape information; extracting specific points of respective teeth within a given range of at least one of the patient's upper and lower jaws, based on the acquired teeth shape information; comparing the patient's arch form produced by connecting the specific points to one another with a plurality of standard arch forms stored in a database; selecting the standard arch form that is most similar to the patient's arch form from the plurality of standard arch forms stored in the database, based on the comparison result; and generating the orthodontic teeth alignment shape based on the selected standard teeth alignment form.

A method of making a transfer apparatus includes providing a physical mockup having a shape that corresponds to a positive shape of a patient's dental arch and a positive shape of one or more appliance analogs including ramps extending in a generally gingival direction from the analog. A transfer tray may be formed over the physical mockup, with the transfer tray representing a negative replica of at least a portion of the mockup. One or more receptacles and related channels are accordingly formed in the ray, each receptacle approximating a least a portion of the shape of an appliance analog and each channel approximating at least a portion of the shape of a ramp. An appliance associated with an appliance analog is placed into a receptacle of the one or more receptacles, and the appliance may be bonded to a tooth surface of the patient's dental arch.

A method for automatic registration of dental image data comprises receiving three-dimensional intraoral surface scan data of a dentition of a patient, receiving three-dimensional volumetric scan data of the dentition, generating a first set of descriptors characterizing tooth crown surfaces of the dentition from the intraoral surface scan data, generating a second set of descriptors characterizing tooth crown surfaces of the dentition from the volumetric scan data, determining a best-fit registration transform based on the first and second sets of descriptors, and aligning the intraoral surface scan data and the volumetric scan data based on the best-fit registration transform.

A method of orthodontic treatment planning for a patient includes receiving three-dimensional intraoral surface scan data of a dentition of the patient, receiving three-dimensional volumetric scan data of a dentition of the patient, and determining, for use in planning an orthodontic treatment, a mandibular rotation axis and a glenoid fossae of the temporal bone based on a mandibular condyle of the patient using the scan data.

A system is directed to repositioning teeth and includes a first three-dimensional image showing an initial position in which a plurality of teeth are unaligned, and a second three-dimensional image shows a final position in which the plurality of teeth are aligned. The system also includes a plurality of structural domes for respective attachment to the plurality of teeth, the plurality of structural domes being customized and formed based on at least one of the first three-dimensional image and the second three-dimensional image. Each chair-side fabricated dome has at least one internal tunnel that is unaligned with an adjacent internal tunnel in the initial position. A continuous wire is inserted through each internal tunnel of the plurality of structural domes and applies a force to the plurality of structural domes such that adjacent internal tunnels are in alignment with each other in the final position.

A dental appliance and method of treatment are disclosed. The dental appliance attaches to predetermined teeth of an upper jaw of a patient, and includes a constrainment mechanism positioned above a patient's tongue, wherein the constrainment mechanism is shaped to limit movement of a posterior zone of the patient's tongue. The constrainment mechanism allows at least an anterior zone and lateral edges of the patient's tongue to perform movements necessary for speech and swallowing. The method of treatment includes use of the dental appliance to reduce the volume of a patient's tongue and enlarge the airways, and can be combined with use of another dental appliance to correct another aspect of the patient's tongue.

A dental appliance and method of treatment are disclosed. The dental appliance attaches to predetermined teeth of an upper jaw of a patient, and includes a constrainment mechanism positioned above a patient's tongue, wherein the constrainment mechanism is shaped to limit movement of a posterior zone of the patient's tongue. The constrainment mechanism allows at least an anterior zone and lateral edges of the patient's tongue to perform movements necessary for speech and swallowing. The method of treatment includes use of the dental appliance to reduce the volume of a patient's tongue and enlarge the airways, and can be combined with use of another dental appliance to correct another aspect of the patient's tongue.

The present invention provides methods and systems including orthodontic tooth positioning appliances. An exemplary appliance can include teeth receiving cavities shaped such that, when worn by a patient, repositioning the patient's teeth from a first arrangement toward a subsequent or target arrangement. Appliances can include a cavity having one or more shaped features or protrusions shaped and/or positioned so as to apply a desired force to a patient's tooth received in the cavity and move the tooth along a desired path or direction.