Patent classifications
G05B2219/2647
MULTI-MATERIAL ALIGNERS
Systems, methods, and devices for producing orthodontic appliances are provided. In one aspect, an orthodontic appliance comprises an outer shell comprising a plurality of cavities shaped to receive the patient's teeth and generate one or more of a force or a torque in response to the appliance being worn on the patient's teeth. The orthodontic appliance can comprise an inner structure having a stiffness different than a stiffness of the outer shell. The inner structure can be positioned on an inner surface of the outer shell in order to distribute the one or more of a force or a torque to at least one tooth received within the plurality of cavities.
DIRECT FABRICATION OF ATTACHMENT TEMPLATES WITH ADHESIVE
Systems, methods, and devices for producing orthodontic appliances are provided. In one aspect, an orthodontic appliance comprises an outer shell comprising a plurality of cavities shaped to receive the patient's teeth and generate one or more of a force or a torque in response to the appliance being worn on the patient's teeth. The orthodontic appliance can comprise an inner structure having a stiffness different than a stiffness of the outer shell. The inner structure can be positioned on an inner surface of the outer shell in order to distribute the one or more of a force or a torque to at least one tooth received within the plurality of cavities.
Direct fabrication of attachment templates with adhesive
Systems, methods, and devices for producing orthodontic appliances are provided. In one aspect, an orthodontic appliance comprises an outer shell comprising a plurality of cavities shaped to receive the patient's teeth and generate one or more of a force or a torque in response to the appliance being worn on the patient's teeth. The orthodontic appliance can comprise an inner structure having a stiffness different than a stiffness of the outer shell. The inner structure can be positioned on an inner surface of the outer shell in order to distribute the one or more of a force or a torque to at least one tooth received within the plurality of cavities.
METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR FABRICATING DENTAL APPLIANCES HAVING VARIABLE STIFFNESSES
Methods for fabricating dental appliances and associated systems are provided. In some embodiments, a method includes defining a plurality of object cross-sections of a dental appliance, and sequentially polymerizing the plurality of object cross-sections to create the dental appliance. The dental appliance can include an outer shell having a plurality of teeth-receiving cavities, and an inner structure coupled to an inner surface of the outer shell. The outer shell can have a first stiffness, and the inner structure can have a second stiffness less than the first stiffness. The sequential polymerization can include integrally forming the outer shell concurrently with the inner structure.
Methods for fabricating dental appliances with integrally formed components
Systems, methods, and devices for improved orthodontic treatment of a patient's teeth are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method includes determining an appliance geometry for a dental appliance. The appliance geometry can include a first region representing a shell comprising a plurality of teeth receiving cavities, and a second region representing at least one integrally formed component to be integrally joined to the shell. The method can also include generating instructions including a first digital representation of the shell based on the first region, and a second digital representation of the at least one integrally formed component based on the second region. The method can further include transmitting the instructions to a fabrication system configured to additively manufacture the dental appliance by fabricating the shell based on the first digital representation, concurrently with fabricating the at least one integrally formed component based on the second digital representation.
DIRECT FABRICATION OF POWER ARMS
Systems, methods, and devices for improved orthodontic treatment of a patient's teeth are provided herein.
Direct fabrication of power arms
Systems, methods, and devices for improved orthodontic treatment of a patient's teeth are provided herein.
METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR FABRICATING DENTAL APPLIANCES WITH INTEGRALLY FORMED ARCH EXPANDER
Systems and methods for fabricating dental appliances are provided. In some embodiments, a method includes determining an appliance geometry for a dental appliance, where the appliance geometry includes a first region representing a first shell portion having a first set of cavities configured to receive one or more first teeth at a first side of a dental arch of a patient, a second region representing a second shell portion having a second set of cavities configured to receive one or more second teeth at a second side of the dental arch, and a third region representing an integrally formed arch expander configured to exert forces to increase a width of the dental arch. The method can also include generating instructions for fabricating the dental appliance having the appliance geometry via an additive manufacturing process, and using the instructions to instruct a fabrication system to fabricate the dental appliance.
Methods for direct fabrication of dental appliances with varying feature thicknesses and associated systems
Methods and systems for digitally designing a plurality of aligners are provided. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving an intraoral scan of the patient's teeth, and generating 3D dental model of the patient's teeth using the intraoral scan. The method can include identifying a movement path to move the patient's teeth from an initial arrangement toward a target arrangement through a plurality of intermediate arrangements in accordance with a treatment plan. The method can also include identifying one or more appliance features of at least one aligner, the one or more appliance features including one or more feature regions having one or more feature thicknesses. The method can further include instructing an additive manufacturing machine to directly fabricate the at least one aligner in a layer-by-layer fashion.
Systems for fabricating orthodontic appliances with power arms
Systems for fabricating dental appliances are provided. In some embodiments, a system comprising one or more processors, and a memory operably coupled to the one or more processors and storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to determine an appliance geometry for a dental appliance including a shell configured to move the patient's teeth from an initial arrangement toward a target arrangement. The appliance geometry can include a first power arm having a first connection point for connecting to the shell, a second power arm having a second connection point for connecting to the shell or to a tooth, an elongate connecting structure coupled to the first and second power arms, and an elongate counter-force connector coupled to the first power arm and extending toward the second power arm.