The invention relates to a process of processing a radiation-curable composition with an additive-manufacturing technique comprising a radiation-curing step, the radiation-curable composition comprising mercapto-functional Component A comprising at least three mercapto moieties, crosslinker Component B with at least three vinyl or allyl moieties, photo-initiator(s) Component C for initiating a curing reaction between Component A and Component B, wherein the radiation-curable composition does not comprise urethane (meth)acrylate oligomers in an amount of more than 4 wt. % with respect to the whole composition. 3-dim articles which can be produced are typically transparent and have adequate mechanical properties. The radiation-curable composition is in particular useful for producing clear-tray aligners for dental and orthodontic purposes.

A plastic shell such as an orthodontic aligner has an interior shape that substantially conforms to a current or future dental arch of a patient. The plastic shell includes a hollow feature comprising a cavity. The plastic shell additionally includes an object inserted into the cavity, wherein the object provides structural strength to the plastic shell at a location of the hollow feature and does not interfere with a fit of the plastic shell onto the dental arch of the patient.

A plastic shell such as an orthodontic aligner has an interior shape that substantially conforms to a current or future dental arch of a patient. The plastic shell includes a hollow feature comprising a cavity. The plastic shell additionally includes an object inserted into the cavity, wherein the object provides structural strength to the plastic shell at a location of the hollow feature and does not interfere with a fit of the plastic shell onto the dental arch of the patient.

The present disclosure provides a photopolymerizable composition. The photopolymerizable composition includes a) 40-60 parts by weight of a monofunctional (meth)acrylate monomer, per 100 parts of the total photopolymerizable composition; b) a photoinitiator; and c) a polymerization reaction product of components. A cured homopolymer of the monofunctional (meth)acrylate monomer has a glass transition temperature of 125 degrees Celsius or greater. The polymerization reaction product of components includes i) a diisocyanate; ii) a hydroxy functional methacrylate; iii) a polycarbonate diol; and iv) a catalyst. The polymerization reaction product includes a polyurethane methacrylate polymer. Often, the polyurethane methacrylate polymer has a weight average molecular weight of 8,000 g/mol or greater. The present disclosure further provides an article and methods thereof.

Methods, systems, and apparatus's for improving orthodontic treatments. In an embodiment, an orthodontic tracking template is provided for assisting in determining whether a patient's teeth are in an appropriate tooth arrangement for transitioning between a wire and bracket orthodontic treatment to a patient-removable orthodontic appliance treatment. The tracking template may include a shell portion defining a plurality of tooth-receiving cavities arranged to fit over at least a portion of the patient's teeth in an intermediate tooth arrangement without applying a tooth-moving force to the teeth or to any brackets attached to the teeth.

Methods, systems, and apparatus's for improving orthodontic treatments. In an embodiment, an orthodontic tracking template is provided for assisting in determining whether a patient's teeth are in an appropriate tooth arrangement for transitioning between a wire and bracket orthodontic treatment to a patient-removable orthodontic appliance treatment. The tracking template may include a shell portion defining a plurality of tooth-receiving cavities arranged to fit over at least a portion of the patient's teeth in an intermediate tooth arrangement without applying a tooth-moving force to the teeth or to any brackets attached to the teeth.

Aligners and associated systems are provided. In some embodiments, an aligner includes a three-dimensionally (3D) printed shell. The 3D printed shell can include an interior surface having a plurality of tooth-receiving cavities shaped to reposition a patient's dentition from a first arrangement toward a second arrangement, and an exterior surface disposed opposite the interior surface. The aligner can also include one or more elastic regions directly fabricated on the 3D printed shell. When the aligner is worn on the patient's dentition, the aligner can apply one or more forces onto the patient's dentition via the one or more elastic regions to affect repositioning of the patient's dentition from the first arrangement toward the second arrangement.

Aligners and associated systems are provided. In some embodiments, an aligner includes a three-dimensionally (3D) printed shell. The 3D printed shell can include an interior surface having a plurality of tooth-receiving cavities shaped to reposition a patient's dentition from a first arrangement toward a second arrangement, and an exterior surface disposed opposite the interior surface. The aligner can also include one or more elastic regions directly fabricated on the 3D printed shell. When the aligner is worn on the patient's dentition, the aligner can apply one or more forces onto the patient's dentition via the one or more elastic regions to affect repositioning of the patient's dentition from the first arrangement toward the second arrangement.

Methods of forming dental positioning appliances, such as removable mesh dental appliances. Methods may include forming one or more dies based on a digital three-dimensional model of one or more teeth. Methods may include applying a mesh material onto one or more dies having a three-dimensional shape corresponding to one or more teeth and shaping the mesh material via interaction with the one or more dies to conform to one or more surfaces of one or more teeth. The mesh material may be shaped to conform to an inside, an outside, and/or a biting surface of one or more teeth. The methods may include encapsulating the shaped mesh material into a polymer shell to form a dental positioning appliance.

Methods of forming dental positioning appliances, such as removable mesh dental appliances. Methods may include forming one or more dies based on a digital three-dimensional model of one or more teeth. Methods may include applying a mesh material onto one or more dies having a three-dimensional shape corresponding to one or more teeth and shaping the mesh material via interaction with the one or more dies to conform to one or more surfaces of one or more teeth. The mesh material may be shaped to conform to an inside, an outside, and/or a biting surface of one or more teeth. The methods may include encapsulating the shaped mesh material into a polymer shell to form a dental positioning appliance.