A dental appliance having an integrally formed reservoir and/or an ornamental design integrated thereon. The ornamental design can be selected or customized by a patient. The design can be created by directing energy to the dental appliance to alter a material property of at least a portion of the appliance to create the design. Alternatively, a groove or recess can be formed on a surface of the appliance to either mechanically retain an ornamental design or the groove or recess can be filled with ink to form the design. The appliance, including the integrally formed reservoir, can be formed using direct fabrication techniques.

Systems and methods for automating the production of dental aligners is disclosed. In some embodiments the systems and methods include a three-dimensional printer in communication with one or more computer and one or more computer programs. The system and method configured to permit persons to automatically scan and upload a pre-existing digital scan, x-ray, physical mold or other impression of a person's teeth to the three-dimensional printer for direct real-time printing of custom dental aligners. In some embodiments, the system and method also includes an intraoral scanner configured to permit persons to take and receive a real-time digital scan of their teeth and receive a real-time custom dental aligner, on the same day and from the same integrated system, method, machine, kiosk and location.

Systems and methods for automating the production of dental aligners is disclosed. In some embodiments the systems and methods include a three-dimensional printer in communication with one or more computer and one or more computer programs. The system and method configured to permit persons to automatically scan and upload a pre-existing digital scan, x-ray, physical mold or other impression of a person's teeth to the three-dimensional printer for direct real-time printing of custom dental aligners. In some embodiments, the system and method also includes an intraoral scanner configured to permit persons to take and receive a real-time digital scan of their teeth and receive a real-time custom dental aligner, on the same day and from the same integrated system, method, machine, kiosk and location.

Methods, devices, systems, and series of appliances are provided for dental implant positioning. One method for positioning an implant with dental treatment includes determining an implant location based on a virtual model of an optimized dental occlusion, moving one or more teeth using a first number of a series of dental appliances, from a first orientation to a second orientation, the second orientation exposing the implant location, placing an implant at the exposed implant location using a landmark included in at least one of the series of dental appliances, repositioning one or more teeth using a second number of the series of dental appliances, from the second orientation to a successive orientation.

Methods, devices, systems, and series of appliances are provided for dental implant positioning. One method for positioning an implant with dental treatment includes determining an implant location based on a virtual model of an optimized dental occlusion, moving one or more teeth using a first number of a series of dental appliances, from a first orientation to a second orientation, the second orientation exposing the implant location, placing an implant at the exposed implant location using a landmark included in at least one of the series of dental appliances, repositioning one or more teeth using a second number of the series of dental appliances, from the second orientation to a successive orientation.

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.

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.

An apparatus and method to convert a dental, oral, orthodontic appliances, retainers, and dentures into a multifunctional oral appliance. The apparatus includes plurality of mechanical connectors and attachments made of plastic, ceramic, or metal, that convert any dental or oral appliances, into multipurpose, three dimensionally adjustable oral appliances for treating obstructive sleep apnea, snoring, temporomandibular joint and musculoskeletal disorders of the jaw, and for improving breathing from the mouth even when nasal passages are blocked.

An apparatus and method to convert a dental, oral, orthodontic appliances, retainers, and dentures into a multifunctional oral appliance. The apparatus includes plurality of mechanical connectors and attachments made of plastic, ceramic, or metal, that convert any dental or oral appliances, into multipurpose, three dimensionally adjustable oral appliances for treating obstructive sleep apnea, snoring, temporomandibular joint and musculoskeletal disorders of the jaw, and for improving breathing from the mouth even when nasal passages are blocked.

Techniques for preparing a model (e.g., a digital model) of a person's teeth are described. The techniques include receiving a model of a maxillary arch and a mandibular arch of a person's teeth, operating an automated mesh cleaning operation to modify the model, segmenting the model to identify individual teeth and gum tissue in the model, identifying and marking features of each tooth of the model, and adjusting the individual teeth of the model into a recommended orientation relative to each other, and applying a treatment method. The treatment method may include a selection of a bracket type and an aligner type. The techniques may determine a proposed location of brackets or aligners on the individual teeth based on the applied treatment method and export a digital model of a bracket tray for formation of a bracket tray that can be used to secure the brackets to a person's teeth.