The present disclosure provides methods, computing device readable medium, devices, and systems having a dental attachment formation structures. One dental appliance includes a body having a first surface shaped to abut an exterior surface of a tooth and a well portion of the first surface shaped to form an attachment that is to be attached to the exterior surface of the tooth, a release layer formed over a surface of the well to allow the attachment to be removed from the well, and an attachment material that is used to form the attachment positioned within the well.

The present invention provides assemblies, kits, and methods including a compressible material. Optionally, a hardenable dental composition (e.g., an adhesive or primer) is in contact with the compressible material for bonding a dental article (e.g., an orthodontic appliance) to a tooth structure. Removal of excess hardenable and/or hardened dental composition, if desired, can be facilitated for embodiments in which the hardenable dental composition is an unfilled or a lightly filled composition.

Provided packaged orthodontic assemblies and methods compressively retain an orthodontic appliance in a container along opposing sides of the appliance adjacent the bonding surfaces of its base. This can be done using a mechanism that limits contact between the appliance and the container while accommodating a substantial range of transverse base dimensions. This engagement mechanism allows an adhesive-coated appliance to be retained in a consistent orientation for convenient dispensing, while limiting potentially adverse interactions between the adhesive and the container. By avoiding loss of the adhesive components during storage, these assemblies and methods can extend shelf life and provide consistent adhesive handling properties.

Dental assemblies and related methods of making are provided. The dental assemblies include a dental article with a bonding surface an adhesive having both a compressible material and at least one hardenable dental composition extending across the bonding surface. The compressible material is coupled to the dental article by a first quantity of hardened dental composition extending at least partially through the compressible material and contacting the bonding surface. The hardened dental composition extends over less than the entire bonding surface. Adjacent portions of the compressible material contain a second quantity of unhardened dental composition, preserving flexibility of the compressible material. Advantageously, this configuration was found to enhance bond reliability and facilitate manufacturing.

A package for an orthodontic bracket or other dental product is formed by a container having a bottom and a plurality of sidewalls, creating a cavity within the container. One of the sidewalls is disposed at an angle greater than 90 degrees from the bottom so that it slants up and away from the bottom. This way, the opening in the top of the package is larger than the surface area of the bottom of the package. There is a removable top configured for covering the cavity. There is a quantity of pliable material attached to the bottom or to the slanted sidewall. The pliable material is configured to be able to hold a small object such as an orthodontic bracket in place when the object is pressed into the pliable material. The bracket is placed on the pliable material in such a way that adhesive disposed on the rear side of the bracket does not touch the pliable material or any other part of the bracket.

The present invention provides assemblies, kits, and methods including a compressible material. Optionally, a hardenable dental composition (e.g., an adhesive or primer) is in contact with the compressible material for bonding a dental article (e.g., an orthodontic appliance) to a tooth structure. Removal of excess hardenable and/or hardened dental composition, if desired, can be facilitated for embodiments in which the hardenable dental composition is an unfilled or a lightly filled composition.

Dental attachment positioning apparatuses and methods of use. A dental attachment apparatus may include an orthodontic attachment having a surface shaped to conform to a contour of a buccal surface of a tooth, and one or more registration surfaces that are shaped to conform to one or more occlusal surfaces of the patient's teeth. The one or more registration surfaces may be configured to aid in proper positioning or orientation of the orthodontic attachment. When the attachment positioning apparatus is placed on the patient's dentition, the orthodontic attachment is positioned at a specified location with respect to the buccal surface of the tooth.

Dental attachment positioning apparatuses and methods of forming the same. Methods may include forming one or more registration surfaces on a body of an attachment placement structure. The one or more registration surfaces may be shaped to conform to one or more exterior surfaces of a dentition. Methods may include forming a well within the body, where the well is shaped for accepting an attachment material, and where the body includes a first opening that provides access to the well. Methods may include forming one or more second openings through the body that provides access to the well, where the one or more second openings is different than the first opening. Methods may include generating a virtual attachment placement structure and fabricating the attachment placement structure based on the virtual attachment placement structure.