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.

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.

Various embodiments of an orthodontic appliance are provided. In one embodiment, an orthodontic appliance is provided, the appliance comprising: a body; at least one ring-shaped member connected to the body via at least one connecting portion; wherein the body and the at least one ring-shaped member are oriented adjacent to one another; and wherein the body and the at least one ring-shaped member are not coplanar when in an unloaded state.

Systems, methods, and devices for producing appliances for expansion of the palate of a patient are provided. A palate expanding orthodontic appliance comprises a teeth engagement portion comprising a plurality of teeth engagement structures and a force generating portion coupled to the teeth engagement portion and configured to apply force to cause the patient's palate to expand. The orthodontic appliances can be designed according to the specifications provided herein and manufactured using direct fabrication methods.

Methods for fabricating orthodontic appliances for expansion of the palate of a patient are provided. Methods may comprise receiving scan data of a patient's upper arch and palate, determining an amount of force to expand the patient's palate in response to the scan data, determining a shape profile of an orthodontic appliance for engaging the patient's teeth, and determining one or more of a force-generating or a resilient structure to provide the force. Methods of generating instructions for and direct fabrication of the orthodontic appliance with the teeth engaging structure and the force generating or resilient structures are also provided.