The present disclosure provides intra-oral devices for repositioning the relationship between upper and lower dental arches. The devices are attached to appliances on molar teeth of each arch and can be reactivated without removal or replacement of substantial components of the device.

The present disclosure provides intra-oral devices for repositioning the relationship between upper and lower dental arches. The devices are attached to appliances on molar teeth of each arch and can be reactivated without removal or replacement of substantial components of the device.

Patient specific dental appliances, dental bands and methods for manufacturing the dental bands. The dental bands are manufactured based on the specific anatomy of each patient so that the dental bands more closely conform to the patient's anatomy. The dental bands can include inner surfaces with an average surface roughness that is greater than an average surface roughness of an outer surface to enhance the bond between the dental band and the tooth surface. In addition, the dental bands can include marginal portions connecting the buccal and lingual surfaces of the bands that extend into marginal spaces with adjacent teeth and the marginal portions do not extend into interproximal spaces with the adjacent teeth as is required by conventional dental bands. The dental bands can also optionally include an occlusal portion that covers portions of an inner occlusal surface of the tooth and/or an outer occlusal surface of the tooth.

A computer system and computerized method in which orthodontic treatment, including midcourse correction of one or more teeth in a dental arch fitted with a dental appliance, comprises a virtual simulation of a dental arch fitted with a virtual dental appliance in which each of the one or more teeth can be discretely moved from an initial position to a final position allowing modification of the fitted dental appliance by computerized selection of one or more brackets and production of a bonding tray adapted to hold the selected brackets in correspondence to determined bracket bonding locations in the virtual simulation of dental arch.

A computer system and computerized method in which orthodontic treatment, including midcourse correction of one or more teeth in a dental arch fitted with a dental appliance, comprises a virtual simulation of a dental arch fitted with a virtual dental appliance in which each of the one or more teeth can be discretely moved from an initial position to a final position allowing modification of the fitted dental appliance by computerized selection of one or more brackets and production of a bonding tray adapted to hold the selected brackets in correspondence to determined bracket bonding locations in the virtual simulation of dental arch.

Various embodiments of orthodontic appliances are disclosed to dispose a patient's lower dentition (2) and upper dentition (2) in Class I occlusion. A representative appliance (180) includes an occlusal ridge (182) that extends over the mesio-lingual cusp and the mesio-buccal cusp of a lower first molar (14a) on one side of the patient's dentition (2), and includes another occlusal ridge (182) that extends over the mesio-lingual cusp and the mesio-buccal cusp of a lower first molar (14b) on the other side of the patient's dentition (2). Such an appliance (180) addresses a Class II malocclusion by encouraging or facilitating movement of the mandible in a mesial or anterior direction such that each such occlusal ridge (182) ends up being disposed between a corresponding upper first molar (32a, 32b) and a corresponding second bicuspid (30a, 30b).

Various embodiments of orthodontic appliances are disclosed to dispose a patient's lower dentition (2) and upper dentition (2) in Class I occlusion. A representative appliance (180) includes an occlusal ridge (182) that extends over the mesio-lingual cusp and the mesio-buccal cusp of a lower first molar (14a) on one side of the patient's dentition (2), and includes another occlusal ridge (182) that extends over the mesio-lingual cusp and the mesio-buccal cusp of a lower first molar (14b) on the other side of the patient's dentition (2). Such an appliance (180) addresses a Class II malocclusion by encouraging or facilitating movement of the mandible in a mesial or anterior direction such that each such occlusal ridge (182) ends up being disposed between a corresponding upper first molar (32a, 32b) and a corresponding second bicuspid (30a, 30b).

An orthodontic apparatus includes a printed assembly conforming to the tooth with a separation line or zone defined therein having a configuration adapted to facilitate removal of the printed assembly. The separation zone or line takes the form of a slit, slot, serration, thinned indentation, a horizontal or vertical separation line or zone or a combination thereof, and an open slot defined in a cross configuration into the printed assembly with a vertical slot and intersecting horizontal slot, the vertical slot extending to the lower edge of the assembly. The assembly includes at least two separate portions, a buccal portion and a lingual portion conformed to the tooth, the separation line or zone being defined on at least one of the two separate portions. A three dimensional structural fixture may also be defined in the printed assembly for engagement with a tool.

An orthodontic apparatus includes a printed assembly conforming to the tooth with a separation line or zone defined therein having a configuration adapted to facilitate removal of the printed assembly. The separation zone or line takes the form of a slit, slot, serration, thinned indentation, a horizontal or vertical separation line or zone or a combination thereof, and an open slot defined in a cross configuration into the printed assembly with a vertical slot and intersecting horizontal slot, the vertical slot extending to the lower edge of the assembly. The assembly includes at least two separate portions, a buccal portion and a lingual portion conformed to the tooth, the separation line or zone being defined on at least one of the two separate portions. A three dimensional structural fixture may also be defined in the printed assembly for engagement with a tool.

Patient specific dental appliances and methods for manufacturing the dental appliances. The dental appliances can be unilateral or bilateral space maintainers, fixed dental retainers, or other dental appliances. The dental appliances are manufactured based on the specific anatomy of each patient so that the dental appliances more closely conform to the patient's anatomy. The dental appliances include a first tooth securing portion that is configured to be secured to a first tooth of a patient, and a wire secured to and extending from the first tooth securing portion. The wire has a varying cross-sectional shape along at least a portion thereof, for example a flat section on a tooth-facing side of the wire. The wire can also include a scalloped portion with indentations and projections. The wire can also include an occlusal rest.