Orthodontic tooth movement device, systems and methods
First Claim
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1. An orthodontic appliance for positioning a patient'"'"'s teeth, the appliance comprising:
- a shell comprising a plurality of cavities shaped to receive and apply a resilient positioning force to the patient'"'"'s teeth; and
a spring-loaded tooth movement device at least partially disposed in a cavity of the shell, wherein the spring-loaded tooth movement device is arranged so as to engage an attachment mounted on a surface of a tooth in order to produce vertical movement of the tooth relative to the cavity, the vertical movement of the tooth relative to the cavity being greater than buccal or lingual movement of the tooth relative to the cavity.
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Abstract
The present invention provides orthodontic appliances and systems, and related methods, for applying a force to a target tooth as an appliances is worn by the patient. One positioning appliance includes a tooth positioning appliance having teeth receiving cavities shaped to apply a positioning force to the patient'"'"'s teeth. The appliance includes a spring-loaded tooth movement device disposed in the appliance so as to engage an attachment mounted on a surface of a patient'"'"'s tooth and apply a force to the tooth.
167 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An orthodontic appliance for positioning a patient'"'"'s teeth, the appliance comprising:
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a shell comprising a plurality of cavities shaped to receive and apply a resilient positioning force to the patient'"'"'s teeth; and a spring-loaded tooth movement device at least partially disposed in a cavity of the shell, wherein the spring-loaded tooth movement device is arranged so as to engage an attachment mounted on a surface of a tooth in order to produce vertical movement of the tooth relative to the cavity, the vertical movement of the tooth relative to the cavity being greater than buccal or lingual movement of the tooth relative to the cavity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for positioning a patient'"'"'s teeth, the method comprising:
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providing a removable orthodontic tooth positioning appliance comprising; a shell comprising a plurality of cavities shaped to receive and apply a resilient positioning force to the patient'"'"'s teeth, a spring-loaded tooth movement device at least partially disposed in a cavity of the shell, wherein the spring-loaded tooth movement device is arranged so as to engage an attachment mounted on a surface of a tooth in order to produce vertical movement of the tooth relative to the cavity, the vertical movement of the tooth relative to the cavity being greater than buccal or lingual movement of the tooth relative to the cavity; and placing the removable orthodontic tooth positioning appliance on the teeth of a patient. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for positioning a patient'"'"'s teeth, the system comprising:
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a plurality of removable orthodontic tooth positioning appliances each comprising a shell comprising a plurality of cavities shaped to receive and apply a resilient positioning force to the patient'"'"'s teeth, wherein at least one removable orthodontic tooth positioning appliance of the plurality of removable orthodontic tooth positioning appliances comprises a spring-loaded tooth movement device at least partially disposed in a cavity of the shell, and wherein the spring-loaded tooth movement device is arranged so as to engage an attachment mounted on a surface of a tooth in order to produce vertical movement of the tooth relative to the cavity, the vertical movement of the tooth relative to the cavity being greater than buccal or lingual movement of the tooth relative to the cavity. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification