Polar attachment devices and method for a dental appliance

• US 20080109198A1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Published: 05/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Loc X. Phan, Peter Knopp
• Original Assignee: Loc X. Phan, Peter Knopp
• Inventors: Phan, Loc, Knopp, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 7,841,858 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 703/11
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 7/00 Orthodontics, i.e. obtaining or maintaining the desired position of teeth, e.g. by straightening, evening, regulating, separating, or by correcting malocclusions
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 7/002 Orthodontic computer assisted systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 7/08 Mouthpiece-type retainers or positioners, e.g. for both the lower and upper arch arch-shaped medicament applicators for teeth or gums A61C19/063; mouthguards for protecting the teeth of sportsmen A63B71/085
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 9/0053 Optical means or methods, e.g. scanning the teeth by a laser or light beam
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for producing a digital model by providing a digital model of a tooth; providing a digital model of at least one attachment device having two or more portions, the digital model of the attachment device having the two or more portions extending through two or more surfaces of the tooth; and positioning the digital model of the attachment device on the digital model of the tooth to produce a combined computerized model.

Claims

1. A computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon that are executable by a processor to perform a method for producing a digital model, the method comprising:

providing a digital model of at least one dental feature;

providing a digital model of at least one attachment device, the digital model of the attachment device having portions extending through at least two surfaces of the dental feature; and

positioning the digital model of the attachment device on the digital model of the dental feature to produce a combined computerized model.

2. The computer readable medium of claim 1, where providing the digital model of the at least one attachment device includes providing the digital model of the attachment device having a first portion extending through a buccal surface of the dental feature.

3. The computer readable medium of claim 1, where providing the digital model of the at least one attachment device includes providing the digital model of the attachment device having a first portion extending through a lingual surface of the dental feature.

4. The computer readable medium of claim 1, where providing the digital model of the at least one attachment device includes providing the digital model of the attachment device having a first portion extending through a crown surface of the dental feature.

5. The computer readable medium of claim 1, where providing the digital model of the at least one attachment device includes providing the digital model of the attachment device having a first portion extending through an occlusal surface of the dental feature.

6. The computer readable medium of claim 1, where providing the digital model of the at least one attachment device includes providing the digital model of the attachment device having a first portion extending through an incisal surface of the dental feature.

7. The computer readable medium of claim 1, where the method includes adjusting at least one of the attachment device'"'"'s position, orientation, and size.

8. An attachment device securable on a dental feature, comprising:

a first end portion; and

a second end portion separated from the first end portion;

wherein the attachment device is received by two or more receptacles of a first dental positioning appliance that is removably positioned over the dental feature, and wherein the first dental positioning appliance includes an elastic polymeric shell which receives the dental feature; and

wherein the attachment device is received by two or more receptacles of a second dental positioning appliance that is removably positioned over the dental feature, and wherein the second dental positioning appliance includes an elastomeric shell which receives the dental feature.

9. The attachment device of claim 8, where the first end and the second end have a fixed spatial relationship between a buccal portion and a lingual portion of the dental feature.

10. The attachment device of claim 8, where the first end and the second end have a fixed planar relationship between a buccal portion and a lingual portion of the dental feature.

11. The attachment device of claim 9, where the first end and the second end of the polar attachment device are separated by a bar.

12. A system for moving teeth, comprising:

an attachment device secured on a dental feature, where the attachment device includes a first end portion having a first geometric shape and a second end portion having a second geometric shape;

a first dental positioning appliance removably positioned over the dental feature, where the first dental positioning appliance includes an elastic polymeric shell having a cavity which receives the dental feature and two or more receptacles which receive the polar attachment device; and

at least a second dental positioning appliance removably positioned over the dental feature, where the second dental positioning appliance includes an elastomeric shell having a cavity which receives the dental feature and two or more receptacles which receive the polar attachment device.

13. The system of claim 12, where the first end portion and the second end portion of the attachment device have a fixed spatial or planar relationship between a buccal portion and a lingual portion.

14. The system of claim 13, where the first end portion includes a buccal portion and the second end portion includes a lingual portion.

15. The system of claim 13, where the first end portion and the second end portion of the attachment device are separated by a bar shaped portion.

16. The system of claim 12, where at least one of the receptacle and the cavity has a different configuration than that of the first dental positioning appliance.

17. The system of claim 12, where at least one of the first and second dental positioning appliances are anchored with the attachment device and apply a repositioning force to another dental feature.

18. The system of claim 12, where at least one of the first and second dental positioning appliances apply an extrusive force to the attachment device.

19. The system of claim 12, where at least one of the first and second dental positioning appliances apply a rotational force to the attachment device.

20. The system of claim 12, where the first and second end portions of the attachment device have different geometries.