Polar attachment devices and method for a dental appliance

• US 7,771,195 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2004
• Issued: 08/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Align Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Align Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Knopp, Peter, Phan, Loc X.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rodriguez; Cris L
• Assistant Examiner(s): EIDE, HEIDI MARIE
• Application Number:
  US10/863,991
• Publication Number:
  US 20040229183A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,253 Days
• Field of Search: 433/213, 433/6, 433/24
• US Class Current: 433/6
• 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 method for producing a dental positioning appliance which is removably attachable to at least one tooth to effect or enhance dental positioning, said method comprising:

providing a digital model of an attachment device and a digital model of a tooth, the digital model of the attachment device having adjustable portions extending through at least two surfaces of the digital model of the tooth, wherein the at least two surfaces of the digital model of the tooth correspond to at least a buccal surface and a lingual surface of the at least one tooth;

providing a mold produced based on the digital models of the attachment device and the tooth wherein the mold includes a molded tooth having an attachment device mounted or formed thereon, the attachment device on the mold having a fixed spatial or planar relationship between at least two surfaces of the molded tooth;

forming the dental positioning appliance over the mold; and

removing the dental positioning appliance from the mold, wherein the dental positioning appliance has;

at least two receptacles corresponding to the attachment device on the mold, the at least two receptacles formed to receive the attachment device on the mold when the attachment device on the mold is attached to the molded tooth and;

a tooth receiving cavity corresponding to the molded tooth.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

providing additional structures on the mold, wherein the appliance has protrusions corresponding to the structures; and

removing the appliance from the mold utilizing the protrusions.

3. A method for producing a digital model, said method comprising:

providing a digital model of at least one tooth that is to have at least one attachment device attached thereto;

providing a digital model of the at least one attachment device, the digital model of the at least one attachment device having adjustable portions extending through at least two surfaces of the digital model of the at least one tooth, wherein the at least two surfaces of the digital model of the at least one tooth correspond to at least a buccal surface and a lingual surface of the at least one tooth; and

positioning the digital model of the at least one attachment device on the digital model of the at least one tooth to produce a combined computerized model.

4. A method for producing a dental positioning appliance which is removably attachable to at least one tooth to effect or enhance dental positioning, said method comprising:

providing a combined digital model of at least one tooth that is to have at least one attachment device attached thereto, a digital model of at least one attachment device having at least two adjustable portions extending through at least two surfaces of the digital model of the at least one tooth, wherein the at least two surfaces of the digital model of the at least one tooth correspond to at least a buccal surface and a lingual surface of the at least one tooth;

producing a mold from the combined digital model, wherein the mold has the at least one attachment device on the at least two surfaces of at least one molded tooth, the attachment device having a fixed spatial or planar relationship between the at least two surfaces of the at least one molded tooth;

forming a dental positioning appliance over the mold; and

removing the dental positioning appliance from the mold, wherein the dental positioning appliance has;

at least two receptacles corresponding to the at least one attachment device of the mold, the at least two receptacles formed to receive the at least one attachment device when the at least one attachment device is attached to at least one tooth; and

one or more cavities corresponding to the at least one molded tooth.

5. A method as in claim 4, wherein the method further comprises:

providing a digital model of an additional structure; and

positioning the digital model of the additional structure on the digital model of the at least one tooth, wherein the dental positioning appliance has protrusions corresponding to the structures.

6. A method as in claim 4, wherein the method further comprises:

providing a digital model of an additional structure; and

positioning the digital model of the additional structure on the digital model of the at least one tooth.

7. A method for moving teeth, said method comprising:

providing a digital model of at least one attachment device and a tooth, the digital model of the at least one attachment device having adjustable portions extending through at least two surfaces of the digital model of the tooth, wherein the at least two surfaces of the digital model of the tooth correspond to at least a buccal surface and a lingual surface of the tooth;

curing material to form at least one attachment device on a tooth, the at least one attachment device having a fixed spatial or planar relationship between a buccal portion and a lingual portion of the tooth as determined by the digital model;

removably positioning a first dental positioning appliance over the tooth wherein the appliance comprises an elastic polymeric shell having a cavity which receives the tooth and two or more receptacles which receive the at least one attachment device; and

removably positioning at least a second dental positioning appliance over the tooth, wherein the second dental positioning appliance comprises an elastomeric shell having a cavity which receives the tooth and two or more receptacles which receive the at least one attachment device, wherein at least one of the two or more receptacles and the cavity has a different configuration than that of the first dental positioning appliance.

8. A method as in claim 7, wherein the first and second dental positioning appliances apply repositioning force to the at least one attachment device.

9. A method as in claim 8, wherein the first and second dental positioning appliances are anchored with the at least one attachment device and apply a repositioning force to another tooth.

10. A method as in claim 7, wherein the first and second dental positioning appliances apply an extrusive force to the at least one attachment device.

11. A method as in claim 7, wherein the first and second dental positioning appliances apply a rotational force to the at least one attachment device.

12. A method as in claim 7, wherein the buccal and lingual portions do not have the same geometry.

13. A method for producing a digital model, said method comprising:

providing a digital model of a tooth that is to have at least one attachment device attached thereto;

providing a digital model of the at least one attachment device, the digital model of the at least one attachment device having two or more adjustable portions extending through two or more surfaces of the digital model of the tooth, wherein the two or more surfaces of the digital model of the tooth correspond to at least a buccal surface and a lingual surface of the tooth; and

positioning the digital model of the at least one attachment device on the digital model of the tooth to produce a combined computerized model.

14. A method as in claim 13, further comprising adjusting at least one of the two or more adjustable portions of the digital model of the at least one attachment device'"'"'s position, orientation, and size.