Tactile objects for orthodontics, systems and methods

• US 8,708,697 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2009
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Align Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Align Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Li, Chunhua, Chen, Jennifer, Morton, John, Moss, Jon, Kaufhardt, Clark, Cao, Heng
• Primary Examiner(s): Rodriguez, Cris L
• Assistant Examiner(s): MORAN, EDWARD JOHN
• Application Number:
  US12/633,715
• Publication Number:
  US 20110136072A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,603 Days
• Field of Search: 433/6, 433/18, 433/24, 433/80, 433/215, 128/861
• US Class Current: 433/6
• 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 7/14 Brackets A61C7/28 takes precedence; Fixing brackets to teeth
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49568 Orthodontic device making

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus'"'"'s for improving orthodontic treatments. In an embodiment, an orthodontic system including a tactile object is provided for modulating an engagement between a tooth attachment and an orthodontic appliance.

Claims

1. A system for orthodontically positioning a patient'"'"'s tooth, comprising:

a patient removable orthodontic tooth positioning appliance having teeth receiving cavities shaped to receive and apply a resilient positioning force to the patient'"'"'s teeth, at least one of the teeth receiving cavities comprising an attachment receiving well configured to engage an attachment disposed on the patient'"'"'s tooth, the appliance comprising an appliance material having an appliance material malleability, the attachment comprising an attachment material having an attachment material malleability; and

a tactile object consisting of a material layer having a uniform layer thickness, a first surface, and a second surface disposed opposite to the first surface;

the first surface interfacing with a portion of the attachment receiving well and the second surface interfacing with a portion of the attachment so as to modulate engagement between the attachment and the attachment receiving well when the orthodontic appliance is worn by the patient, wherein the material layer is made of malleable material and has a material layer malleability that is greater than each of the appliance material malleability and the attachment material malleability, the material layer malleability being selected such that a predetermined force is imparted on the patient'"'"'s tooth when the orthodontic appliance is worn by the patient, and wherein the portion of the attachment receiving well interfacing with the first surface is displaced from the portion of the attachment interfacing with the second surface by a distance substantially equal to the layer thickness;

wherein the tactile object is located only on the attachment well of the appliance or the attachment.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the material layer is disposed on at least a portion of the attachment.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the material layer is disposed on at least a portion of the attachment receiving well.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the malleable material is rubber.

4. A system for orthodontically positioning a patient'"'"'s tooth, comprising:

a patient removable orthodontic tooth positioning appliance having teeth receiving cavities shaped to receive and apply a resilient positioning force to the patient'"'"'s teeth, where at least one of the teeth receiving cavities includes an attachment receiving well, the appliance comprising an appliance material having an appliance material malleability; and

an attachment for engaging the attachment receiving well and comprising an attachment material having an attachment material malleability; and

a tactile object, for coupling with the attachment, the tactile object consisting of a material layer having a uniform layer thickness, the material layer having a first surface and a second surface disposed opposite to the first surface, the first surface interfacing with a portion of the attachment receiving well and the second surface interfacing with a portion of the attachment when the orthodontic appliance is worn by the patient, the material layer being made of malleable material and having a material layer malleability that is greater than each of the appliance material malleability and the attachment material malleability, wherein a portion of the attachment and material layer coupled thereto received within the attachment receiving well is larger than the attachment receiving well in at least one dimension, the material layer malleability being selected such that a predetermined force is imparted on the patient'"'"'s tooth when the orthodontic appliance is worn by the patient, and wherein the portion of the attachment receiving well interfacing with the first surface is displaced from the portion of the attachment interfacing with the second surface by a distance substantially equal to the layer thickness;

wherein the tactile object is located only on the attachment well of the appliance or the attachment.

5. An orthodontic positioning appliance comprising:

a patient removable orthodontic tooth positioning appliance having teeth receiving cavities shaped to receive and apply a resilient positioning force to the patient'"'"'s teeth, where at least one of the teeth receiving cavities includes an attachment receiving well for engaging an attachment disposed on the patient'"'"'s tooth, the appliance comprising an appliance material having an appliance material malleability, the attachment comprising an attachment material having an attachment material malleability; and

a tactile object coupled to the appliance and disposed proximate to the attachment receiving well so as to modulate application of force during the engagement between the attachment and the attachment receiving well when the orthodontic appliance is worn by the patient, wherein the tactile object consists of a material layer having a uniform thickness, a first surface, and a second surface disposed opposite to the first surface;

the first surface interfacing with a portion of the attachment receiving well and the second surface interfacing with a portion of the attachment, wherein the material layer is made of malleable material and has a material layer malleability that is greater than each of the appliance material malleability and the attachment material malleability, the material layer malleability being selected such that a predetermined force is imparted on the patient'"'"'s tooth when the orthodontic appliance is worn by the patient, and wherein the portion of the attachment receiving well interfacing with the first surface is displaced from the portion of the attachment interfacing with the second surface by a distance substantially equal to the layer thickness;

wherein the tactile object is located only on the attachment well of the appliance or the attachment.

6. The orthodontic appliance of claim 5, wherein the material layer covers one or more surfaces of the attachment receiving well.

7. A method for applying a tooth positioning force to the dentition of a patient, comprising:

generating a patient removable orthodontic tooth positioning appliance comprising an appliance material having an appliance material malleability, or a digital model of the appliance, the appliance having teeth receiving cavities shaped to receive and apply a resilient positioning force to the patient'"'"'s teeth, where at least one of the teeth receiving cavities includes an attachment receiving well;

providing an attachment for disposal on at least one of the patient'"'"'s teeth so as to engage the attachment receiving well of the appliance, the attachment comprising an attachment material having an attachment material malleability; and

providing a tactile object consisting of a material layer having a uniform layer thickness for disposal between the attachment receiving well and the attachment so as to modulate force application during engagement between the attachment and the attachment receiving well when the orthodontic appliance is worn by the patient, the material layer having a first surface and a second surface disposed opposite to the first surface, the first surface interfacing with a portion of the attachment receiving well and the second surface interfacing with a portion of the attachment, wherein the material layer is made of malleable material and has a material layer malleability that is greater than each of the appliance material malleability and the attachment material malleability, the material layer malleability being selected such that a predetermined force is imparted on the patient'"'"'s tooth when the orthodontic appliance is worn by the patient, and wherein the portion of the attachment receiving well interfacing with the first surface is displaced from the portion of the attachment interfacing with the second surface by a distance substantially equal to the layer thickness;

wherein the tactile object is located only on the attachment well of the appliance or the attachment.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the material layer is disposed on at least a portion of the attachment.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the material layer is disposed on at least a portion of the attachment receiving well.

10. A method for manufacturing an orthodontic appliance, comprising:

generating a patient removable orthodontic tooth positioning appliance comprising an appliance material having an appliance material malleability, or digital model of the appliance, the appliance having teeth receiving cavities shaped to receive and apply a resilient positioning force to the patient'"'"'s teeth, where at least one of the teeth receiving cavities includes an attachment receiving well; and

providing a tactile object consisting of a material layer having a uniform layer thickness for disposal between the well and an attachment when disposed on the patient'"'"'s tooth, or proximate to the attachment receiving well, for modulating force application during engagement between the attachment and the attachment receiving well when the orthodontic appliance is worn by the patient, the material layer having a first surface and a second surface disposed opposite to the first surface, the first surface interfacing with a portion of the attachment receiving well and the second surface interfacing with a portion of the attachment, the attachment comprising an attachment material having an attachment material malleability, wherein the material layer is made of malleable material and has a material layer malleability that is greater than each of the appliance material malleability and the attachment material malleability, the material layer malleability being selected such that a predetermined force is imparted on the patient'"'"'s tooth when the orthodontic appliance is worn by the patient, and wherein the portion of the attachment receiving well interfacing with the first surface is displaced from the portion of the attachment interfacing with the second surface by a distance substantially equal to the layer thickness;

wherein the tactile object is located only on the attachment well of the appliance or the attachment.