Systems and methods for varying elastic modulus appliances

• US 8,858,226 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2011
• Issued: 10/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Align Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Align Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Phan, Loc X., Chishti, Muhammad, Miller, Ross J., Vandenberg, H. Robert, Kuo, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): EIDE, HEIDI MARIE
• Application Number:
  US13/245,574
• Publication Number:
  US 20120015314A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,114 Days
• Field of Search: 433/6, 433/7, 433/24, 433/18, 433/34, 433/23, 433 47- 48, 128/861, 128/862, 128859-860
• US Class Current: 433/6
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/00 Dental auxiliary appliances dental chairs or accessories therefor, working stands whether or not combined with chairs A61G15/00
• 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 7/36 Devices acting between upper and lower teeth
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/154 Coating solid articles, i.e. non-hollow articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 51/002 characterised by the choice of material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/256 Sheets, plates, blanks or films
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/0082 Flexural strength; Flexion stiffness
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2009/00 Layered products
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/753 Medical equipment; Accessories therefor bloodbags, medical bags B29L2031/7148; artificial eyes B29L2011/0008

Abstract

The present invention provides improved devices, systems and methods for repositioning teeth from an initial tooth arrangement to a final tooth arrangement. Repositioning is accomplished with a system comprising a series of polymeric shell appliances configured to receive the teeth and incrementally reposition individual teeth in a series of successive steps. The individual appliances may be formed from layers having different stiffnesses (elastic moduluses), and the stiffnesses of successive appliances may be different, or both.

Claims

1. A dental appliance comprising:

a shell having teeth receiving cavities shaped to receive and resiliently position teeth;

a first reinforcement mesh embedded in a first layer of the shell; and

a second reinforcement mesh embedded in a second layer of the shell, the first and second layers overlapping in a first portion of the shell such that the first portion has a stiffness greater than a second portion of the shell, the first portion at least partially covering at least one of;

(1) a buccal portion of a tooth and (2) a lingual portion of the tooth, the second portion at least partially covering the remaining portion of the tooth including an occlusal surface of the tooth.

2. The dental appliance of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second reinforcement meshes comprises a metal, alloy, polymer filament, wire or braid structure.

3. The dental appliance of claim 1, wherein the shell comprises a polymer material.

4. The dental appliance of claim 1, wherein the first portion differs in stiffness from the second portion along at least one of:

(1) a mesial-distal axis, (2) a facial-lingual axis, and (3) a gingival-crown axis.

5. The dental appliance of claim 1, wherein the first layer is configured to engage teeth.

6. The dental appliance of claim 1, wherein the second reinforcement mesh is arranged within the entire shell.

7. The dental appliance of claim 1, wherein the first layer having the first reinforcement mesh has a different elastic modulus than the second layer having the second reinforcement mesh.

8. A system for repositioning teeth from an initial tooth arrangement to a final tooth arrangement, the system comprising:

a plurality of shell appliances each having cavities shaped to receive teeth, the shell appliances operable to be successively worn by a patient to move teeth from one arrangement to a successive arrangement, the plurality comprising a first shell appliance including a first reinforcement mesh embedded in a first layer of the first appliance and a second reinforcement mesh embedded in a second layer of the first appliance, the first and second layers overlapping in a first portion of the first appliance shell such that the first portion has a stiffness greater than a second portion of the shell, the first portion at least partially covering at least one of;

(1) a buccal portion of a tooth, and (2) a lingual portion of the tooth, the second portion at least partially covering the remaining portion of the tooth including an occlusal surface of the tooth.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of shell appliances includes a second shell appliance having a portion for which an elastic modulus is different than the elastic modulus of at least a portion of the first shell appliance.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of shell appliances includes a second shell appliance and an elastic modulus of the second shell appliance is different than an elastic modulus of the first shell appliance.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the elastic modulus of the second shell appliance is greater than the elastic modulus of the first shell appliance.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the first layer is discontinuous, and the second layer is continuous.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the first layer having the first reinforcement mesh has a different elastic modulus than the second layer having the second reinforcement mesh.