Systems and methods for tracking teeth movement during orthodontic treatment

• US 9,125,709 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2011
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Align Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Align Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Matty, Rick
• Primary Examiner(s): EIDE, HEIDI MARIE
• Application Number:
  US13/194,802
• Publication Number:
  US 20130029283A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,502 Days
• Field of Search: 433/6, 433/24, 433 8- 17
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 7/12 Brackets; Arch wires; Combinations thereof; Accessories therefor
• 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: G05B 19/4097 characterised by using design data to control NC machines, e.g. CAD/CAM G05B19/4093 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45244 Injection molding

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus'"'"'s for improving orthodontic treatments. In an embodiment, an orthodontic tracking template is provided for assisting in determining whether a patient'"'"'s teeth are in an appropriate tooth arrangement for transitioning between a wire and bracket orthodontic treatment to a patient-removable orthodontic appliance treatment. The tracking template may include a shell portion defining a plurality of tooth-receiving cavities arranged to fit over at least a portion of the patient'"'"'s teeth in an intermediate tooth arrangement without applying a tooth-moving force to the teeth or to any brackets attached to the teeth.

Claims

1. A method of tracking orthodontic treatment in a patient wearing at least one affixed appliance by attachment to at least one of a plurality of teeth for a wire and affixed appliance treatment, the method comprising:

providing a tracking template comprising a shell portion defining a plurality of tooth-receiving cavities shaped to fit over at least a portion of the plurality of teeth in a planned intermediate tooth arrangement;

applying the tracking template to at least some of the plurality of teeth;

determining whether the tracking template fits a current tooth arrangement;

if the tracking template does not fit the current tooth arrangement, continuing the wire and affixed appliance treatment; and

if the tracking template fits the current tooth arrangement, applying at least one patient-removable orthodontic tooth positioning appliance for repositioning the plurality of teeth from the planned intermediate tooth arrangement towards a planned final tooth arrangement.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising removing the at least one affixed appliance before applying the at least one patient-removable orthodontic tooth positioning appliance.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the wire and affixed appliance treatment comprises a plurality of affixed appliances attached to at least some of the plurality of teeth and a wire mechanically coupled to at least some of the plurality of affixed appliances; and

the plurality of tooth-receiving cavities of the tracking template are adapted to fit over at least a portion of the plurality of teeth in the planned intermediate tooth arrangement without applying a tooth-moving force to the plurality of teeth or the plurality of affixed appliances and without interfering with the wire.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one affixed appliance is attached to at least one of a lingual surface or a facial surface of the plurality of teeth.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein, for each tooth-receiving cavity shaped to fit over at least a portion of the plurality of teeth, the tooth-receiving cavity includes:

a first portion which, when disposed on a tooth, extends from a cusp of the tooth; and

a second portion which, when disposed on the tooth, extends from the cusp of the tooth,

wherein the second portion extends along a surface of the tooth that the at least one affixed appliance is attached to, and the first portion extends along a surface of the tooth opposite the surface of the tooth that the at least one affixed appliance is attached to.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first portion extends to a gingival line or to a location between the cusp of the tooth and the gingival line.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the second portion extends to a wire mechanically coupled to the at least one affixed appliance, past the wire, to a location between the cusp of the tooth and the wire, or to an edge of the at least one affixed appliance.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein a thickness of the first portion is approximately the same as a thickness of the second portion.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein a thickness of at least one of the first portion or the second portion changes as the at least one of the first portion or the second portion extends from the cusp of the tooth.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein at least one of the first portion or the second portion includes a protruding portion.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein, for each tooth-receiving cavity shaped to fit over at least a portion of the plurality of teeth, the tooth-receiving cavity covers at least a portion of the at least one affixed appliance and a wire mechanically coupled to the at least one affixed appliance.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one affixed appliance includes one or more of:

brackets, orthodontic separators, coil springs, tubes, bands, ties, ligature ties, expansion appliances, hooks, or microchips.

13. A method of tracking orthodontic treatment in a patient wearing an orthodontic assembly for a wire and affixed appliance treatment, the orthodontic assembly adapted to move a plurality of teeth from an initial tooth arrangement towards a planned intermediate tooth arrangement, the orthodontic assembly comprising two or more affixed appliances attached to at least two or more of the plurality of teeth, the method comprising:

providing a tracking template comprising a shell portion defining a plurality of tooth-receiving cavities shaped to fit over at least a portion of the plurality of teeth in the planned intermediate tooth arrangement and to accommodate the orthodontic assembly;

wherein if the tracking template does not fit a current tooth arrangement, the wire and affixed appliance treatment is continued, and if the tracking template fits the current tooth arrangement, at least one patient-removable orthodontic tooth positioning appliance is used for repositioning the plurality of teeth from the planned intermediate tooth arrangement towards a planned final tooth arrangement.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising causing removal of at least some of the two or more affixed appliances before application of the at least one patient-removable orthodontic tooth positioning appliance.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the orthodontic assembly further comprises a wire mechanically coupled to at least some of the two or more affixed appliances; and

the plurality of tooth-receiving cavities of the tracking template are adapted to fit over at least a portion of the plurality of teeth in the planned intermediate tooth arrangement without applying a tooth-moving force to the plurality of teeth or the two or more affixed appliances and without interfering with the wire.

16. A method of tracking orthodontic treatment in a patient wearing at least one affixed appliance by attachment to at least one of a plurality of teeth for a wire and affixed appliance treatment, the method comprising:

providing a tracking template comprising a shell portion defining a plurality of tooth-receiving cavities shaped to fit over at least a portion of the plurality of teeth in a planned intermediate tooth arrangement;

receiving an indication that the tracking template fits a current tooth arrangement;

providing at least one patient-removable orthodontic tooth positioning appliance for repositioning the plurality of teeth from the planned intermediate tooth arrangement towards a planned final tooth arrangement, wherein the at least one patient-removable orthodontic tooth positioning appliance is adapted to be used after the indication that the tracking template fits has been received; and

removing the at least one affixed appliance before applying the at least one patient-removable orthodontic tooth positioning appliance.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein:

the wire and affixed appliance treatment comprises a plurality of affixed appliances attached to at least some of the plurality of teeth and a wire mechanically coupled to at least some of the plurality of affixed appliances; and

the plurality of tooth-receiving cavities of the tracking template are adapted to fit over at least a portion of the plurality of teeth in the planned intermediate tooth arrangement without applying a tooth-moving force to the plurality of teeth or the plurality of affixed appliances and without interfering with the wire.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one affixed appliance is attached to at least one of a lingual surface and a facial surface of the plurality of teeth.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein each tooth-receiving cavity of the plurality of tooth-receiving cavities comprises a portion that, when disposed on a tooth, extends to a gingival line or to a location between a cusp of the tooth and the gingival line.