Methods for correcting tooth movements midcourse in treatment

• US 20060257814A1
• Filed: 03/13/2006
• Published: 11/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Align Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Align Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Phan, Loc X., Chishti, Muhammad
• Granted Patent: US 7,578,674 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 433/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 11/084 for 3D adjustment, e.g. Ball-and-socket
• 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 7/08 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 9/002 Means or methods for correctly replacing a dental model, e.g. dowel pins; Dowel pin positioning means or methods
• 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

Appliances are made using a dental mold representing a patient'"'"'s dental configuration. In particular, thermoformable plastic positioning appliances which fit over the patient'"'"'s teeth may be formed over a three-dimensional mold of the patient'"'"'s dentition. An apparatus and methods which employ a manipulable or reconfigurable mold to model patient dentition and gingiva at each stage of treatment. The apparatus and methods are particularly useful for performing midcourse corrections during orthodontic procedures using a plurality of such appliances in sequence.

Claims

1. An improved method for repositioning teeth and/or dental features using appliances having cavities shaped to receive and resiliently reposition teeth, wherein the improvement comprises determining at the outset of treatment of configurations for a number of appliances sufficient to move teeth to a final arrangement and producing an initial set of appliances and at a later time determining a configuration for at least one additional appliance to move the teeth and/or dental features from an actual intermediate arrangement to a successive intermediate or final arrangement.