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US 10,813,720 B2Granted
Interproximal reduction templates
AssigneeAlign Technology, Inc.
InventorsBob Grove, Srinivas Kaza
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Interproximal reduction guides apparatuses and methods of making and using them are described herein. These interproximal reduction guides apparatuses may include a body that fits over the patient's dental arch and one or more guide slots formed in them configured to limit the motion of an interproximal reduction cutting tool in a defined manner.
Claims21
An interproximal reduction guide device, the device comprising:
- a body configured to fit over at least a portion of a patient's dental arch, wherein the body further comprises a lingual surface, a buccal surface, and an occlusal surface;
- and
- a guide slot extending through the body from the occlusal surface and partially into the buccal and lingual surfaces, wherein the guide slot is configured to limit the motion of an interproximal reduction tool inserted into the guide slot, wherein the guide slot comprises a tapered profile having a larger width through the buccal surface.
An interproximal reduction guide device, the device comprising:
- a body configured to fit over at least a portion of the patient's dental arch, the body comprising an inner channel forming a plurality of chambers configured to conform to an outer surface of a patient's teeth, wherein the body further comprises a lingual surface, a buccal surface, and an occlusal surface;
- a guide slot extending in a plane through the body from the occlusal surface and at least partially into the buccal and lingual surfaces, and into the inner channel between two of the plurality of chambers, wherein the guide slot is configured to limit the motion of an interproximal reduction tool inserted into the guide slot;
- a plurality of windows through the body into the inner channel, configured to allow visualization of the patient's teeth within the body.
A method of enlarging a patient's interproximal space, the method comprising:
- placing an interproximal reduction guide device onto the patient's dental arch so that that the patient's teeth are secured within an inner channel of the interproximal reduction guide device;
- inserting an interproximal reduction tool into a guide slot in the interproximal reduction device;
- and
- operating the interproximal reduction tool within the guide slot to remove enamel from a region between two teeth, wherein the guide slot limits the movement of the interproximal reduction tool.
1 more element
An interproximal reduction guide device, the device comprising:
- a body configured to fit over at least a portion of a patient's dental arch, wherein the body further comprises a lingual surface, a buccal surface, and an occlusal surface;
- and
- a guide slot extending through the body from the occlusal surface and partially into the buccal and lingual surfaces, wherein the guide slot is configured to limit the motion of an interproximal reduction tool inserted into the guide slot, wherein the guide slot is configured to have an hourglass profile having a narrower width region midway down either or both the buccal and lingual surfaces.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.