Direct fabrication of aligners for palate expansion and other applications
AssigneeAlign Technology, Inc.
InventorsChunhua Li, Avi Kopelman, Srinivas Kaza, Ryan Kimura, Yaser Shanjani
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems, methods, and devices for producing appliances for expansion of the palate of a patient are provided. A palate expanding orthodontic appliance comprises a teeth engagement portion comprising a plurality of teeth engagement structures and a force generating portion coupled to the teeth engagement portion and configured to apply force to cause the patient's palate to expand. The orthodontic appliances can be designed according to the specifications provided herein and manufactured using direct fabrication methods.
Claims6
A dental appliance to expand a palate of a patient, the dental appliance comprising:
- a teeth engagement component comprising:
- a plurality of cavities configured to receive the teeth of the patient, including a molar cavity configured to receive a molar of the patient, wherein the molar cavity comprises a flattened occlusal surface;
- a plurality of expander-engaging structures, wherein the plurality of expander-engaging structures are located along interproximal regions of the plurality of cavities, and wherein the plurality of expander-engaging structures comprise a lingual contour between the cavities;
- and
- an expander component comprising:
- a plurality of engagement protrusions, wherein the plurality of engagement protrusions are sized and shaped to extend toward interproximal regions of the patient's teeth, and wherein the plurality of engagement protrusions are configured to bias against the plurality of expander-engaging structures at respective interproximal regions of the patient's teeth;
- and
- a resilient and compressible material to exert an expansion force to the palate when the dental appliance is worn by the patient.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.