Variable direction tooth attachments
AssigneeAlign Technology, Inc.
InventorsAllen Boronkay, Tzishing Jesse Lim
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Tooth attachments are provided comprising one or more convex surfaces for engagement by a surface of an orthodontic appliance. Polymeric shell appliances are provided in which the polymeric shell appliances are configured to provide one or more activation forces to facilitate tooth movement. The polymeric shell appliances may comprise one or more tooth receiving cavities. The polymeric shell appliances may further comprise an engagement portion with a surface configured to engage a convex attachment surface in order to apply a tooth moving force.
Claims21
A computer-implemented method for digitally planning treatment of a patient's teeth, the method comprising:
- identifying a treatment plan for a patient's dentition to move one or more teeth of the patient's dentition from a starting position toward a desired target position along a movement path;
- determining one or more forces to move the one or more teeth in the patient's dentition in accordance with at least a portion of the movement path;
- determining one or more geometries of one or more convex attachment devices that, in combination with corresponding engagement portions of one or more inner surfaces of a plurality of dental appliances, implement at least a portion of the one or more forces, the one or more convex attachment devices comprising one or more convex surfaces to engage the corresponding engagement portions of the one or more inner surfaces of the plurality of dental appliances, wherein a shape of the one or more convex attachment devices is characterized by a portion of a cylinder having a radius of curvature;
- and
- providing instructions to display a virtual representation of the one or more convex attachment devices on a virtual model of the patient's dentition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.