# US 11,432,907 B2 · Method and a system usable in creating a subsequent dental appliance > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,432,907 B2 - Document ID: US11432907B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/200,445 - Filed: 2018-11-26 - Published: 2019-03-28 - Granted: 2022-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2012-09-06 - Assignees: Align Technology, Inc. - Applicants: Align Technology, Inc. - Inventors: Eric Kuo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11432907B2 ## CPC - A61C 7/002: {Orthodontic computer assisted systems} - A61C 9/0046: {Data acquisition means or methods} - 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 - A61C 7/008: {using vibrating means} - A61C 7/146: {Positioning or placement of brackets; Tools therefor} - A61C 7/20: Arch wires (A61C7/28 takes precedence) - F04C 2270/041: Controlled or regulated - A61C: DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE (non-driven toothbrushes A46B; {tongue scrapers A61B17/24;} preparations for dentistry A61K6/00; preparations for cleaning the teeth or mouth A61K8/00, A61Q11/00) - F04C: ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS (engines F03C); ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS ## Abstract A current digital dental model is received that includes a representation of the set of physical teeth for the patient with the current dental appliance attached to the physical teeth or oral cavity. The current digital dental model is a direct digital scan of the set of physical teeth and the current dental appliance. The physical teeth are at a position in treatment when all or a part of the current dental appliance is desired to be removed from one or more of the set of physical teeth and it is desired to use a subsequent appliance. The current digital dental model is created based a new digital dental model that includes the representation of the set of physical teeth without including the current dental appliance. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method usable in creating a subsequent dental appliance comprising: receiving a current digital dental model that includes a first representation of the set of physical teeth for the patient with a current dental appliance attached to the physical teeth or oral cavity; creating, based on the current digital dental model, a new digital dental model that includes the first representation of the set of physical teeth without the current dental appliance by: superimposing a second representation of all or a portion of the current dental appliance on the current dental appliance associated with the first representation; determining a superimposed portion of the first representation based on the superimposing; and creating the new digital dental model by removing the superimposed portion of the first representation; adjusting the new digital dental model by moving one or more teeth to a desired teeth arrangement; and providing digital data suitable for use in manufacturing a subsequent dental appliance based on electronic data included in the new digital dental model. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method as recited by claim 1, wherein the superimposing of the second representation of all or the portion of the current dental appliance further comprises: superimposing the second representation of the portion selected from a group consisting of a bracket, a wire, button, a cleat, a tube, a hook, a band, a ligature, an aligner attachment and an O-ring. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method as recited by claim 1, wherein the method further comprises: receiving an image of the current dental appliance when not applied to one or more of the physical teeth of the patient; and using the image as the second representation. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method as recited by claim 1, wherein the method further comprises: receiving an image of a dental appliance that is the same or similar type of dental appliance as the current dental appliance; and using the image as the second representation. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method as recited by claim 4, wherein the method further comprises: receiving the image from a library of dental appliances. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the subsequent dental appliance is an end-of-treatment retainer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the subsequent dental appliance is a middle-of-treatment appliance. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the current digital dental model is created using direct or indirect scanning or imaging. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the new digital dental model includes a portion of the patient's gingiva that is in proximity of the subsequent dental appliance, would be covered by the subsequent dental appliance, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising simulating one or more changes in the patient's gingiva. ### Claim 11 A method for creating a subsequent dental appliance prior to removal of a current dental appliance from a set of physical teeth for a patient, the method comprising: receiving a current digital dental model that includes a representation of the set of physical teeth for the patient with the current dental appliance attached to the physical teeth or oral cavity; creating, based on the current digital dental model, a new digital dental model that includes the representation of the set of physical teeth without including the current dental appliance by: superimposing, by the computer processors, each of segmented digital teeth on corresponding digital teeth associated with the current digital dental model; determining, by the computer processors, a non-superimposed portion of the current digital dental model based on the superimposing; and creating, by the computer processors, the new digital dental model by removing the non-superimposed portion of the current digital dental model or based on a superimposed portion without the non-superimposed portion; adjusting the new digital dental model by moving one or more teeth to a desired teeth arrangement; and providing digital data suitable for use in manufacturing a subsequent dental appliance based on electronic data included in the new digital dental model. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the current digital dental model comprises a bracket, a wire, a button, a cleat, a tube, a hook, a band, a ligature, an aligner attachment, or an O-ring. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises: receiving an image of the current dental appliance when not applied to one or more of the physical teeth of the patient; and associating the image with the current digital dental model. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises: receiving an image of a dental appliance that is the same or similar type of dental appliance as the current dental appliance; and associating the image with the current digital dental model. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises receiving the image from a library of dental appliances. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the subsequent dental appliance is an end-of-treatment retainer. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the subsequent dental appliance is a middle-of-treatment appliance. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the current digital dental model is created using direct or indirect scanning or imaging. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the new digital dental model includes a portion of the patient's gingiva that is in proximity of the subsequent dental appliance, would be covered by the subsequent dental appliance, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising simulating one or more changes in the patient's gingiva.