System for force measurement upon orthodontic appliances

A method of measuring a force or moment imparted by an orthodontic appliance, comprising:

• scanning a dentition mold having one or more target teeth and a fixture;
• receiving a force or moment imparted by an orthodontic appliance placed upon the dentition mold having the one or more target teeth each formed upon the fixture and which is movable independently of the dentition mold;
• measuring the force or moment via a measurement sensor coupled to the fixture to compile force or moment data;
• receiving the force or moment data via a processor in communication with the measurement sensor;
• transforming the force or moment data from a sensor coordinate system to a second coordinate system;
• and
• displaying the force or moment data which has been transformed upon a digital model of the one or more target teeth of the scanned dentition mold.

A method of measuring a force or moment imparted by an orthodontic appliance, comprising:

• fabricating a dentition mold having one or more target teeth each formed upon a fixture and which is movable independently of the dentition mold;
• assembling an orthodontic appliance and the dentition mold having the one or more target teeth upon a platform of a measurement instrument;
• scanning the dentition mold having and the one or more target teeth to form a digital model assembly;
• fabricating an orthodontic appliance based on the digital model assembly;
• positioning the orthodontic appliance upon the one or more target teeth so as to measure the force or moment imparted by the orthodontic appliance to compile force or moment data;
• causing the force or moment data to transform from a first coordinate system to a second coordinate system;
• and
• displaying the force or moment data which has been transformed upon a digital model of the one or more target teeth of the scanned dentition mold.