# US 12,004,919 B2 · Dental attachment placement structure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,004,919 B2 - Document ID: US12004919B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/446,268 - Filed: 2021-08-27 - Published: 2021-12-16 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2015-12-09 - Assignees: Align Technology, Inc. - Applicants: Align Technology, Inc. - Inventors: Peter Webber; Siobhan O'Leary - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12004919B2 ## CPC - A61C 7/146: {Positioning or placement of brackets; Tools therefor} - A61C 7/002: {Orthodontic computer assisted systems} - A61C 7/08: Mouthpiece-type retainers {or positioners, e.g. for both the lower and upper arch (arch-shaped medicament applicators for teeth or gums A61C19/063; mouthguards for protecting the teeth of sportsmen A63B71/085)} - B29C 64/386: Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing - B33Y 10/00: Processes of additive manufacturing - B33Y 50/00: Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing - B33Y 50/02: for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes - B33Y 80/00: Products made by additive manufacturing - A61C 13/0013: {using stereolithographic techniques} - B29L 2031/7536: {Artificial teeth} - 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) - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING - B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES ## Abstract Dental attachment placement templates and dental appliance systems. The dental attachment placement templates may include a body configured to position a dental attachment over an attachment site on a surface of a tooth. The body may include an aperture, supports that extend from the body within the aperture, a connection member that connects the dental attachment to the supports, and a contoured surface shaped to register with one or more teeth. The connection member may be integrally formed with the dental attachment to provide a unitary structure. The connection member may be joined to the dental attachment at a breakable single point of connection and being further joined to the supports such that when the single point of connection is broken, the dental attachment is detached from the supports. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A dental attachment placement template comprising: a dental attachment; and a body configured to position the dental attachment over an attachment site on a surface of a tooth of a dental arch, the body including: an aperture; a plurality of supports that extend from the body within the aperture; a connection member that connects the dental attachment to the plurality of supports, the connection member being integrally formed with the dental attachment to provide a unitary structure, the connection member being joined to the dental attachment at a breakable single point of connection and being further joined to the plurality of supports such that when the single point of connection is broken, the dental attachment is detached from the plurality of supports; and a contoured surface shaped to register with one or more teeth of the dental arch to align the dental attachment over the attachment site when the body is placed on the dental arch. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The dental attachment placement template of claim 1, wherein the plurality of supports comprises three or more supports. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The dental attachment placement template of claim 1, wherein the plurality of supports are arranged radially around the dental attachment and the connection member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The dental attachment placement template of claim 1, wherein the connection member is overlaid over the dental attachment. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The dental attachment placement template of claim 1, wherein the connection member is connected to the plurality of supports such that residual material is located in one area of the dental attachment after the connection member is severed, thereby facilitating removal of the residual material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The dental attachment placement template of claim 1, wherein the connection member is connected to an outward facing surface of the dental attachment that is opposite a placement surface of the dental attachment, wherein the placement surface is configured to be placed on an affixing surface of the tooth. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The dental attachment placement template of claim 1, wherein the dental attachment is made of an attachment material configured to bond directly to the surface of the tooth upon exposure to ultraviolet light. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The dental attachment placement template of claim 1, wherein the dental attachment is prefabricated with the plurality of supports and the body. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The dental attachment placement template of claim 1, wherein the connection member comprises a material that is configured to dissolve when exposed to a stimulant to cause the connection member to detach from the dental attachment. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The dental attachment placement template of claim 1, wherein the connection member and the dental attachment are made of different materials. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The dental attachment placement template of claim 1, wherein the connection member and the dental attachment are three-dimensional (3D) printed. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The dental attachment placement template of claim 1, wherein the plurality of supports and the dental attachment are made of the same material. ### Claim 13 A dental attachment placement template comprising: a dental an attachment; and a body configured to position the dental attachment over an attachment site on a surface of a tooth of a dental arch, the body including: a first material that does not react to a stimulant; an aperture; a plurality of supports that extend from the body within the aperture; a connection member that connects the dental attachment to the plurality of supports, the connection member being integrally formed with the dental attachment to provide a unitary structure, wherein the connection member is joined to the dental attachment at a single point of connection and being further joined to the plurality of supports, and wherein the connection member comprises a second material that is configured to dissolve or disintegrate when exposed to the stimulant to cause the connection member to detach from the dental attachment; and a contoured surface shaped to register with one or more teeth of the dental arch to align the dental attachment over the attachment site when the body is placed on the dental arch. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The dental attachment placement template of claim 13, wherein the stimulant comprises wavelengths of light. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The dental attachment placement template of claim 13, wherein the stimulant comprises a chemical material. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The dental attachment placement template of claim 13, wherein the second material is configured to become more brittle upon exposure to the stimulant, thereby allowing the second material to be more easily broken. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The dental attachment placement template of claim 13, wherein the plurality of supports are made of the first material. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The dental attachment placement template of claim 13, wherein the connection member is connected to an outward facing surface of the dental attachment that is opposite a placement surface of the dental attachment, wherein the placement surface is configured to be placed on an affixing surface of the tooth. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The dental attachment placement template of claim 13, wherein the dental attachment includes one or more engagement surfaces, the one or more engagement surface configured to engage with a dental an once the dental attachment is bonded to the tooth and disconnected from the body. ### Claim 20 A dental attachment placement template comprising: a dental attachment; and a body configured to position the dental attachment over an attachment site on a surface of a tooth of a dental arch, the body including: an aperture; a plurality of supports that extend from the body within the aperture; a means for connecting the dental attachment to the plurality of supports, the means for connecting being integrally formed with the dental attachment to provide a unitary structure, the means for connecting being joined to the dental attachment at a breakable single point of connection and being further joined to and the plurality of supports such that when the means for connecting is broken, the dental attachment is detached from the plurality of supports; and a contoured surface shaped to register with one or more teeth of the dental arch to align the dental attachment over the attachment site when the body is placed on the dental arch. ### Claim 21 A dental appliance system comprising: a dental attachment placement template comprising: an attachment; and a body configured to position the attachment over an attachment site on a surface of a tooth of a dental arch, the body including: a plurality of supports extending from the body and connected to the attachment via a connection member, the connection member being integrally formed with the attachment to provide a unitary structure, wherein the connection member is joined to the attachment at a breakable single point of connection and being further joined to and the plurality of supports such that when the single point of connection is broken, the attachment is detached from the plurality of supports; and a contoured surface shaped to register with one or more teeth of the dental arch to align the attachment over the attachment site when the body is placed on the dental arch; and one or more dental appliances configured to engage with the attachment to apply one or more repositioning forces to the tooth when the attachment is bonded to the surface of the tooth at the attachment site and the one or more dental appliances is placed on the dental arch. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The dental appliance system of claim 21, wherein the attachment is positioned within an aperture of the body, wherein the plurality of supports support the attachment within the aperture. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The dental appliance system of claim 21, wherein the connection member comprises a material that is configured to dissolve or disintegrate when exposed to a stimulant to cause the connection member to detach from the attachment.