# US 12,181,857 B2 · Systems and methods for tracking teeth movement during orthodontic treatment > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,181,857 B2 - Document ID: US12181857B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/085,485 - Filed: 2022-12-20 - Published: 2023-07-27 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2011-07-29 - Assignees: Align Technology, Inc. - Applicants: Align Technology, Inc. - Inventors: Rick Matty - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12181857B2 ## CPC - A61C 7/12: Brackets; Arch wires; Combinations thereof; Accessories therefor - G05B 19/4097: characterised by using design data to control NC machines, e.g. CAD/CAM (G05B19/4093 takes precedence) - 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)} - A61C 7/14: Brackets (A61C7/28 takes precedence); Fixing brackets to teeth - B33Y 80/00: Products made by additive manufacturing - G05B 2219/45244: Injection molding - 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) - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - 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 ## Abstract Methods, systems, and apparatus's for improving orthodontic treatments. In an embodiment, an orthodontic tracking template is provided for assisting in determining whether a patient's teeth are in an appropriate tooth arrangement for transitioning between a wire and bracket orthodontic treatment to a patient-removable orthodontic appliance treatment. The tracking template may include a shell portion defining a plurality of tooth-receiving cavities arranged to fit over at least a portion of the patient's teeth in an intermediate tooth arrangement without applying a tooth-moving force to the teeth or to any brackets attached to the teeth. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising: one or more processors; a memory comprising instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: (a) receive a digital representation subsequent to the patient starting an orthodontic treatment plan, wherein the digital representation depicts at least a portion of the patient's teeth with one or more orthodontic appliances affixed thereto; (b) design a geometry for the tracking template based at least in part on the received digital representation, wherein the tracking template comprises a plurality of alternating appliance-receiving surfaces and wire-receiving surfaces shaped to fit over the patient's teeth and the one or more of orthodontic appliances, wherein the plurality of appliance-receiving surfaces are shaped to abut an edge of an orthodontic appliance of the one or more orthodontic appliances, wherein the plurality of wire-receiving surfaces are shaped to abut an edge of a wire without extending over the respective wire, and wherein the tracking template is designed such that a fit of the plurality of appliance-receiving surfaces and the plurality of wire-receiving surfaces over the patient's teeth is indicative of whether progress of the patient's orthodontic treatment has reached a predetermined intermediate stage in the orthodontic treatment plan; (c) generate a three-dimensional (3D) model corresponding to the designed geometry for the tracking template; and a fabrication machine configured to fabricate the tracking template based on the 3D model. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the digital representation comprises a three-dimensional (3D) dental scan collected from a dental scanner. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the geometry of the tracking template is further designed to not apply tooth-moving forces to the patient's teeth. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the geometry of the tracking template is further designed to provide a partial fit but not a complete fit over one or more of the patient's teeth. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to design the orthodontic treatment plan to use: (1) the wire and the plurality of orthodontic appliances to apply repositioning forces to sequentially move the patient's teeth towards the target tooth arrangement or (2) the wire, the plurality of orthodontic appliances, and a plurality of orthodontic aligners to apply repositioning forces to sequentially move the patient's teeth towards the target tooth arrangement. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the tracking template is designed such that a space between the tracking template and the patient's teeth may be measured at the predetermined intermediate stage to determine whether the progress of the patient's orthodontic treatment has reached the predetermined intermediate stage in the orthodontic treatment plan. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the space being greater than 5 micrometers indicates that the patient's teeth has not reached the predetermined intermediate stage. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to output a notification to modify the orthodontic treatment if it is determined that at least the portion of the patient's teeth has not reached the predetermined intermediate stage of the orthodontic treatment plan. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to modify the orthodontic treatment plan based on the determination that at least the portion of the patient's teeth has not reached the target tooth arrangement of the predetermined intermediate stage of the orthodontic treatment plan. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to employ three-dimensional modeling representations and techniques. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the fabrication machine is located at a remote location from the one or more processors. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the fabrication machine to fabricate a mold corresponding to a positive model of the tracking template. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the fabrication machine to directly fabricate the tracking template. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the fabrication machine to selectively harden a resin in the geometry of the tracking template. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the fabrication machine to use a material stiff enough when cured so that the tracking template will not flex over the patient's teeth. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the fabrication machine to fabricate the tracking template using at least one of an elastomeric polymeric material, a thermoplastic polyurethane material, a polycarbonate material, or copolyester material. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the fabrication machine to trim one or more gingival edges of the tracking template. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a dental scanner configured to process a three-dimensional (3D) dental scan of the patient's teeth.