Relapse prevention retainer
AssigneeAlign Technology, Inc.
InventorsKen Wu, Huizhong Li, Mitra Derakhshan, Zhou Yu, James Nishimuta, Yuxiang Wang, Xi Cai, Rohit Tanugula, Jeeyoung Choi, Eric Yau, Jun Sato, John Y. Morton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatuses and methods for customized retainers to prevent relapse. In particular, described herein are customized retainers, and methods and apparatuses for making customized retainers that specifically reenforce and prevent movement of one or more teeth having a higher likelihood of relapse following completion of an orthodontic treatment plan.
Claims25
A method of creating a retainer for a patient, the method comprising:
- estimating a stability estimate for one or more of the patient's teeth from a model of the patient's teeth and a current orthodontic treatment plan for the patient, wherein the stability estimate corresponds to a likelihood that the one or more of the patient's teeth will move out of a target final position from the current orthodontic treatment plan;
- and
- generating a model of the retainer, wherein the retainer is reinforced in one or more regions configured to be in communication with the one or more of the patient's teeth in which the stability estimate exceeds a threshold.
A computer-implemented method of custom designing a retainer for a patient, the method comprising:
- estimating, in a processor, from a model of the patient's teeth, a current orthodontic treatment plan for the patient, a stability estimate for one or more of the patient's teeth, wherein the stability estimate corresponds to a likelihood that the one or more of the patient's teeth will move beyond a target final position from the current orthodontic treatment plan in one or more relapse categories including:
- diastema relapse and general spacing relapse, anterior or posterior mesial/distal or buccal/lingual or rotational relapse, lingual crown tip in/buccal crown tip out, deep bite relapse, extrusion/intrusion relapse, arch expansion relapse and/or extraction;
- and
- generating a model of the retainer, wherein the retainer is modified in one or more regions configured to be in communication with the one or more of the patient's teeth in which the stability estimate exceeds a threshold.
A non-transitory computer-readable medium including contents that are configured to cause one or more processors to perform a method comprising:
- estimating, from a model of the patient's teeth and a current orthodontic treatment plan for a patient, a stability estimate for one or more of the patient's teeth, wherein the stability estimate corresponds to a likelihood that the one or more of the patient's teeth will move out of a target final position from the current orthodontic treatment plan;
- and
- generating a model of a retainer, wherein the retainer is reinforced in one or more regions configured to be in communication with the one or more of the patient's teeth in which the stability estimate exceeds a threshold.
A non-transitory computer-readable medium including contents that are configured to cause one or more processors to perform a method comprising:
- estimating, in a processor, from a model of the patient's teeth, a current orthodontic treatment plan for a patient, a stability estimate for one or more of the patient's teeth, wherein the stability estimate corresponds to a likelihood that the one or more of the patient's teeth will move beyond a target final position from the current orthodontic treatment plan in one or more relapse categories including:
- diastema relapse and general spacing relapse, anterior or posterior mesial/distal or buccal/lingual or rotational relapse, lingual crown tip in/buccal crown tip out, deep bite relapse, extrusion/intrusion relapse, arch expansion relapse and/or extraction;
- and
- generating a model of a retainer, wherein the retainer is modified in one or more regions configured to be in communication with the one or more of the patient's teeth in which the stability estimate exceeds a threshold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.