Systems and methods for varying elastic modulus appliances
AssigneeAlign Technology, Inc.
InventorsLoc Phan, Muhammad Chishti, Ross Miller, H. Robert Vandenberg, Eric Kuo
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides improved devices, systems and methods for repositioning teeth from an initial tooth arrangement to a final tooth arrangement. Repositioning is accomplished with a system comprising a series of polymeric shell appliances configured to receive the teeth and incrementally reposition individual teeth in a series of successive steps. The individual appliances may be formed from layers having different stiffnesses (elastic moduluses), and the stiffnesses of successive appliances may be different, or both.
Claims46
A dental appliance comprising:
- a shell having cavities shaped to receive teeth, wherein at least a first portion of the shell is composed of a material having a first stiffness and a second portion of the shell is composed of a material having a second stiffness which differs from the first stiffness.
In a system for repositioning teeth from an initial tooth arrangement to a final tooth arrangement, said system comprising a plurality of incremental position adjustment appliances comprising shells having cavities shaped to receive and reposition teeth and which are successively worn by a patient to move teeth from one arrangement to a successive arrangement, an improvement comprising:
- at least one appliance including a shell wherein at least a first portion of the shell is composed of a material having a first stiffness and a second portion of the shell has a second stiffness.
In a system for repositioning teeth from an initial tooth arrangement to a final tooth arrangement, said system comprising a plurality of incremental position adjustment appliances comprising shells having cavities shaped to receive and reposition teeth and which are successively worn by a patient to move teeth from one arrangement to a successive arrangement, an improvement comprising:
- at least a first appliance including a shell having a portion with a first stiffness and at least a second appliance having a shell with a portion geometrically corresponding to that of the first appliance, wherein the portion of the second appliance has a second stiffness which differs from the first stiffness.
In a system for repositioning teeth from an initial tooth arrangement to a successive tooth arrangement, said system comprising a plurality of incremental position adjustment appliances comprising shells having cavities shaped to receive and reposition teeth and which are successively worn by a patient to move teeth from one arrangement to a successive arrangement, an improvement comprising:
- a first appliance including a shell having a shape which is the same as the shape of a second appliance and having at least a portion with a stiffness which is different from the stiffness of a corresponding portion in another appliance.
A method for producing a dental appliance with varying stiffnesses, said method comprising:
- providing a mold of dental features;
- forming a first layer of a material having a first stiffness over a first portion of said mold;
- and
- forming a second layer of a material having a second stiffness over a second portion of said mold;
- and
- laminating the first and second layers into an integral appliance.
A method for repositioning teeth, said method comprising:
- placing a first incremental position adjustment appliance over teeth in a patient's mouth, and
- successively placing at least a second incremental position adjustment appliance over the teeth in the patient's mouth,
- wherein the appliances comprise polymeric shells having shaped cavities and wherein the shells of the first and second appliances have the same shapes but have portions which differ in stiffness between the first and second appliances.
A method for repositioning teeth, said method comprising:
- placing a first incremental position adjustment appliance over teeth in a patient's mouth, and
- successively placing at least a second incremental position adjustment appliance over the teeth in the patient's mouth,
- wherein the appliances comprise polymeric shells having shaped cavities and wherein at least one of the first and second appliance has a shell wherein at least a first portion of the shell has a first stiffness and a second portion of the shell has a second stiffness which differs from the first stiffness.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.