Methods and systems for concurrent tooth repositioning and substance delivery
AssigneeAlign Technology, Inc.
InventorsEric Kuo, Loc X. Phan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides devices, systems and methods for orthodontic treatment using elastic repositioning appliances while concurrently providing dental and periodontal therapies. Such therapies are traditionally provided with the use of a variety of accessories and devices which are applied when the repositioning appliance is removed from the patient's mouth. The present invention eliminates the need for such removal and additional devices by incorporating these therapies into the repositioning appliance.
Claims28
An oral appliance comprising:
- a polymeric shell having cavities shaped to fit a mold of digitally arranged teeth;
- and
- means for releasing an agent to the oral environment when the appliance is in place over the patient's teeth, said releasing means comprising a reservoir formed in the shell in addition to the cavity which receives the teeth.
An oral appliance comprising:
- a polymeric shell having cavities shaped to be removably placeable over teeth;
- and
- a material on or within the shell that changes a visual characteristic of the shell in response to a change in temperature.
An agent delivery device for use in combination with a dental appliance which fits over the teeth, said device comprising:
- a sheet of material including the agent adapted for fitting against a surface of the dental appliance, wherein the material comprises a non-porous rate controlling polymer matrix which controls the rate at which the agent diffuses through the polymer matrix and is released.
An agent delivery device for use in combination with a dental appliance which fits over the teeth, said device comprising:
- a sheet of material including the agent adapted for fitting against a surface of the dental appliance, wherein the material comprises a rate controlling polymer matrix which degrades to release the agent.
A system for repositioning teeth and releasing an agent to an oral environment, said system comprising:
- at least three tooth positioning appliances, wherein said appliances comprise polymeric shells having cavities, which are removably placeable over the teeth and wherein the cavities of successive shells are shaped to reposition teeth from one arrangement to a successive arrangement;
- means coupled to at least some of the appliances for releasing the agent to the oral environment when the appliance is in place over the teeth, wherein said releasing means comprises a reservoir formed in the shell in addition to the cavity which receives the teeth and a rate controlling membrane disposed over the reservoir wherein the rate controlling membrane controls the rate at which the agent is released from the reservoir.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.