Apparatus for orthodontic aligner tray retention
OwnerAirton Arrudainventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An orthodontic aligner tray includes a plurality of tooth-shaped cavities configured to adjust alignment or position of at least one tooth in the mouth of a patient. An apparatus to retain the orthodontic aligner tray to teeth of the patient includes the aligner tray including the plurality of tooth-shaped cavities, a retention feature located to the aligner tray between a first of the tooth-shaped cavities and a second of the tooth-shaped cavities adjacent to the first tooth shaped cavity, and an adhering agent connecting the aligner tray and the retention feature.
Claims20
Apparatus to retain an orthodontic aligner tray to teeth of a patient, the apparatus comprising:
- the aligner tray comprising a plurality of tooth-shaped cavities;
- a retention feature located to the aligner tray between a first of the tooth-shaped cavities and a second of the tooth-shaped cavities adjacent to the first tooth shaped cavity;
- and
- an adhering agent connecting the aligner tray and the retention feature.
Apparatus to retain a pressure-formed orthodontic aligner tray to teeth of a patient, the apparatus comprising:
- the aligner tray configured to adjust alignments and positions of the teeth of the patient;
- a first retention clip located to the aligner tray between a first of the teeth of the patient and a second of the teeth of the patient;
- a second retention clip located to the aligner tray between a third of the teeth of the patient and a fourth of the teeth of the patient;
- a first adhering agent encapsulating a closed end of the first retention clip and adhering the first retention clip to the aligner tray;
- and
- a second adhering agent encapsulating a closed end of the second retention clip and adhering the second retention clip to the aligner tray.
A method to manufacture an orthodontic aligner tray comprising retention features, the method comprising:
- creating a dental impression of teeth of the patient comprising tooth features;
- locating a plurality of the retention features to the dental impression;
- applying an adhering agent to each of the retention features;
- and
- pressure-forming an aligner tray blank over the dental impression, retention features, and adhering agent to create the aligner tray, wherein the aligner tray blank comprises a thin, flat polymer sheet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.