Systems and methods for varying elastic modulus appliances
AssigneeAlign Technology, Inc.
InventorsLoc X. Phan, Muhammad Chishti, Ross J. Miller, H. Robert Vandenberg, Eric Kuo
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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.
Claims21
(canceled)
A method for moving one or more of a patient's teeth, the method comprising:
- providing a first shell appliance for placement in the patient's mouth, the first shell appliance having cavities shaped to receive the patient's teeth;
- and
- providing a second shell appliance for placement in the patient's mouth in place of the first shell appliance, the second shell appliance having cavities shaped to receive the patient's teeth,
- wherein at least one of the first shell appliance or the second shell appliance comprises:
- a shell including the cavities shaped to receive the patient's teeth;
- a first reinforcement mesh embedded in a first layer of the shell;
- and
- a second reinforcement mesh embedded in a second layer of the shell.
A method for producing a shell appliance, the method comprising:
- providing a mold of dental features;
- forming a first layer of a material having an embedded first reinforcement mesh over a first portion of the mold;
- forming a second layer of material having an embedded second reinforcement mesh over a second portion of the mold;
- and
- laminating the first and second layers into an integral appliance.
A dental appliance comprising:
- a shell having teeth receiving cavities shaped to receive and resiliently position teeth;
- a first reinforcement mesh embedded in a first layer of the shell;
- and
- a second reinforcement mesh embedded in a second layer of the shell.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.