Orthodontic appliances, systems for manufacturing orthodontic appliances, and methods of manufacturing orthodontic appliances utilizing those systems

Abstract

Orthodontic appliances including dental aligners for orthodontic treatment. A system for manufacturing an orthodontic appliance includes a mold having a base and projections. The base and the projections are made of a resin configured to react with a fluid, such as water. The system further includes a fluid bath configured to receive the mold. A method of manufacturing an appliance includes providing a mold including projections representing teeth. The mold is made of a resin. The method further includes deforming a worksheet over the projections and exposing the resin to a fluid. At least one material property of the resin changes. During or afterwards, the appliance is removed from the mold. Removing the appliance may include self-removal. During exposing, the change in property includes a change in volume of the mold. Exposing the resin to the fluid includes submerging the mold in the fluid. The fluid may be liquid water.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.