Methods for direct fabrication of appliances for palate expansion
AssigneeAlign Technology, Inc.
InventorsChunhua LI, Avi KOPELMAN, Srinivas KAZA, Ryan KIMURA, Yaser SHANJANI
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems, methods, and devices for producing appliances for expansion of the palate of a patient are provided. A palate expanding orthodontic appliance comprises a teeth engagement portion comprising a plurality of teeth engagement structures and a force generating portion coupled to the teeth engagement portion and configured to apply force to cause the patient's palate to expand. The orthodontic appliances can be designed according to the specifications provided herein and manufactured using direct fabrication methods.
Claims21
(canceled)
A method of expanding a patient's palate according to a treatment plan, comprising:
- placing a first orthodontic appliance that pushes directly against lateral sides of the patient's palate in the patient's mouth for a first period of time, wherein the first orthodontic appliance is configured to exert an amount of force to expand the palate according to a first stage of the treatment plan;
- and
- placing a second orthodontic appliance that pushes directly against lateral sides of the patient's palate in the patient's mouth for a second period of time, wherein the second orthodontic appliance is configured to exert an amount of force to expand the palate according to a second stage of the treatment plan,
- wherein the second orthodontic appliance has a larger palatal width than the first orthodontic appliance, and
- wherein the first and second orthodontic appliances are shaped to conform to the patient's upper arch and palate based on an oral scan of the patient.
A series of palatal expanders, having a sequence and configured to be sequentially worn by a patient to expand the patient's palate, the sequence of palatal expanders comprising:
- a first palatal expander shaped to engage lateral sides of the patient's palate and exert a force directly to the lateral sides and configured to be worn for a first time period during a first treatment stage;
- and
- a second palatal expander shaped to engage the lateral sides of the patient's palate and exert a force directly to the lateral sides and configured to be worn for a second time period during a second treatment stage that is after the first treatment stage,
- wherein the second palatal expander has a transpalatal region that is wider than a transpalatal region of the first, and
- wherein the first and second palatal expanders are shaped to conform to a patient's upper arch and palate based on an oral scan of the patient.
A palatal expander, comprising:
- a shape profile shaped to engage lateral sides of a patient's palate and exert a force directly to the lateral sides and configured to be worn for a predetermined time period, wherein the palatal expander is further shaped to conform to a patient's upper arch and palate based on an oral scan of the patient;
- a first teeth engaging region and a second teeth engaging region configured to engage teeth on opposite sides of a patient's upper arch;
- and
- a transpalatal region extending between the first and second teeth engaging regions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.