Dental appliances and associated methods of manufacturing

A method comprising:

• creating a first digital model representing a patient's anatomical gingiva and teeth in a first tooth arrangement;
• creating a second digital model representing the patient's anatomical gingiva and teeth in a second tooth arrangement different than the first tooth arrangement;
• creating a third digital model of a shaping fixture for forming a shape of an orthodontic appliance for moving a patient's teeth from the first tooth arrangement to the second tooth arrangement based on the first and second digital models, wherein the third digital model comprises securing portions characterizing positions of the patient's teeth in the second tooth arrangement, each of the securing portions defining a vertical channel;
• and
• fabricating a physical shaping fixture based on the third digital model of the shaping fixture.

A method comprising:

• creating a first digital model representing a patient's anatomical gingiva and teeth in a first tooth arrangement;
• creating a second digital model representing the patient's anatomical gingiva and teeth in a second tooth arrangement different than the first tooth arrangement;
• creating a third digital model of a shaping fixture configured to retain an orthodontic appliance in a configuration based on the first and second digital models during a shape setting process such that the shape-set orthodontic appliance moves a patient's teeth from the first tooth arrangement to the second tooth arrangement, wherein the third digital model comprises securing portions characterizing positions of the patient's teeth in the second tooth arrangement, each of the securing portions defining a through-channel;
• and
• fabricating a physical shaping fixture based on the third digital model of the shaping fixture.