Modified tooth positioning appliances and methods and systems for their manufacture

A method for producing a series of dental molds representing a jaw of a patient, said method comprising:

• providing at least one oral soft tissue relief;
• joining a first dental arch relief to the oral soft tissue relief to produce a first dental mold;
• and
• joining a second dental arch relief to the same or a second oral soft tissue relief to produce a second dental mold.

A dental mold of a jaw of a patient comprising:

• a dental arch relief comprises a material selected for the group consisting of fused layers of waxes, plastics, flexible elastomers and paper;
• and
• an oral soft tissue relief formed separately from the dental arch relief,
• wherein the arch relief and the tissue relief are joined.

A system of modeling a jaw of a patient during tooth repositioning for orthodontic treatment, said system comprising:

• an oral soft tissue relief;
• a first dental arch relief having a first tooth configuration, wherein the first dental arch relief is removably joinable with the oral soft tissue relief so that together the first dental arch relief and tissue relief anatomically resemble the jaw of the patient having the first tooth configuration;
• and
• a second dental arch relief having a second tooth configuration which is different from the first tooth configuration, wherein the second dental arch relief is removably joinable with the oral soft tissue relief so that together the second dental arch and tissue relief anatomically resemble the jaw of the patient having the second tooth configuration.

A system of modeling a jaw of a patient during tooth repositioning for orthodontic treatment, said system comprising:

• a first dental arch relief having a first tooth configuration and comprising fused layers of waxes, plastics, flexible elastomers, or paper;
• and
• an oral soft tissue relief,
• wherein the first dental arch relief is removably joinable with the oral soft tissue relief so that together the first dental arch relief and tissue relief anatomically resemble the jaw of the patient having the first tooth configuration.

A system of modeling a jaw of a patient during tooth repositioning for orthodontic treatment, said system comprising:

• an oral soft tissue relief;
• a first dental arch relief having a first tooth configuration, wherein the first dental arch relief is removably joinable with the oral soft tissue relief so that together the first dental arch relief and tissue relief anatomically resemble the jaw of the patient having the first tooth configuration;
• a second dental arch relief having a second tooth configuration which is different from the first tooth configuration, wherein the second dental arch relief is removably joinable with the oral soft tissue relief so that together the second dental arch and tissue relief anatomically resemble the jaw of the patient having the second tooth configuration;
• and
• a third dental arch relief having a third tooth configuration, wherein the third dental arch relief is removably joinable with the oral soft tissue relief so that together the third dental arch relief and the tissue relief anatomically resemble the jaw of the patient having the third tooth configuration.