Method for producing tooth movement
AssigneeAlign Technology, Inc.
InventorsLoc X. Phan, Muhammad Chishti
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides methods and systems of repositioning teeth for use in orthodontic treatment, with particular applicability to removable elastic repositioning appliances. Such appliances may be challenged by traditional tooth movements which intrude the crown of the tooth or present tooth positions which reduce available points of purchase. These challenges may be overcome with a series of tooth movements in which a tooth is translated in a “root-first” position. The movements may take advantage of the inherent characteristics of elastic repositioning appliances in translating a tooth from a first position to a desired position along a gingival plane.
Claims7
A method of repositioning teeth comprising:
- choosing at least one tooth, having a root, a crown, a center of rotation and a longitudinal axis with portions passing through the root, the crown and the center of rotation, to be repositioned from a first location to a desired location along a gingival plane;
- determining that the longitudinal axis is angled less than 90 degrees from the gingival plane;
- at least partially extruding the tooth so that the crown is not substantially intruded below the gingival plane;
- translating the tooth toward the desired location;
- rotating the tooth around the center of rotation so that the longitudinal axis is substantially perpendicular to the gingival plane at the desired location;
- and
- intruding the tooth so that the crown is positioned in a preselected location.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.