Methods and systems for concurrent tooth repositioning and substance delivery
AssigneeAlign Technology, Inc.
InventorsEric Kuo, Loc X. Phan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides devices, systems and methods for orthodontic treatment using elastic repositioning appliances while concurrently providing dental and periodontal therapies. Such therapies are traditionally provided with the use of a variety of accessories and devices which are applied when the repositioning appliance is removed from the patient's mouth. The present invention eliminates the need for such removal and additional devices by incorporating these therapies into the repositioning appliance.
Claims45
A system for repositioning teeth and releasing an agent to an oral environment, said system comprising:
- at least three tooth positioning appliances, wherein said appliances comprise polymeric shells having cavities, which are removably placeable over the teeth and wherein the cavities of successive shells are shaped to reposition teeth from one arrangement to a successive arrangement;
- and
- means coupled to sonic of the appliances and not others for releasing the agent to the oral environment when the some of the appliances are in place over the teeth and not when the others are in place so that the agent is delivered at spaced-apart times during repositioning of the teeth.
A method for concurrently repositioning teeth and delivering agents to the oral environment of a patient, said method comprising:
- placing a first tooth position adjustment appliance over the patient's teeth, wherein the teeth move to a first tooth arrangement, and
- placing a second tooth position adjustment appliance over the patient's teeth after the teeth have moved to the first tooth arrangement, wherein the teeth move to a second tooth arrangement;
- wherein the agent is released from the first or the second tooth position adjustment appliances to the oral environment while the agent releasing appliance is in place over the patient's teeth so that the agent is delivered at spaced-apart times during repositioning of the teeth.
A method for introducing agent delivery to a prescribed tooth repositioning treatment plan, said method comprising:
- providing at least three tooth positioning appliances, wherein said appliances comprise polymeric shells having cavities, which are removably placeable over the teeth and wherein the cavities of successive shells are shaped to reposition teeth from one arrangement to a successive arrangement according to the treatment plan;
- and
- coupling to at least one but not all of the appliances an agent which will be released to the oral environment when the at least one but not all of the appliances is in place over the teeth so that the agent is delivered at spaced-apart tunes during repositioning of the teeth.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.