Methods and assemblies for making an orthodontic bonding tray using rapid prototyping

A method of making an indirect bonding tray for orthodontic treatment comprising:

• providing a digital data file that is representative of at least a portion of a patient's dental arch;
• determining the desired location of an orthodontic appliance on the patient's dental arch;
• forming a model of the patient's dental arch using the digital data file, wherein forming a model of the patient's dental arch comprises providing a guide having a known physical characteristic relative to the desired location of the orthodontic appliance on the model;
• connecting an appliance holder to an archwire slot of the orthodontic appliance;
• moving the holder into contact with the guide while the holder is connected to the archwire slot of the appliance, wherein moving the holder into contact with the guide comprises moving the appliance into a position on the model that corresponds to the desired location of the appliance on the patient's dental arch;
• and
• forming an indirect bonding tray over the model including the orthodontic appliance.