Abstract: In a method of generating a virtual 3D model of a dental site, scan data comprising a plurality of images of a dental site is received during an intraoral scan. An analysis of an image is performed. A representation of a reference object with known properties is identified in the image based on the analysis. A virtual 3D model of the dental site is generated based on the plurality of images. The image and/or the virtual 3D model of the dental site is modified by adding additional data about the reference object to the intraoral image and/or the virtual 3D model based on the one or more known properties of the reference object. If the image is modified, it may be modified prior to generation of the virtual 3D model, and the virtual 3D model may be generated using the modified image.

Abstract: Apparatuses, including sleeves, intraoral scanning systems to use these sleeves, and methods of using the sleeve, that authenticate the sleeve for use with an intraoral scanning system. Authentication may include verifying that the sleeve is new (unused) and/or verifying that the sleeve is appropriate and/or intended for use with the intraoral scanning system. Once authenticated, operation parameters of the intraoral scanning system can be automatically set based on information from a scanned identifier on the sleeve.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a dental appliance includes receiving a digital three-dimensional model of a mold for a dental arch of a patient, the digital three-dimensional model of the mold comprising one or more features associated with a cut line. The method further includes fabricating the mold by a rapid prototyping machine using the digital three-dimensional model, the mold having the one or more features. The method further includes thermoforming the dental appliance over the mold, wherein the one or more features cause the dental appliance to have one or more markings or elements for the cut line. The method further includes removing the dental appliance from the mold, and trimming the dental appliance along the cut line using the one or more markings or elements.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for taking, using and displaying three-dimensional (3D) volumetric models of a patient's dental arch. A 3D volumetric model may include surface (e.g., color) information as well as information on internal structure, such as near-infrared (near-IR) transparency values for internal structures including enamel and dentin.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for generating and displaying a model of a subject's teeth. Described herein are intraoral scanning methods and apparatuses for generating a three-dimensional model of a subject's intraoral region (e.g., teeth). These methods and apparatuses may be used for identifying and evaluating lesions, caries and cracks in the teeth.

Abstract: Aligners and associated systems are provided. In some embodiments, an aligner includes a three-dimensionally (3D) printed shell. The 3D printed shell can include an interior surface having a plurality of tooth-receiving cavities shaped to reposition a patient's dentition from a first arrangement toward a second arrangement, and an exterior surface disposed opposite the interior surface. The aligner can also include one or more elastic regions directly fabricated on the 3D printed shell. When the aligner is worn on the patient's dentition, the aligner can apply one or more forces onto the patient's dentition via the one or more elastic regions to affect repositioning of the patient's dentition from the first arrangement toward the second arrangement.

Abstract: Methods and systems for digitally designing a plurality of aligners are provided. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving an intraoral scan of the patient's teeth, and generating 3D dental model of the patient's teeth using the intraoral scan. The method can include identifying a movement path to move the patient's teeth from an initial arrangement toward a target arrangement through a plurality of intermediate arrangements in accordance with a treatment plan. The method can also include identifying one or more appliance features of at least one aligner, the one or more appliance features including one or more feature regions having one or more feature thicknesses. The method can further include instructing an additive manufacturing machine to directly fabricate the at least one aligner in a layer-by-layer fashion.

Abstract: Described herein are attachments for an orthodontic appliance, such as an aligner, that include a base region configured to be rigidly mounted to a tooth surface and an interface surface region that is configured to engage with the orthodontic appliance, in which the base region and the interface surface region are movably connected. These attachments may be configured as force applying attachments and/or as force redirecting attachments. Also described herein are modular attachments.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for preparation of orthodontics and prosthodontics. A method may include scanning a patient's teeth to form first 3D data of the patient's teeth including a removable element that obscures part of the dental surfaces of the patient's teeth and non-obscured tooth surfaces, removing the removable element form the patient's teeth so that the removable element no longer obscures the part of the dental surfaces of the patient's teeth, and scanning the previously obscured part of the dental surfaces of the patent's teeth and the non-obscured tooth surfaces.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for producing appliances for expansion of the arch of a patient are provided. An arch expanding appliance comprises a force generating portion to apply an arch expansion force and a retention portion to hold the force generating portion on the teeth. The retention portion comprises a flexible portion and a stiff portion. The force generating portion applies a force to move teeth associated with the flexible portion, while the stiff portion resists movement of its associated teeth. The orthodontic appliances can be designed according to the specifications provided herein and manufactured using direct fabrication methods.

Abstract: A method includes receiving first intraoral scan data comprising a first depiction of a dental site comprising a preparation tooth; generating a virtual three-dimensional (3D) model of the dental site using the first intraoral scan data; processing at least one of the first intraoral scan data or data from the virtual 3D model to identify a margin line of the preparation tooth, wherein at least a portion of the margin line is unclear; outputting instructions to generate second intraoral scan data of the dental site depicting the portion of the margin line that is unclear; receiving the second intraoral scan data; and updating the virtual 3D model of the dental site using the second intraoral scan data, wherein the portion of the margin line that was unclear in the virtual 3D model is replaced with information from the second intraoral scan data.

Abstract: Releasable and removable palatal expander apparatuses for expanding a patient's palate (“palatal expanders”) and methods of using and making them. These releasable palatal expanders are adapted for ease in removal by the patient or caregiver, and may include a breach region configured to predictably bend or break when a pulling force is applied. The palatal expander apparatuses described herein may include one or more locks for locking the palatal expander onto the patient's teeth. The lock(s) may be unlocked to release the palatal expander from the teeth. A lock may include a control for manually unlocking the lock. Unlocking the locks may allow the palatal expander to automatically disengage from the patient's teeth.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for manufacturing a physical dental model. A virtual model is provided representative of at least a portion of the intra-oral cavity including at least one dental implant implanted therein, and the virtual model includes a virtual portion representative of each dental implant. The virtual spatial disposition of each such virtual portion is determined with respect to the virtual model, corresponding to a real spatial disposition of the respective implant with respect to the intra oral cavity. A physical model is then manufactured based on the virtual model, the physical model including a physical analog corresponding to each implant at a respective physical spatial disposition with respect to the physical model corresponding to the respective virtual spatial disposition of the respective virtual portion with respect to the first virtual model as already determined.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to adding customized cut line information to a shell that is to be formed over mold of a dental arch. In one embodiment, a processing device generates or receives a digital three-dimensional model of a mold for a dental arch of a patient. The processing device determines a cut line for a shell that is to be formed over the mold for the dental arch of the patient. The processing device then supplements the digital three-dimensional model by adding an auxiliary structure to the digital three-dimensional model, wherein the auxiliary structure comprises at least one of an elevation or a depression that extends along the cut line in the digital three-dimensional model, wherein the auxiliary structure will cause the shell formed over the mold to have an impression of the auxiliary structure that identifies the cut line.

Abstract: Orthodontic appliances and systems are provided. In some embodiments, an orthodontic appliance for repositioning a patient's teeth includes a first shell section shaped to receive a first portion of the patient's teeth and a first discontinuity formed on the first shell section, and a second shell section shaped to receive a second portion of the patient's teeth and a second discontinuity formed on the second shell section. The orthodontic appliance can also include a first elastic member coupled to the first shell section, such that the first elastic member interacts with the first discontinuity to exert a first force on the first portion of the patient's teeth. The orthodontic appliance can also include a second elastic member coupled to the second shell section, such that the second elastic member interacts with the second discontinuity to exert a second force on the second portion of the patient's teeth.

Abstract: A system comprises an image capture device, an augmented reality (AR) display to display, and a processing device. The processing deice receives image data of a dental arch from the image capture device and processes the image data using a plurality of detection rules, where each detection rule detects one or more dental conditions. The processing device determines a dental condition for the dental arch based on the processing, determines a position of an area of interest on the dental arch, wherein the area of interest is associated with the dental condition, generates a visual overlay comprising an indication of the dental condition at the position of the area of interest, and outputs the visual overlay to the AR display, wherein the visual overlay is superimposed over a view of the dental arch on the AR display at the position of the area of interest.

Abstract: An orthodontic appliance can include a shell having a plurality of cavities shaped to receive a patient's teeth is disclosed. The orthodontic appliance may comprise an interior surface and an exterior surface, and an elastic coating covering at least a portion of one or more of the interior surface or exterior surface of the shell. A stiffness of a portion of the orthodontic appliance corresponding to the portion of the shell covered by the elastic coating can be determined by a stiffness of the elastic coating.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides method, systems, and devices for expanding arch of teeth. A device for expanding an arch of teeth of a patient can include a removable shell formed of a first material having a number of cavities formed therein. The number of cavities are shaped to receive teeth of a patient. A device for expanding an arch of teeth of a patient can include an arch element extending from the removable shell in a lingual direction and across an arch width of the removable shell. The arch element can be formed of the first material and a second material that is a different material than the first material, can be designed to expand an arch of the teeth of the patient, and can have a width specific to a stage of a treatment plan.

Abstract: A computer-based prosthodontic method is provided, for enabling a dental practitioner to define a finish line of a dental prosthesis of at least one tooth to be fitted over a tooth preparation. The method comprises the following steps: providing a three-dimensional (3D) digital data relating to the patient's dentition, the 3D data includes data representative of the surface topology of the preparation and its surroundings; generating first finish line data representative of at least a portion of the finish line and superimposing an image of the finish line on an image of the dentition; obtaining second finish line data determined on the basis of input received from a dental practitioner; and using the second finish line data to update the first finish line data and superimposing the updated data on the dentition image.

Abstract: A processing device receives an intraoral image of a first intraoral site and determines an identity of the first intraoral site. The processing device then locks the intraoral image and selects a portion of the intraoral image depicting a portion of the first intraoral site based at least in part on the identity of the first intraoral site. The processing device may then generate a model comprising the first intraoral site based at least in part on the locked intraoral image, wherein the portion of the locked intraoral image is used for a first region of the model, and wherein data from one or more additional intraoral images that also depict the portion of the first intraoral site is not used for the first region of the model.