Abstract: An orthodontic appliance may include an outer shell having a plurality of cavities shaped to receive the patient's teeth and generate one or more of a force or a torque in response to the appliance being worn on the patient's teeth. The orthodontic appliance may also include an inner structure having a stiffness different than a stiffness of the outer shell. The inner structure can be positioned on an inner surface of the outer shell in order to distribute the one or more of a force or a torque to at least one tooth received within the plurality of cavities.

Abstract: Embodiments are provided for using an individualized orthodontic treatment index. One method embodiment includes receiving an initial virtual dental model from a first scan of a patient's dentition, modifying the initial virtual dental model to create a target virtual dental model according to a treatment goal, assigning a number of dental references to the target virtual dental model, receiving a treatment outcome virtual dental model from a second scan of the patient's dentition, mapping the number of dental references from the target virtual dental model to a treatment outcome virtual dental model, and calculating an individualized treatment index score for the treatment outcome virtual dental model according to one or more differences between the target virtual dental model and the treatment outcome virtual dental model based on the number of dental references.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods, devices, systems, and computer-implemented methods for forming and placing attachments for use with dental appliances, and more particularly to the design, manufacture, and use of three-dimensionally printed attachment templates for use with orthodontic devices. Dental attachment templates include a cavity with one or more openings for injecting and bonding attachment material directly on a patient's tooth, which allow accurate placement of the attachments while providing the dental practitioner flexibility during the attachment forming process. Digital dental attachment template model techniques can be used to accurately place the cavity and opening.

Abstract: Methods for designing and fabrication of a series of apparatuses for expanding a patient's palate (“palatal expanders”). In particular, described herein are methods and apparatuses for forming palatal expanders, including rapid palatal expanders, as well as series of palatal expanders formed as described herein and apparatuses for designing and fabricating them.

Abstract: Dental retainer devices are provided. The dental retainer devices can be customized based on patient specific dental anatomy and dental treatment plans. Methods of making the dental retainer devices are also provided. The methods can included additive manufacturing. Methods are also provided for customization of a dental retainer device based on the patient specific anatomy. The methods for customization can include providing a dentist with different options for anterior teeth coverage, posterior teeth coverage, and palatal configurations for the dental retainer devices.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include computing device related, system, and method embodiments for virtually testing force placed on a tooth are described herein. One method embodiment includes receiving initial orthodontic data (IOD) of teeth, and receiving a desired position of a tooth contained in the IOD. The method embodiment can also include computing a desired force and torque to be applied to the tooth to reach the desired position, wherein the force and torque are applied using a dental attachment. The method embodiment can include virtually testing and adjusting the attachment iteratively to reach the desired force and torque, and displaying the force and torque applied to the tooth via a user interface.

Abstract: Orthodontic systems and related methods are disclosed for designing and providing improved or more effective tooth moving systems for eliciting a desired tooth movement and/or repositioning teeth into a desired arrangement. Methods and orthodontic systems include the generation of an overcorrection in the tooth-receiving cavities of an appliance worn in the dentition. The overcorrection may provide an improved and more accurately applied force or moment applied to a tooth. The overcorrected force or moment can move a tooth closer to a desired position than if not overcorrected as sufficient force can still applied to the tooth as it gets closer to the desired position. The overcorrected force or moment may also better target the root of the tooth where the biological response to tooth movement occurs. The overcorrection may be calculated in various ways as described herein.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods, devices, systems, and computer-implemented methods for forming and placing attachments for use with dental appliances, and more particularly to the design, manufacture, and use of three-dimensionally printed attachment templates for use with orthodontic devices. Dental attachment templates include a cavity with one or more openings for injecting and bonding attachment material directly on a patient's tooth, which allow accurate placement of the attachments while providing the dental practitioner flexibility during the attachment forming process. Digital dental attachment template model techniques can be used to accurately place the cavity and opening.

Abstract: Orthodontic systems and related methods are disclosed for designing and providing improved or more effective tooth moving systems for eliciting a desired tooth movement and/or repositioning teeth into a desired arrangement. Methods and orthodontic systems include the generation of an overcorrection in the tooth-receiving cavities of an appliance worn in the dentition. The overcorrection may provide an improved and more accurately applied force or moment applied to a tooth. The overcorrected force or moment can move a tooth closer to a desired position than if not overcorrected as sufficient force can still applied to the tooth as it gets closer to the desired position. The overcorrected force or moment may also better target the root of the tooth where the biological response to tooth movement occurs. The overcorrection may be calculated in various ways as described herein.

Abstract: Dental appliances having modified gingival edge profiles for optimizing orthodontic tooth movement. In some cases, at least a portion of the gingival edge is lengthened to extend past the gumline of the patient, thereby directing forces closer to a center of resistance of one or more teeth. In some cases, at least a portion of the gingival edge is shortened with respect to the gumline of the patient, thereby directing forces farther from a center of resistance of one or more teeth. The change in the force system of the dental appliance due to the gingival edge modification can be tailored and tuned for specific tooth movements.

Abstract: Systems and methods include determination of a plurality of records, each of the plurality of records including an event, an item, a supplier, and a timestamp, generation, for each of the plurality of records, of a negative sample record including the event of the record, the item of the record, the timestamp of the record, and a sample supplier different from the supplier of the record, association of each of the plurality of records and the generated negative sample records with either a first time period or a second time period based on the timestamp of the record, training of a machine-learning model based on the records and the negative sample records associated with the first time period, and evaluation of the trained model based on the records and the negative sample records associated with the second time period.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include computing device related, system, and method embodiments for virtually testing force placed on a tooth are described herein. One method embodiment includes receiving initial orthodontic data (IOD) of teeth, and receiving a desired position of a tooth contained in the IOD. The method embodiment can also include computing a desired force and torque to be applied to the tooth to reach the desired position, wherein the force and torque are applied using a dental attachment. The method embodiment can include virtually testing and adjusting the attachment iteratively to reach the desired force and torque, and displaying the force and torque applied to the tooth via a user interface.

Abstract: Palatal expander apparatuses for expanding a patient's palate (“palatal expanders”) and methods of using and making them. These palatal expanders may be configured to have a variable surface smoothness on one side (e.g., the lingual-facing surface) compared to the opposite side (e.g., the palatal-facing surface). These palatal expanders may be configured to have a varying thickness in the palatal region. These palatal expanders may be adapted for ease in removal by the patient or caregiver (e.g., including a hinged region and/or detachment region, and/or including a thinner buccal side then occlusal side, etc.).

Abstract: A system and method for determining a center of resistance of a tooth may include receiving a 3D digital representation of an initial arrangement and a final arrangement of a patient's teeth and determining a 3D treatment plan. The 3D treatment plan may include a plurality of 3D stages for rearranging the teeth from the initial arrangement toward the final arrangement. The method may also include determining, in accordance with the 3D treatment plan, an intended movement of the teeth for each of the stages and deriving, using a 3D resistance model, an applied force system for achieving the intended movement of the teeth for each of the stages. The method may also include deriving 3D geometries of oral appliances for the stages in response to the applied force system. Various other systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Palatal expander apparatuses for expanding a patient's palate (“palatal expanders”) and methods of using and making them. These palatal expanders may be configured to have a variable surface smoothness on one side (e.g., the lingual-facing surface) compared to the opposite side (e.g., the palatal-facing surface). These palatal expanders may be configured to have a varying thickness in the palatal region. These palatal expanders may be adapted for ease in removal by the patient or caregiver (e.g., including a hinged region and/or detachment region, and/or including a thinner buccal side then occlusal side, etc.).

Abstract: Orthodontic systems and related methods are disclosed for designing and providing improved or more effective tooth moving systems for eliciting a desired tooth movement and/or repositioning teeth into a desired arrangement. Methods and orthodontic systems include the generation of an overcorrection in the tooth-receiving cavities of an appliance worn in the dentition. The overcorrection may provide an improved and more accurately applied force or moment applied to a tooth. The overcorrected force or moment can move a tooth closer to a desired position than if not overcorrected as sufficient force can still applied to the tooth as it gets closer to the desired position. The overcorrected force or moment may also better target the root of the tooth where the biological response to tooth movement occurs. The overcorrection may be calculated in various ways as described herein.

Abstract: Provided is a method and system for normalizing catalog item data to create higher quality search results. In one example, the method may include receiving a record comprising an unstructured description of an object, identifying a type of the object from among a plurality of object types and identifying a predefined attribute of the identified type of object, extracting a value from the unstructured description corresponding to the predefined attribute and modifying the extracted value to generate a normalized attribute value, and storing a structured record of the object in a structured format comprising a plurality of values of a plurality of attributes of the object from the unstructured description including the normalized attribute value for the predefined attribute of the object.

Abstract: Methods and systems for generating a three-dimensional occlusogram are disclosed. One method includes determining a virtual three dimensional (3D) mesh model object of at least one tooth of a patient and displaying the determined virtual 3D mesh model object of at least one tooth of a patient wherein the 3D mesh model object includes a plurality of data sets associated with a set of occlusal information for the at least one tooth of the patient.

Abstract: Provided is a method and system for normalizing catalog item data to create higher quality search results. In one example, the method may include receiving a record comprising an unstructured description of an object, identifying a type of the object from among a plurality of object types and identifying a predefined attribute of the identified type of object, extracting a value from the unstructured description corresponding to the predefined attribute and modifying the extracted value to generate a normalized attribute value, and storing a structured record of the object in a structured format comprising a plurality of values of a plurality of attributes of the object from the unstructured description including the normalized attribute value for the predefined attribute of the object.

Abstract: A scan model that is a mathematical model to simulate an imaging process performed by an x-ray imaging device that created a two-dimensional x-ray image of at least one tooth is generated. The scan model uses an initial estimate of one or more parameters of the x-ray imaging device. The one or more parameters include a scan angle parameter indicative of a scan angle of the x-ray imaging device. A two-dimensional contour of a three-dimensional model is adjusted to cause a first component of the two-dimensional contour to approximately align with a second component of the two-dimensional x-ray image. The scan model is calibrated based on data obtained from adjusting the two-dimensional contour.