Abstract: Systems and methods of simulating, modeling, and validating orthodontic treatment are disclosed. The method may include designing an orthodontic treatment system or force system, generative a displacement field between a first position of a patient's teeth and a second position, modeling the three-dimensional force-displacement model generated by the treatment system or force system, and validating the treatment system or force system. The methods disclosed herein may be iterated to optimize the orthodontic force system or treatment system.

Abstract: A distributed system includes one or more servers configured to provide computing devices access to portals hosted by the one or more servers, where the portals include a patient intake portal accessible by a first computing device located at an office of an intake dentist or orthodontist, and an approving portal accessible by a second computing device remote from the first computing device. The distributed system includes a dental aligner fabrication system including a fabrication computing device and dental aligner fabrication equipment. The patient intake portal is configured to provide a plurality of status updates to the intake dentist or orthodontist regarding a status of the patient, where the plurality of status updates include an indication that the dental aligners have been sent to the patient.

Abstract: Provided herein are systems and methods for scoring a post-treatment tooth position of a patient's teeth. A patient's dentition may be scanned and/or segmented. Raw dental features, principal component analysis (PCA) features, and/or other features may be extracted and compared to those of other teeth, such as those obtained through automated machine learning systems. A classifier can identify and/or output the post-treatment tooth position of the patient's teeth.

Abstract: The present disclosure proposes an apparatus for determining a bone age of teeth. The apparatus according to the present disclosure may acquire a plurality of first teeth images of a plurality of teeth corresponding to a first gender and having a first bone age, generate a plurality of pre-processed images by pre-processing the plurality of first teeth images, generate a determination filter for determining a teeth shape for the first bone age of a human body having the first gender by training the neural network model using the plurality of pre-processed images, acquire a second teeth image of teeth of a human body having a second gender and gender information indicating the second gender, and determine a second bone age of the teeth corresponding to the second teeth image based on the second teeth image and the gender information by using the determination filter.

Abstract: An improved preparation method uses an additional preparation tray as part of a multi-step tray alignment system which achieves orthodontic tooth movement. The preparation tray incorporates openings in the tray for the application of a bonding preparation fluid, such as an etching agent, or alternately, an etching and bonding agent, in the correct location and amount. The openings are at least the size and shape of the tooth attachments and greatly reduce the tooth surface area accessible to the clinician. This confines the bonding preparation fluid to an area equal to, or slightly larger than, the attachment contact area. The method and apparatus provide faster application, vastly reduced cleanup, less tooth enamel damage, and less chair time for the patient.

Abstract: Methods for detecting and avoiding collisions of teeth during orthodontic treatment may include determining a schedule of movement for dental objects during treatment stages, calculating a respective route from an initial position toward a final position for each of the dental objects during the treatment stage, and modifying the schedule of movement with a first modification to avoid a collision or obstruction between two of the dental objects on their respective routes. The modification may include moving a first of the dental objects away from the respective route of a second of the dental objects, and moving the first dental object toward its respective final position after the second dental object has sufficiently traversed its respective route to avoid the collision.

Abstract: Aligner attachment placement devices including a frame configured to extend over at least a portion of a dental arch, an attachment support extending from a first side of the frame, an aligner attachment frangibly connected to the attachment support, a first and second registration anchor, and a retention support extending from a second side of the frame. In some cases, a gap portion of the frame between the first and second registration anchors may be configured to suspend over one or more teeth of the dental arch. The retention support may be separate from and located between the first and second registration anchors. The retention support may include an extension arm and a tooth contact portion, where at least part of the extension arm has a smaller width than the tooth contact portion.

Abstract: Methods of representing user edits or modifications of a treatment plan for a dental apparatus (e.g., one or a series of aligners) by managing an original clinical data set and a set of modifications of the clinical data set. Also described herein are methods of displaying, condensing, storing and reconstructing collision regions between two or more teeth.

Abstract: Method of enrichment of a reference model to be enriched representing a dental arch. Acquisition, under first real conditions, of a current image of the arch displaying one region. Exploration of the reference model in such a manner as to determine a first view of the reference model, in a first direction of observation the reference image exhibiting a maximum match with the current image. Determination, by comparison of the images, of a first orphan point represented on the current image and not represented on the reference image when the current image is in a first register position in which it is superposed, in the space of the reference model, with the reference image. Addition, in the reference model, of a point on a first straight line parallel to the first direction of observation and passing through the first orphan point in the first register position.

Abstract: Orthodontic positioning devices, and related methods and systems, are disclosed for use with one or more orthodontic elastic members. The disclosed methods may comprise determining the geometries for a pair of orthodontic aligners for use as part of an orthodontic treatment plan. The geometries for the pair of orthodontic aligners may include an upper aligner with a first marking and a lower aligner with a second marking. The first marking may correspond to a position of a first hook, and the second marking may correspond to a position of a second hook. The first hook and the second hook may be configured to engage with an orthodontic elastic member so as to react a force to, for example, generate orthodontic forces on the patient's teeth.

Abstract: In particular embodiments, method, apparatus and system for receiving digital representations of the initial parameters of a dentition; simulating a first orthodontic treatment process on the digital representations of the initial parameters, displaying a set of output results from the simulation of the first orthodontic treatment process, simulating a second orthodontic treatment process on the output results from the simulation of the first orthodontic treatment process, and displaying a set of output results from the simulation of the second orthodontic treatment process are provided.

Abstract: A processing device receives image data of an actual condition of a patient's dental arch at a stage of an orthodontic treatment plan. The processing device compares the image data of the actual condition of the patient's dental arch to a planned condition of the patient's dental arch for the stage of the orthodontic treatment plan. The processing device determines an updated orthodontic treatment plan based on one or more differences between the actual condition of the patient's dental arch and the planned condition of the patient's dental arch determined from the comparing. The processing device generates one or more three-dimensional (3D) models for one or more new orthodontic aligners in accordance with the updated orthodontic treatment plan.

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: The present disclosure includes methods, systems, and devices for prioritization of three dimensional dental elements. One method for prioritizing three dimensional dental elements includes receiving a virtual initial dental data set (IDDS) of teeth having spatial information regarding the positions of a number of teeth in the virtual IDDS with respect to each other for presentation of the teeth in a virtual three dimensional space to be viewed on a user interface, setting prioritization values of a number of elements of one or more of the number of teeth, and prioritizing the number of elements to be selected by a user based upon their prioritization values.

Abstract: Methods and systems for manufacturing an orthodontic appliance with an object incorporated in a surface thereof comprising: acquiring a preliminary appliance 3D digital model; acquiring an object 3D digital model; obtaining a desired coupling location of the object on the orthodontic appliance; positioning the object 3D digital model onto a surface of the preliminary appliance 3D digital model based on the obtained coupling location; causing an initial predetermined degree of penetration; merging the object 3D digital model with the preliminary appliance 3D digital model to generate an appliance 3D digital model of the orthodontic appliance with the object incorporated in the surface; and storing the appliance 3D digital model in an internal memory of the electronic device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for cutting and trimming dental molds and oral appliances by receiving a digital model of teeth, determining a cutting loop path and applying a drape wall to the cutting loop to generate a simplified tooth base in a dental mold having an inner arch curve and an outer arch curve. The oral appliance may be formed on the dental mold and a cutter may be applied using a sweeping motion across the inner and outer arch curves.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present application provides a method for verifying a segmentation result of a 3D digital model of jaw, the method comprises: obtaining a reference position segmentation result of a 3D digital model of jaw, where the reference position result is obtained by segmenting the 3D digital model of jaw positioned at a reference position using a first segmentation method; perturbating the 3D digital model of jaw positioned at the reference position multiple times, and segmenting the 3D digital model of jaw positioned at the multiple perturbed positions using the first segmentation method, to obtain corresponding multiple perturbed position segmentation results; and determining whether the reference position segmentation result is reliable based on similarities between the reference position segmentation result and the multiple perturbed position segmentation results, where segmentation of the 3D digital model of jaw is to segment teeth from each other and from gingiva, and is to classify facets of

Abstract: Described herein are methods and apparatuses to obtain an image, or a set of images, of a patient's teeth from one or more predetermined viewing angles. These methods and apparatuses may include the use an overlay comprising an outline of teeth for each predetermined viewing angle. The overlay may be used for automatically capturing, focusing and/or illuminating the teeth. Also described herein are methods and apparatuses for using a series of images of the patient's teeth including a set of predetermined views to determine if a patient is a candidate for an orthopedic procedure.

Abstract: A system for providing orthodontic treatment to a patient wherein a general dentist receives direction from a consultant orthodontist. The system includes a network configured to assign the consultant orthodontist to the general dentist. The network includes a central server with a patient database. The patient database includes a first patient's dental record of a first patient and a plurality of additional patients' historical dental records of a plurality of additional patients. The network also includes an analysis and prediction module. The analysis and prediction module is configured to access the first patient's dental record and the plurality of additional patients' historical dental records prior to initiation of treatment of the first patient to compare and contrast similar dental records of the additional patients' historical dental records to the first patient's dental records to predict timing and outcome for dental treatment of the first patient.

Abstract: A system for correcting class III malocclusions is disclosed. The system may include a maxilla appliance having tooth receiving cavities shaped to receive teeth of the maxilla and a first coupling for receiving an elastic. The system may also include a mandibular appliance having tooth receiving cavities shaped to receive teeth of the mandible. In some embodiments, the system includes a class III corrective appliance having a first mount shaped to engage with the mandibular arch of the patient and having a second coupling shaped to receive the elastic.

Abstract: A method of producing a retention piece having a guidance package configured to provide a desired movement profile including: obtaining data descriptive of mandibular and maxillary arches, an index position of the mandibular arch at a maximum closure position, and a temporomandibular joint of a recipient; specifying an appropriate guidance package based on the desired movement profile; positioning a retention piece comprising at least a portion of the specified guidance package about virtual representations of at least one of the mandibular and maxillary arches within a virtual articulator; modeling relative movement of the virtual representations of the mandibular and maxillary arches within the virtual articulator; and generating data that can be used by a computer aided machining (CAM) process to create at least one physical retention piece comprising the specified guidance package configured to provide the desired movement profile.

Abstract: Provided herein are orthodontic devices and methods for patients with missing or ectopic teeth. Methods and processes are provided to properly number the teeth of a patient's arch after a dental scan. Methods and processes are also provided to automatically detect missing or ectopic teeth after a dental scan. Methods of designing and manufacturing the aligner are also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides method, systems, and devices for adjusting an arch of teeth. An appliance includes a removable shell formed of a first material having a number of cavities formed therein, wherein the number of cavities are shaped to receive teeth of a patient, and an arch element extending from the removable shell in a lingual direction and across at least a portion of the arch width of the removable shell, wherein the arch element is designed to expand an arch of the teeth of the patient, wherein the arch element has a width specific to a stage of a treatment plan.

Abstract: Described herein are methods and apparatuses to obtain an image, or a set of images, of a patient's teeth from one or more predetermined viewing angles. These methods and apparatuses may include the use an overlay comprising an outline of teeth for each predetermined viewing angle. The overlay may be used for automatically capturing, focusing and/or illuminating the teeth. Also described herein are methods and apparatuses for using a series of images of the patient's teeth including a set of predetermined views to determine if a patient is a candidate for an orthopedic procedure.

Abstract: A computer product for generating a digital 3D model for use in a dental component based on a digital 3D model of the dental component showing a shape of the teeth and a digital 3D representation of a pre-prepared set of teeth showing the region for which the dental component is intended, the product causing a system to generate a digital 3D combined model representing a target dental situation when the dental component is arranged at the teeth, where the instructions are configured for digitally replacing one or more teeth of the digital 3D representation of the pre-prepared set of teeth with the digital 3D model of the dental component by digitally removing the one or more teeth of the digital 3D representation of the pre-prepared set of teeth and adding the digital 3D model of the dental component to the digital 3D representation of the pre-prepared set of teeth.

Abstract: A structure for assisting with opening and closing of a lower door includes a lower door having an upper end configured to be rotated open with respect to a bottom surface of a vehicle body, and a rotary unit configured to be fixed to the bottom surface of the vehicle body and configured to rotate in opposite directions to assist with opening and closing of the lower door.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of preparing a dental appliance for treating a patient having obstructive sleep apnea or hypopnea. Also included are dental appliances and their uses.

Abstract: A method for imaging expected results of a medical cosmetic treatment includes converting an input image of an anatomical feature into an input image vector. A direction vector corresponding to the medical cosmetic treatment is determined. An amplitude of the direction vector is determined. The direction vector is multiplied by the determined amplitude to obtain a product vector. The product vector is vector added to the input image vector. An output image corresponding to the expected visual appearance of the human anatomical feature is generated from the vector added product vector and input image vector. A computer program stored in a non-transitory computer readable medium causes a computer to perform the imaging method.

Abstract: In a system of manufacturing an orthodontic wire, a method for manufacturing the orthodontic wire using the system, and an orthodontic wire bending machine for performing the system, the system includes a teeth data obtaining part, a simulating part, a calculating part and a wire manufacturing part. The teeth data obtaining part obtains present teeth data of a patient. The simulating part generates final teeth data. The calculating part compares a predetermined threshold to a compared value between the present teeth data of the patient and the final teeth data. The wire manufacturing part selectively manufactures a wire for an orthodontic process or a wire for a dentition maintenance process based on a compared result of the calculating part.

Abstract: A method for moving an existing implant along a jaw bone of a person, the method including positioning an abrasive bur between adjacent roots of the at least one tooth and existing implant in the jaw bone, rotating the abrasive bur, applying the rotating bur to penetrate the gingiva tissue covering the space between the adjacent roots of the at least one tooth and implant to remove a desired amount of gingival tissue and expose the underlying jaw bone, and contacting the bone with the rotating bur to abrasively vibrate the jaw bone adjacent to at least one tooth without drilling through the cortical bone.

Abstract: A method for performing enamel replacement on a tooth in the mouth of a person, the method including: beginning an arch reformulation therapy (ART) process, selecting a tooth for an enamel replacement process to be performed on, identifying a surface of the tooth to have a dental composite material adhered to as part of the enamel replacement process, discluding multiple teeth during the ART process including the selected tooth, preparing the identified surface of the selected tooth for adherence of a dental composite material, the preparation including application of a preparation material to the surface of the tooth, and applying the dental composite material to the prepared surface.

Abstract: A method of orthodontic treatment planning for a patient includes receiving three-dimensional intraoral surface scan data of a dentition of the patient, receiving three-dimensional volumetric scan data of the dentition of the patient, and overlaying the intraoral surface scan data and the volumetric scan data to generate an integrated patient model comprising a root of at least one tooth having a longitudinal axis. The method further includes determining, for use in planning an orthodontic treatment, a center of rotation of the at least one tooth, wherein the center of rotation is defined as a point located a predetermined distance from a base of the root to an apex of the root along the longitudinal axis of the at least one tooth in the integrated patient model.

Abstract: A method for analyzing a real dental situation of a patient. The method includes steps, as follows, in succession. At an updated instant, acquisition of an updated image representing a real dental scene as observed by an operator. Determination of a virtual dental scene as a function of the representation of the real dental scene on the updated image. Presentation of the virtual dental scene in transparent mode and overlaid on the real dental scene, or display of the updated image on a screen and presentation of the virtual dental scene overlaid with the representation of the real dental scene on the updated image displayed on the screen, in transparent mode or not on the representation.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides method, computing device readable medium, and devices for dental appliances with repositioning jaw elements. An example of a method can include identifying a misaligned jaw of a patient from a virtual image of the patient's jaw, and providing a treatment plan for the patient including a virtual model of a dental appliance having a first shell and a second shell configured to reposition at least one tooth of the patient. The virtual model of the dental appliance including repositioning jaw elements on the first shell and the second shell configured to move a position of the misaligned jaw of the patient.

Abstract: Orthodontic aligners can be used to help shape a patient's teeth, jaw, and gums. Aligners are designed to move teeth into a desired position. Prior to the treatment, a dental professional will prepare a treatment plan (e.g., a set of aligners, etc.) Each aligner in the set may perform a different action on different subsets of teeth. Many dental professionals use animation software to show the patient an animation/video of the changes that are going to occur to the patient's teeth/jaw over time as a result of the treatment plan. While the animation may visually depict how the teeth and mouth are going to change, it does not tell the patient what is being performed (i.e., the actions that are being taken to move the teeth). As a result, the patient often has a significant number of questions because they are not properly educated on the treatment.

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: Method and/or apparatus embodiments for 3-D cephalometric analysis of a patient according to the application can display reconstructed volume image data from a computed tomographic scan of a patient's head including segmented dentition elements having an initial arrangement from one or more 2D/3D views; can compute and display a plurality of cephalometric parameters for the patient according to the reconstructed volume image data; then use the patient specific cephalometric parameters and population biometry data, to identify one or more maxillofacial/dental abnormalities; and compose patient specific treatment plans to correct selected dentition abnormalities using maxillofacial/dental structure, which can be composed in a final tooth arrangement in a final virtual CT volume. One or more aligners can be generated to incrementally move dentition from the initial arrangement to the final tooth arrangement.

Abstract: Disclosed is a computer-implemented method of using a dynamic virtual articulator for simulating occlusion of teeth, when performing computer-aided designing of one or more dental restorations for a patient, where the method includes the steps of: providing the virtual articulator including a virtual three-dimensional model of the upper jaw and a virtual three-dimensional model of the lower jaw resembling the upper jaw and lower jaw, respectively, of the patient's mouth; providing movement of the virtual upper jaw and the virtual lower jaw relative to each other for simulating dynamic occlusion, whereby collisions between teeth in the virtual upper and virtual lower jaw occur; wherein the method further includes: providing that the teeth in the virtual upper jaw and virtual lower jaw are blocked from penetrating each other's virtual surfaces in the collisions.

Abstract: Disclosed is surface guided cropping in volume rendering of 3D volumetric data from intervening anatomical structures in the patient's body. A digital 3D representation expressing the topography of a first anatomical structure is used to define a clipping surface or a bounding volume which then is used in the volume rendering to exclude data from an intervening structure when generating a 2D projection of the first anatomical structure.

Abstract: Systems and methods of simulating, modeling, and validating orthodontic treatment are disclosed. The method may include designing an orthodontic treatment system or force system, generative a displacement field between a first position of a patient's teeth and a second position, modeling the three-dimensional force-displacement model generated by the treatment system or force system, and validating the treatment system or force system. The methods disclosed herein may be iterated to optimize the orthodontic force system or treatment system.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of processing a digital dental impression includes determining one or more first digital surface regions visible from a first side of the digital dental impression along an occlusion axis and one or more second digital surface regions visible from a second side of the digital dental impression along the occlusion axis, segmenting the digital dental impression into one or more digital segments and determining the one or more digital segments as a first digital segment or a second digital segment based on the majority of digital surface regions in the one or more digital segments.

Abstract: A distributed computer system for manufacturing an orthodontic appliance for a subject is provided. The system comprises: a server communicatively couplable to electronic devices associated with sets of users, the sets of users comprising: a first set of users for providing preliminary orthodontic treatment plans for subjects, a second set of users for providing input to the preliminary orthodontic treatment plans, and a third set of users for manufacturing orthodontic appliances to implement at least a portion of finalized orthodontic treatment plans, the finalized orthodontic treatment plans being based on a given preliminary orthodontic treatment plan and a given input from a user of the second set of users to the given preliminary orthodontic treatment plan.

Abstract: To have convenient and highly precise prediction of the shape of a human body after a treatment by calculation processing that includes extracting a feature vector Fnew from face data of a patient as an evaluation subject, selecting a plurality of case patients having feature vectors Fpre(i), extracted from the face data of a plurality of previous patients, obtaining pre-orthodontic facial shape models Hpre(i) and a post-orthodontic facial shape models Hpost(i) in which the faces of the selected previous case patients before and after a treatment have been normalized, obtaining a facial shape model Hnew, and obtaining a three-dimensional predicted facial shape model Hprd, by modifying the facial shape model Hnew of the patient as an evaluation subject, using a vector average difference AVEpost?AVEpre between the pre-treatment and post-treatment facial shape models.

Abstract: A method of collecting dental measurements comprising: receiving optical measurement data of at least a portion of a subject's mouth; contacting a portion of a measuring device to portions of the subject's mouth to collect position measurement data, where the measuring device includes a tracker; and combining the optical measurement data and the position measurement data.

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: Systems and methods for fabricating indirect bonding trays are disclosed. Physical models of a patient's teeth can be created with non-functional placeholder brackets, impressions of which can be transferred to indirect bonding trays. This can create wells in which functional brackets can be placed into, reducing errors created from transferring functional brackets from the physical model onto the indirect bonding trays.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method for determining fitness for a dental splint is disclosed. The method involves starting evaluation application on a smartphone, activating camera of the smartphone, moving the smartphone relative to the teeth of the person as directed by a GUI of the application on a display of smartphone, and deactivating the camera as directed by the GUI of the application.

Abstract: A method for analyzing a real dental situation of a patient. The method includes steps, as follows, in succession. At an updated instant, acquisition of an updated image representing a real dental scene as observed by an operator. Determination of a virtual dental scene as a function of the representation of the real dental scene on the updated image. Presentation of the virtual dental scene in transparent mode and overlaid on the real dental scene, or display of the updated image on a screen and presentation of the virtual dental scene overlaid with the representation of the real dental scene on the updated image displayed on the screen, in transparent mode or not on the representation.

Abstract: Method and system for displaying an orthodontic related image including one or more image segments, selecting one or more movement indicators associated with a corresponding one or more of the image segments, and dynamically displaying a modified orthodontic related image based on the selected one or more movement indicators are provided.

Abstract: A method of forming an orthodontic aligner from an aligner digital model, the method comprising the steps of: three-dimensionally printing an intermediate structure comprising fused filaments from a biocompatible thermoplastic according to the aligner digital model via fused deposition modelling; coating the intermediate structure with a biocompatible translucent photopolymer; and irradiating the coating with ultraviolet light to cure the coating on the intermediate structure, thereby forming the orthodontic aligner.