Abstract: A processing device of a system makes a comparison between a current image of an oral cavity of a patient and one or more previously received images of the oral cavity of the patient, the current image and the one or more previously received images having been generated by an intraoral scanner. The processing device determines an amount of overlap between a current field of view of the intraoral scanner and topography scans of the oral cavity based on the comparison. The processing device outputs a warning indicator associated with a positioning of the current field of view of the intraoral scanner responsive to determining that the amount of overlap fails to meet or exceed an overlap threshold.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides multi-material orthodontic appliances useful for expanding a palate or arch of a patient, and, in some case, moving one or more teeth of the patient from a first to a second location according to a treatment plan. Further provided herein are methods for producing and using such multi-material orthodontic appliances on an individualized basis where each appliance is tailored to the specific treatment requirements of a patient.

Abstract: Substrates and associated materials for additive manufacturing are provided. In some embodiments, a device for manufacturing an object from a curable material includes a substrate configured to support the curable material during an additive manufacturing process. The substrate can be at least partially transparent to a wavelength of energy that cures the curable material. The substrate can include a first layer with a first material configured to inhibit adhesion to the curable material. The substrate can also include a second layer with a second material having one or more of increased mechanical strength or increased heat resistance relative to the first material.

Abstract: A method of automated defect detection of a dental appliance comprises receiving a plurality of images of the dental appliance, and processing the plurality of images by a processing device to determine one or more defect estimations. The method comprises processing one or more sets of defect estimations to determine one or more defect classifications, wherein each set of the one or more sets comprises the one or more defect estimations associated with a subset of the plurality of images. The method comprises determining whether the dental appliance has a defect based on the one or more defect classifications associated with the one or more sets of defect estimations.

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: Methods and apparatuses for the automatic determination of the quality of digital three-dimensional (3D) models of a patient's dentition. A virtual 3D model may include multiple regions. A quality determination may include evaluating the virtual 3D model for one or more quality criteria that provide a basis for one or more defect types and for one or more quality measures of the one or more defect types at each of the multiple regions. One or more actions may be performed using the virtual 3D model based on the quality determination, including outputting a description of a risk associated with the one or more quality measures.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for computer-aided design, digital treatment planning, and direct additive manufacturing of dental appliances are provided. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving a treatment plan for a patient's teeth, the treatment plan specifying a target arrangement for the teeth and a plurality of treatment stages to reposition the teeth from an initial arrangement toward the target arrangement. The method can include identifying appliance design parameters for one or more dental appliances to implement at least one treatment stage of the plurality of treatment stages. The appliance design parameters can include one or more manufacturability parameters corresponding to an additive manufacturing process to be used to directly fabricate the one or more dental appliances. The method can further include determining an appliance geometry for the one or more dental appliances using the set of appliance design parameters.

Abstract: Various apparatuses are disclosed (e.g., system, device, method, or the like) for guiding the capture and assessing the quality of an image, including dental images. The apparatuses may use trained neural networks to examine images and provide users feedback regarding image quality. The neural networks may be trained based on images within image groups that have been ranked based on perceived image quality.

Abstract: This disclosure provides polymeric materials comprising weak crosslinking covalent bonds and/or weak crosslinking units comprising a weak covalent bond. Weak covalent bonds can be used in place of hydrogen bonds present in traditional polymeric materials (e.g., polyurethanes). Advantageously, the toughness can be controlled by varying the strength of weak covalent bonds and/or by varying the number of weak covalent crosslinks. Crosslinked materials applying the weak covalent crosslinking bonds can be used to create tough materials able to resist stress relaxation. Further, the present disclosure provides polymer chains and polymeric materials comprising inchain loops (also referred to herein as rings). The inchain loops comprise weak bonds and/or weak bridges comprising at least one weak bond.

Abstract: A system includes an intraoral scanner that generates a plurality of intraoral images of a dental site and a computing device. The computing device receives the plurality of intraoral images of the dental site during the intraoral scan session, registers the plurality of intraoral images together based on overlapping data of the plurality of intraoral images to generate a virtual three-dimensional (3D) model of the dental site, and fills in one or more missing areas in the virtual 3D model using data from a historical template.

Abstract: Methods for fabricating orthodontic appliances for expansion of the palate of a patient are provided. Methods may comprise receiving scan data of a patient's upper arch and palate, determining an amount of force to expand the patient's palate in response to the scan data, determining a shape profile of an orthodontic appliance for engaging the patient's teeth, and determining one or more of a force-generating or a resilient structure to provide the force. Methods of generating instructions for and direct fabrication of the orthodontic appliance with the teeth engaging structure and the force generating or resilient structures are also provided.

Abstract: Systems for modeling a digital articulator may include a processor in electronic communication with an extraoral imaging device and an intraoral imaging device and a non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon that when executed by the processor capture 3D data of the patient's face in with the extraoral imaging device, capture a 3D model of the patient's dentition, align the 3D model of the patient's dentition with 3D data of the patient's face, generate an estimate of the temporomandibular joint characteristics based on the 3D model of the patient's face, and derive digital articular settings for a digital articular based on the 3D model of the patient's dentition with the 3D data of the patient's face and the estimate of the temporomandibular joint characteristics.

Abstract: In embodiments set forth herein, an intraoral scanning system includes an intraoral scanner and a cradle and/or charging station for the intraoral scanner. The intraoral scanner generates intraoral scans and two-dimensional (2D) images during scanning, where the 2D images are generated according to a first frame rate. The intraoral scanner sends the intraoral scanner and the 2D images to the cradle. The cradle stores the intraoral scans and outputs a subset of the 2D images to a display according to a second frame rate that is lower than the first frame rate.

Abstract: Biosensor performance indicator systems for orthodontic appliances. An orthodontic appliance system may include at least one biosensor system having a bioreceptor configured to cause an interaction with a biomarker in fluid in an oral cavity. The biomarker may be associated with a velocity of tooth root movement. A biotransducer may be coupled to the bioreceptor. The biotransducer may be configured to transduce the interaction into an interaction signal representative of the interaction. A processor may be configured to receive sensor data corresponding to the interaction signal and, based on the sensor data, provide one or more recommendations to change the orthodontic appliance or modify an orthodontic treatment plan when the interaction signal is below a threshold.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for additive manufacturing are provided. In some embodiments, a method includes: coupling a plurality of build platforms to a carrier; forming a plurality of 3D objects on the plurality of build platforms using an additive manufacturing process, where each build platform receives at least one 3D object thereon; removing the plurality of build platforms from the carrier; performing post-processing of the plurality of 3D objects while the 3D objects remain on the respective build platforms; and separating the plurality of 3D objects from the respective build platforms.

Abstract: Methods and systems for simulating dental whitening. A two-dimensional (2D) image of a patient's oral cavity may be converted from a first color space to a CIELAB color space. A change in a blue-yellow color value (delta b value) with which to whiten the patient's teeth may be selected to increase a blue hue and decrease a yellow hue in the 2D image. A threshold lightness value of individual teeth in the 2D image may be identified. The 2D image in the CIELAB color space may be transformed by adjusting delta b values of each tooth based, at least in part, on an evaluation of a lightness value of each tooth relative to the threshold lightness value to form a whitened 2D image. Adjusting the delta b values may include limiting the delta b values to within a predetermined range. A whitened 2D image may be outputted.

Abstract: In embodiments set forth herein, an intraoral scanner comprises a body, and a probe at one end of the body, the probe comprising a scanner head. The intraoral scanner further comprises a wireless communication module disposed within the body, and one or more optical sensor to receive light that enters the scanner head and generate intraoral scan data based on the light, wherein the wireless communication module is to wirelessly send the intraoral scan data to a computing device. The intraoral scanner further comprises a primary power source disposed within the body, wherein the primary power source comprises at least one of a long distance wireless power transfer (LDWPT) receiver or a replaceable battery. The intraoral scanner further comprises a secondary power source disposed within the body, wherein the secondary power source comprises at least one of a rechargeable battery or a capacitor.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for additive manufacturing of objects are provided. In some embodiments, a device for supporting an object during an additive manufacturing process includes a build platform having a surface, and a plurality of support structures extending above the surface of the build platform. Each support structure can be configured to couple to a portion of an additively manufactured object. The device can also include a plurality of actuators, each actuator being configured to adjust a position of a corresponding support structure relative to the build platform.

Abstract: A method of designing a patient removable tooth positioning appliance may include receiving a digital representation of teeth of the patient in a selected arrangement and modeling the patient removable tooth positioning appliance having tooth receiving cavities shaped to receive and apply a resilient positioning force to the teeth of the patient based on the digital representation. The method may also include modeling a hook integral to the patient removable tooth positioning appliance and configured to interface with an elastic member so as to react a force from the elastic member into the appliance. The hook may be configured to be laterally offset from a portion of a tooth receiving cavity of the tooth receiving cavities. The method may also include outputting a three-dimensional representation of the patient removable tooth positioning appliance having the hook for fabrication by one or more fabrication machines.