Abstract: A method for manufacturing an orthodontic appliance in the form of an aligner, has the following steps: forming a sheet of plastic over a mold by deep drawing, trimming the deep-drawn plastic in a rough cut, wherein the plastic is arranged on the mold, moving the deep-drawn plastic together with the mold to a supporting surface by means of a robot, separating the deep-drawn plastic from the mold by means of the supporting surface, moving the deep-drawn plastic to a fixing device by means of the robot, wherein the fixing device is configured to fix the deep-drawn plastic at the fixing device and/or to prevent the deep-drawn plastic from shifting during trimming, and trimming the deep-drawn plastic in a fine cut to create the orthodontic appliance.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method automatically translates at least one pre-defined digital data record representing a cutting line for an orthodontic appliance, preferably in the form of an aligner, a retainer or a bracket, into at least one translated digital data record readable by at least one manufacturing facility, preferably including a milling device and/or a laser device. An algorithm automatically transfers the at least one pre-defined digital data record into at least one translated digital data record representing at least one translated cutting line such that the at least one manufacturing facility can directly cut the orthodontic appliance along the translated cutting line.

Abstract: A system for visualizing at least one three-dimensional virtual model of at least part of a dentition has at least one screen and least one processor configured to generate an on-screen layout and having a plurality of graphical control elements. The processor is configured such that operator interaction leads to the invocation of an associated function. The processor has a user interface with a viewer region for visualizing a three-dimensional virtual model of at least part of a dentition, and at least a first and a second category of individual graphical control elements. Elements of the first category are hidden and/or spatially separated from and/or differently colored compared to individual graphical controls of the second category such that accidental interaction with elements from the first category is reduced. The processor indicates availability of associated functions by a color of the function name and/or a color of each graphical control element.

Abstract: An arrangement of orthodontic treatment planning software to create a treatment plan installed on at least one server and at least one local client is in the form of a plug-in running on a processing unit of a local computer or a mobile device. The at least one client has a user interface that visualizes a virtual representation of a three-dimensional virtual model of at least part of a dentition. The at least one server has a first data transmission interface for sending and receiving data via a data network and the local computer or mobile device has a second data transmission interface for sending and receiving data via a data network. The at least one client transmits a digital data record of a modified three-dimensional virtual model of the dentition and/or with information for a treatment plan via the second data transmission interface to the first data transmission interface.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an object, in particular an orthodontic appliance, by a 3D-printing device comprising a supply device for provision of a non-solidified material and means for illumination to solidify a layer of non-solidified material provided by the supply device at least zonally to fabricate the object, characterized by the following steps: a virtual model of the object to be printed is provided for the 3D-printing device, the supply device provides a layer of the non-solidified material, the means for illumination solidify the layer at least zonally, whereby the means for illumination comprises illumination pixels arranged in a grid, preferably with a dimension (between 10 ?m and 80 ?m, particularly preferred between 30 ?m and 50 ?m, wherein at least one dimension of the object represented by the virtual model is chosen to be aligned with the dimension of the illumination pixels.

Abstract: A system and a computer-implemented method create a virtual model representing at least the individual visible teeth parts and gingiva of at least part of a dentition of a patient in segmented form out of a 3d model representing that part of the dentition in unsegmented form. At least one treatment plan can be created and a process is provided for obtaining at least one appliance based on the at least one treatment plan.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and a system create a virtual model of at least a part of an orthodontic appliance. A process for manufacturing at least a part of an orthodontic appliance is described. A device formed by an orthodontic appliance and at least one strut is described.

Abstract: An orthodontic bracket has at least one base configured for attachment to a tooth surface and at least one bracket element arranged at one side of the at least one base, the at least one bracket element comprising—at least one arch wire slot—two wall portions wherein the orthodontic bracket comprises at least one one-piece covering door having at least one first free end which is shaped to fit within at least one indentation of a first wall portion. The at least one indentation comprises at least one locking elevation and the at least one covering door comprises at least one locking deepening. The at least one bracket element and/or the at least one base comprises composite material such as polyurethane material, and/or the at least one covering door comprises composite material such as polyurethane material, and/or comprises ceramic material.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an object, in particular an orthodontic appliance, by a 3D-printing device comprising a supply device for provision of a non-solidified material and means for illumination to solidify a layer of non-solidified material provided by the supply device at least zonally to fabricate the object, characterized by the following steps: a virtual model of the object to be printed is provided for the 3D-printing device, the supply device provides a layer of the non-solidified material, the means for illumination solidify the layer at least zonally, whereby the means for illumination comprises illumination pixels arranged in a grid, preferably with a dimension (between 10 ?m and 80 ?m, particularly preferred between 30 ?m and 50 ?m, wherein at least one dimension of the object represented by the virtual model is chosen to be aligned with the dimension of the illumination pixels.

Abstract: A device comprising an orthodontic or dental appliance for use with a system for information management in dentistry, a system for storing and managing dentistry data such as information about an orthodontic or dental treatment of a person using a private network and a method for information management in dentistry are described.

Abstract: A ligating clip for a self-ligating orthodontic bracket includes: a labial arm having a free end and a further end; a lingual arm having a free end and a further end; a connecting arm connected to the further ends of the labial arm and the lingual arm the labial arm, wherein the connecting arm and the lingual arm each have a distal side and a mesial side, the labial arm and the lingual arm extend generally in a gingival-occlusal direction and the connecting arm extends generally in a lingual-labial direction; and a locking element in form of a hook arranged at the free end of the lingual arm, wherein the hook protrudes in a lingual-labial direction. At least one cutout is arranged at the free end of the lingual arm, the at least one cutout being open at either the distal or the mesial side of the lingual arm.

Abstract: A system and a computer-implemented method are provided to create a virtual model representing at least the individual visible teeth parts and gingiva of at least part of a dentition of a patient in segmented form out of a 3d model representing that part of the dentition in unsegmented form. At least one treatment plan is created and a process is provided for obtaining at least one appliance based on the at least one treatment plan.

Abstract: A system and a computer-implemented method are provided to create a virtual model representing at least the individual visible teeth parts and gingiva of at least part of a dentition of a patient in segmented form out of a 3d model representing that part of the dentition in unsegmented form. At least one treatment plan is created and a process is provided for obtaining at least one appliance based on the at least one treatment plan.

Abstract: A self-ligating orthodontic bracket has a bracket body having a mesial-distal arch wire slot extending in a labial direction of the bracket body, a base with a bonding surface and a channel oriented essentially perpendicular to the arch wire slot. There is at least one covering door for occluding the arch wire slot in a closed position and opening the arch wire slot in an open position. The at least one covering door is slidably coupled to the bracket body and is essentially linearly moveable between the closed position and the open position. There is at least one securing device orientated essentially parallel to the arch wire slot. The at least one securing device is completely arranged within the orthodontic bracket, completely enclosed by the bracket body and the at least one covering door in the closed position, the open position and in all intermediate positions.

Abstract: An orthodontic retainer is configured for application to a lingual surface of a patient's teeth. The retainer is custom designed to exactly match the shape of the lingual side of the patient's teeth and is formed from a plurality of tooth-adhering portions connected by elongated connection portions. The tooth-adhering portions each have a generally flat top edge and a generally curved bottom edge. The connection portions are located at a position below the top edge and above the bottom edge of the tooth-adhering portions. The retainer is formed as a single piece by milling, injection molding or 3D printing.

Abstract: An orthodontic bracket has a base configured for attachment to a tooth surface, a bracket element with an arch wire slot attached to one side of the base, and a clip for securing the arch wire in the slot. The bracket element has a wall portion extending upward along one side of the arch wire slot. This wall portion has three indentations in a line parallel to the mesiodistal direction, separated by two side walls having free ends with flanges extending parallel to the mesiodistal direction. The clip is substantially U-shaped and has two protrusions shaped to fit within the two outer indentations of the wall portion, and two diverging central fingers that fit within the central indentation, and a locking element. The clip is securable to the bracket by placing the protrusions and central fingers into the indentations of the bracket element until they engage the flanges.