Abstract: Orthodontic positioning devices, and related methods and systems, are disclosed for use with one or more orthodontic elastic members. The disclosed devices may comprise a pair of orthodontic aligners for use as part of an orthodontic treatment plan. The pair of orthodontic aligners may include an upper aligner with a first integrally formed hook and a lower aligner with a second integrally formed hook. The first integrally formed hook and the second integrally formed 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. Each of the first integrally formed hook and the second integrally formed hook may extend buccally from the upper aligner and the lower aligner, respectively.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides computing device implemented methods, computing device readable media, and systems for adjustment of tooth position in a virtual dental model. Virtual dental modeling can include detecting space and/or collision between posterior teeth of an upper jaw and posterior teeth of a lower jaw in a virtual dental model that has been set in a preliminary target position. An energy function can be defined including the space and/or collision, tooth root movement, and align points. Weights can be assigned for each variable in the energy function. A position of the posterior teeth of the upper jaw and the posterior teeth of the lower jaw can be adjusted in six degrees of freedom to minimize the energy function. The detection, definition, assignment, and adjustment can be repeated until the energy function converges. The weights can be adjusted to reduce the space and/or collision.

Abstract: Systems for volume manufacturing of items are provided. In some embodiments, a fabrication system is configured to retrieve a fabrication data package including manufacturing data. The system can verify the manufacturing data of the fabrication data package, and transmit the fabrication data package to at least one fabrication terminal configured to perform at least one fabrication process in accordance with the manufacturing data of the fabrication data package. If a predefined fabrication processing time period has not expired, the system can determine a process load associated with at least one additional fabrication data package, and repeating the above processes for the at least one additional fabrication data package, if the process load of the at least one additional fabrication data package is less than a predetermined process load of the fabrication system. If the predefined fabrication processing time period has expired, the system can generate a status report.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes computing device related, systems, and methods for IPR planning as described herein. One method includes identifying a first tooth and a second tooth in a digital dental model with an overlap in a target final position in a treatment plan and identifying a reference line on each of the first tooth and the second tooth; revising the treatment plan wherein a position of each of the first tooth and the second tooth is determined in which the reference line of each of the first tooth and the second tooth are aligned and the first tooth and second tooth are not overlapping; and prescribing IPR based on the determined position of each of the first tooth and the second tooth.

Abstract: Methods for volume manufacturing of a plurality of unique items are provided. In some embodiments, a method includes: (a) initiating a predefined fabrication processing time period, (b) retrieving a fabrication data package containing manufacturing data, (c) verifying the fabrication data package for accuracy and completeness of the manufacturing data contained therein, and (d) performing at least one fabrication process in accordance with the manufacturing data contained in the fabrication data package. If the predefined fabrication time period has not expired, the method can include repeating (b) through (d). If the predefined fabrication time period has expired, the method can include generating a status report.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes computing device related, systems, and methods for IPR planning as described herein. One method includes identifying a first tooth and a second tooth in a digital dental model with an overlap in a target final position in a treatment plan and identifying a reference line on each of the first tooth and the second tooth; revising the treatment plan wherein a position of each of the first tooth and the second tooth is determined in which the reference line of each of the first tooth and the second tooth are aligned and the first tooth and second tooth are not overlapping; and prescribing IPR based on the determined position of each of the first tooth and the second tooth.

Abstract: Orthodontic positioning devices, and related methods and systems, are disclosed for use with one or more orthodontic elastic members. The disclosed devices are configured to couple with an orthodontic elastic member so as to react a force from the elastic member into the appliance to, for example, generate traction forces on the patient's teeth to produce a desired occlusion. A positioning device includes a patient removable tooth positioning appliance having teeth receiving cavities shaped to receive and apply a resilient positioning force to a patient's teeth. The appliance includes a hook configured to interface with an orthodontic elastic member. The hook can be configured to be offset from a surface of a tooth when the appliance is coupled with the patient's teeth and no elastic member is coupled with the tooth. The hook can be curved so that the hook is more retentive on the aligner. The hook can be reinforced so that the reinforcement resists deformation when the elastic is in place.

Abstract: Orthodontic positioning devices, and related methods and systems, are disclosed for use with one or more orthodontic elastic members. The disclosed devices are configured to couple with an orthodontic elastic member so as to react a force from the elastic member into the appliance to, for example, generate traction forces on the patient's teeth to produce a desired occlusion. A positioning device includes a patient removable tooth positioning appliance having teeth receiving cavities shaped to receive and apply a resilient positioning force to a patient's teeth. The appliance includes a hook configured to interface with an orthodontic elastic member. The hook can be configured to be offset from a surface of a tooth when the appliance is coupled with the patient's teeth and no elastic member is coupled with the tooth. The hook can be curved so that the hook is more retentive on the aligner. The hook can be reinforced so that the reinforcement resists deformation when the elastic is in place.

Abstract: An orthodontic positioning device and methods for making an orthodontic positioning device including a first patient removable orthodontic tooth positioning appliance having teeth receiving cavities shaped to receive and apply a resilient positioning force to a patient's teeth provided in one of an upper jaw and a lower jaw. The first appliance includes a hook configured to receive an orthodontic elastic band. The orthodontic positioning device also includes a second patient removable orthodontic tooth positioning appliance having teeth receiving cavities shaped to receive and apply a resilient positioning force to a patient's teeth provided in the other of the upper jaw and the lower jaw. The second appliance includes a cutout operable to expose an orthodontic elastic band receiving member.

Abstract: An orthodontic positioning device including a patient removable orthodontic tooth positioning appliance having teeth receiving cavities shaped to receive and apply a resilient positioning force to a patient's teeth provided in one of an upper jaw and a lower jaw and comprising a cutout operable to expose an orthodontic elastic band receiving member.

Abstract: Orthodontic positioning devices, and related methods and systems, are disclosed for use with one or more orthodontic elastic members. The disclosed devices are configured to couple with an orthodontic elastic member so as to react a force from the elastic member into the appliance to, for example, generate traction forces on the patient's teeth to produce a desired occlusion. A positioning device includes a patient removable tooth positioning appliance having teeth receiving cavities shaped to receive and apply a resilient positioning force to a patient's teeth. The appliance includes a hook configured to interface with an orthodontic elastic member. The hook can be configured to be offset from a surface of a tooth when the appliance is coupled with the patient's teeth and no elastic member is coupled with the tooth. The hook can be curved so that the hook is more retentive on the aligner. The hook can be reinforced so that the reinforcement resists deformation when the elastic is in place.

Abstract: The current document is directed to methods and systems for monitoring a dental patient's progress during a course of treatment. A three-dimensional model of the expected positions of the patient's teeth can be projected, in time, from a three-dimensional model of the patient's teeth prepared prior to beginning the treatment. A digital camera is used to take one or more two-dimensional photographs of the patient's teeth, which are input to a monitoring system. The monitoring system determines virtual-camera parameters for each two-dimensional input image with respect to the time-projected three-dimensional model, uses the determined virtual-camera parameters to generate two-dimensional images from the three-dimensional model, and then compares each input photograph to the corresponding generated two-dimensional image in order to determine how closely the three-dimensional arrangement of the patient's teeth corresponds to the time-projected three-dimensional arrangement.

Abstract: Systems and methods of defining a trimline in relation to modeled teeth including modeled gingiva. The trimline is for use to manufacture an aligner. A margin point is placed proximate a gingival margin at each tooth on at least one jaw in the model. A trimline connects the plurality of margin points from which machine code is generated. The aligner manufactured includes an edge that correlates with the trimline according to the machine code. A margin point may be proximate a gingival zenith. At least one tooth cooperates with the modeled gingiva to define a line around the tooth. The trimline includes at least one tooth curve and at least one connector curve connected to the tooth curve at a transition point. At least one control point is on the trimline between two margin points. The trimline is defined by a spline that may be a Bèzier curve.

Abstract: Method and system for providing volume manufacturing of customizable items including receiving a data package including a plurality of manufacturing parameters, each of the plurality of manufacturing parameters associated with a unique item, verifying the received data package, and implementing a manufacturing process associated with the received data package is provided.

Abstract: Orthodontic positioning devices, and related methods and systems, are disclosed for use with one or more orthodontic elastic members. The disclosed devices are configured to couple with an orthodontic elastic member so as to react a force from the elastic member into the appliance to, for example, generate traction forces on the patient's teeth to produce a desired occlusion. A positioning device includes a patient removable tooth positioning appliance having teeth receiving cavities shaped to receive and apply a resilient positioning force to a patient's teeth. The appliance includes a hook configured to interface with an orthodontic elastic member. The hook can be configured to be offset from a surface of a tooth when the appliance is coupled with the patient's teeth and no elastic member is coupled with the tooth. The hook can be curved so that the hook is more retentive on the aligner. The hook can be reinforced so that the reinforcement resists deformation when the elastic is in place.

Abstract: The current document is directed to methods and systems for monitoring a dental patient's progress during a course of treatment. A three-dimensional model of the expected positions of the patient's teeth can be projected, in time, from a three-dimensional model of the patient's teeth prepared prior to beginning the treatment. A digital camera is used to take one or more two-dimensional photographs of the patient's teeth, which are input to a monitoring system. The monitoring system determines virtual-camera parameters for each two-dimensional input image with respect to the time-projected three-dimensional model, uses the determined virtual-camera parameters to generate two-dimensional images from the three-dimensional model, and then compares each input photograph to the corresponding generated two-dimensional image in order to determine how closely the three-dimensional arrangement of the patient's teeth corresponds to the time-projected three-dimensional arrangement.

Abstract: Embodiments for determining a dental treatment difficulty are described herein. One method embodiment includes receiving an initial and subsequent position of each of a first tooth and a second tooth and calculating a change in position of each of the first tooth and the second tooth. The method embodiment can also include projecting the changes in position of each of the first tooth and the second tooth onto a reference line and calculating a change in position on the reference line for the first tooth and the second tooth. The method embodiment can further include determining the dental treatment difficulty based on the changes in position on the reference line.

Abstract: Orthodontic positioning devices, and related methods and systems, are disclosed for use with one or more orthodontic elastic members. The disclosed devices are configured to couple with an orthodontic elastic member so as to react a force from the elastic member into the appliance to, for example, generate traction forces on the patient's teeth to produce a desired occlusion. A positioning device includes a patient removable tooth positioning appliance having teeth receiving cavities shaped to receive and apply a resilient positioning force to a patient's teeth. The appliance includes a hook configured to interface with an orthodontic elastic member. The hook can be configured to be offset from a surface of a tooth when the appliance is coupled with the patient's teeth and no elastic member is coupled with the tooth. The hook can be curved so that the hook is more retentive on the aligner. The hook can be reinforced so that the reinforcement resists deformation when the elastic is in place.

Abstract: Method and system for providing volume manufacturing of customizable items including receiving a data package including a plurality of manufacturing parameters, each of the plurality of manufacturing parameters associated with a unique item, verifying the received data package, and implementing a manufacturing process associated with the received data package is provided.

Abstract: Systems and methods of defining a trimline in relation to modeled teeth including modeled gingiva. The trimline is for use to manufacture an aligner. A margin point is placed proximate a gingival margin at each tooth on at least one jaw in the model. A trimline connects the plurality of margin points from which machine code is generated. The aligner manufactured includes an edge that correlates with the trimline according to the machine code. A margin point may be proximate a gingival zenith. At least one tooth cooperates with the modeled gingiva to define a line around the tooth. The trimline includes at least one tooth curve and at least one connector curve connected to the tooth curve at a transition point. At least one control point is on the trimline between two margin points. The trimline is defined by a spline that may be a Bèzier curve.