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: Devices, systems and methods for dental arch expansion. A polymeric shell including teeth receiving cavities may be shaped to impart an arch expansion force onto a first tooth of one or more teeth to move the one or more teeth from a first position a first distance from a midline of the arch to a second position a second distance from the midline of the arch, the second distance being greater than the first distance. An occlusal feature extending outward from an occlusal wall of a tooth receiving cavity may be configured to contact an outer occlusal surface of an opposing appliance to impart an anti-tipping force onto the first tooth. The anti-tipping force may be of a magnitude and direction to counteract a tipping moment generated at least in part due to the arch expansion force.

Abstract: A method includes forming a plastic shell that has a hollow feature that includes a cavity. The method further includes inserting an object into the cavity, wherein the object is in a solid state and is preformed and shaped to fit into the cavity prior to the inserting of the object into the cavity, wherein the object provides structural strength to the plastic shell at a location of the hollow feature and does not interfere with a fit of the plastic shell onto a dental arch of a patient, the object having a shape that substantially matches a contour of the cavity prior to being inserted into the plastic shell.

Abstract: Dental aligners and systems for producing controlled tooth-moving forces. A dental aligner may include a first tooth receiving cavity with a wall configured to resiliently apply a first force to a first tooth in accordance with a treatment plan. The first tooth receiving cavity may include an occlusal inner surface forming a first configuration of cusps and nadirs shaped to conform to an occlusal surface of the first tooth, and an occlusal outer surface forming a second configuration of cusps and nadirs. One or more occlusal contact features protruding from the outer occlusal surface may redirect a bite force on the first tooth that is produced by a person wearing the dental aligner toward a same or a complementary direction as the first force in accordance with the treatment.

Abstract: Detection of placement of dental aligners in patient mouth on teeth for indication of wearing compliance. Described herein are apparatuses and methods for detecting wearing, including compliance. In some variations these apparatuses and methods may include a sensor configured to detect deflection of the one or more deflectable structures. In some variations, these apparatuses and methods may include a proximity sensor coupled to the appliance shell and configured to generate sensor data when in proximity with intraoral tissue.

Abstract: A method for mandibular advancement may include determining a threshold force value for an amount of anterior-posterior force to be applied to the patient's teeth to displace the patient's lower jaw anteriorly relative to the patient's upper jaw, determining a force distribution on the teeth of the patient's lower jaw that distributes the anterior-posterior force on the teeth of the patient's lower jaw by preferentially loading the posterior teeth and determining a geometry for an intraoral appliance configured to displace the lower jaw anteriorly relative to the upper jaw when worn by the patient in order to treat the sleep apnea. The intraoral appliance may be configured to provide an amount of anterior-posterior force to the patient's teeth that is no greater than the threshold force value with the force distribution.

Abstract: Systems and methods using augmented reality for dental evaluations. In some examples, the fit of dental appliances is evaluated. An error condition indicative of improper appliance fit on a patient's teeth may be identified from an image of the patient's teeth using an augmented reality system. A visual overlay identifying the error condition may be generated. The visual overlay may be output to a display of the augmented reality system. The visual overlay may be superimposed over a view of the patient's teeth and of the dental appliance placed on the patient's teeth.

Abstract: Orthodontic appliance cases configured to receive the orthodontic appliance and systems including them may include: a first antenna configured to receive the data from the sensor module via near field communication (NFC) when the orthodontic appliance including the sensor module is within the orthodontic appliance case, a data store configured to store the data; and a second antenna configured to transmit the stored data to an external computing device via Bluetooth communication when the external computing device is within communication range of the second antenna; and may also include an NFC to Bluetooth transmission circuitry.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for performing orthodontic treatment planning are provided. Virtual/Augmented Reality devices can be used to virtually manipulate patient's teeth, modify virtual models of the patient's teeth, analyze the fit of a dental appliance on the patient's teeth, analyze the position of attachment sites for dental appliances, and provide overlays showing forces applied to the patient's teeth. The VR/AR devices can be used by physicians and/or the patient to provide and display treatment planning. In some examples, a length and/or angle of an elastic band or wire and one or more effective forces on a patient's teeth when a dental appliance is applied to the patient's teeth may be determined. A visual overlay graphically illustrating the one or more effective forces may be generated and displayed.

Abstract: Orthodontic appliance cases configured to receive the orthodontic appliance and systems including them may include: a first antenna configured to receive the data from the sensor module via near field communication (NFC) when the orthodontic appliance including the sensor module is within the orthodontic appliance case, a data store configured to store the data; and a second antenna configured to transmit the stored data to an external computing device via Bluetooth communication when the external computing device is within communication range of the second antenna; and may also include an NFC to Bluetooth transmission circuitry.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating orthodontic alignment devices. First forces may be applied to teeth of a digital model to simulate movement of the teeth from one stage of an ordered sequence of stages to a next stage. The first forces may include one or more unwanted forces that move one or more teeth of the digital model in an unwanted direction. One or more forces may be applied to the palate of the digital model that results in second forces applied to the teeth of the digital model to replace or offset the one or more unwanted forces. A shape for the orthodontic alignment device may be determined based on the first and second forces applied to the teeth and in combination with the one or more forces applied to the palate of the digital model. An orthodontic alignment device may be fabricated based on the determined shape.

Abstract: Improved systems, methods, and devices for treating sleep apnea are provided herein. In one aspect, an intraoral appliance for treating sleep apnea in a patient comprises an appliance shell comprising a plurality of cavities shaped to receive teeth of a jaw of the patient. The appliance shell can comprise an advancement structure arranged to interact with an opposing jaw of the patient so as to displace the lower jaw anteriorly relative to the upper jaw. The plurality of cavities can comprise cavity geometries shaped to reduce repositioning of one or more received teeth elicited by displacement of the lower jaw anteriorly relative to the upper jaw.

Abstract: A system for correcting malocclusions may include a maxillary appliance having tooth receiving cavities shaped to receive teeth of a maxilla and a first elastic coupling at gingival line of the maxillary appliance. The first elastic coupling may be configured for receiving an elastic. The system may also include mandibular appliance having tooth receiving cavities shaped to receive teeth of a mandible. The system may also include a corrective appliance having a first coupling configured to be coupled to the mandibular appliance at a first location on a first side of incisors of a patient and a second coupling configured to be coupled to the mandibular appliance on a second side of the incisors, and having an arm extending from the corrective appliance towards the gingival line of the maxillary appliance and being shaped to receive the elastic.

Abstract: An orthodontic alignment device can have a palatal contour anchorage (PCA) feature that generally matches the shape of the patient's hard pallet. This PCA feature may be built slightly off-set to deliberately push against the patient's palate and/or gingiva to provide anchorage support of staged translation of the teeth. By transferring the required anchorage away from the teeth and onto the palate, through the PCA feature, the adjacent teeth are no longer subjected to unwanted side effects of reaction forces.

Abstract: A system for correcting malocclusions may include a maxillary appliance having tooth receiving cavities shaped to receive teeth of a maxilla and a first elastic coupling at gingival line of the maxillary appliance. The first elastic coupling may be configured for receiving an elastic. The system may also include mandibular appliance having tooth receiving cavities shaped to receive teeth of a mandible. The system may also include a corrective appliance having a first coupling configured to be coupled to the mandibular appliance at a first location on a first side of incisors of a patient and a second coupling configured to be coupled to the mandibular appliance on a second side of the incisors, and having an arm extending from the corrective appliance towards the gingival line of the maxillary appliance and being shaped to receive the elastic.

Abstract: Palatal expander devices with sensors. A palatal expander body may include a palatal region, and a tooth-receiving region configured to receive teeth of a patient's upper arch. One or more sensors may be disposed on or in the palatal region of the palatal expander body. At least one processor may be configured to receive sensor data from the one or more sensors and to determine an expansion state of a patient's palatal region based on the sensor data.

Abstract: Systems for determining patient compliance with an orthodontic treatment or retention plan may include a polymeric shell appliance for receiving the patient's teeth, a sensor module on the polymeric shell appliance having a temperature sensor, a proximity sensor, a power source, and a communication antenna for communicating with an external case, and a processor configured to determine that the polymeric shell is being worn by the patient based on temperature data from the temperature sensor and proximity data from the proximity sensor, by determining that a measured temperature is within a body temperature range and that a measured proximity value is within a threshold proximity to an intraoral target. Methods of manufacturing these dental appliances are also described herein.

Abstract: Methods and systems for designing dental appliances are provided. In some embodiments, a method includes identifying one or more intended outcomes for one or more areas of a dental appliance, where the dental appliance is shaped to receive and engage with a person's dentition in accordance with a treatment plan; identifying one or more acceptability criteria for evaluating compliance with the one or more intended outcomes; obtaining an appliance model for the dental appliance, where the appliance model represents the one or more areas with one or more first physical properties conforming to the one or more acceptability criteria, and where the one or more first physical properties are different than one or more second physical properties outside the one or more areas; providing three-dimensional (3D) printing instructions to generate the dental appliance using the appliance model; and 3D printing the dental appliance using the 3D printing instructions.

Abstract: Methods of orthodontic treatment using localized energy. The methods may include determining that one or more of a patient's teeth are off track from a treatment plan based on one or more discrepancies between a current virtual model and a target virtual model. The current virtual model may be based on image(s) taken of the patient's teeth during a stage of orthodontic treatment. The methods may also include modifying the treatment plan by implementing local energy radiation to a region of the patient's dental arch. The local energy radiation may be configured to accelerate repositioning of the one or more of the patient's teeth and to put the one or more of the patient's teeth on track according to the treatment plan.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring the status of oral appliances using sensors. One or more oral appliances may include one or more sensor receiver and emitter pairs configured to collect sensor data. Each sensor receiver and emitter pair may include a sensor receiver on or in a first portion of the oral appliance(s) and a sensor emitter on a second portion of the oral appliance(s), where each sensor receiver is configured to receive a signal emitted by a corresponding sensor emitter. At least one processor may be configured to determine the status of the oral appliance(s) and determine whether to modify a treatment plan implemented by the oral appliance(s) based on the status. The status may include one or more of: user compliance, condition of the oral appliance(s), and effectiveness of the oral appliance(s).