Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed providing a database comprising a compendium of at least one of patient treatment history; orthodontic therapies, orthodontic information and diagnostics; employing a data mining technique for interrogating said database for generating an output data stream, the output data stream correlating a patient malocclusion with an orthodontic treatment; and applying the output data stream to improve a dental appliance or a dental appliance usage.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods are disclosed for intra-orally diagnosing a body condition.

Abstract: Embodiments are provided for modeling gingiva. One method embodiment includes scanning a patient's teeth and gums, or a physical model thereof, to obtain location data, developing a digital model via a computing device, where the model represents a dentition and gingiva from the location data, defining in the model a gingival line at an intersection between at least one tooth and at least a portion of its surrounding gums, measuring a gingival pocket depth at a number of reference locations, and establishing in the model one or more gingival attachment points at the pocket depth from the gingival line.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring orthodontic treatment compliance includes an appliance adapted to be worn over one or more teeth; and a compliance indicator mounted on the appliance to indicate compliance.

Abstract: Embodiments include computing device readable mediums, computing devices, and methods for synchronized viewing of file manipulations. One method embodiment includes creating a synchronized session between computing devices. The method further includes distributing copies of a file from one computing device to another and allowing each computing device to locally manipulate the file. According to the method, manipulating the file on a first computing device initiates a data stream including executable instructions for manipulating the file on a second computing device. The method also includes forwarding the data stream to the second computing device and manipulating the file according to the data stream received. The method further includes restricting manipulation functionality on the second computing device to the file based on the forwarded data stream, where the restriction of the manipulation functionality does not interrupt functionality of each computing device outside the file.

Abstract: Embodiments are provided for utilizing metallic portions in dental positioning appliances. One embodiment includes a removable dental positioning appliance having a shell having one or more cavities shaped to receive and reposition one or more teeth from a first orientation to a successive orientation and where at least a portion of the shell is formed from a metallic mesh material.

Abstract: Various methods and systems for designing a restored smile are provided. One method includes receiving scan data of a patient's teeth, developing a digital model of the patient's teeth via a computing device, where the model represents the patient's teeth based upon the scan data, creating a dental treatment plan to restore one or more teeth from an initial condition to a successive condition, and wherein a final condition of the one or more is based on the one or more teeth having at least one planned additional restorative tooth structure provided therewith.

Abstract: Methods, devices, systems, and series of appliances are provided for dental implant positioning. One method for positioning an implant with dental treatment includes determining an implant location based on a virtual model of an optimized dental occlusion, moving one or more teeth using a first number of a series of dental appliances, from a first orientation to a second orientation, the second orientation exposing the implant location, placing an implant at the exposed implant location using a landmark included in at least one of the series of dental appliances, repositioning one or more teeth using a second number of the series of dental appliances, from the second orientation to a successive orientation.

Abstract: Embodiments are provided for modeling gingiva. One method embodiment includes scanning a patient's teeth and gums, or a physical model thereof, to obtain location data, developing a digital model via a computing device, where the model represents a dentition and gingiva from the location data, defining in the model a gingival line at an intersection between at least one tooth and at least a portion of its surrounding gums, measuring a gingival pocket depth at a number of reference locations, and establishing in the model one or more gingival attachment points at the pocket depth from the gingival line.

Abstract: Embodiments include computing device readable mediums, computing devices, and methods for synchronized viewing of file manipulations. One method embodiment includes creating a synchronized session between computing devices. The method further includes distributing copies of a file from one computing device to another and allowing each computing device to locally manipulate the file. According to the method, manipulating the file on a first computing device initiates a data stream including executable instructions for manipulating the file on a second computing device. The method also includes forwarding the data stream to the second computing device and manipulating the file according to the data stream received. The method further includes restricting manipulation functionality on the second computing device to the file based on the forwarded data stream, where the restriction of the manipulation functionality does not interrupt functionality of each computing device outside the file.

Abstract: Clinical data file embodiments and methods for creating the same are provided. One embodiment includes treatment professional information in at least one of a number of treatment professional information data fields in a treatment professional section of the file, patient personal information in at least one of a number of patient personal information data fields in a patient profile section of the file, a number of patient medical information items, and an indicator associated with at least one of the treatment professional information data fields, at least one of the patient personal information data fields, and at least one of the patient medical information items, where the treatment professional information, patient personal information, and patient medical information items associated with an enabled indicator are hidden.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring orthodontic treatment compliance includes an appliance adapted to be worn over one or more teeth; and a compliance indicator mounted on the appliance to indicate compliance.

Abstract: Embodiments are provided for accurately characterizing a tooth's movement. One method embodiment includes associating an abnormal tooth shape with a model tooth shape from a reference library of model tooth shapes, mapping a predefined dental reference from the model tooth shape onto at least a portion of the abnormal tooth shape, and adding a location of the predefined dental reference to the abnormal tooth shape based on the mapped predefined dental reference from the model tooth shape.

Abstract: Embodiments are provided for a patient data file menu and methods for creating the same. One embodiment includes a number of patient medical information items including a data type label and a position in a data file menu, a sequence of one or more tabs, where each tab represents a stage in a procedure, and where the patient medical information items are associated with the tab corresponding to the stage in the procedure to which the patient medical information item corresponds, treatment professional information in a treatment professional profile section of the file, and patient personal information in a patient profile section of the file.

Abstract: A method for manipulating a three-dimensional model of a patient's teeth for making one or more tooth positioning appliances involves: forming at least one three-dimensional model of the patient's teeth; acquiring an initial digital data set representing at least part of the three-dimensional model; manipulating a digital model derived from the initial digital data set to move at least one tooth from an initial position to a first intermediate position; forming a first guide from the digital model with the at least one tooth in the first intermediate position; separating the at least one tooth from the three-dimensional model; placing the at least one tooth in the first guide in the first intermediate position; and securing the at least one tooth to the three-dimensional model in the first intermediate position. Guide apparatus and systems are also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes dental appliances, devices, and methods of making and using such appliances. In one embodiment, a method for tooth modeling includes receiving a patient information file for a treatment plan patient and analyzing the patient information file to determine whether the patient is a non-adult patient.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for intra-oral delivery of drugs.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for dental appliance reinforcement are provided. One dental appliance includes a number of tooth apertures for the placement of teeth therein wherein the number of tooth apertures include an interior surface and an exterior surface, and a reinforcement rib positioned along the exterior surface.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method for producing digital models of dental positioning appliances includes providing a digital model of a patient's dentition including teeth; providing a digital model of a veneer covering the patient's teeth; positioning the digital model of the veneer on the digital model of the patient's dentition to produce a combined digital model; and fabricating the dental positioning appliance based on the combined digital model. In another aspect, a dental template includes one or more veneer portions adapted to be secured to teeth; and a removable appliance having one or more veneer portion receiving spaces therein, said removable appliance and the veneer portions adapted to be placed on the teeth.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods are disclosed for intra-orally diagnosing a body condition.