Abstract: A computer is used to create a plan for repositioning an orthodontic patient's teeth. The computer receives an initial digital data set representing the patient's teeth at their initial positions and a final digital data set representing the teeth at their final positions. The computer then uses the data sets to generate treatment paths along which the teeth will move from the initial positions to the final positions.

Abstract: A method for moving a subject's teeth in a dental treatment includes moving the subject's teeth toward desired positions by one or more dental aligners. A movement pathway may comprise determining a number of intermediate movement positions on the way to achieving a final configuration. In selecting the movement path, movement in one or more directions may be constrained. Feedback based on the actual position of the subject's teeth during treatment may be used to modify the treatment, including the movement path and aligners.

Abstract: Methods, devices and systems for digitizing a patient's arch and manipulating the digital dental arch model. In one variation the methods includes producing a physical arch model for the patient's arch, separating the physical arch model into a plurality of arch model components, mounting the arch model components on a scan plate, capturing one or more images of the arch model components, and developing digital representations of the arch model components using the captured one or more images.

Abstract: A computer is used to create a plan for repositioning an orthodontic patient's teeth. The computer receives an initial digital data set representing the patient's teeth at their initial positions and a final digital data set representing the teeth at their final positions. The computer then uses the data sets to generate treatment paths along which the teeth will move from the initial positions to the final positions.

Abstract: A system for organizing dental aligners for a subject includes a plurality of dental aligners configured to move the subject's teeth at different steps of an orthodontic treatment and one or more connectors (including frangible connectors) configured to connect a plurality of dental aligners in an order that is consistent with the sequence in which the dental aligners are to be used by the subject in the orthodontic treatment.

Abstract: A system for producing corrective movement in a subject's teeth includes a dental aligner device having one or more through-holes and one or more connectors fixed to the subject's teeth. The connectors can snap into the through-holes when the dental aligner is worn on the subject's teeth.

Abstract: A programmed computer is used to create a digital model of an individual component of a patient's dentition. The computer obtains a 3D digital mode of the patient's dentition, identifies points in the dentition model that lie on an inter-proximal margin between adjacent teeth in the patient's dentition, and uses the identified points to create a cutting surface that separates portions of the dentition model representing the adjacent teeth.

Abstract: A dental appliance fabrication system includes a reconfigurable dental model including a frame having one or more tooth members disposed on the frame; and one or more micro-positioners each coupled to one tooth member to move the tooth in six degrees of freedom relative to the frame.

Abstract: A programmed computer is used to create a digital model of an individual component of a patient's dentition. The computer obtains a 3D digital model of the patient's dentition, identifies points in the dentition model that lie on an inter-proximal margin between adjacent teeth in the patient's dentition, and uses the identified points to create a cutting surface that separates portions of the dentition model representing the adjacent teeth.

Abstract: A shell-shaped dental aligner for producing predetermined movement in a patient's tooth includes a shell portion comprising a fluid-permeable material, an outer surface of the shell portion, and an inner surface of the shell portion, the inner surface to be in contact with the patient's tooth. The fluid-permeable material can allow fluid to communicate between the patient's tooth and the vicinity of the outer surface.

Abstract: A method for treating a patient's teeth includes determining an initial configuration of the patient's teeth, determining a final configuration of the patient's teeth, designing a movement path for at least one of the patient's teeth from the initial configuration to the final configuration, dividing the movement path into a plurality of successive treatment steps, each having a target configuration for the patient's teeth, and producing two or more dental aligners of substantially identical shape for at least one of the treatment steps in accordance with the target configuration.

Abstract: A physical dental arch model includes an adjustment jig that receives a physical tooth model and enables the rotations of the physical tooth model around at least two separate axes. A base receives the adjustment jig such that the physical tooth model can rotate relative to the base around at least the two separate axes.

Abstract: A dental aligner for producing predetermined movement in a patient's tooth includes a shell-shaped portion including an outer surface and an inner surface to be in contact with the patient's tooth, a bottom portion to be placed near the gingival of the patient's tooth, a tip portion on the opposite side of the bottom portion, and one or more wrinkles formed over at least one of the outer surface, the inner surface, and the bottom portion.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing wrinkled dental aligner for a patient's tooth includes developing a digital dental aligner model specifying at least one wrinkled surface on a dental aligner and producing a dental aligner having the wrinkled surface in accordance with digital dental aligner model.

Abstract: A container for storing dental devices includes a container body adapted to hold the dental devices and a dispensing mechanism configured to dispense one of the dental devices when the dispensing mechanism is triggered.

Abstract: A system for tracking a dental device includes a label storing a data structure comprising information about a patient's dental treatment, wherein the label is configured to be attached to the dental device and a detector configured to extract data from the data structure stored in the label to determine the shipping destination of the dental device.

Abstract: A method produces a physical dental arch model having at least two physical tooth models. The method includes detecting the interference between two physical tooth models. If interference is detected between the first physical tooth model and the second physical tooth model, the positions and orientations of at least one physical tooth model is modified to prevent interference between the first physical tooth model and the second physical tooth model.

Abstract: A computer or other digital circuitry is used to assist in the creation of a digital model of an individual component, such as a tooth or gum tissue, in a patient's dentition. The computer receives a data set that forms a three-dimensional (3D) representation of the patient's dentition, applies a test to the data set to identify data elements that represent portions of the individual component, and creates a digital model of the individual component based upon the identified data elements. Many implementations require the computer to identify data elements representing a 2D cross-section of the dentition lying in a 2D plane that is roughly parallel to or roughly perpendicular to the dentition's occlusal plane. The computer analyzes the 2D cross-section to identify dentition features that represent boundaries between individual dentition components.

Abstract: A casting chamber for casting a physical tooth model representing a patient's tooth includes a chamber body and a lid. The chamber body includes a cavity adapted to hold a negative impression of the patient's tooth and to receive a cast material, wherein the negative impression and the chamber body are registered by a registration unit. The chamber lid is configured to seal the cast material in the casting chamber to permit the casting material to solidify in the casting chamber to form a physical tooth model representing the patient's tooth.

Abstract: Systems and method for producing a base configured to receive the physical tooth models by acquiring the coordinates of the physical tooth models in the physical dental arch model using a mechanical location device and determining the configurations of first features affixed to the physical tooth models. The method further determines the locations of second features in the base in accordance with the coordinates of the physical tooth models in the physical dental arch model and the configurations of the first features. The second features are configured to receive the first features affixed to the physical tooth models.