Abstract: Methods and apparatus for transmitting vibrations via an electronic and/or transducer assembly through a tooth or teeth are disclosed herein. The assembly may be attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon a removable oral appliance to form a hearing aid assembly. Such an oral appliance may be a custom-made device. The electronic and transducer assembly may receive incoming sounds either directly or through a receiver to process and amplify the signals and transmit the processed sounds via a vibrating transducer element coupled to a tooth or other bone structure, such as the maxillary, mandibular, or palatine bone structure.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved devices, systems and methods for repositioning teeth from an initial tooth arrangement to a final tooth arrangement. Repositioning is accomplished with a system comprising a series of polymeric shell appliances configured to receive the teeth and incrementally reposition individual teeth in a series of successive steps. The individual appliances may be formed from layers having different stiffnesses (elastic moduluses), and the stiffnesses of successive appliances may be different, or both.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved devices, systems and methods for repositioning teeth from an initial tooth arrangement to a final tooth arrangement. Repositioning is accomplished with a system comprising a series of polymeric shell appliances configured to receive the teeth and incrementally reposition individual teeth in a series of successive steps. The individual appliances may be formed from layers having different stiffnesses (elastic moduluses), and the stiffnesses of successive appliances may be different, or both.

Abstract: The present invention provides devices, systems and methods for orthodontic treatment using elastic repositioning appliances while concurrently providing dental and periodontal therapies. Such therapies are traditionally provided with the use of a variety of accessories and devices which are applied when the repositioning appliance is removed from the patient's mouth. The present invention eliminates the need for such removal and additional devices by incorporating these therapies into the repositioning appliance.

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: Systems and methods are disclosed for producing a digital model by providing a digital model of a tooth; providing a digital model of at least one attachment device having two or more portions, the digital model of the attachment device having the two or more portions extending through two or more surfaces of the tooth; and positioning the digital model of the attachment device on the digital model of the tooth to produce a combined computerized model.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for transmitting vibrations via an electronic and/or transducer assembly through a tooth or teeth are disclosed herein. The assembly may be attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon a removable oral appliance to form a hearing aid assembly. Such an oral appliance may be a custom-made device. The electronic and transducer assembly may receive incoming sounds either directly or through a receiver to process and amplify the signals and transmit the processed sounds via a vibrating transducer element coupled to a tooth or other bone structure, such as the maxillary, mandibular, or palatine bone structure.

Abstract: A system for repositioning teeth comprises a plurality of individual appliances that are treated with a lubricious composition. The appliances are configured to be placed successively on the patient's teeth and to incrementally reposition the teeth from an initial tooth arrangement, through a plurality of intermediate tooth arrangements, and to a final tooth arrangement. The system of appliances is usually configured at the outset of treatment so that the patient may progress through treatment without the need to have the treating professional perform each successive step in the procedure.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for producing a digital model by providing a digital model of a tooth; providing a digital model of at least one attachment device having two or more portions, the digital model of the attachment device having the two or more portions extending through two or more surfaces of the tooth; and positioning the digital model of the attachment device on the digital model of the tooth to produce a combined computerized model.

Abstract: Systems and methods for fabricating a dental template to position an object on a patient's tooth to move the tooth from an initial position to a target position are disclosed. The system digitizes a model of the patient's tooth at the initial position; places an object on the tooth model at the target position; determines the position of the object at the initial position; and fabricates the dental template to locate the object on the patient's tooth.

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: Methods and apparatus for transmitting vibrations via an electronic and/or transducer assembly through a tooth or teeth are disclosed herein. The assembly may be attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon a removable oral appliance to form a hearing aid assembly. Such an oral appliance may be a custom-made device. The electronic and transducer assembly may receive incoming sounds either directly or through a receiver to process and amplify the signals and transmit the processed sounds via a vibrating transducer element coupled to a tooth or other bone structure, such as the maxillary, mandibular, or palatine bone structure.

Abstract: A unique method and coatings are provided for promoting tissue encapsulation of medical devices, especially before antiproliferative drug therapy within a body of a patient in order to prevent excessive restenosis and while avoiding thrombosis (including late stage/stent thrombosis). The method involves delaying the activation of restenosis suppressing (i.e. antiproliferative) drugs in the vicinity of the medical device until a thin layer of geometrically streamlined tissue has deposited itself upon the device. Coatings of one or more layer that provide an aligned scaffolding (i.e. via aligned fibers or aligned grooves) may be used in the method to encourage tissue deposition and/or to delay elution of drug(s) stored beneath or within. The delay phase prior to degradation, erosion, and/or absorption of the coating to release an active drug should last until an optimal amount of controlled restenosis has provided a thin endothelial layer to encapsulate the device.

Abstract: The present invention provides devices, systems and methods for orthodontic treatment using elastic repositioning appliances while concurrently providing dental and periodontal therapies. Such therapies are traditionally provided with the use of a variety of accessories and devices which are applied when the repositioning appliance is removed from the patient's mouth. The present invention eliminates the need for such removal and additional devices by incorporating these therapies into the repositioning appliance.

Abstract: A method to create a digital model of a patient's teeth includes taking an impression of the patient's teeth using a radiopaque dental tray; scanning the impression and the dental tray using a dental tray containing a radiopaque agent; scanning the impression and the dental tray using a radiographic source; and generating the digital model with scanned data.

Abstract: A dental splint includes upper and lower appliances having cavities shaped to receive teeth on a patient's maxillary and mandibular arches, respectively; and a connection member adapted to fixedly secure the upper and lower appliances together.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for integrating anatomical information from a plurality of sources of information. The system receives two or more three dimensional (3D) anatomical maps sharing a common plane specified by three or more marker points common to the two or more maps; places one or more marker points on one or more teeth; generates a digital teeth model with the marker points; and aligns the two or more 3D anatomical maps and the teeth model using the marker points.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved systems and methods for removably attaching a dental positioning appliance to the dental features of a patient during orthodontic treatment. These appliances function by applying force to specific surfaces of the teeth or dental features to cause directed movement. The application of force is improved by the use of one or more attachment devices which may be positioned on the teeth or dental features to provide the appropriate physical features. Specific design and location of these attachment devices may provide newly achievable and/or more effective repositioning forces, anchoring ability and appliance retention. The systems and methods of the present invention provide the design, production and use of such attachment devices with removable dental positioning appliances in orthodontic treatment.

Abstract: An improved dental appliance system, and methods for using and fabricating the improved appliance, including a polymeric overlay or shell having a teeth-receiving cavity formed therein and a wire mounted on or embedded in the polymeric shell. The dental appliance having the necessary stiffness or strength to firmly secure the appliance on the teeth and provide controlled forces required for repositioning the teeth, until such time as removal of the appliance is desired. The appliance may be configured for use with a removal mechanisim. The removal mechanism undergoes a state change stimulated by an environmental stimulus or environmental switch.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and systems of repositioning teeth for use in orthodontic treatment, with particular applicability to removable elastic repositioning appliances. Such appliances may be challenged by traditional tooth movements which intrude the crown of the tooth or present tooth positions which reduce available points of purchase. These challenges may be overcome with a series of tooth movements in which a tooth is translated in a “root-first” position. The movements may take advantage of the inherent characteristics of elastic repositioning appliances in translating a tooth from a first position to a desired position along a gingival plane.