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 dental attachment positioning device may include a plurality of registration elements. The registration elements may include a tooth registration surface configured to mate with one or more teeth of a patient and a retention support for holding the registration element to one or more teeth of a patient. An attachment support may extend from and be releasably coupled to one or more dental attachments. A coupling may be located between two adjacent registration elements. The coupling may include a force concentration structure. The force concentration structure may include a notch or channel configured to facilitate a breakage between the two adjacent registration elements.

Abstract: Dental appliances and associated methods are provided herein. In some embodiments, a dental appliance includes an appliance shell formed from a plurality of 3D printed polymer layers. The appliance shell can include a plurality of tooth receiving cavities arranged to receive a dentition and to exert one or more forces on the dentition, and a plurality of variable thickness regions integrally formed with the appliance shell as a single monolithic component. The plurality of variable thickness regions can include an upper thickened region at a first side of a tooth receiving cavity and a lower thickened region at a second side of the tooth receiving cavity opposite the first side. The upper and lower thickened regions can be configured to control movement of a tooth received within the tooth receiving cavity.

Abstract: A mold is for thermoforming a dental appliance. The mold includes a first section of the mold and a second section of the mold. The second section includes a feature having a complex shape, an undercut, or a bite edge. The mold further includes a weakened region that joins the first section to the second section. The weakened region is breakable, deflectable, or deformable in response to a first threshold force to enable the first section and the second section to be removed from the dental appliance after the dental appliance is formed over the mold. The first threshold force is less than a second threshold force that would damage or permanently deform the dental appliance.

Abstract: A dental attachment placement device comprises a plurality of articulated registration elements shaped for placement on a plurality of teeth, which can facilitate placement, accommodate tooth movement, and improve alignment of the registration elements with the teeth, so as to accurately position an attachment for placement. The plurality of registration elements may comprise one or more attachment supports and one or more retention supports extending from the plurality of registration elements. A dental attachment can be removably coupled to the attachment support. The plurality of registration elements and attachment supports may be located on opposing sides of one or more teeth in order to maintain placement prior to adhering the attachment to the tooth. In some embodiments, each of the plurality of registration elements comprises a tooth registration surface shaped to engage the tooth with a specific position and orientation for accurate positioning of the attachment.

Abstract: A method is for manufacturing a shell. The method includes forming the shell over a mold. The mold includes a first portion and a second portion. One or more weakened regions of the mold are associated with the first portion and the second portion. The method further includes causing the first portion of the mold to separate from the second portion of the mold via the one or more weakened regions. The method further includes removing the first portion of the mold from the shell. The method further includes removing the second portion of the mold from the shell. The shell is configured to be worn in a mouth of a patient.

Abstract: Systems and methods for fabricating dental appliances are provided. In some embodiments, a method includes determining an appliance geometry for a dental appliance, where the appliance geometry includes a first region representing a first shell portion having a first set of cavities configured to receive one or more first teeth at a first side of a dental arch of a patient, a second region representing a second shell portion having a second set of cavities configured to receive one or more second teeth at a second side of the dental arch, and a third region representing an integrally formed arch expander configured to exert forces to increase a width of the dental arch. The method can also include generating instructions for fabricating the dental appliance having the appliance geometry via an additive manufacturing process, and using the instructions to instruct a fabrication system to fabricate the dental appliance.

Abstract: An orthodontic aligner includes a posterior segment configured to apply first forces to move a set of posterior teeth of a dental arch of a patient. The orthodontic aligner further includes an anterior segment configured to apply second forces to move a set of anterior teeth of the dental arch. The orthodontic aligner further includes a connector that joins the posterior segment and the anterior segment. The connector is configured to isolate the first forces from the second forces. Isolation of first forces from the second forces enables: a) the first forces to be applied to the set of posterior teeth without substantial interference from the second forces applied to the set of anterior teeth; and b) the second forces to be applied to the set of anterior teeth without substantial interference from the first forces applied to the set of posterior teeth.

Abstract: Dental appliances for treatment of a patient's dentition are provided. In some embodiments, a dental appliance includes a plurality of 3D printed polymer layers, where the plurality of 3D printed polymer layers includes a plurality of sequentially polymerized appliance cross-sections. The dental appliance can include an appliance shell formed from the plurality of sequentially polymerized appliance cross-sections. The appliance shell can include a plurality of tooth receiving cavities formed from the plurality of sequentially polymerized appliance cross-sections, the plurality of tooth receiving cavities arranged to receive a dentition and to exert one or more forces on the dentition, and a plurality of variable thickness regions formed from the plurality of sequentially polymerized appliance cross-sections.

Abstract: Dental attachment positioning apparatuses and methods of forming the same. Methods may include forming one or more registration surfaces on a body of an attachment placement structure. The one or more registration surfaces may be shaped to conform to one or more exterior surfaces of a dentition. Methods may include forming a well within the body, where the well is shaped for accepting an attachment material, and where the body includes a first opening that provides access to the well. Methods may include forming one or more second openings through the body that provides access to the well, where the one or more second openings is different than the first opening. Methods may include generating a virtual attachment placement structure and fabricating the attachment placement structure based on the virtual attachment placement structure.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for post-processing additively manufactured objects are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a system includes a rotor configured to support a plurality of additively manufactured objects having excess material thereon. The system can further include an actuator configured to spin the rotor so as to remove the excess material from the plurality of additively manufactured objects. The system can further include a sensor configured to obtain sensor data indicative of a cleaning status of the plurality of additively manufactured objects while the plurality of additively manufactured objects remain on the rotor. The system can further include a controller configured to adjust, based on the sensor data, an operational parameter of the rotor that enhances removal of the excess material from the plurality of additively manufactured objects.

Abstract: Modular dental devices and methods of forming the same. The dental devices may include a first region having a first joining surface and a second region having a second joining surface. The first joining surface may have one or more protrusions and the second joining surface may include one or more corresponding features configured to mate with the one or more protrusions. The first and second regions may be coupled together at the first and second joining surfaces, where the one or more protrusions of the first joining surface mate with the corresponding features of the second joining surface to align the first region with the second region and to interlock the first and second regions.

Abstract: A method includes determining a first shape of a main body of a mold associated with a dental arch for a patient. The method further includes determining a second shape of a separable feature of the mold. The method further includes determining a third shape and configuration of a receiving element of the main body to receive the separable feature. The method further includes outputting instructions for fabricating the separable feature and the main body that includes the receiving element for receiving the separable feature.

Abstract: Polymerization inhibitor compositions are provided. The polymerization inhibitor compositions include at least a first inhibitor compound including a hydroxylamine, a second inhibitor including phenylenediamine, and a third inhibitor including a benzoquinone or naphthoquinone. Methods of inhibiting the polymerization of monomers using the compositions of the disclosure are also provided. The methods of inhibiting polymerization of monomers include a step of adding a composition of the disclosure to the monomer. In some instances, the monomer is an ethylenically unsaturated monomer. Such ethylenically unsaturated monomers include, but are not limited to, vinyl acetate, acrylonitrile, acrylates, methacrylates, 1,3-butadiene, styrene, isoprene, (meth)acrylic acid, and combinations thereof. Methods of preparing the polymerization inhibitors and compositions of the disclosure are also provided.

Abstract: A dental appliance includes a first segment comprising a first plurality of tooth receiving cavities shaped to receive and to impart a first distalization force in a distal direction on a first part of a patient dentition on a first jaw. The dental appliance further includes a second segment comprising a second plurality of tooth receiving cavities shaped to receive and to impart a second distalization force in the distal direction on a second part of the patient dentition. The dental appliance further includes a connector shaped to span a plurality of anterior teeth of the patient dentition and to leave open a labial side of the plurality of anterior teeth. The connector operates to decrease transmission of one or more forces between the first segment and the second segment to limit transmission of at least one of the first distalization force or the second distalization force to the plurality of anterior teeth.

Abstract: Systems for post-processing additively manufactured objects are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a system includes a rotor configured to support a plurality of additively manufactured objects having excess material thereon, an actuator configured to spin the rotor so as to remove the excess material from the plurality of additively manufactured objects, and an energy source configured to apply energy to the plurality of additively manufactured objects to selectively alter a material property of a portion of each of the plurality of additively manufactured objects.

Abstract: Dental appliances for treatment of a patient's dentition are provided. In some embodiments, a dental appliance includes a plurality of 3D printed polymer layers, where the plurality of 3D printed polymer layers includes a plurality of sequentially polymerized appliance cross-sections. The dental appliance can include an appliance shell formed from the plurality of sequentially polymerized appliance cross-sections. The appliance shell can include a plurality of tooth receiving cavities formed from the plurality of sequentially polymerized appliance cross-sections, the plurality of tooth receiving cavities arranged to receive a dentition and to exert one or more forces on the dentition, and a plurality of variable thickness regions formed from the plurality of sequentially polymerized appliance cross-sections.

Abstract: A dental attachment placement device comprises a plurality of articulated registration elements shaped for placement on a plurality of teeth, which can facilitate placement, accommodate tooth movement, and improve alignment of the registration elements with the teeth, so as to accurately position an attachment for placement. The plurality of registration elements may comprise one or more attachment supports and one or more retention supports extending from the plurality of registration elements. A dental attachment can be removably coupled to the attachment support. The plurality of registration elements and attachment supports may be located on opposing sides of one or more teeth in order to maintain placement prior to adhering the attachment to the tooth. In some embodiments, each of the plurality of registration elements comprises a tooth registration surface shaped to engage the tooth with a specific position and orientation for accurate positioning of the attachment.

Abstract: Methods of forming dental apparatuses, such as palatal expanders. Methods may include photopolymerizing a palatal region and left and right tooth engagement regions of a palatal expander. Junction regions coupling the palatal region and left and right tooth engagement regions may be formed using different combinations of first and second photo-curable materials in a layer-by-layer fashion such that each layer has a different ratio of first and second polymer materials. This can provide gradual material transitions and a robust bond between the palatal region and each of the left and right tooth engagement regions.

Abstract: Dental attachment positioning apparatuses and methods of use. A dental attachment apparatus may include an orthodontic attachment having a surface shaped to conform to a contour of a buccal surface of a tooth, and one or more registration surfaces that are shaped to conform to one or more occlusal surfaces of the patient's teeth. The one or more registration surfaces may be configured to aid in proper positioning or orientation of the orthodontic attachment. When the attachment positioning apparatus is placed on the patient's dentition, the orthodontic attachment is positioned at a specified location with respect to the buccal surface of the tooth.