Abstract: An oral appliance and a method of making the oral appliance for delivering a medicament to an oral cavity are provided. The method comprises forming a non-porous material into a portion of the oral appliance; and applying a porous material to one or more discrete regions of the portion of the oral appliance to make the one or more discrete regions of the oral appliance porous thereby forming the oral appliance.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for restoring and/or orthodontically moving teeth. The methods can include determining an orthodontic treatment plan to at least partially correct for a malocclusion of at least one tooth. The methods can include determining an amount of cosmetic restoration of the at least one tooth based on a degree of partial correction of the malocclusion. The methods can include preparing the at least one tooth for the cosmetic restoration by orthodontically moving the tooth from a first position to a second position. The methods can include cosmetically restoring the at least one tooth when the at least one tooth is in the second position.

Abstract: A set of primer appliances and a set of treatment appliances to be worn by a subject are provided. The primer appliances are first worn to prepare the local environment of the teeth for further repositioning of the teeth by the treatment appliances. The primer appliances may apply compression or force to one or more support structures of the teeth, in a direction favorable for inducing a biological response of the one or more support structures that prepares the teeth for repositioning, for example by relaxing the tissue of the one or more support structures of the teeth. The primer appliances may cause minimal or no repositioning of the teeth. The treatment appliances are worn to reposition the teeth from an initial position to an end position of a treatment stage. The primer appliances can improve the efficiency and accuracy of tooth movement by the treatment appliances.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of manufacturing a dental device, the method comprising: obtaining a set of clinical options for the dental device from a health care provider; creating a first data set from the set of clinical options; communicating the data set to a computer aided design (CAD) software; preparing a digital design for the dental device using the CAD software; communicating the digital design to an automated milling apparatus; and automatedly milling a block of polymer to obtain the dental device. Also disclosed are dental devices manufactured by the above method. Further disclosed are methods of treating or ameliorating apnea jaw-related disorder in a patient, the method comprising obtaining a dental device manufactured by the above method and positioning the dental device over the dentition prior to sleep, whereby the mandible is advanced forward relative to the maxilla, thereby ameliorating the symptoms of sleep apnea or the jaw-related disorder.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a wireless scanning device, including: a scanning housing, including: an image detector configured for acquiring 2D-images at a first 2D-frame-rate; and one or more processor(s) coupled to the image detector such that the 2D-images can be processed by the processor(s) to form processed data; a wireless module being coupled to the processor(s) such that the wireless module receives the processed data from the processor(s) and wirelessly transmits the processed data.

Abstract: A processing device may receive a plurality of intraoral scans of the patient that were generated by an intraoral scanner, determine a three-dimensional surface of at least a portion of one or more dental arch of the patient using the plurality of intraoral scans, automatically determine whether a restorative dental object is represented in at least one of the three-dimensional surface or one or more intraoral scans of the plurality of intraoral scans, and automatically generate a prescription for treating the one or more teeth based at least in part on at least one of a) a presence or absence of a restorative dental object in at least one of the three-dimensional surface or the one or more intraoral scans or b) a location of the restorative dental object in the one or more dental arch of the patient.

Abstract: A method of generating a 3D model includes: determining a 3D surface comprising a preparation tooth using a first plurality of intraoral scans generated by an intraoral scanner at a first time; receiving one or more additional intraoral scans of the preparation tooth that were generated by the intraoral scanner at a second time; determining a change to one or more portions of the preparation tooth between the three-dimensional surface and the one or more additional intraoral scans; determining, based at least in part on the change to the preparation tooth, whether to use a) the 3D surface, b) data from the one or more additional intraoral scans or c) a combination of the 3D surface and the data from the one or more additional intraoral scans to depict one or more portions of the preparation tooth; and generating the 3D model comprising the preparation tooth.

Abstract: Systems for orthodontic treatments are provided. In some embodiments, a system includes an attachment configured to be coupled to a tooth of a patient, the attachment having a first elasticity. The system can also include an orthodontic appliance having a shell with a plurality of teeth-receiving cavities shaped to reposition the patient's teeth from a first arrangement toward a second arrangement. The shell can have a second elasticity less than the first elasticity. The orthodontic appliance can include an attachment-receiving well formed in the shell. When the orthodontic appliance is worn on the patient's teeth, the attachment-receiving well can engage the attachment to effect a movement of at least one tooth of the patient.

Abstract: Smile treatment planning systems and methods are described herein. One method for adjusting an image of a smile may generally comprise receiving a three-dimensional (3D) digital model of a dental arch of a patient, receiving a digital facial image of the patient which includes an image of one or more teeth of the patient when smiling, registering the 3D digital model to the one or more teeth of the patient from the digital facial image, correcting the 3D digital model for scale and distortion to create a corrected 3D digital model, and overlaying the corrected 3D digital model onto the digital facial image.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and non-transitory computing device readable media for determining an individualized orthodontic treatment index. One embodiment includes generating a target dental model by modifying an initial dental model, graphically marking dental references on the target dental model including assigning contact points between adjacent first and second teeth of the target dental model, generating a treatment outcome dental model representing the patient's dentition after at least a portion of the orthodontic treatment has been completed, mapping the dental references marked on the target dental model to the treatment outcome dental model, and calculating an individualized treatment index score for the treatment outcome dental model according to one or more differences between the target dental model and the treatment outcome dental model.

Abstract: A method for evaluating an orthodontic appliance. Acquisition of a two-dimensional “appliance image” of teeth at least partially representing the orthodontic appliance in a service position. Acquisition of a two-dimensional “dentition image” of the teeth. If a determination of comparable dental and appliance attributes is not possible from the appliance image and from the dentition image, respectively, conversion of the appliance image and/or of the dentition image so that the appliance image be compatible with the dentition image. Determination of dental and appliance attributes relative to the shape of the tooth represented on the dentition image and relative to the shape of the orthodontic appliance on the appliance image. Comparison of the dental and appliance attributes, followed by determination of at least one score. At least one image is acquired with a mobile phone.

Abstract: Computer readable media for predicting a tooth shape for at least partially un-erupted teeth and dental appliances formed therefrom. In some examples, methods include generating orthoscopic views of virtual representations of an identified tooth type in different orthogonal directions, representing bounding shapes around the orthoscopic views, and applying principal component analysis on the bounding shapes to predict a tooth shape. In some examples, methods include generating a spherical harmonic signature for virtual representations of an identified tooth type, calculating a distance between spherical harmonic signatures to predict the tooth shape. The predicted tooth shape of the at least partially un-erupted tooth may be incorporated into virtual dentition model(s) of a dentition in accordance with an orthodontic treatment plan for treating the dentition.

Abstract: Method and/or apparatus embodiments for 3-D cephalometric analysis of a patient, acquires reconstructed volume image data from a computed tomographic scan of a patient's head including one or more dentition elements within the mouth of the patient, and computes one or more cephalometric parameters for the patient according to the reconstructed volume image data and the one or more dentition elements. One or more results generated from cephalometric analysis of the one or more computed cephalometric parameters can be stored, transmitted or displayed. The reconstructed volume image data is updated with 3D surface model from a subsequent optical scan of the patient's dentition and the one or more cephalometric parameters for the patient are re-computed based on the updated reconstructed volume image data.

Abstract: A method and system for determining an orthodontic treatment are provided. The method comprises: acquiring a 3D digital model representative of an arch form of the subject; generating a plurality of 3D curves on a surface of a given tooth; determining, for a given point of a given 3D curve, a curvature parameter; determining, based on the curvature parameter, a likelihood value of the given point being representative of a tooth-gingiva segmentation contour; generating, based on likelihood values associated with the points of the plurality of 3D cross-sectional curves, a graph whose nodes are representative of points of the plurality of 3D cross-sectional curves; determining, within the graph, a reference path including reference nodes such that a total likelihood value associated with the reference nodes is maximized; and determining the tooth-gingiva segmentation contour associated with the given tooth based on the reference path.

Abstract: The disclosed systems, methods, and apparatus for designing, fabricating, and making directly fabricated metal and polymer dental appliances may include receiving patient data and a treatment plan and determining, using the patient data and the treatment plan, an appliance design for treating the patient. The method may include directly fabricating a metal and polymer appliance based on the appliance design. The apparatus may include a directly fabricated metal and polymer appliance.

Abstract: An orthodontic bracket can include a bracket body. The bracket body can include an outer body. The bracket body can also include an inner body coupled to the outer body. The orthodontic bracket can include a bracket base configured to couple to a tooth. The inner body of the outer body is disposed between the outer body and the bracket base.

Abstract: A method for obtaining an orthodontic treatment plan is provided. The method comprises obtaining a treatment plan for treatment of a tooth of a patient, the treatment plan including two or more stage force values, wherein each of the two or more stage force values is based on a target orthodontic force value that is based on one or more determinate points of periodontal ligament (PDL) behavior data. For each of the two or more stage force values, the method includes determining configuration parameters for configuring an orthodontic appliance to apply the stage force value to a tooth of the patient; and, using the configuration parameters to manufacture an orthodontic appliance configured to apply the stage force value.

Abstract: Systems and methods of simulating dental treatments are disclosed. A method may include capturing a first 2D image of a patient's face, including the patient's teeth, building a parametric 3D model of the patient's teeth and gingiva based on the first 2D image, developing a simulated outcome of a dental treatment of the patient's teeth by rendering the parametric 3D model with the patient's teeth in one or more positions and/or orientations corresponding to the treatment goals of the dental treatment plan, and rendering a second 2D image of the patient's face with gingiva and teeth according to a simulated outcome of the dental treatment plan. As noted herein, the dental treatment plan may include orthodontic and/or restorative elements. The simulated outcome may correspond to estimated outcomes and/or intended outcomes of the dental treatment plan.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides computing device implemented methods, computing device readable medium, and molds for filling undercut areas of teeth relative to an axis of placement. Filling undercut areas of teeth relative to an axis of placement can include calculating an undercut area of a tooth relative to an axis of placement of part of a dental appliance over a number of teeth and a height of contour that is defined based on the axis of placement. Filling undercut areas of teeth relative to an axis of placement can also include filling in a part of the undercut area of the tooth with a virtual filler wherein the undercut is filled to within a threshold distance from the tooth that is defined relative to the axis of placement and the height of contour.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for manufacturing an appliance for correcting malocclusions of a patient's teeth. The method may include measuring the positions of a patient's teeth and receiving tooth movement constraints. The method may also include generating an initial treatment plan based on the measured tooth positions and the tooth movement constraints and measuring the malocclusions of the patient's teeth for one or more types of dental malocclusions. The method may also include generating a plurality of treatment plans from the initial treatment plan based on the measured malocclusion and generating a model of an appliance for each stage of the treatment plan. The method may also include generating instructions for fabricating the appliance for each stage of the treatment plan based on the model of the appliance for each stage of the treatment plan.

Abstract: Apparatuses, components, devices, methods, and systems for generating dentures are provided. An example system includes a motion capture system that captures patient jaw motion and generates patient jaw motion data; and a denture design system that generates a denture design based on the patient jaw motion data. An example method includes acquiring a digital reference denture model of a reference denture; selecting a denture tooth library based on the digital reference denture model; selecting and aligning denture library teeth from the selected denture tooth library to the digital reference denture model; generating a denture base digital model based on the digital reference denture model and the aligned denture library teeth; and fabricating a physical denture based from the denture base digital model.

Abstract: A method of orthodontic treatment planning for a patient includes receiving three-dimensional intraoral surface scan data of a dentition of the patient, receiving three-dimensional volumetric scan data of the dentition of the patient, and overlaying the intraoral surface scan data and the volumetric scan data to generate an integrated patient model comprising a root of at least one tooth having a longitudinal axis. The method further includes determining, for use in planning an orthodontic treatment, a center of rotation of the at least one tooth, wherein the center of rotation is defined as a point located a predetermined distance from a base of the root to an apex of the root along the longitudinal axis of the at least one tooth in the integrated patient model.

Abstract: Method and system for managing multiple impressions of a patient's jaw for an orthodontic treatment are provided. The method includes scanning at least a first impression and a second impression of the same jaw for the orthodontic treatment; determining if the first jaw impression and the second jaw impression have distortion in different areas; selecting the first jaw impression or the second jaw impression as a base impression; and replacing distorted tooth data from the base impression with data for the same tooth from a non-base impression. The method also includes scanning at least a first jaw impression for the orthodontic treatment; scanning a bite impression for the orthodontic treatment; matching the scanned first jaw impression with the scanned bite impression; comparing bite information with a tooth occlusal surface; and determining if reconstruction is to be performed on the tooth occlusal surface.

Abstract: Provided herein are systems and methods for determining if a 3D tooth model requires trimming or removal of incomplete or missing data (e.g., gingiva covering a portion of a tooth such as a molar). A patient's dentition may be scanned and/or segmented. Features of the patient's teeth can be determined, including a tooth center point of at least three of the patient's teeth. The features of the patient's teeth are used to access a parametric model. A trim plane normal vector is identified for a distal tooth. Trimming of the 3D tooth model is based on the trim plane normal vector.

Abstract: Disclosed is a dental appliance useful for treating a patient having obstructive sleep apnea or hypopnea. Also disclosed is a method of treating obstructive sleep apnea or hypopnea using such a dental appliance.

Abstract: Positioning 3D virtual brackets on teeth for the precise positioning of conventional brackets and wire. Various reference features may be calculated for the teeth and used to calculate a position for the virtual bracket. Reference features that may be calculated include curve of Spee, Andrew's plane, and a facial axis of the clinical crown for the teeth.

Abstract: In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein useful to orthodontic systems. In some embodiments, an orthodontic system includes a carrier structure including a base, a plurality of groups of support structures, a plurality of orthodontic appliances associated with one of the plurality of groups of support structures, and at least one rail extending from the base, and an assembly structure including a body, a plurality of complementary pieces associated with one of the plurality of orthodontic appliances, at least one channel configured to interface with the at least one rail to allow the assembly structure to be moved from a first position to a second position with respect to the carrier structure, wherein movement of the assembly structure with respect to the carrier structure causes the plurality of complementary pieces to mate with the plurality of orthodontic appliances.

Abstract: Methods of forming dental tooth positioning appliances. Methods may include identifying a portion of a first digital model corresponding to a portion of the dentition for chemical treatment. Methods may also include forming a second digital model with a scaled up cavity by scaling up a size of a tooth of the first digital model. Methods may further include forming a polymeric shell including a scaled up cavity having dimensions that are proportional to a corresponding surface of the second digital model. The polymeric shell may further include one or more spacers that protrude from an inner surface of the scaled up cavity. The spacer(s) may be arranged to maintain a uniform space between the polymeric shell and the portion of the dentition identified for chemical treatment, and for holding a chemical for treating the identified portion of the dentition.

Abstract: The invention related to a method for planning a dental structure, in which a 3D model of the structure, with at least one radially symmetrical aperture, is already provided. On the basis of the 3D model of the structure that is already provided, an axis of symmetry of the at least one radially symmetrical aperture of the structure is determined in relation to said 3D model.

Abstract: A system and method and system for providing preoperative patient intraoral scanning for diagnosis and preparation of a treatment plan utilizing the proposed system in advance of the crown surgery and intraoperative patient intraoral scanning for system assessment and verification for the method of treatment. More specifically, the proposed invention proposes a method and system of patient intraoral scanning to identify the best prefabricated crown for use for the patient and develop a plan for intraoral surface treatment for the identified prefabricated crown and automated crown inventory management.

Abstract: Methods of attaching a wire to a dentition. The methods may include placing a shell on the dentition, where first cavity of the shell includes an attachment material reservoir for receiving an attachment material, and second cavity of the shell includes a wire attachment member having a slot for receiving the wire. The methods may also include placing the wire through the attachment material reservoir and through the slot of the wire attachment member to hold the wire in position with respect to a tooth within the first cavity. The methods may further include placing the attachment material within the attachment material reservoir to bond the attachment material and the wire to the tooth. Once the shell and the wire attachment member are removed from the dentition, the wire remains attached to the tooth via the attachment material.

Abstract: The invention comprises an improved method and system for building a denture. The invention further comprises a technique for building teeth and a denture base in a digital space. The invention even further comprises a method for adapting a digital denture base contemporaneously with changes made to digital teeth on the same model.

Abstract: A method for treatment-based photo guidance may include receiving a treatment plan, determining the movement of a first one or more teeth based on the movement of tooth models in the treatment plan, and determining one or more photo views for capturing the movement of the first one or more teeth.

Abstract: Patterned dental positioning appliances including a shell including one or more cavities shaped to receive and exert repositioning forces on one or more teeth of a subject's dentition. An inner surface of at least a portion of the one or more cavities may include a raised mesh pattern arranged to contact one or more teeth within the at least a portion of the one or more cavities. The raised mesh pattern may be arranged to impart a contact force that affects one or more of a direction, a duration and a magnitude of the repositioning forces exerted on the one or more teeth. The raised mesh pattern may be is integrally formed with the shell and is made of the same polymer material as the shell.

Abstract: Polymeric shell appliances are provided in which the polymeric shell appliances are configured to provide one or more activation forces to facilitate tooth movement. In many embodiments, the activation forces are arranged to provide force in a direction opposite to an intended direction of tooth movement. The polymeric shell appliances may comprise one or more tooth receiving cavities, in which each of the plurality of tooth receiving cavities is shaped and arranged to provide a counter moment of each of the plurality of teeth.

Abstract: The example systems, methods, and/or computer-readable media described herein help with design treatment plans for orthodontic treatments. Treatment templates expressed according to treatment domain-specific protocols may be processed to provide treatment planning software, including automated or real-time treatment planning software, that accommodates treatment preferences of a practitioner and/or patient data relevant to a treatment plan. These methods and systems may be also be useful for planning, designing and producing as series of dental appliances (e.g., aligners).

Abstract: A physical model of at least a portion of a patient's dentition has model dental surfaces corresponding to real dental surfaces of the patient's dentition. The physical model includes one or more targets, each configured for facilitating placement of an orthodontic appliance on the model at a desired location. The targets lack mechanical stops that are outwardly protruding from the original model dental surfaces. Also provided are a method of manufacturing a physical model for use in indirect bonding procedures, a method for indirect bonding for use in an orthodontic procedure, a method for providing an indirect bonding transfer tray for use in an orthodontic procedure, and a system for providing a physical model for use in indirect bonding orthodontic procedures.

Abstract: Methods for treating a patient are provided. These methods may include receiving scan data of a patient's teeth, forming a modified image of the teeth to simulate a dental treatment, combining the modified image of the teeth with an image of the patient's face to show an image of the patient's smile as it would appear according to the dental treatment, displaying the modified image to the patient, and treating the patient according to the simulated dental treatment.

Abstract: Systems and methods of simulating, modeling, and validating orthodontic treatment are disclosed. The method may include designing an orthodontic treatment system or force system, generative a displacement field between a first position of a patient's teeth and a second position, modeling the three-dimensional force-displacement model generated by the treatment system or force system, and validating the treatment system or force system. The methods disclosed herein may be iterated to optimize the orthodontic force system or treatment system.

Abstract: A distributed system includes one or more servers configured to provide computing devices access to portals hosted by the one or more servers, where the portals include a patient intake portal accessible by a first computing device located at an office of an intake dentist or orthodontist, and an approving portal accessible by a second computing device remote from the first computing device. The distributed system includes a dental aligner fabrication system including a fabrication computing device and dental aligner fabrication equipment. The patient intake portal is configured to provide a plurality of status updates to the intake dentist or orthodontist regarding a status of the patient, where the plurality of status updates include an indication that the dental aligners have been sent to the patient.

Abstract: An improved preparation method uses an additional preparation tray as part of a multi-step tray alignment system which achieves orthodontic tooth movement. The preparation tray incorporates openings in the tray for the application of a bonding preparation fluid, such as an etching agent, or alternately, an etching and bonding agent, in the correct location and amount. The openings are at least the size and shape of the tooth attachments and greatly reduce the tooth surface area accessible to the clinician. This confines the bonding preparation fluid to an area equal to, or slightly larger than, the attachment contact area. The method and apparatus provide faster application, vastly reduced cleanup, less tooth enamel damage, and less chair time for the patient.

Abstract: Provided herein are systems and methods for scoring a post-treatment tooth position of a patient's teeth. A patient's dentition may be scanned and/or segmented. Raw dental features, principal component analysis (PCA) features, and/or other features may be extracted and compared to those of other teeth, such as those obtained through automated machine learning systems. A classifier can identify and/or output the post-treatment tooth position of the patient's teeth.

Abstract: The present disclosure proposes an apparatus for determining a bone age of teeth. The apparatus according to the present disclosure may acquire a plurality of first teeth images of a plurality of teeth corresponding to a first gender and having a first bone age, generate a plurality of pre-processed images by pre-processing the plurality of first teeth images, generate a determination filter for determining a teeth shape for the first bone age of a human body having the first gender by training the neural network model using the plurality of pre-processed images, acquire a second teeth image of teeth of a human body having a second gender and gender information indicating the second gender, and determine a second bone age of the teeth corresponding to the second teeth image based on the second teeth image and the gender information by using the determination filter.

Abstract: Methods for detecting and avoiding collisions of teeth during orthodontic treatment may include determining a schedule of movement for dental objects during treatment stages, calculating a respective route from an initial position toward a final position for each of the dental objects during the treatment stage, and modifying the schedule of movement with a first modification to avoid a collision or obstruction between two of the dental objects on their respective routes. The modification may include moving a first of the dental objects away from the respective route of a second of the dental objects, and moving the first dental object toward its respective final position after the second dental object has sufficiently traversed its respective route to avoid the collision.

Abstract: Aligner attachment placement devices including a frame configured to extend over at least a portion of a dental arch, an attachment support extending from a first side of the frame, an aligner attachment frangibly connected to the attachment support, a first and second registration anchor, and a retention support extending from a second side of the frame. In some cases, a gap portion of the frame between the first and second registration anchors may be configured to suspend over one or more teeth of the dental arch. The retention support may be separate from and located between the first and second registration anchors. The retention support may include an extension arm and a tooth contact portion, where at least part of the extension arm has a smaller width than the tooth contact portion.

Abstract: Methods of representing user edits or modifications of a treatment plan for a dental apparatus (e.g., one or a series of aligners) by managing an original clinical data set and a set of modifications of the clinical data set. Also described herein are methods of displaying, condensing, storing and reconstructing collision regions between two or more teeth.

Abstract: Method of enrichment of a reference model to be enriched representing a dental arch. Acquisition, under first real conditions, of a current image of the arch displaying one region. Exploration of the reference model in such a manner as to determine a first view of the reference model, in a first direction of observation the reference image exhibiting a maximum match with the current image. Determination, by comparison of the images, of a first orphan point represented on the current image and not represented on the reference image when the current image is in a first register position in which it is superposed, in the space of the reference model, with the reference image. Addition, in the reference model, of a point on a first straight line parallel to the first direction of observation and passing through the first orphan point in the first register position.

Abstract: Orthodontic positioning devices, and related methods and systems, are disclosed for use with one or more orthodontic elastic members. The disclosed methods may comprise determining the geometries for a pair of orthodontic aligners for use as part of an orthodontic treatment plan. The geometries for the pair of orthodontic aligners may include an upper aligner with a first marking and a lower aligner with a second marking. The first marking may correspond to a position of a first hook, and the second marking may correspond to a position of a second hook. The first hook and the second hook may be configured to engage with an orthodontic elastic member so as to react a force to, for example, generate orthodontic forces on the patient's teeth.

Abstract: In particular embodiments, method, apparatus and system for receiving digital representations of the initial parameters of a dentition; simulating a first orthodontic treatment process on the digital representations of the initial parameters, displaying a set of output results from the simulation of the first orthodontic treatment process, simulating a second orthodontic treatment process on the output results from the simulation of the first orthodontic treatment process, and displaying a set of output results from the simulation of the second orthodontic treatment process are provided.

Abstract: A processing device receives image data of an actual condition of a patient's dental arch at a stage of an orthodontic treatment plan. The processing device compares the image data of the actual condition of the patient's dental arch to a planned condition of the patient's dental arch for the stage of the orthodontic treatment plan. The processing device determines an updated orthodontic treatment plan based on one or more differences between the actual condition of the patient's dental arch and the planned condition of the patient's dental arch determined from the comparing. The processing device generates one or more three-dimensional (3D) models for one or more new orthodontic aligners in accordance with the updated orthodontic treatment plan.