Abstract: The present invention provides methods and systems including orthodontic tooth positioning appliances. An exemplary appliance can include teeth receiving cavities shaped such that, when worn by a patient, repositioning the patient's teeth from a first arrangement toward a subsequent or target arrangement. Appliances can include a cavity having one or more shaped features or protrusions shaped and/or positioned so as to apply a desired force to a patient's tooth received in the cavity and move the tooth along a desired path or direction.

Abstract: The example systems, methods, and/or computer-readable media described herein help with design of highly accurate models of un-erupted or partially erupted teeth and help fabricate of aligners for un-erupted or partially erupted teeth. Automated agents that use machine learning models to parametrically represent three-dimensional (3d) virtual representations of teeth as 3D descriptors in a 3D descriptor space are provided herein. In some implementations, the automated agents described herein provide instructions to fabricate aligners for at least partially un-erupted teeth using representative 3D descriptor(s) of a tooth type.

Abstract: Mouth guard that includes a flexible printed circuit board encapsulated within a base member is provided. The flexible printed circuit board includes multiple separate stiff sections spaced apart from each other within the base member. One or more electronic devices are disposed within the base member. In particular, the one or more electronics are disposed on the base member.

Abstract: A removable dental appliance may include an appliance body configured to at least partially surround a plurality of teeth of a dental arch of a patient. The appliance body may include a unitary material defining a shell shaped to receive at least one tooth of the patient and a spring member integrally formed with the shell. The spring member may be configured to receive an attachment. The attachment may be configured to affix to the at least one tooth. The spring member may be configured to apply a spring force to the attachment to cause at least one of a rotation, a translation, a tipping, a torqueing, an extrusion, or an intrusion of the at least one tooth toward a desired position of the tooth when the removable dental appliance is worn by the patient.

Abstract: A mouth appliance for maintaining effective airflow in a user's airway comprises a frame formed to engage the user's upper and lower teeth to retain the frame in a selected position in the user's mouth in accord with the user's natural bite. A tongue depressor is mounted to the frame and formed to extend to a rear portion of the user's throat and to exert pressure directly on the tongue in the area of the user's soft palate, thereby facilitating comfort and ease in occasional swallowing, while providing airflow effectiveness to prevent the user from snoring and experiencing sleep apnea.

Abstract: An orthodontic correction device includes a correction unit that is adapted to be removably worn on a dental arch. The correction unit includes at least one first receiving part for receiving at least one first tooth which needs correction. The shape of the first receiving part allows the first tooth to move toward the alveolar bone. At least one elongated opening is formed on the occlusal surface of the correction unit and extends to the lingual surface and the buccal surface of the correction unit. The opening exposes parts of the occlusal surface, the lingual surface and the buccal surface of the first tooth. A force exerting assembly is configured to contact the first tooth through the opening, thereby exerting a force on the first tooth to press the first tooth into the alveolar bone.

Abstract: A masticatory orthodontic device includes a masticatory unit with a rigid body. The masticatory unit is configured to be removably worn on a dental arch, wherein when worn during mastication, the shape of the masticatory unit is maintained even under a stress from occlusal forces. The masticatory unit includes a teeth-receiving surface with several recesses for accommodating teeth of the dental arch. A shape memory mesh is disposed between the teeth-receiving surface and the dental arch, configured to remember the shape of the teeth in target teeth positions to guide teeth movements from initial teeth positions toward the target teeth positions. A buffering member is disposed between the teeth-receiving surface and the shape memory mesh. Occlusal forces loading on the masticatory unit are transmitted to the shape memory mesh and the teeth through the buffering member, to achieve teeth movements in the recesses.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present application provides a computer-based method of measuring positional relationship between two teeth, comprising: obtaining a second 3D digital model representing a plurality of teeth under a second tooth arrangement, wherein the plurality of teeth comprise a first tooth and a second tooth; and measuring a value of a collision or a size of a gap between the first tooth and second tooth based on the second 3D digital model and in a predetermined first direction.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a hybrid photopolymer composition for additive manufacturing, —comprising 50-95% by weight of a free radically curable-component, farther comprising at least one (meth)acrylate monomer or oligomer, 5-49% by weight of a cationically curable component, further comprising a cycloaliphatic epoxide, an oxetane mixture, containing a monooxetane compound and a polyoxetane compound, and a thermoplastic polycaprolactone with a molecular weight of 20,000-100,000 g/mol, a free radical photoinitiator, a UV blocker, a cationic photoinitiator, optionally a cationic photosensitiser, and optionally a thermal initiator, wherein the percent by weight is based on the total weight of the photopolymer' composition.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing an orthodontic appliance for securing to a user's teeth in order to carry out an orthodontic treatment, the appliance having an element. The method includes a) gathering information relating to the user's set of teeth; b) using the information to determine at least first and second stable shapes of the element towards which the element should tend to deform during the first and second periods of treatment, respectively; and c) producing and programming the element in such a way that the application of a stimulus during the first period of the treatment renders the second stable shape operational. In certain aspects in step c), a retractable or expansible material is incorporated into the element.

Abstract: An oral weight control device that inhibits the mastication and swallowing of food is provided. The oral weight control device is a dental appliance that includes upper and lower retainers, where each retainer covers the lingual, palatal and buccal side of the teeth to inhibit mastication of food. The dental appliance further includes left and right flexible food barriers extending from the upper retainer to the lower retainer on the lingual side of the teeth to prevent food that a user may attempt to masticate between the upper and lower retainers from being passed to the tongue of the user to ingest. The upper and lower retainers may be customized to fit on each user and may cover all the upper and lower teeth of the wearer on the lingual, palatal and buccal sides of the teeth. The retainers may be removable or semi-permanently secured to the teeth.

Abstract: A removable dental appliance configured to reposition one or more teeth of a patient includes an appliance body forming an active band configured to surround two or more teeth of the patient. The appliance body includes a facial portion configured to register with facial sides of the surrounded teeth, a lingual portion configured to register with lingual sides of the surrounded teeth. The facial portion of the appliance body and the lingual portion of the appliance body form receptacles. Each receptacle is configured to accept at least one of the surrounded teeth. The receptacles separate the facial portion from the lingual portion at least along an anterior portion of the appliance body. The active band is configured such that occlusal surfaces of the surrounded teeth of the patient are exposed when the removable dental appliance is worn by the patient with the surrounded teeth positioned within the active band.

Abstract: An orthodontic correction device is provided, including a shell having a number of teeth receiving cavities configured to receive teeth of a dental arch of a patient. A first elastic member holding feature is formed on one side of the shell and corresponds to an undercut region of a tooth of the dental arch. A first orthodontic elastic member is coupled to the first elastic member holding feature and extends to the interior of the shell to engage with the undercut region of the tooth, thereby enhancing the retention of the orthodontic correction device on the dental arch.

Abstract: Tooth-positioning appliances and apparatuses, components, methods, and techniques for producing and using tooth-positioning appliances are provided. An example tooth-positioning appliance for adjusting the position of teeth of a patient includes a tooth-clasping arrangement shaped to secure the orthodontic appliance to at least one tooth and a flexible arrangement connected to the tooth-clasping arrangement. The flexible arrangement is less rigid than the tooth-clasping arrangement.

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 appliances comprise interproximal engagement structures to provide activation forces to interproximal tooth surfaces. In many embodiments, the activation forces are arranged to provide a plurality of forces, including a 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: 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: The present invention provides orthodontic appliances and systems, and related methods, for applying a force to a target tooth as an appliances is worn by the patient. One positioning appliance includes a tooth positioning appliance having teeth receiving cavities shaped to apply a positioning force to the patient's teeth. The appliance includes a spring-loaded tooth movement device disposed in the appliance so as to engage an attachment mounted on a surface of a patient's tooth and apply a force to the tooth.

Abstract: A bruxism mouth guard device is disclosed herein. The bruxism mouth guard device includes a mouth guard body portion with a channel formed therein for receiving one or more teeth of a user; one or more pressure sensing devices for sensing a grinding or clenching of the one or more teeth of the user; a vibration device for vibrating one or more portions of the mouth of the user; and a control device operatively coupled to the one or more pressure sensing devices and the vibration device, the control device activating the vibration device so as to vibrate the one or more portions of the mouth of the user when the one or more pressure sensing devices sense the grinding or clenching of the one or more teeth by the user. A bruxism mouth guard system including the device is also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A method includes forming a plastic orthodontic aligner having a plurality of cavities shaped to receive at least portions of a plurality of teeth of a patient. A first segment of the plastic orthodontic aligner corresponds to a first subset of the plurality of cavities for moving a first subset of the plurality of teeth of the patient. A second segment of the plastic orthodontic aligner corresponds to a second subset of the plurality of cavities. The method further includes removing a first portion of the plastic orthodontic aligner between the first and second segments of the plastic orthodontic aligner to form a connector to minimize force transmission between the first and second segments. The connector is configured to be disposed along one or more additional teeth to span a gap between the first and second segments without exerting a clinically significant force on the one or more additional teeth.

Abstract: An appliance for correcting a malocclusion in a mouth of a user, the appliance including a generally U-shaped upper body having an anterior portion configured to be adjacent to upper incisors and a posterior portion located rearward to the anterior portion, the upper body having an outer perimeter and an inner perimeter that is located interior to the outer perimeter; a generally U-shaped lower body having an outer perimeter, the outer perimeter of the lower body having an anterior portion adjacent to lower incisors and a posterior portion located rearward to the anterior portion of the lower body, wherein the lower body has a lower labial shield extending along the outer perimeter of the lower body; and lingual protrusions extending generally upward from the posterior portion of the inner perimeter of the upper body, the lingual protrusions being configured to contact a palate of the user as the appliance is worn within the mouth of the user.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods, computing device readable medium, devices, and systems having a dental appliance binding structure. One method can include to create a treatment plan based on a virtual model of a jaw of a patient, wherein the treatment plan includes use of a dental appliance having a first surface that defines a plurality of cavities shaped to receive a plurality of teeth, modify the virtual model of the jaw in a first configuration to include a virtual binding structure on a second surface, the platform shaped to receive a specialized feature that provides one or more force characteristics, select a particular specialized feature as an attachment to the dental appliance, and adjust the virtual model of the jaw from a first configuration to a second configuration, based at least in part on a modeled force provided by the virtual binding structure and the particular specialized feature.

Abstract: A method for altering an orthodontic archwire of a unitary piece of shape memory alloy having a composition and generally uniformly formed properties along its length to different stiffness profiles along the length of the archwire. In one embodiment, the method includes determining a stress profile for teeth at a location. The method may include calculating a force the archwire is to produce on the teeth to satisfy the determined stress profile and determining an altered stiffness of a section of the archwire based on the calculated force. The method may include changing the composition of the section based on the determined altered stiffness. The method may include determining a load for teeth and calculating a force the archwire is to produce on the teeth to satisfy the determined load.

Abstract: Orthodontic positioning devices, and related methods and systems, are disclosed for use with one or more orthodontic elastic members. The disclosed devices are configured to couple with an orthodontic elastic member so as to react a force from the elastic member into the appliance to, for example, generate traction forces on the patient's teeth to produce a desired occlusion. A positioning device includes a patient removable tooth positioning appliance having teeth receiving cavities shaped to receive and apply a resilient positioning force to a patient's teeth. The appliance includes a hook configured to interface with an orthodontic elastic member. The hook can be configured to be offset from a surface of a tooth when the appliance is coupled with the patient's teeth and no elastic member is coupled with the tooth. The hook can be curved so that the hook is more retentive on the aligner. The hook can be reinforced so that the reinforcement resists deformation when the elastic is in place.

Abstract: A method of making a dental appliance for repositioning a patient's teeth includes forming a rigid shell that is configured to receive the patient's teeth of a dental arch. The rigid shell has at least one first cavity with a space for accommodating at least one first tooth of the dental arch needing orthodontic correction and allowing the first tooth to move from an initial tooth arrangement to a target tooth arrangement. The method also includes forming at least one resilient member in the first cavity of the rigid shell. The resilient member has a receiving shape fitting the first tooth in the target tooth arrangement.

Abstract: A system and method for repositioning teeth in a patient jaw includes an attachment bonded to a tooth. The attachment has at least one force receiving component for receiving a force. A polymeric shell repositioning appliance is positioned over at least some of the teeth in the patient jaw. The polymeric shell has at least one force transmitting component for engaging the force receiving component to form a locus of engagement. The locus of engagement transmits the force and moves but is maintained as the tooth is repositioned. In specific embodiments the locus of engagement is maintained over a substantial range of motion. The force transmitted at the locus of engagement increases in response to the tooth lagging an intended position. A space between the positioned appliance and the tooth permits the tooth to move into an intended position.

Abstract: A jaw function measurement apparatus comprises a mastication measurement device having a pliable body, the pliable body defining at least one bite location having at least one force sensor therein. A data collection device is in data communication with the mastication measurement device. Also, a data analysis device is in data communication with the data collection device, which converts data collected by the data collection device into a format suitable for output. Moreover, an input output device is in data communication with the data analysis device 106 that outputs measured bite force.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a system for automated intra-oral delivery of therapeutic agents. A non-limiting example of the system includes a delivery vessel including a control unit and a reservoir. The system can also include a connector tube including a channel coupled to the delivery vessel. The system can also include a sensor coupled to connector tube.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus's for improving orthodontic treatments. In an embodiment, an orthodontic system including a tactile object is provided for modulating an engagement between a tooth attachment and an orthodontic appliance.

Abstract: A dental retainer including one or more of a retaining body having a plurality of dental impressions to receive teeth, a pair of passthrough openings to allow passage of one or more molars, premolars, and canines, and an aperture disposed adjacent the lingual surface of the incisors.

Abstract: A dual aligner assembly including a plurality of aligners, including a first aligner and a second aligner. The first aligner has a first shape corresponding to a set of target tooth positions and applies an orthodontic force against a set of target teeth. The first orthodontic force generates movement of the set of target teeth to the set of target tooth positions. The second aligner has a second shape corresponding to a combination of current tooth positions of the set of target teeth, the set of target tooth positions, and a thickness of the first aligner. The second aligner partially encloses the first aligner and provides an anchor for at least a portion of the first aligner. Via the anchor, a combination of the first aligner and the second aligner provides an orthodontic force that prevents the set of target teeth from moving to unwanted tooth positions during orthodontic treatment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to orthodontic positioning appliances and related methods. An appliance in accordance with the present invention has teeth receiving cavities shaped to receive and apply a resilient positioning force to the patient's teeth. At least one of the cavities of the appliance includes a portion shaped to compensate for non-elastic deformation due to use of the appliance.

Abstract: Orthodontic positioning devices, and related methods and systems, are disclosed for use with one or more orthodontic elastic members. The disclosed devices are configured to couple with an orthodontic elastic member so as to react a force from the elastic member into the appliance to, for example, generate traction forces on the patient's teeth to produce a desired occlusion. A positioning device includes a patient removable tooth positioning appliance having teeth receiving cavities shaped to receive and apply a resilient positioning force to a patient's teeth. The appliance includes a hook configured to interface with an orthodontic elastic member. The hook can be configured to be offset from a surface of a tooth when the appliance is coupled with the patient's teeth and no elastic member is coupled with the tooth. The hook can be curved so that the hook is more retentive on the aligner. The hook can be reinforced so that the reinforcement resists deformation when the elastic is in place.

Abstract: The invention provides a sensor assembly embeddable within an oral appliance comprising a sensing means; and a data processing means coupled to the sensing means for processing data obtained by the sensing means; wherein the sensing means and the data processing means are sealed within a deformable layer.

Abstract: A masticatory orthodontic correction device adapted to use occlusal loads generated during mastication as a correction force to achieve orthodontic correction, includes at least one correction unit with a rigid body. The correction unit is worn on a maxillary or mandibular dental arch of a patient during mastication, and the shape of the correction unit is maintained without deformation when accommodating teeth. At least one first recess is formed in the correction unit and has a shape which allows a first tooth of the maxillary or mandibular dental arch in malposition to move to the envisioned finish position. At least one buffering member is formed in the first recess configured to transmit and buffer the occlusal loads generated during mastication-between the first recess and the first tooth, wherein when the correction unit is worn during mastication, the buffering member deforms and contacts the first tooth over an area.

Abstract: A method includes receiving one or more images of an organ of a patient. A physical model of at least a target region of the organ is manufactured based on the images. A distal tip of a medical probe is pre-shaped to fit a surface of the physical model corresponding to the target region.

Abstract: A method for analyzing a quality of a dental aligner includes receiving, by a processor, a digital dental aligner generated based on a fabricated dental aligner, analyzing, by the processor, the digital dental aligner to identify a quality characteristic of the fabricated dental aligner, determining, by the processor, that the quality characteristic is anomalous, and flagging, by the processor, the fabricated dental aligner indicating that the fabricated dental aligner is rejected in response to determining that the quality characteristic is anomalous.

Abstract: A method of automatically producing or reproducing a customized AGP (Anterior Guidance Package) equipped splint for a patient with or without a severe malocclusion is provided. The method of automatically producing or reproducing an AGP equipped splint according to current invention comprises of combining Virtual Articulation, CAD (Computer Aided Design)-CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing) method with AGP and special retentive piece technology. The method of the current invention enables a patient with or without a severe malocclusion to receive his/her customized AGP equipped splint or a replacement thereof automatically without visiting the dentist again and again.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes computing device related, systems, and methods for IPR planning as described herein. One method includes identifying a first tooth and a second tooth in a digital dental model with an overlap in a target final position in a treatment plan and identifying a reference line on each of the first tooth and the second tooth; revising the treatment plan wherein a position of each of the first tooth and the second tooth is determined in which the reference line of each of the first tooth and the second tooth are aligned and the first tooth and second tooth are not overlapping; and prescribing IPR based on the determined position of each of the first tooth and the second tooth.

Abstract: A detachable orthodontic bracket and wire system includes bracket bases, brackets, and an arch wire for guiding alignment of teeth. The bracket bases are positioned on a lingual surface and/or a facial surface of the teeth. Each bracket base includes a first surface, a second surface, and at least one first interlocking element. The first surface is rigidly attached to the lingual surface and/or the facial surface of the teeth. The second surface opposes the lingual surface and/or the facial surface of the teeth. The first interlocking element is attached to and positioned in a direction substantially perpendicular to or parallel to the second surface of each bracket base. The brackets include at least second interlocking element that interlocks with the first interlocking element. The arch wire is inserted through a slot channel of each bracket. The bracket and the arch wire are infused and rigidly anchored within enclosing layers.

Abstract: An oral hygiene device is provided. The oral hygiene device includes a body having a base and first and second opposing sides extending from the base and defining a gap therebetween. The device may further include a plurality of corresponding notch pairs, wherein each corresponding notch pair has a first notch positioned in the first opposing side and a second notch positioned in the second opposing side. The location of the notch pairs may coincide with a user's mouth and in particular to the position of the user's teeth within the mouth. As such, a fibrous material, such as floss, may be coupled to the device such that the material spans the gap between at least one of the corresponding notch pairs so that the material may be inserted into the spaces between the user's teeth when the device is placed into the user's mouth.

Abstract: Improved orthodontic appliances, along with related systems and methods, are provided. In one aspect, an appliance includes a shell having a plurality of cavities shaped to receive teeth, a discontinuity formed in the shell, and an elastic member positioned to interact with the discontinuity. In another aspect, an appliance includes a plurality of discrete shell segments joined by an elastic material to form a single appliance shell. In another aspect, an appliance includes a shell having an exterior layer and an interior layer having a stiffness less than a stiffness of the exterior layer, and a discontinuity formed in the exterior layer. In another aspect, an appliance includes a shell comprising an interior surface and an exterior surface, and an elastic coating covering at least a portion of one or more of the interior surface or exterior surface of the shell.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for treating teeth to correct for malocclusions. This may be accomplished in one variation by receiving a scanned dental model of a subject's dentition, determining a treatment plan having a plurality of incremental movements for repositioning one or more teeth of the subject's dentition, and fabricating one or more aligners correlating to a first subset of the plurality of incremental movements.

Abstract: A method includes to receive, via a computing device, data representing a plurality of teeth, identify data indicating which of the plurality of teeth are unerupted or erupting, predict at least one characteristic of a tooth of the unerupted or erupting teeth after they have fully erupted using one or more tooth eruption prediction factors, generate new data representing the unerupted or erupting teeth in multiple states of eruption based upon the predicted at least one characteristic of the fully erupted teeth, and generate a series of incremental tooth arrangements with the new data to define a proposed orthodontic treatment based on the new data representing the unerupted or erupting teeth in multiple states of eruption.

Abstract: Embodiments are provided for a patterned dental positioning appliance. One method embodiment includes receiving a dental mold of a patient's dentition, applying a pattern to a portion of the dental mold, and applying a material to the dental mold to form the removable dental positioning appliance that includes either the pattern on the portion of the dental mold or an inverse thereof.

Abstract: An orthodontic anchor system may include an anchor system having an anchor system distal end and an anchor system proximal end. The anchor system may include an aligner receptacle, an aligner housing, an anchor mechanism, and an elastic band receptacle. The aligner housing may be configured to house an aligner. The anchor mechanism may be configured to house an elastic band. The aligner housing may be configured to house the aligner without requiring a modification of the aligner.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, with a computer system, a digital representation of a 3D tooth structure providing initial positions of one or more teeth of a patient, determining dimensions and shapes of a removable dental appliance, the dimensions and shapes being configured to reposition the one or more teeth from their initial positions to adjusted positions when the dental appliance is worn, and transmitting a representation of the dental appliance to a computer-aided manufacturing system. The dental appliance includes an appliance body configured to surround two or more teeth of the patient with a facial portion configured to register with facial sides of the surrounded teeth, and a lingual portion configured to register with lingual sides of the surrounded teeth. The appliance body is configured such that occlusal surfaces of the surrounded teeth of the patient are exposed when the removable dental appliance is worn by the patient.

Abstract: Provided herein is an orthodontic hybrid appliance for moving one or more teeth of a patient and methods of making and using the same.

Abstract: A method for fabrication of an orthodontic device having tooth-fitting cavities, such as an aligner, using layer-by-layer printing of a single or multiple polymeric materials. The cavities of the appliance or an appliance mold are defined by the boundaries of the multiple layers, encapsulating up to fourteen teeth of a patient, and shaped to apply a load to at least one tooth that is sufficient to cause movement of the tooth, and remodeling of the adjacent bone. In the case where the cavities form an appliance mold, the mold is used to form a positive model and an appliance is formed thereon. A series of such appliances may be used to treat malocclusion of teeth, each appliance used in series to incrementally move one or more teeth from initial positions toward a desired final position. The appliance may be fabricated with a variety of disclosed materials, and may include auxiliary features for interaction with other orthodontic elements.

Abstract: An improved dental apparatus that can treat Class II or Class III malocclusions without the need for braces, that can be repaired outside of the patient's mouth, that can be temporarily removed by the patient, that can be fitted, calibrated, set up and adjusted outside the patient's mouth prior to installation, and that is inexpensive. It utilizes universal torsion springs with accurate bending forces assembled with linear members of varying lengths to make a curved intrusive vector force device connecting teeth aligners that apply gentle constant forces to correct underbite and overbite conditions.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for improved orthodontic treatment of a patient's teeth are provided herein.