Align Technology Patent Applications

IMAGE QUALITY ASSESSMENT AND MULTI MODE DYNAMIC CAMERA FOR DENTAL IMAGES

Granted: April 18, 2024
Application Number: 20240122463
Various apparatuses are disclosed (e.g., system, device, method, or the like) for guiding the capture and assessing the quality of an image, including dental images. The apparatuses may use trained neural networks to examine images and provide users feedback regarding image quality. The neural networks may be trained based on images within image groups that have been ranked based on perceived image quality.

ACCURATE METHOD TO DETERMINE CENTER OF RESISTANCE FOR 1D/2D/3D PROBLEMS

Granted: April 4, 2024
Application Number: 20240108437
A system and method for determining a center of resistance of a tooth may include receiving a 3D digital representation of an initial arrangement and a final arrangement of a patient's teeth and determining a 3D treatment plan. The 3D treatment plan may include a plurality of 3D stages for rearranging the teeth from the initial arrangement toward the final arrangement. The method may also include determining, in accordance with the 3D treatment plan, an intended movement of the teeth for…

DURABLE ORNAMENTAL INDICIA CARRIER

Granted: March 21, 2024
Application Number: 20240090979
The present disclosure relates to ornamental indicia carrier and method of producing the same. In some embodiments, the ornamental indicia carrier comprises an ultraviolet light (“UV”) cured ink printed on a thin flexible film and combined with an adhesive layer. The ornamental indicia carrier is capable of enduring the conditions inside the mouth for an extended period of time and can be used in conjunction with a dental appliance.

OCCLUSAL BLOCKS FOR MANDIBULAR RELOCATION

Granted: February 22, 2024
Application Number: 20240058102
A first appliance and a second appliance comprise engagement surfaces that provide mandibular relocation forces and forces to limit lateral movement of the jaw, such as opposing inclined surfaces on opposite sides of the mouth. In some embodiments, engagement surfaces between oral appliances comprise a curvature difference, which allows engagement at differing angles and positions.

REAL-TIME BITE ARTICULATION

Granted: February 1, 2024
Application Number: 20240033057
A method may include obtaining a first 3D model of an upper jaw of a patient using an intraoral scanner and obtaining a second 3D model of the lower jaw of the patient using the intraoral scanner. The method may also include capturing a series of 2D images of the upper and lower jaws of the patient as the patient is moves the upper jaw and lower jaw in dynamic occlusion and processing the captured series of 2D images to identify features associated with the upper jaw of the patient and…

REAL-TIME BITE ARTICULATION

Granted: February 1, 2024
Application Number: 20240033057
A method may include obtaining a first 3D model of an upper jaw of a patient using an intraoral scanner and obtaining a second 3D model of the lower jaw of the patient using the intraoral scanner. The method may also include capturing a series of 2D images of the upper and lower jaws of the patient as the patient is moves the upper jaw and lower jaw in dynamic occlusion and processing the captured series of 2D images to identify features associated with the upper jaw of the patient and…

STAINING AND SCANNING TEETH FOR DENTAL APPLICATIONS

Granted: February 1, 2024
Application Number: 20240033056
A method for dental treatment may include generating an initial digital model of a patient's oral cavity and generating a first updated digital model of the patient's oral cavity, the first updated digital model including data representing stained locations on the patient's oral cavity. The method may also include comparing the initial digital model to the first updated digital model to identify locations of an oral problem.

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR OCCLUSAL MANDIBULAR ADVANCEMENT BLOCK PLACEMENT

Granted: February 1, 2024
Application Number: 20240033045
A method of treating malocclusions of teeth may include receiving a scan of a patient's teeth and generating a treatment plan to move a patient's teeth from a first position toward a second position. The treatment plan may include moving a jaw from a first position towards a second position. The treatment plan may include a series of jaw movement stages to move the jaw from the first position towards the second position. The method may include generating a digital model of an aligner…

STAINING AND SCANNING TEETH FOR DENTAL APPLICATIONS

Granted: February 1, 2024
Application Number: 20240033056
A method for dental treatment may include generating an initial digital model of a patient's oral cavity and generating a first updated digital model of the patient's oral cavity, the first updated digital model including data representing stained locations on the patient's oral cavity. The method may also include comparing the initial digital model to the first updated digital model to identify locations of an oral problem.

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR OCCLUSAL MANDIBULAR ADVANCEMENT BLOCK PLACEMENT

Granted: February 1, 2024
Application Number: 20240033045
A method of treating malocclusions of teeth may include receiving a scan of a patient's teeth and generating a treatment plan to move a patient's teeth from a first position toward a second position. The treatment plan may include moving a jaw from a first position towards a second position. The treatment plan may include a series of jaw movement stages to move the jaw from the first position towards the second position. The method may include generating a digital model of an aligner…

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANDIBULAR ADVANCEMENT

Granted: January 25, 2024
Application Number: 20240024155
Improved systems, methods, and devices for treating sleep apnea are provided herein. In one aspect, an intraoral appliance for treating sleep apnea in a patient comprises an appliance shell comprising a plurality of cavities shaped to receive teeth of a jaw of the patient. The appliance shell can comprise an advancement structure arranged to interact with an opposing jaw of the patient so as to displace the lower jaw anteriorly relative to the upper jaw. The plurality of cavities can…

SCHEDULE OF MOVEMENT MODIFICATIONS IN ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT TO AVOID COLLISIONS

Granted: January 25, 2024
Application Number: 20240024077
Apparatus, system, and methods for utilizing one or more computing devices to stage the movement of teeth during an alignment treatment are disclosed. The computing device receives an electronic representation of the patient's teeth in their initial position and an electronic representation of the teeth a final position for each tooth. A route each tooth will travel to reach its final position is determined, and the teeth are scheduled to move according to a movement pattern. Moreover,…

SCHEDULE OF MOVEMENT MODIFICATIONS IN ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT TO AVOID COLLISIONS

Granted: January 25, 2024
Application Number: 20240024077
Apparatus, system, and methods for utilizing one or more computing devices to stage the movement of teeth during an alignment treatment are disclosed. The computing device receives an electronic representation of the patient's teeth in their initial position and an electronic representation of the teeth a final position for each tooth. A route each tooth will travel to reach its final position is determined, and the teeth are scheduled to move according to a movement pattern. Moreover,…

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANDIBULAR ADVANCEMENT

Granted: January 25, 2024
Application Number: 20240024155
Improved systems, methods, and devices for treating sleep apnea are provided herein. In one aspect, an intraoral appliance for treating sleep apnea in a patient comprises an appliance shell comprising a plurality of cavities shaped to receive teeth of a jaw of the patient. The appliance shell can comprise an advancement structure arranged to interact with an opposing jaw of the patient so as to displace the lower jaw anteriorly relative to the upper jaw. The plurality of cavities can…

MANDIBULAR ADVANCEMENT AND RETRACTION VIA BONE ANCHORING DEVICES

Granted: December 7, 2023
Application Number: 20230390030
Systems, methods, devices and apparatus for mandibular advancement or retraction via bone anchoring devices are described herein. In various aspects, an apparatus for treating a patient via mandibular advancement or retraction comprises a plurality of anchoring devices positioned in the patient's intraoral cavity. Each of the plurality of anchoring devices can be positioned in bone of the patient's upper jaw or bone of the patient's lower jaw. One or more connecting structures can be…

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR POSITIONING A PATIENT'S MANDIBLE IN RESPONSE TO SLEEP APNEA STATUS

Granted: November 23, 2023
Application Number: 20230372145
Systems, methods, devices, and apparatus for positioning a patient's mandible in response to sleep apnea status are provided herein. In one aspect, a system for monitoring and treating sleep apnea in a patient comprises one or more sensors configured to monitor the patient for symptoms associated with sleep apnea; an intraoral appliance worn by the patient, one or more processors, and memory comprising instructions executable by the one or more processors to cause the one or more…

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CORRECTING MALOCCLUSIONS OF TEETH

Granted: November 2, 2023
Application Number: 20230346520
A system for correcting class III malocclusions is disclosed. The system may include a maxilla appliance having tooth receiving cavities shaped to receive teeth of the maxilla and a first coupling for receiving an elastic. The system may also include a mandibular appliance having tooth receiving cavities shaped to receive teeth of the mandible. In some embodiments, the system includes a class III corrective appliance having a first mount shaped to engage with the mandibular arch of the…

DENTAL APPLIANCES WITH REPOSITIONING JAW ELEMENTS

Granted: November 2, 2023
Application Number: 20230346518
The present disclosure provides method, computing device readable medium, and devices for dental appliances with repositioning jaw elements. An example of a removable dental appliance includes a shell having a number of tooth apertures configured to receive and reposition a number of teeth of a patient along one jaw of a patient, a repositioning jaw element that extends from a buccal or lingual surface of the shell, the element having a first outer surface oriented to face the tongue of…

DIRECT FABRICATION OF ORTHODONTIC ALIGNERS

Granted: September 28, 2023
Application Number: 20230301752
A method for use in additively manufacturing an orthodontic aligner may include receiving a digital model of an aligner, processing the digital model of the aligner to modify the digital model based on predicted deviations during fabrication to generate a first updated digital model of the aligner, determining that whether the predicted deviations of a physical aligner additively manufactured based on the first updated digital model of the aligner are acceptable, and outputting the first…

SYSTEMS FOR USING RESCAN DATA FOR DENTAL PROCEDURES

Granted: September 14, 2023
Application Number: 20230284908
Systems and methods are provided for using rescan data in dental procedures, such as the preparation of orthodontics and prosthodontics. A method may include receiving scan data of a patient's teeth, demarcating useful data from data that should be replaced, receiving rescan data, and replacing at least a portion of the scan data that should be replaced with at least a portion of data from the rescan data.