Methods for Producing Non-Interfering Tooth Models
Granted: November 13, 2008
Application Number:
20080280259
A method produces a physical dental arch model having at least two physical tooth models. The method includes detecting the interference between two physical tooth models. If interference is detected between the first physical tooth model and the second physical tooth model, the positions and orientations of at least one physical tooth model is modified to prevent interference between the first physical tooth model and the second physical tooth model.
Preventing Interference Between Tooth Models
Granted: November 13, 2008
Application Number:
20080280258
Systems and methods are disclosed to prevent interference between two physical tooth models in a physical dental arch model by acquiring the coordinates of a plurality of points on the surfaces of each of the two physical tooth models and digitally representing the surfaces of each of the two physical tooth models by a mesh of points in three dimensions using the acquired coordinates. The meshes representing the surfaces of the two physical tooth models intersect at least at one point to…
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING AND CONSTRUCTING A PHYSICAL DENTAL ARCH MODEL
Granted: November 6, 2008
Application Number:
20080274441
A method produces a physical dental arch model based on a three-dimensional (3D) digital dental arch model. The method includes smoothening the digital dental arch model to make the digital dental arch model suitable for CNC based manufacturing, segmenting the digital dental arch model into at least two manufacturable digital components, producing manufacturable physical components using Computer Numerical Control (CNC) based manufacturing in accordance with the manufacturable digital…
Dental appliance reinforcement
Granted: October 30, 2008
Application Number:
20080268400
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.
Clinician review of an orthodontic treatment plan and appliance
Granted: October 9, 2008
Application Number:
20080248443
A computer is used to create a plan for repositioning an orthodontic patient's teeth. The computer receives an initial digital data set representing the patient's teeth at their initial positions and a final digital data set representing the teeth at their final positions. The computer then uses the data sets to generate treatment paths along which teeth will move from the initial positions to the final positions.
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING AUTOMATED HIGH SCALE FABRICATION OF CUSTOM ITEMS
Granted: September 4, 2008
Application Number:
20080215176
Method and system for providing volume manufacturing of customizable items including receiving a data package including a plurality of manufacturing parameters, each of the plurality of manufacturing parameters associated with a unique item, verifying the received data package, and implementing a manufacturing process associated with the received data package is provided.
System and method for positioning teeth
Granted: August 7, 2008
Application Number:
20080187879
Methods and apparatus fit a set of upper and lower teeth in a masticatory system by generating a computer representation of the masticatory system and computing an occlusion based on interactions in the computer representation of the masticatory system.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATED GENERATING OF A CUTTING CURVE ON A SURFACE
Granted: August 7, 2008
Application Number:
20080187887
In accordance with various aspects of the present invention, a system and method for automated generating of a cutting curve on a surface is provided. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a computer-implemented method for automated generating of a cutting curve on a gingival surface to facilitate cutting of an aligner material comprises the defining of initial gingival curves along the line around a tooth (LAT) on a patient's jaw, including within an interproximal area between…
Computer automated development of an orthodontic treatment plan and appliance
Granted: July 31, 2008
Application Number:
20080182220
A computer is used to create a plan for repositioning an orthodontic patient's teeth. The computer receives an initial digital data set representing the patient's teeth at their initial positions and a final digital data set representing the teeth at their final positions. The computer then uses the data sets to generate treatment paths along which the teeth will move from the initial positions to the final positions.
Defining tooth-moving appliances computationally
Granted: July 31, 2008
Application Number:
20080182221
Methods and corresponding apparatus for segmenting an orthodontic treatment path into clinically appropriate substeps for repositioning the teeth of a patient include providing a digital finite element model of the shape and material of each of a sequence of appliances to be applied to a patient; providing a digital finite element model of the teeth and related mouth tissue of the patient; computing the actual effect of the appliances on the teeth by analyzing the finite elements models…
System for determining final position of teeth
Granted: July 10, 2008
Application Number:
20080166676
An apparatus and method define a fit a set of upper and lower teeth in a masticatory system of a patient by generating a computer representation of the masticatory system of the patient; and determining an occlusion from the computer representation of the masticatory system using one or more keys.
Dynamically specifying a view
Granted: July 3, 2008
Application Number:
20080163100
Systems and methods to provide a UI includes providing a program with a dynamic content to specify a view; and rendering the view based on the dynamic content.
METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR TREATING TEETH
Granted: June 5, 2008
Application Number:
20080131832
A system for repositioning teeth comprises a plurality of individual appliances used with braces. The appliances are configured to be placed successively on the patient's teeth and to incrementally reposition the teeth from an initial tooth arrangement, through a plurality of intermediate tooth arrangements, and to a final tooth arrangement. The appliances may be substituted with braces as appropriate to optimize the treatment of the teeth.
Method and System for Providing Indexing and Cataloguing of Orthodontic Related Treatment Profiles and Options
Granted: May 1, 2008
Application Number:
20080103825
Method and system for providing an orthodontic profile indexing and treatment plan including comparing an initial patient condition in each of a plurality of dentition categories with one or more reference conditions in each of the plurality of dentition categories, wherein each of the one or more reference conditions has a corresponding representation, selecting at least one reference condition in one or more of the plurality of dentition categories, where each selected reference…
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR POSITIONING THREE-DIMENSIONAL BRACKETS ON TEETH
Granted: April 24, 2008
Application Number:
20080096152
System and methods for 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 are calculated include curve of Spee, Andrew's plane, and a facial axis of the clinical crown for the teeth.
Dual-chamber package for preparing alginate impression paste
Granted: April 10, 2008
Application Number:
20080083348
A dual-chamber package for the constituent materials for preparing an alginate dental impression paste includes a first chamber containing a pre-measured volume of water, and a second chamber, attached to and isolated from, the first chamber, and containing a pre-measured quantity of alginate powder, wherein the quantity of powder and the volume of water are in a pre-determined ratio for making a dental impression paste when mixed together. The powder and the water may be mixed outside…
Dental Data Mining
Granted: April 10, 2008
Application Number:
20080085487
Systems and methods are disclosed providing a database comprising a compendium of at least one of patient treatment history; orthodontic therapies, orthodontic information and diagnostics; employing a data mining technique for interrogating said database for generating an output data stream, the output data stream correlating a patient malocclusion with an orthodontic treatment; and applying the output data stream to improve a dental appliance or a dental appliance usage.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MODELING AND APPLICATION OF INTERPROXIMAL REDUCTION OF TEETH
Granted: March 6, 2008
Application Number:
20080057461
In accordance with various aspects of the present invention, system and method for modeling and application of interproximal reduction (IPR) of teeth to facilitate orthodontic treatment is provided. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a system and method for modeling and application of IPR are configured within a treatment methodology that initially determines whether stripping is needed for two neighboring teeth. If stripping is necessary, the exemplary method for modeling and…
Dental appliance sequence ordering system and method
Granted: February 7, 2008
Application Number:
20080032248
The present invention provides systems and methods for providing dental appliances, particularly orthodontic appliances, to a patient wherein the patient is easily able to determine the order or sequence in which the appliances should be worn. Typically the appliances are to be worn in a particular sequence to provide desired treatment, such as a progressive movement of teeth through a variety of arrangements to a final desired arrangement.
EMBEDDED FEATURES AND METHODS OF A DENTAL APPLIANCE
Granted: January 24, 2008
Application Number:
20080020337
Traditional orthodontic treatment often involves the use of basic repositioning devices, such as braces, and the use of supplementary devices, components or accessories to achieve desired end results. Such components may be mounted on fixed, non-removable devices or they may be part of a removable appliance typically worn prior to the application of the fixed devices. As with traditional treatment, it may be desired to utilize similar components when repositioning teeth with removable…
