Durable ornamental indicia carrier
Granted: December 12, 2023
Patent Number:
11839520
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.
Intraoral 3D scanner employing light projectors with pattern generating optical elements
Granted: November 28, 2023
Patent Number:
11826225
An apparatus for intraoral scanning comprises an elongate handheld wand comprising a probe at a distal end, one or more light projectors, and two or more cameras. Each light projector comprises at least one light source configured to generate light and a pattern generating optical element configured to generate a pattern of light when the light is transmitted through the pattern generating optical element. Each camera comprises a camera sensor and one or more lenses and is configured to…
Systems and methods including palatal expanders with anchor-receiving features
Granted: November 28, 2023
Patent Number:
11826221
A series of a palatal expanders increasing width can be used to gradually expand a patient's palate. Each palatal expander may have a palatal region flanked by teeth regions. The palatal region can have a plurality of anchor-receiving features (e.g., anchor interfaces) that allow the palatal expander to be attached to temporary anchorage device anchors that have been implanted into the patient's maxilla.
Dual aligner assembly
Granted: November 28, 2023
Patent Number:
11826219
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,…
Systems and methods including motion compensation in a three-dimensional scan
Granted: November 21, 2023
Patent Number:
11823356
The present disclosure provides computing device implemented methods, computing device readable media, and systems for motion compensation in a three dimensional scan. Motion compensation can include receiving three-dimensional (3D) scans of a dentition, estimating a motion trajectory from one scan to another, and calculating a corrected scan by compensating for the motion trajectory. Estimating the motion trajectory can include one or more of: registering a scan to another scan and…
Generating 3D models of a patient's teeth based on 2D teeth images
Granted: November 21, 2023
Patent Number:
11819377
Methods for obtaining an adjusted 3D model of patient's teeth based on a 2D image of the patient's teeth. In some examples, the method includes: obtaining a 3D digital model based on a scan of the patient's teeth; obtaining a 2D image based on a camera picture; iteratively comparing a distance between corresponding points on one or more teeth of the 3D digital model and of the 2D image, and generating an adjusted 3D model in which the one or more teeth of the 3D digital model are moved…
Methods and apparatuses for dental images
Granted: November 21, 2023
Patent Number:
11819375
Described herein are methods and apparatuses to obtain an image, or a set of images, of a patient's teeth from one or more predetermined viewing angles. These methods and apparatuses may include the use an overlay comprising an outline of teeth for each predetermined viewing angle. The overlay may be used for automatically capturing, focusing and/or illuminating the teeth. Also described herein are methods and apparatuses for using a series of images of the patient's teeth including a…
Systems for providing feedback data useful in dental procedures
Granted: November 21, 2023
Patent Number:
11819373
An intraoral scanning system for scanning an intraoral dental structure of a patient in a dental procedure may include an intraoral scanner and one or more processors coupled to the intraoral scanner and programmed with instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the intraoral scanning system to build a 3D model of the intraoral dental structure of the patient based on scan data acquired via the intraoral scanner and output feedback on a display. The feedback may…
Methods for direct fabrication of orthodontic appliances with elastics
Granted: November 14, 2023
Patent Number:
11813135
Methods for fabricating orthodontic appliances are described herein. In some embodiments, a method includes fabricating a shell including a plurality of cavities shaped to receive teeth, fabricating a discontinuity in the shell, and fabricating an elastic member positioned to interact with the discontinuity. At least one of the shell, the discontinuity, or the elastic member can be fabricated using a direct fabrication technique.
Methods for designing multi-material aligners
Granted: November 14, 2023
Patent Number:
11813136
Methods for designing orthodontic appliances for repositioning a patient's teeth are provided. In some embodiments, a method includes determining a movement path to move one or more teeth from an initial arrangement to a target arrangement, determining a force system to produce movement of the one or more teeth along the movement path, and determining an appliance geometry for an orthodontic appliance configured to produce the force system. The orthodontic appliance can include an outer…
Domain specific image quality assessment
Granted: November 7, 2023
Patent Number:
11810271
In a technique to assess the blurriness of an image, an image of a face is received, the image including a depiction of lips. A processing device determines a region of interest in the image, wherein the region of interest comprises an area inside of the lips. The processing device applies a focus operator to the pixels within the region of interest, and calculates a sharpness metric for the region of interest using an output of the focus operator. The processing device determines…
Systems for volume manufacturing of items
Granted: November 7, 2023
Patent Number:
11810207
Systems for volume manufacturing of items are provided. In some embodiments, a fabrication system is configured to retrieve a fabrication data package including manufacturing data. The system can verify the manufacturing data of the fabrication data package, and transmit the fabrication data package to at least one fabrication terminal configured to perform at least one fabrication process in accordance with the manufacturing data of the fabrication data package. If a predefined…
Systems for visualizing teeth and treatment planning
Granted: November 7, 2023
Patent Number:
11809214
Orthodontic devices such as aligners, palatal expanders, retainers, and dental implants can be used to adjust the position of teeth and to treat various dental irregularities. To help the clinician or doctor (i.e., orthodontist) design and plan the subject's treatment plan, a 3D digital model of the subject's teeth, dentition, and gingiva can be constructed from a 3D scan of the subject's mouth, teeth, dentition, and gingiva. The 3D model of the subject's teeth and dentition can be…
Sequential mouth guard
Granted: November 7, 2023
Patent Number:
11806602
The present invention provides protective repositioning appliances, accommodating mouth guards, and covering guards that protect an orthodontic patient against impact-induced injuries, as well as related systems and methods. A protective appliance can include teeth receiving cavities shaped to receive and reposition a patient's teeth and can include an occlusal portion having an impact-absorbing compliance. An accommodating mouth guard can include teeth receiving cavities shaped to…
Method for sub-gingival intraoral scanning
Granted: November 7, 2023
Patent Number:
11806210
Methods and systems are described that receive intraoral scan data in response to an optical scan of a surface of the tooth and a material disposed between the tooth and a gingiva surrounding the tooth, the material separating the surrounding gingiva from the tooth and covering a sub-gingival surface of the tooth. The received intraoral scan data is processed to differentiate the first optical scan data associated with the sub-gingival surface of the tooth and the second optical scan…
Orthodontic appliances with shell segments and elastic segments
Granted: November 7, 2023
Patent Number:
11806208
Orthodontic appliances and associated methods are provided. In some embodiments, an orthodontic appliance includes an appliance shell configured to reposition a patient's teeth from a first arrangement toward a second arrangement. The appliance shell can include a plurality of shell segments, each shell segment including a first material having a first elastic modulus. The appliance shell can also include a plurality of elastic segments, each elastic segment including a second material…
Adjusting a tooth position
Granted: November 7, 2023
Patent Number:
11806207
The present disclosure provides methods, devices, and systems for adjusting a tooth position. A system for adjusting a tooth position can include an attachment configured to be attached to a tooth to be moved, a dental appliance including a guide slot configured to receive the attachment and to define an adjustment trajectory of the tooth, and an adjustment band to generate force on the tooth to move the tooth along the adjustment trajectory.
Cheek retractor and mobile device holder
Granted: November 7, 2023
Patent Number:
11805991
The present disclosure provides systems that utilize a cheek retractor and/or a mobile device holder. The cheek retractor includes a first and a second lip holder to hold a cheek away from a mouth of a user to expose teeth of the user. A mobile device holder can receive a mobile device to capture images of the patient's teeth. These systems may be useful for case assessment and/or dental treatments.
Methods for generating composite images of a patient
Granted: October 31, 2023
Patent Number:
11801121
Methods and systems for generating composite images of a patient and models of the patient's dentition are provided. In some embodiments, a method includes generating a plurality of 3D models, each comprising a virtual representation of the patient's dentition at different treatment stages of a treatment plan and obtaining an image of the patient's face and dentition. The method can include projecting the obtained image into a 3D space to create a projected 3D model of the patient's face…
Occlusal blocks for mandibular relocation
Granted: October 31, 2023
Patent Number:
11801124
A plurality of occlusal blocks for a mandibular relocation may include a first occlusal block including a first engagement surface and a first side surface with a first undercut formed in the first side surface of the first occlusal block. A second occlusal block may include a second engagement surface to engage the first engagement surface and a second side surface with a second undercut formed in the second side surface of the second occlusal block.
