Method and system for fabricating a dental coping, and a coping fabricated thereby
Granted: December 13, 2022
Patent Number:
11523887
A wax model of a required coping is produced using CNC machining techniques based on a virtual model of the coping created from digital data obtained from the intraoral cavity. The dental coping is then fabricated from the wax model.
Mounting system that maintains stability of optics as temperature changes
Granted: December 13, 2022
Patent Number:
11523885
A scanner for scanning a dental site comprises a base, a detector mounted to the base, and an optical element to redirect light reflected off of the dental site towards the detector along a detection axis in a first direction. Two or more flexures couple the optical element to the base, wherein thermal expansion or contraction of the optical element with respect to at least one of the detector or the base bends each flexure of the two or more flexures in a respective second direction…
Prediction of aligner progressive damage using simulation
Granted: December 13, 2022
Patent Number:
11523881
Embodiments relate to an aligner breakage solution that tests progressive damage to an aligner. A method includes gathering a digital model representing an aligner for a dental arch of a patient, and simulating progressive damage to the aligner. Simulating progressive damage for a region of the aligner comprises simulating, using at least the digital model, a sequence of loads on the aligner, determining an amount of damage to the region of the aligner for each load, and after each…
Systems and methods of managing customized run display elements with treatment templates based on treatment domain-specific protocols
Granted: December 6, 2022
Patent Number:
11521732
In various implementations, computer-implemented method, such as one executed on a computer system or on instructions stored on computer-readable media may include: receiving from a user device associated with a user, a request to access one or more treatment plans for patient; identifying a treatment template for user, the treatment template representing treatment preferences of the user, the treatment template being expressed according to treatment domain-specific protocols; processing…
Prosthodontic and orthodontic apparatus and methods
Granted: November 29, 2022
Patent Number:
11514199
System and method for developing a treatment plan for achieving a treatment goal including creating a virtual model of a dental patient's dentition; transforming the virtual model of the dentition using virtual prosthodontics to facilitate achievement of the treatment goal; transforming the virtual model of the dentition using virtual orthodontics to facilitate achievement of the treatment goal; iterating on the transforming steps until substantially achieving the treatment goal; and…
3D printed objects with selective overcure regions
Granted: November 29, 2022
Patent Number:
11511485
A method of manufacturing a three-dimensional (3D) object may include fabricating a support structure and fabricating the 3D object on the support structure, wherein the support structure contacts the 3D object at a support region of the 3D object. The method further includes overcuring the 3D object at an overcure region of the 3D object, wherein the overcure region is distinct from the support region, and removing the support structure from the 3D object. After removal of the support…
Devices, systems, and computer-implemented methods for dental attachment templates
Granted: November 22, 2022
Patent Number:
11504214
The present disclosure provides methods, devices, systems, and computer-implemented methods for forming and placing attachments for use with dental appliances, and more particularly to the design, manufacture, and use of three-dimensionally printed attachment templates for use with orthodontic devices. Dental attachment templates include a cavity with one or more openings for injecting and bonding attachment material directly on a patient's tooth, which allow accurate placement of the…
Segmented orthodontic appliance with elastics
Granted: November 15, 2022
Patent Number:
11497586
In one aspect an appliance includes a plurality of discrete shell segments, each including one or more cavities shaped to receive at least portions of teeth. The discrete shell segments are joined by an elastic material to form a single appliance shell.
Method to visualize and manufacture aligner by modifying tooth position
Granted: November 15, 2022
Patent Number:
11497584
Orthodontic systems and related methods are disclosed for designing and providing improved or more effective tooth moving systems for eliciting a desired tooth movement and/or repositioning teeth into a desired arrangement. Methods and orthodontic systems include the generation of an overcorrection in the tooth-receiving cavities of an appliance worn in the dentition. The overcorrection may provide an improved and more accurately applied force or moment applied to a tooth. The…
Treatment plan specific bite adjustment structures
Granted: November 8, 2022
Patent Number:
11490996
A series of appliances including a first shell and a second shell can be designed to incrementally implement a treatment plan. The first and second shells can have cavities designed to receive teeth of a jaw. A first number of bite adjustment structures can be formed of a same material as the first shell, extending therefrom and designed to interface with teeth of a second jaw. The first number of bite adjustment structures can have a first shape and location specific to a first stage of…
Identification of intraoral areas of interest
Granted: November 8, 2022
Patent Number:
11490819
A method for distinguishing between types of intraoral areas of interest (AOIs) includes receiving or generating a first 3D model comprising teeth; receiving or generating a second 3D model comprising the teeth; comparing the first 3D model to the second 3D model; determining a difference between the first 3D model and the second 3D model at a dental site comprising a tooth; determining an intraoral AOI that is associated with the difference; determining whether the difference comprises…
System for post-processing polymeric items
Granted: November 1, 2022
Patent Number:
11484395
A system and method for post-processing of polymeric items having a liquid component and a predetermined heat deflection temperature is provided. The system includes a washing station to spray water at elevated temperature and pressure on the items while maintaining the temperature of the item below the heat deflection temperature. Then using a water distillation system to separate the water from the water mixed with the liquid polymer component by evaporating the water using heating…
Systems, methods, and apparatus for correcting malocclusions of teeth
Granted: November 1, 2022
Patent Number:
11484389
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…
Systems and methods for nonlinear tooth modeling
Granted: October 25, 2022
Patent Number:
11478334
Systems and methods of generating an orthodontic model are disclosed. The method may include: generating an initial model of a patient dentition; generating a target model of the patient dentition; defining a plurality of caps and a plurality of links, wherein each link connects two of the plurality of caps; generating a relaxed model of a dental appliance from the plurality of caps and the plurality of links; generating a deformed model of a dental appliance from the plurality of caps…
Treatment planning and progress tracking systems and methods
Granted: October 25, 2022
Patent Number:
11478333
The present invention provides systems and methods of managing planning and delivery of an orthodontic treatment using planning tools, treatment guidelines, instructions and appointment planning tools customized to the individual patient being treated, as well as tools and methods for tracking delivery and patient progression through an orthodontic treatment plan.
Intraoral scanner sleeve authentication and identification
Granted: October 25, 2022
Patent Number:
11478132
Apparatuses, including sleeves, intraoral scanning systems to use these sleeves, and methods of using the sleeve, that authenticate the sleeve for use with an intraoral scanning system. Authentication may include verifying that the sleeve is new (unused) and/or verifying that the sleeve is appropriate and/or intended for use with the intraoral scanning system. Once authenticated, operation parameters of the intraoral scanning system can be automatically set based on information from a…
Durable ornamental indicia carrier
Granted: October 18, 2022
Patent Number:
11471253
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.
Dental positioning appliance having mesh portion
Granted: October 18, 2022
Patent Number:
11471252
Embodiments are provided for utilizing metallic portions in dental positioning appliances. One embodiment includes a removable dental positioning appliance having a shell having one or more cavities shaped to receive and reposition one or more teeth from a first orientation to a successive orientation and where at least a portion of the shell is formed from a mesh material.
Reinforced aligner hooks
Granted: October 18, 2022
Patent Number:
11471250
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…
Color-based foreign object filtering for intraoral scanning
Granted: October 11, 2022
Patent Number:
11468568
In a method of generating a virtual 3D model of a dental site, scan data comprising an intraoral image is received during an intraoral scan of a dental site. A representation of a foreign object is identified in the intraoral image based on a color analysis of the scan data. The intraoral image is modified by removing the representation of the foreign object from the intraoral image. Additional scan data comprising a plurality of additional intraoral images of the dental site is received…
