Shape engineered aligner - auto shaping

a technology of aligner and aligner, applied in the field of orthodontics, can solve problems such as deformation of the appliance, and achieve the effects of reducing the amount of appliance performance degradation due to non-elastic deformation, reducing or eliminating desirable contact forces, and reducing the amount of appliance performance degradation

Inactive Publication Date: 2010-03-04
ALIGN TECH
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005]The present invention provides improved orthodontic positioning appliances and related methods. These improved appliances are shaped to compensate for non-elastic deformation that may occur as a result of appliance use. Significant appliance non-elastic deformation may degrade the performance of the appliance by reducing or eliminating desirable contact forces between the appliance and a patient's teeth. By shaping the appliance to compensate for expected or observed non-elastic deformation, the amount of appliance performance degradation due to non-elastic deformation is decreased. Appliances with decreased performance degradation may help to decrease treatment time and expense.

Problems solved by technology

Significant appliance non-elastic deformation may degrade the performance of the appliance by reducing or eliminating desirable contact forces between the appliance and a patient's teeth.

Method used

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  • Shape engineered aligner - auto shaping
  • Shape engineered aligner - auto shaping
  • Shape engineered aligner - auto shaping

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Embodiment Construction

[0020]The invention described herein provides improved orthodontic positioning appliances and related methods. According to the present invention, an orthodontic positioning appliance can be shaped to compensate for appliance non-elastic deformation that can occur over time as a result of use of the appliance. Appliance non-elastic deformation can occur due to a variety of causes. For example, possible causes can include material creep and / or stress relaxation. Another exemplary cause is appliance expansion or contraction caused by hydration or temperature changes. Significant amounts of appliance non-elastic deformation may reduce or eliminate desirable contact forces between the appliance and the teeth, thereby degrading appliance performance. Appliances of the present invention can advantageously maintain higher levels of desirable contact forces in the presence of significant amounts of non-elastic deformation, thereby reducing performance degradation due to non-elastic deformat...

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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.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates generally to the field of orthodontics. More particularly, the present invention relates to orthodontic positioning appliances shaped to compensate for non-elastic deformation and related methods.[0002]An objective of orthodontics is to move a patient's teeth to positions where function and / or aesthetics are optimized. Traditionally, appliances such as braces are applied to the patient's teeth by an orthodontist or dentist and the set of braces exerts continual force on the teeth and gradually urges them toward their intended positions. Over time and with a series of clinical visits, the orthodontist adjusts the appliances to move the teeth toward their final destination.[0003]More recently, alternatives to conventional orthodontic treatment with traditional affixed appliances (e.g., braces) have become available. For example, systems including a series of preformed shell appliances have become commercially available fro...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): A61C7/08
CPCA61C7/08A61C7/002
Inventor KAKAVAND, ALI
Owner ALIGN TECH
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