Dental correction device and method of use

Abstract

A dental orthodontic device for treating a patient's teeth and a method for orthodontically treating a patient's teeth are disclosed herein. According to some embodiments, the technology includes an orthodontic device comprising a plurality of attachment portions each configured to be fixed to a patient's tooth and at least one connector extending between at least two adjacent attachment portions. In various embodiments, the attachment portion can be configured to be fixed to a patient's tooth via a fixing member held by the tooth. A method of fixing the device to a patient's teeth can include fixing each attachment portion of the plurality of attachment portions to its respective fixing member in an order that can be based on the relative difficulty of fixing each attachment portion compared to the other attachment portions.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] (Cross - Reference to Related Applications) This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 366,967, filed Jun. 24, 2022, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 381,358, filed Oct. 28, 2022, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0002] (Technical Field) The present technology relates to the field of orthodontics, and more particularly, to a method of fixing an orthodontic device to a patient's teeth.

Background Art

[0003] A common goal in orthodontics is to move a patient's teeth to an optimal and aesthetically functional position. To move the teeth, an orthodontist begins by obtaining multiple scans and / or impressions of the patient's teeth to determine a series of correction paths between the initial and desired final positions of the teeth. The orthodontist then attaches to the patient one of two main types of devices, namely, a brace or an aligner.

[0004] Conventional braces consist of brackets and an arch wire installed across the front of the teeth, with elastic ties or ligature wires securing the arch wire to the brackets. In some cases, self-ligating brackets can be used instead of ties or wires. Not only the shape and rigidity of the arch wire but also the arch wire-bracket interaction controls the forces applied to the teeth and, thus, the direction and extent of tooth movement. To exert the desired forces on the teeth, orthodontists often bend the arch wire manually. The orthodontist monitors the patient's progress through regular appointments, during which the orthodontist visually assesses the progress of treatment, makes manual adjustments to the arch wire (new bends, etc.), and / or replaces or repositions the brackets. The adjustment process is time-consuming and cumbersome for the patient and, in most cases, causes discomfort to the patient for several days after the appointment. Additionally, braces are not aesthetically pleasing and make brushing, flossing, and other dental hygiene techniques difficult.

[0005] Aligners comprise a transparent, removable polymer shell with cavities that are shaped to receive and reposition teeth to produce the final tooth arrangement. Aligners offer patients significantly improved aesthetics compared to braces. Aligners do not require the orthodontist to bend wires or reposition brackets and are generally more comfortable than braces. However, unlike braces, aligners cannot effectively treat all malocclusions. Certain tooth movement steps, such as extrusion, translational movement, and some rotations, may be difficult or impossible to achieve using aligners. Additionally, because aligners are removable, treatment success depends heavily on patient compliance, which can be unpredictable and inconsistent.

[0006] Lingual braces are an alternative to aligners and conventional (buccal) braces and have gained popularity in recent years. Two examples of existing lingual braces are Incognito TMThe Appliance System (3M United States) and INBRACE® (Swift Health Systems (Irvine, California, USA)), each of which consists of brackets and archwires installed on the lingual or tongue side of teeth. In contrast to conventional braces, lingual braces are virtually invisible and, unlike aligners, lingual braces are fixed to the patient's teeth and enforce compliance. However, these existing lingual technologies also have some disadvantages. Most notably, conventional lingual devices still rely on a bracket-archwire system to move teeth and thus require multiple office visits and adjustments that are painful. For example, lingual technology has a relatively short inter-bracket distance, which generally makes the compliance of the archwire stiffer. As a result, the overall lingual device is more sensitive to archwire adjustments and causes more pain to the patient. In addition, the lingual surface of the device can irritate the tongue, affect speech, and make it difficult to clean the device.

[0007] Accordingly, there is a need for an improved orthodontic device. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM

[0008] Various embodiments of the present technology are directed to orthodontic treatment of a patient's teeth. Some embodiments include an orthodontic device for applying an orthodontic force to a patient's teeth and / or a method of securing the orthodontic device to a patient's teeth. According to some embodiments, the method of securing the orthodontic device to a patient's teeth includes securing an attachment portion of the device to a securing member held by the patient's teeth in a particular order. The order of securing the attachment portions to the securing members can, in various embodiments, be based on the relative difficulty of securing each attachment portion to its respective securing member. In some embodiments, a method of orthodontically treating a patient's teeth includes securing an orthodontic device to the patient's teeth according to an order for securing attachment portions of the device to respective securing members and / or instructions conveying other useful information, such as, but not limited to, the amount of interdental reduction to be performed between adjacent teeth.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009] Many aspects of the present disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale. Instead, emphasis is placed on clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure.

[0010]

Figure 1

[0011]

Figure 2A

[0012]

Figure 2B

[0013]

Figure 2C

[0014]

Figure 2D

[0015]

Figure 2E

[0016]

Figure 3-1

[0017]

Figure 3-2

[0018]

Figure 4

[0019]

Figure 5

[0020]

Figure 6

[0021]

Figure 7

[0022]

Figure 8

[0023]

Figure 9

[0024]

Figure 10

[0025]

Figure 11

[0026]

Figure 12

[0027]

Figure 13

[0028]

Figure 14

Figure 15

[0029]

Figure 16

[0030]

Figure 17

[0031]

Figure 18

[0032]

Figure 19

[0033]

Figure 20

[0034]

Figure 21

[0035]

Figure 22

Figure 23

[0036]

Figure 24

Figure 25

[0037]

Figure 26

[0038]

Figure 27

Figure 28

[0039]

Figure 29

[0040]

Figure 30

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0041] (I. Definitions) Figures 1A and 1B schematically depict several directional terms related to a patient's dentition. The terms used herein to provide anatomical directions or orientations are intended to encompass different orientations of an apparatus as it would be positioned within a patient's mouth, regardless of whether the structures being described are shown positioned intraorally in the drawings. As illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, "mesial" means the direction toward the midline of the patient's face along the patient's curved dental arch, "distal" means the direction away from the midline of the patient's face along the patient's curved dental arch, "occlusal" means the direction toward the chewing surfaces of the patient's teeth, "gingival" means the direction toward the patient's gums or gingiva, "facial" means the direction toward the patient's lips or cheeks (used synonymously herein as "buccal" and "labial"), and "lingual" means the direction toward the patient's tongue.

[0042] As used herein, the terms "proximal" and "distal" refer, respectively, to positions closer to and farther from a given reference point. In many cases, the reference point is a connector such as an anchor, and "proximal" and "distal" refer, respectively, to positions closer to and farther from the reference connector along a line passing through the centroid of a cross-section of the portion of the apparatus branching from the reference connector.

[0043] As used herein, the terms "generally", "substantially", "about", and similar terms are used as terms of approximation and not of degree, and are intended to account for inherent variations in the measurements or calculated values that would be recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art.

[0044] As used herein, the term "operator" refers to a clinician, practitioner, technician, or any person or machine that designs and / or manufactures an orthodontic device or a portion thereof, and / or facilitates the design and / or manufacture of the device or a portion thereof, and / or positions the device within the patient's mouth, and / or any person or machine associated with any subsequent treatment of the patient associated with the device.

[0045] As used herein, the term "force" refers to the magnitude and / or direction of a force, torque, or a combination thereof.

[0046] (II. Overview of the Dental Orthodontic Device of the Present Technology) Figure 2A is a schematic representation of an orthodontic device 100 (or "device 100") constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology shown positioned within a patient's mouth adjacent to the patient's teeth. Figure 2B is an enlarged view of a portion of device 100. Device 100 is configured to be installed within a patient's mouth and transmit a force to one or more of the teeth to reposition all or some of the teeth. In some cases, device 100 may additionally or alternatively be configured to maintain the position of one or more teeth. As schematically shown in Figures 2A and 2B, device 100 can comprise a deformable member including one or more attachment portions 140 (each schematically represented by a box), and each of the one or more attachment portions 140 is configured to be fixed directly or indirectly to the tooth surface via a fixing member 160. Device 100 may further comprise one or more connectors 102 (similarly schematically depicted), and each of the one or more connectors 102 extends directly between attachment portions 140 ("first connector 104"), between an attachment portion 140 and one or more other connectors 102 ("second connector 106"), or between two or more other connectors 102 ("third connector 108"). Only two attachment portions 140 and two connectors 102 are labeled in Figure 2A for ease of illustration. As discussed herein, the number, configuration, and location of connectors 102 and attachment portions 140 can be selected to provide a desired force to one or more of the teeth when device 100 is installed.

[0047] The attachment portion 140 may be configured to be removably coupled to the fixing member 160, and the fixing member 160 is joined, adhered, or otherwise fixed to the surface of one of the teeth to be moved. In some embodiments, one or more of the attachment portions 140 may be joined, adhered, or otherwise fixed directly to the corresponding teeth without a fixing member or other connection interface in the teeth. The attachment portion 140 may further be referred to herein as a "bracket connector" or a "male connector element". Different attachment portions 140 of a given device 100 may have the same or different shapes, the same or different sizes, and / or the same or different configurations. The attachment portion 140 may be any one or any combination of the attachment portions disclosed herein, not only any one of the bracket connectors and / or male connector elements disclosed herein, but also any of the attachment portions, bracket connectors, and / or male connector elements disclosed in U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 370,704, filed on December 6, 2016 (Publication No. 2017 / 0156823), U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 929,443 (Publication No. 20201 / 0007830), and / or U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 929,443 (Publication No. 2020 / 0390524) (each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety).

[0048] Device 100 can include any number of attachment portions 140 suitable for securely attaching device 100 to a patient's tooth or teeth in order to achieve a desired movement. In some examples, a plurality of attachment portions 140 can be attached to a single tooth. Device 100 can include attachment portions for each tooth, fewer attachment portions than teeth, or more attachment portions 140 than teeth. In these and other embodiments, one or more of the attachment portions 140 can be configured to be coupled to one, two, three, four, five, or more connectors 102. Further, either of the first and second connectors 104, 106 can extend from any portion of the corresponding attachment portion 140. For example, one or both ends of a given first and / or second connector 104, 106 can be disposed on the occlusal, gingival, mesial, or distal side of the corresponding attachment portion 140. In some embodiments, the location where the connector connects to the attachment portion is based at least in part on the amount of space in the patient's mouth, the intended force to be applied to the tooth, etc. For example, in some cases, it can be difficult to connect the second connector 106 to the gingival portion of the attachment portion 140 configured to transmit torque intended for the tooth to which the attachment portion 140 is configured to be fixed. Thus, in these and other embodiments, it can be preferable for the second connector 106 to connect to the mesial or distal portion of the attachment portion 140. In some cases, due to the space in the patient's mouth, it can be difficult to connect the first and / or second connectors 104, 106 to the mesial or distal portion of the attachment portion 140. For example, if connecting the connector to the mesial or distal portion of the attachment portion 140 would cause the connector to collide with an adjacent tooth during installation or treatment, it can be preferable to connect the connector to the gingival or occlusal portion of the attachment portion 140 in order to prevent such a collision.

[0049] As already mentioned, the connector 102 may comprise one or more first connectors 104 that extend directly between the attachment portions 140. The one or more first connectors 104 may generally extend along the mesiodistal dimension when the device 100 is installed in the patient's mouth. In these and other embodiments, the device 100 may include one or more first connectors 104 that generally extend along the occlusogingival and / or buccolingual dimensions when the device 100 is installed in the patient's mouth. According to some embodiments, a single first connector 104 can have one or more bends such that it extends in at least two of the mesiodistal, occlusogingival, or buccolingual directions. For example, FIG. 2D shows a first connector 104a that extends gingivally from the gingival side of the first attachment portion 140a and then bends and extends occlusally until it terminates at the gingival side of the second attachment portion 140b. The first connector 104b extends distally (assuming the midline M) from the distal side of the second attachment portion 140b, then bends and extends gingivally, then bends and extends occlusally, then bends and extends distally until it terminates at the mesial side of the third attachment portion 140c. The first connector 104c extends distally from the distal side of the third attachment portion 140c to the mesial side of the fourth attachment portion 140d. It should be understood that many other geometries of the first connectors are possible and it would not be feasible to show all possible shapes of the first connectors. In some embodiments, the device 100 does not include any first connectors 104.

[0050] In some embodiments, all of the attachment portions 140 of the device 100 are coupled to each other only by the first connector 104 (and not by the second or third connectors 106, 108), which is also referred to herein as a "Z device". For example, FIG. 2D shows a portion of such a Z device 100. In these embodiments, some or all of the first connectors 104 can have the same geometry. In some of the Z devices 100, some or all of the first connectors 104 can have different geometries. For illustrative purposes, the portion of the device 100 shown in FIG. 2D includes different first connector geometries between each pair of adjacent teeth T. Although not labeled in FIG. 2D, one, some, or all of the first connectors 104 in the Z device 100 can have one or more biasing portions (described in more detail below). One, some, or all of the first connectors 104 in the Z device 100 can be rigid. It can be advantageous for the device 100 to include only the first connectors 104, such as when there are ridges that would interfere with the second or third connectors 106, 108 being positioned more gingivally, or when the space within the patient's mouth is limited.

[0051] Additionally, or alternatively, the connector 102 may comprise one or more second connectors 106 extending between the one or more attachment portions 140 and the one or more connectors 102. The one or more second connectors 106 can generally extend along the occlusal gingival dimension when the device 100 is installed in the patient's mouth. In these and other embodiments, the device 100 may include one or more second connectors 106 that generally extend along the mesiodistal and / or buccolingual dimensions when the device 100 is installed in the patient's mouth. In some embodiments, the device 100 does not include any second connectors 106. In such embodiments, the device 100 will only include the first connector 104 extending between the attachment portions 140. The use of two or more connectors to connect two points on the device 100 allows for more force application (compared to a single connector connecting the same points) without increasing the strain on the individual connectors. Such a configuration is particularly beneficial given the spatial constraints of the fixed displacement treatment described herein.

[0052] Additionally, or alternatively, the connector 102 may include one or more third connectors 108 that extend between two or more other connectors 102. The one or more third connectors may generally extend along the mesiodistal dimension when the device 100 is installed in a patient's mouth. In these and other embodiments, the device 100 may include one or more third connectors 108 that generally extend along the occlusogingival and / or buccolingual dimensions when the device 100 is installed in a patient's mouth. In some embodiments, the device 100 does not include any third connectors 108. One, some, or all of the third connectors 108 may be positioned gingivally to one, some, or all of the first connectors 104. In some embodiments, the device 100 includes a single third connector 108, and the single third connector 108 extends along at least two adjacent teeth and provides a common attachment for two or more second connectors 106. In some embodiments, the device 100 includes a plurality of discontinuous third connectors 108, and each of the plurality of discontinuous third connectors 108 includes a plurality of discontinuous third connectors 108 that extend along at least two adjacent teeth.

[0053] In some embodiments, all of the attachment portions 140 of the device 100 are coupled to each other only by the second and third connectors 106, 108 (and not by the first connector 104) (also referred to herein as an "X device"). For example, FIG. 2A shows such an X device 100. In these and other embodiments, some or all of the second connectors 106 can have the same geometry. In some of the X devices 100, some or all of the second connectors 106 can have different geometries. Although not labeled in FIG. 2A, one, some, or all of the second connectors 106 in the X device 100 can have one or more biasing portions. One, some, or all of the second connectors 106 in the X device 100 can be rigid bodies.

[0054] In some embodiments, the apparatus 100 includes two or more attachment portions 140 coupled to each other by a first connector 104, and two or more attachment portions 140 coupled to each other by second and third connectors 106, 108. In some embodiments, the apparatus 100 includes two or more attachment portions 140 coupled to each other by a first connector 104 (rather than by the second or third connectors 106, 108), and two or more attachment portions 140 coupled to each other by second and third connectors 106, 108 (rather than by the first connector 104). The foregoing hybrid apparatus is referred to herein as an "XZ apparatus". For example, FIG. 2E shows a portion of such an XZ apparatus 100. In these and other embodiments, some or all of the first connectors 104 can have the same geometry. In some of the XZ apparatuses 100, some or all of the first connectors 104 can have different geometries. Although not labeled in FIG. 2E, one, some, or all of the first connectors 104 in the XZ apparatus 100 can have one or more biasing portions. One, some, or all of the first connectors 104 in the XZ apparatus 100 can be rigid bodies. In the XZ apparatus 100, some or all of the second connectors 106 can have the same geometry. In some of the XZ apparatuses 100, some or all of the second connectors 106 can have different geometries. Although not labeled in FIG. 2E, one, some, or all of the second connectors 106 in the XZ apparatus 100 can have one or more biasing portions. One, some, or all of the second connectors 106 in the XZ apparatus 100 can be rigid bodies. FIG. 2E depicts a third connector 108 adjacent to the first connector 104 in the proximal-distal direction, but in some XZ apparatuses 100, one or more of the first connectors 104 can be aligned with one or more of the third connectors 108 in the proximal-distal direction.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 2A, in some embodiments, when the device 100 is installed in a patient's mouth, one, some, or all of the connectors 102 may be configured to be disposed proximate to the patient's gums. For example, one or more third connectors 108 may be configured such that all or a portion of the one or more third connectors 108 are positioned below the patient's gingival line and adjacent to, but spaced from, the gums. In many cases, since contact between the third connector 108 (or any part of the device 100) and the gums can cause irritation and patient discomfort, it may be beneficial to provide a small gap (e.g., 0.5 mm or less) between the third connector 108 and the patient's gums. In some embodiments, all or a portion of the third connector 108 is configured to directly contact the gums when the device 100 is disposed in the patient's mouth. Additionally, or alternatively, all or a portion of the one or more first connectors 104 and / or second connectors 106 may be configured to be disposed proximate to the gums.

[0056] According to some embodiments, one or more connectors 102 may extend between the attachment portion 140 or the connector 102 and a joint, the joint comprising (a) two or more connectors 102, (b) two or more attachment portions 140, or (c) at least one attachment portion 140 and at least one connector 102. According to some embodiments, one or more connectors 102 may extend between a first joint comprising (a) two or more connectors 102, (b) two or more attachment portions 140, or (c) at least one attachment member and at least one connector 102 and a second joint comprising (a) two or more connectors 102, (b) two or more attachment portions 140, or (c) at least one attachment portion 140 and at least one connector 102. An example of a connector 102 extending between (a) a joint between the second and third connectors 106, 108 and (b) a joint between the second connector 106 and the attachment portion 140 is schematically depicted in FIG. 2B and labeled 109.

[0057] Each of the connectors 102 can be designed to have a desired rigidity such that an individual connector 102 or a combination of connectors 102 transmits a desired force to one or more of the teeth. In many cases, the force applied by a given connector 102 can be governed by Hooke's law, i.e., F = k × x, where F is the restoring force exerted by the connector 102, k is the stiffness coefficient of the connector 102, and x is the displacement. In the most basic example, if a connector 102 does not exist between two points on the device 100, the stiffness coefficient along that path is zero and no force is applied. In the case of the present application, the individual connectors 102 of the present technology can have various non-zero stiffness coefficients. For example, one or more of the connectors 102 can be rigid (i.e., the stiffness coefficient is infinite) such that the connector 102 will not flex or bend between its two endpoints. In some embodiments, one or more of the connectors 102 can be "flexible" (i.e., the stiffness coefficient is non-zero and positive) such that the connector 102 can deform to transmit (or absorb) force to an associated tooth or teeth or other connector 102.

[0058] In some embodiments, it may be beneficial to include one or more rigid connectors between two or more teeth. The rigid connector 102 is sometimes referred to herein as a "rigid bar" or "anchor". Each rigid connector 102 may have sufficient rigidity to maintain and preserve its shape and resist bending. The rigidity of the connector 102 can be achieved by selecting a particular shape, width, length, thickness, and / or material. The connector 102 configured to be relatively rigid may be employed, for example, when the teeth to which the connector 102 is to be connected are not to be moved (or are to be moved only a limited amount) and can be used for fixation. For example, molars have roots that are larger than those of most teeth and thus require greater force to be moved, so they can provide good fixation. Further, fixing one or more parts of the device 100 to a plurality of teeth is more reliable than fixing to a single tooth. As another example, a rigid connection may be desired when moving a group of teeth relative to one or more other teeth. For example, consider a patient who has five teeth separated by a gap from a single tooth and the treatment plan is to close the gap. The best treatment process is typically to move one tooth towards the five teeth, not vice versa. In this case, it may be beneficial to provide one or more rigid connectors between the five teeth. For all of the foregoing reasons and many others, the device 100 may include one or more rigid first connectors 104, one or more rigid second connectors 106, and / or one or more rigid third connectors 108.

[0059] In these and other embodiments, apparatus 100 may include one or more flexible first connectors 104, one or more flexible second connectors 106, and / or one or more flexible third connectors 108. Each flexible connector 102 may have a particular shape, width, thickness, length, material, and / or other parameters to provide a desired degree of flexibility. According to some embodiments of the present technology, the stiffness of a given connector 102 may be adjusted through the incorporation of one or more elastically flexible biasing portions 150. As schematically shown in FIG. 2B, one, some, or all of the connectors 102 may include one or more biasing portions 150 such as springs, and each of the one or more biasing portions 150 is configured to apply a customized force, torque, or combination of force and torque specific to the tooth to which it is attached.

[0060] As depicted in the schematic illustration shown in FIG. 2C, the biasing portions 150 may extend along all or a portion of the longitudinal axis L1 of each respective connector 102 (only the longitudinal axis L1 for the second connector 106 and the longitudinal axis L2 for the third connector 108 are labeled in FIG. 2C). The direction and magnitude of the force and torque applied to the tooth by the biasing portions 150 depend at least in part on the shape, width, thickness, length, material, shaping conditions (such as austenite transformation finishing temperature, etc.), and other parameters of the biasing portions 150. Thus, one or more aspects (including the aforementioned parameters) of the biasing portions 150 may be varied such that when the apparatus 100 is installed in a patient's mouth, the connector 102 and / or the biasing portions 150 cause a desired tooth movement. Each connector 102 and / or biasing portion 150 may be designed to move one or more teeth in one, two, or all three translational directions (i.e., mesiodistal, buccolingual, and occlusogingival), and / or in one, two, or all three rotational directions (i.e., buccolingual root torque, mesiodistal angulation, and mesio-out-in rotation).

[0061] The biasing portion 150 of the present technology can have any length, width, shape, and / or size sufficient to move each tooth towards a desired position. In some embodiments, one, some, or all of the connectors 102 can have one or more inflection points along each biasing portion 150. The connector 102 and / or the biasing portion 150 can have a serpentine configuration such that the connector 102 and / or the biasing portion 150 fold back on themselves at least once or more than once before extending towards the attachment portion 140. For example, in some embodiments, the second connector 106 folds back on themselves twice along the biasing portion 150, thereby forming first and second concave regions generally facing in different directions relative to each other. The open loops or overlapping portions of the connector 102 corresponding to the biasing portion 150 can be disposed on both sides of a plane P (FIG. 2C) that bisects the total width W (FIG. 2C) of the connector 102 such that the additional length of the connector 102 is accommodated by the inner and / or centrifugal space of the connector 102. This allows the connector 102 to have a longer length (compared to a linear arm) to accommodate larger tooth movement despite the limited space in the occlusal gingiva or vertical dimension between any associated third connector 108 and the location where the connector 102 attaches to the tooth.

[0062] It should be understood that the biasing portion 150 can have other shapes or configurations. For example, in some embodiments, the connector 102 and / or the biasing portion 150 can include one or more linear regions that extend in a zigzag towards the attachment portion 140. One, some, or all of the connector 102 and / or the biasing portion 150 can have only linear sections or regions, or can have a combination of curved and linear regions. In some embodiments, one, some, or all of the connector 102 and / or the biasing portion 150 do not include any curved portions.

[0063] In some examples, a single connector 102 can have a plurality of biasing portions 150 that are continuous along the longitudinal axis of each connector 102. In some embodiments, a plurality of connectors 102 can extend between two points along the same or different paths. In such embodiments, the different connectors 102 can have the same or different stiffnesses.

[0064] In those embodiments where the device 100 has two or more connectors 102 with biasing portions 150, some or all of the connectors 102 can have, among other characteristics, the same or different lengths, the same or different widths, the same or different thicknesses, the same or different shapes, and / or can be made of the same or different materials, or any of them may not be so. In some embodiments, not all of the connectors 102 have a biasing portion 150. A connector 102 without a biasing portion 150 can include, for example, one or more rigid connections between a rigid third connector 108 and an attachment portion 140. In some embodiments, none of the connectors 102 of the device 100 have a biasing portion 150.

[0065] According to some embodiments, such as those schematically depicted in FIG. 2A, the apparatus 100 may include a continuous substantially rigid third connector (referred to as "anchor 120") and a plurality of flexible second connectors 106 extending away from the anchor 120. When the apparatus 100 is installed in a patient's mouth, each of the second connectors 106 may be connected to different ones of the teeth to be moved, exerting a specific force on each of those teeth, thereby enabling the operator to move each tooth independently. Such a configuration provides a significant improvement over conventional braces in which all of the teeth are connected by a single archwire and thus the movement of one tooth can cause the unintended movement of one or more neighboring teeth. As discussed in more detail herein, the independent customized tooth movement enabled by the apparatus of the present technology allows the operator to move the teeth more efficiently from the original tooth alignment ("OTA") to the final tooth alignment ("FTA"), thereby eliminating the need for periodic adjustments, reducing the number of patient visits, reducing or eliminating patient discomfort, and reducing the overall treatment time by at least 50% compared to the overall treatment time for conventional braces (i.e., the length of time the apparatus is installed in the patient's mouth).

[0066] The anchor 120 can comprise any structure of any shape and size configured to comfortably conform to the patient's oral cavity and provide common support for one or more of the second connectors 106. In many embodiments, the anchor 120 is positioned adjacent to the patient's gingiva, for example, as shown in FIG. 2A, when the device 100 is installed in the patient's oral cavity. For example, the device can be designed such that all or a portion of the anchor 120 is positioned below the patient's gingival line and adjacent to, but spaced from, the gingiva when the device is installed in the patient's oral cavity. In many cases, it can be beneficial to provide a small gap (e.g., 0.5 mm or less) between the anchor 120 (or any part of the device 100) and the patient's gingiva, as contact between the anchor 120 and the gingiva can cause irritation and patient discomfort. In some embodiments, all or a portion of the anchor 120 is configured to contact the gingiva when the device 100 is positioned in the patient's oral cavity.

[0067] The anchor 120 can be considerably stiffer than the second connectors 106, such that the equal and opposite forces experienced by each of the second connectors 106 when exerting a force on their respective teeth are canceled out by the stiffness of the anchor 120 and the forces applied by the other second connectors 106 and do not meaningfully affect the forces on the other teeth. Thus, the anchor 120 effectively isolates the forces experienced by each second connector 106 from the remaining second connectors 106, thereby enabling independent tooth movement. Since the anchor 120 is stiffer than the second connectors 106, any reaction forces applied to the anchor 120 by the connectors 106 can be distributed substantially evenly among the other teeth connected to the anchor 120 via the second connectors 106, such that the reaction force applied to each of the other teeth is below the threshold required to cause movement of the other teeth. In this way, movement of one tooth caused by a second connector 106 applying a force to the tooth may not cause movement of the patient's other teeth.

[0068] According to some embodiments, for example, as schematically shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the anchor 120 has a longitudinal axis L2 (see FIG. 2C) and is configured to form an arcuate shape that extends along the patient's jaw when the device 100 is installed. The anchor 120 comprises an elongated member. In these and other embodiments, when positioned within the patient's mouth, the anchor 120 can be shaped and sized to span two or more of the patient's teeth. In some examples, the anchor 120 can include a rigid linear bar or can comprise a structure having both linear and curved sections. In these and other embodiments, the anchor 120 can extend laterally and / or substantially longitudinally across all or part of the patient's mouth (e.g., across all or part of the palate, across all or part of the mandible, etc.). Further, the device 100 can comprise a single anchor or multiple anchors. For example, the device 100 can comprise a plurality of separately spaced anchors, each of the plurality of anchors having one or more second connectors 106 extending therefrom. In these and other embodiments, the device 100 can include one or more other connectors extending between adjacent second connectors 106. In various embodiments, the anchor 120 (or any of the connectors 102 disclosed herein) can define an opening configured to receive a temporary anchorage device or other orthodontic device therein. Additionally or alternatively, the anchor 120 (or any of the connectors 102 disclosed herein) can include securing elements such as hooks, buttons, clips, etc. for securing an orthodontic device (e.g., rubber bands, temporary anchorage devices, etc.) to the device 100.

[0069] Any and all of the features discussed above with respect to the anchor 120 apply to any of the third connectors 108 disclosed herein.

[0070] As shown in FIG. 2C, each of the second connectors 106 may extend between a first end portion 106a and a second end portion 106b and may have a longitudinal axis L1 extending between the first end portion 106a and the second end portion 106b. One, several, or all of the first end portions 106a of the second connectors 106 may be disposed on the third connector 108 and / or the anchor 120. In some embodiments, one, several, or all of the second connectors 106 are integral with the third connector 108 and / or the anchor 120 such that the first end portion 106a of such a second connector 106 is continuous with the third connector 108 and / or the anchor 120. The second connectors 106 may extend spaced from the third connector 108 and / or the anchor 120 along the longitudinal axis L2 of the third connector 108 and / or the anchor 120, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2C. In some embodiments, the second connectors 106 may be spaced from each other at equal intervals or at unequal intervals along the longitudinal axis L2 of the third connector 108 and / or the anchor 120.

[0071] One, some, or all of the second connectors 106 may include and / or be coupled to an attachment portion 140 at or near the second end portion 106b of each second connector 106. In some embodiments, for example, as shown in FIGS. 2A-2C, one or more of the second connectors 106 are cantilevered from the third connector 108 and / or the anchor 120 such that the second end portion 106b of the cantilevered second connector 106 has a free second end portion 106b. In these and other embodiments, the gingival terminus of the attachment portion 140 may coincide with the occlusal terminus of the second connector 106. In some embodiments, the second connector 106 can be connected to the mesial portion, distal portion, and / or occlusal portion of the attachment portion 140. The attachment portion 140 may be configured to removably couple to a fixing member (e.g., a bracket) that is joined, adhered, or otherwise fixed to the surface of one of the teeth to which each second connector 106 is to be moved. In some embodiments, the attachment portion 140 may be joined, adhered, or otherwise fixed directly to the corresponding tooth without a fixing member or other connection interface in the tooth. For example, the attachment portion 140 can comprise and / or be fixed to a polymeric cap having an inner surface with a contour that is substantially shape-conforming to the surface of the patient's tooth.

[0072] The device of the present technology may include any number of connectors 102 suitable for changing the position of a patient's teeth while considering the patient's comfort. Unless explicitly limited to a certain number of connectors 102 herein, the device of the present technology may comprise a single connector 102, two connectors 102, three connectors 102, five connectors 102, ten connectors 102, sixteen connectors 102, etc. In some examples, one, some, or all of the connectors 102 of the device may be configured to individually connect to two or more teeth (i.e., a single connector 102 may be configured to couple to two teeth simultaneously). In these and other embodiments, the device 100 may include two or more connectors 102 configured to connect to the same tooth simultaneously.

[0073] Any part of the device of the present technology may include a biasing portion 150. For example, in some embodiments, that part (e.g., an anchor, a connector, a biasing portion, an attachment portion, a coupling, etc.) may comprise one or more superelastic materials.

[0074] Additional details regarding the individual directional forces applied via the biasing portion 150 (or, more generally, the connector 102) are described in U.S. Application No. 15 / 370,704, issued August 20, 2019 (currently U.S. Patent No. 10,383,707), the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0075] The device disclosed herein and / or any part thereof (e.g., an anchor, a connector, a biasing portion, an attachment portion, a coupling, etc.) may comprise one or more superelastic materials. The device disclosed herein and / or any part thereof (e.g., an anchor, a connector, a biasing portion, an attachment portion, a coupling, etc.) may comprise nitinol, stainless steel, beta titanium, cobalt chrome, MP35N, 35N LT, one or more metal alloys, one or more polymers, one or more ceramics, and / or combinations thereof.

[0076] The technology includes a system comprising a plurality of devices 100 for installation along a single dental arch. For example, the system can include a first device configured to be fixed to at least two of the teeth of the dental arch and a second device configured to be fixed to at least two different teeth of the same dental arch. The system can further include a third device, a fourth device, etc. The first device can be an X device, a Z device, or an XZ device. The second device can be an X device, a Z device, or an XZ device.

[0077] Figures 3A and 3B are elevational views of the device 100 installed on both the upper and lower dental arches of a patient's mouth, where the connector 102 is coupled to a fixing member 160 attached to the lingual surface of the tooth via an attachment portion 140. It should be understood that the device 100 of one or both of the upper and lower dental arches can be positioned close to the buccal side of the patient's teeth and that the fixing member 160 and / or the attachment portion 140 can alternatively be coupled to the buccal surface of the tooth.

[0078] Figure 3A shows the teeth in the OTA with the connector 102 in a deformed or loaded state, and Figure 3B shows the teeth in the FTA with the connector 102 in a substantially unloaded state. When the attachment portion 140 is first fixed to the fixing member 160 when the teeth are in the OTA, the connector 102 is forced to take a shape or path different from their "designed" configuration. Due to the inherent memory of the elastic biasing portion 150, the connector 102 transmits a continuous corrective force to the teeth and moves the teeth towards the FTA where the biasing portion 150 is in their designed or unloaded configuration location. Thus, the repositioning of the teeth using the device of the present technology can be accomplished in a single step using a single device. In addition to enabling fewer clinic visits and shorter treatment times, the device of the present technology significantly reduces or eliminates the pain experienced by the patient as a result of tooth movement compared to braces. With conventional braces, each time an orthodontist makes an adjustment (installing a new archwire, bending an existing archwire, repositioning brackets, etc.), the teeth being affected experience very high forces that are very painful for the patient. Over time, the applied force weakens until a new wire is ultimately required. However, the device of the present technology continuously applies a movement generating force to the teeth while the device is installed, which allows the teeth to move at a much slower rate that is far less painful (even if painful) for the patient. Although the device disclosed herein applies a lower and less painful force to the teeth, the applied force is continuous and the teeth can move independently (and thus more efficiently), so the device of the present technology reaches the FTA faster than conventional braces or aligners (because conventional braces or aligners require intermediate adjustments).

[0079] In many embodiments, the movement generating force is lower than that applied by conventional braces. In those embodiments where the device comprises a superelastic material (such as nitinol), the superelastic material can behave like a constant force spring over a range of strain such that the force applied does not significantly decrease as the tooth moves. For example, as shown in the stress-strain curves of nitinol and steel in FIG. 3C, the curve for nitinol is relatively flat compared to that of steel. Thus, the superelastic connectors and / or biasing portions of the present technology apply essentially the same stress for many different levels of strain (e.g., deflection). As a result, the force applied to a given tooth remains constant as the tooth moves during treatment, at least until the teeth are very close together or until the final placement. The devices of the present technology are configured to apply a specific force to the patient's teeth without causing adverse effects such as root resorption, pain, etc., while efficiently (e.g., rapidly) moving the teeth. For example, the devices of the present technology can be configured to apply a force slightly below the pain threshold such that the device applies a force to the tooth (or teeth) without the most pain for all or at least most of the time during tooth movement. This results in the most efficient (i.e., fastest) tooth movement without pain.

[0080] In some embodiments, changing the position of the teeth can involve multiple steps that are implemented progressively by using multiple devices. Embodiments involving multiple steps (or multiple devices, or both) can include one or more intermediate tooth arrangements (ITAs) between the original tooth arrangement (OTA) and the desired final tooth arrangement (FTA). Similarly, the devices disclosed herein can be designed such that a first device or a subsequently used device moves the teeth from the OTA to the ITA (or from one ITA to another ITA) and is then installed after being subsequently removed. Thus, the devices of the present technology can be designed to move the teeth from the ITA to the FTA (or to another ITA). Additionally, or alternatively, the device can be designed to move the teeth from the OTA to the ITA or from the OTA to the FTA without replacing the device at the ITA.

[0081] In some embodiments, the devices disclosed herein can be configured such that, when placed on a patient's teeth, the devices cannot be removed by the patient. In some embodiments, the devices can be removable by the patient.

[0082] Any of the exemplary devices or device portions described herein can be made from any suitable material or combination of materials, including but not limited to Nitinol (NiTi), stainless steel, beta titanium, cobalt chrome, or other metal alloys, polymers, or ceramics, and can be made as a single monolithic structure or, alternatively, from a plurality of separately formed components connected together in a single structure. However, in certain examples, the rigid bars, bracket connectors, and loops or curved features of the devices (or portions of the devices) described in those examples are made by cutting a two-dimensional (2D) form of the material from a 2D sheet of material and bending the 2D form into the desired three-dimensional (3D) shape of the device according to the process described in U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 370,704, filed December 6, 2016 (Publication No. 2017 / 0156823), or other suitable process.

[0083] (Manufacturing method) The present technology includes methods of designing and fabricating orthodontic devices as described herein. The specific processes described herein are exemplary only and can be modified as appropriate to achieve the desired results (e.g., the desired forces applied to each tooth by the device, the desired material properties of the device, etc.). In various embodiments, other suitable methods or techniques can also be utilized to fabricate orthodontic devices. Further, while various aspects of the methods disclosed herein refer to a sequence of steps, in various embodiments, the steps can be performed in a different order, two or more steps can be combined together, a step can be omitted, and additional steps not explicitly discussed can be included in the process as desired.

[0084] As described above, in some embodiments, the dental orthodontic device is configured to be coupled to the patient's teeth while the teeth are in the OTA. In this position, the elements of the device exert a customized load on the individual teeth and urge them towards the desired FTA. For example, the connector 102 of the device 100 can be configured to apply a force to couple to the tooth via the attachment portion 140 and urge the tooth in a desired direction towards the FTA. In one example, the connector 102 of the device 100 can be configured to apply a tension to urge the tooth lingually along the facial-lingual axis. By selecting appropriate dimensions, shapes, shaping, material properties, and other aspects of the connector 102, a customized load can be applied to each tooth to move each tooth from its OTA towards its FTA. In some embodiments, the connector 102 is each configured such that when the tooth to which the connector 102 is coupled reaches its FTA, little or no force is applied. In other words, the device 100 can be configured such that the connector 102 is at rest and passive in the FTA state.

[0085] The method can begin by obtaining data (e.g., position data) characterizing the patient's OTA. In some embodiments, the operator can obtain a digital representation of the patient's OTA using, for example, optical scanning, cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), MRI, scanning of a patient impression, or other suitable imaging techniques for obtaining position data of the patient's teeth, gums, and optionally, other adjacent anatomical structures while the patient's teeth are in their original or pre-treatment condition.

[0086] The method may further include obtaining data (such as position data) characterizing the patient's intended or desired FTA, and often generating a digital representation of the patient's FTA. The data characterizing the FTA can include coordinates (such as X, Y, Z coordinates) for each of the patient's teeth and gums. Additionally, or alternatively, such data can include the position of each of the patient's teeth relative to other ones of the patient's teeth and / or gums.

[0087] In some embodiments, segmentation software can be used to create individual virtual teeth and gums from the OTA data. Suitable software can be used to move the virtual teeth to their FTA positions. In some cases, a digital model of a fixation member can be added to the OTA digital model (such as by an operator selecting a position on the tooth surface for installation of the fixation member). Suitable software can be used to move the virtual teeth with the attached fixation member from the OTA to the desired final position. Additionally, or alternatively, a digital model of the fixation member can be added to the FTA digital model.

[0088] In some embodiments, a heat treatment jig digital model can be obtained. In some embodiments, the heat treatment jig digital model can correspond to and / or be derived from the FTA digital model. For example, the FTA digital model can be modified in various ways to render a model suitable for manufacturing the heat treatment jig. In some embodiments, the FTA digital model is modified to replace a fixed member (configured to couple to the attachment portion 140 of the device 100 (FIG. 2A)) with a member (which can be configured to facilitate temporary coupling of the heat treatment jig to the device for shaping). Additionally, or alternatively, the FTA digital model can be modified to remove one or more of the teeth, and / or add structural components for increased rigidity, to enlarge or thicken the gingiva. In some embodiments, enlarging or thickening the gingiva can be done to ensure that a portion of a device fabricated based in part on the FTA digital model (e.g., an anchor) does not engage or contact the patient's gingiva when the device is installed. As a result, modifying the FTA digital model as described herein can be done to provide a less painful tooth repositioning experience for the patient.

[0089] The method may further include obtaining a digital model of the device. As used herein, the terms "digital model" and "model" are intended to refer to a virtual representation of an object or a collection of objects. For example, the term "device digital model" refers to a virtual representation of the structure and geometry of a device, including its individual components (e.g., connectors, biasing portions, attachment portions, etc.). In some embodiments, a substantially planar digital model of the device is generated at least in part based on a heat treatment fixture digital model (and / or FTA digital model). According to some examples, a generally FTA-corresponding contouring or 3D device digital model that conforms to the surface and attachment features of the heat treatment fixture digital model can be generated first. In some embodiments, the 3D device digital model can include general connector portions and fixation members without the specific geometry, dimensions, or other characteristics of the connectors being selected or defined by a particular patient. The 3D device digital model can then be flattened to generate a substantially planar device digital model. In some embodiments, a particular configuration of the connector (e.g., the geometry of the biasing portion 150, the position along the anchor 120 (FIG. 2A), etc.) can then be selected to apply a desired force to push the corresponding tooth (to which the connector is attached) from its OTA towards its FTA. As already described, in some embodiments, the connector is configured to be substantially at rest or in a substantially stress-free state when in the FTA. The selected connector configuration can then be substituted or otherwise incorporated into the planar device digital model.

[0090] In some cases, prior to fabricating a physical device based on the intended device design, it may be beneficial to evaluate the intended device design in order to assess how the physical device will function during treatment. For example, since the pre-installation form of the device is at least partially based on the desired FTA, the position of one or more parts of the device may shift relative to the gingiva when the physical device is installed in the patient's mouth (e.g., with the patient's teeth in the OTA). As a result, one or more shifted positions of the physical device may cause pain to the patient, which may reduce treatment compliance and / or satisfaction.

[0091] In some embodiments, finite element analysis (or other suitable computational techniques) can be used to manipulate a 3D device digital model in order to assess its performance prior to fabrication. For example, the 3D device digital model can be virtually deformed (e.g., using finite element analysis) to a position for engagement with the patient's teeth in the OTA. The resulting virtual model represents the device digital model after it has been deformed to a fixed position so that it engages with the patient's teeth in the OTA. The output of the virtual deformation can be evaluated to assess whether the physical device will function as intended. Based on the evaluation of the output, the intended device design can be modified as needed, or the final device design can be obtained. In some embodiments, a portion of the device digital model may collide with the gingiva digital model. As a result, the design of the device can be modified and the evaluation can be repeated until the device digital model no longer collides with the gingiva. This process can be iteratively repeated until a satisfactory device design is achieved.

[0092] Next, a heat treatment jig can be fabricated. For example, using a heat treatment jig digital model, the heat treatment jig can be cast, molded, 3D printed, or otherwise fabricated using a suitable material configured to withstand heating for shaping the device thereon.

[0093] In some embodiments, fabricating the device first involves fabricating the device in a planar configuration based on a planar device digital model. For example, a pattern of the planar form of the final device can be cut out from a sheet of material to obtain a planar member. In some embodiments, the device is cut out from a sheet of nitinol or other metal using laser cutting, water jetting, stamping, or other suitable techniques. The thickness of the material can be varied across the device, for example, by electropolishing, etching, depositing, or otherwise manipulating the material of the device to achieve the desired material properties.

[0094] According to some embodiments, a planar member (such as, for example, one that is 3D printed or cut out from a sheet of material) can be bent or otherwise manipulated into a desired arrangement (such as, for example, one that substantially corresponds to the FTA) to form a 3D device for treatment. In some embodiments, the planar member can be bent into a fixed position by attaching the planar member to a heat treatment fixture. The heat treatment fixture can be, for example, in the physical form of a previously acquired heat treatment fixture digital model. For example, an attachment portion of the planar member can be removably attached to a hook member of the heat treatment fixture, and optionally, a ligature wire or other temporary fastener can be used to secure the attachment portion or other portion of the device to the heat treatment fixture. The resulting assembly (i.e., the device attached to the heat treatment fixture) can then be heated to shape the device into its final form, which can correspond or substantially correspond to the FTA. As a result, the device is configured to be in a stress-free state in the FTA. The shaped device can then be removed from the heat treatment fixture.

[0095] During operation, the device can then be installed in the patient's mouth (e.g., by bending or otherwise manipulating the device's connectors and coupling each attachment portion to the patient's dental brackets during OTA). Due to the device's shaping and the geometry of the connectors, the connectors will tend to push each tooth away from its OTA and towards the FTA.

[0096] (III. Selected example of a method for orthodontically treating a patient's teeth) In various embodiments, a method for orthodontically treating a patient's teeth can include moving the patient's teeth from an original position where the teeth are misaligned and / or maloccluded to a final position where the alignment and / or occlusion of the teeth is improved. Thus, such a method can include securing an orthodontic device to the patient's teeth such that the orthodontic device applies a force to the teeth and moves them. Such an orthodontic device can comprise any one of the devices disclosed herein (e.g., device 100, etc.) and / or, without limitation, any other suitable orthodontic device such as conventional braces, lingual braces, aligners, etc.

[0097] In some cases, deforming the device and fixing the device to each of the fixation members within the patient's oral cavity can be difficult, and certain attachment portions of the device may be more difficult to fix to their respective fixation members than others. For example, connectors associated with teeth that undergo the greatest movement during treatment are likely to require the greatest amount of deformation during installation and will thus make it more difficult to fix the corresponding attachment portions. Additionally, depending on the material of the device, the device may be more easily deformed under tension than under compressive force, or vice versa. For example, nitinol can be more easily deformed under tension. Other factors, such as the angle of the teeth and / or fixation members, the amount of tooth exposed above the gingival line, whether other attachment portions are already fixed, and which other attachment portions are already fixed, can also make it more difficult to install a particular attachment portion. For example, the degree of difficulty in fixing an attachment portion to a fixation member can increase progressively as additional attachment portions are fixed and the device is gradually deformed. In some cases, an attachment portion may be more difficult to fix to its respective fixation member than other attachment portions if one or more regions of the device will collide with one or more of the patient's teeth and / or one or more other regions of the device while the device is being deformed to fix the attachment portion to the fixation member.

[0098] The present technology comprises a system and method for overcoming the aforementioned problems. Aspects of the present disclosure include, for example, a system and method for assigning a difficulty parameter to each attachment portion or group of attachment portions and determining an order (e.g., a fixing order) for fixing the attachment portion to a fixing portion on a tooth for overcoming the aforementioned problems based on the difficulty parameter. In some embodiments, determining the fixing order includes a system and method for predicting a difficulty parameter associated with fixing each attachment portion to its respective fixing member. For a given attachment portion, the difficulty parameter can be based, in whole or in part, on the type and / or magnitude of deformation of one or more regions of the device (e.g., regions adjacent to / adjacent the given attachment portion, connectors connected to the attachment portion, etc.) that would occur when fixing the attachment portion to its respective fixing member.

[0099] A method of assigning a difficulty parameter to an attachment portion can include predicting the type and / or magnitude of deformation that a connector connected to the attachment portion would have to undergo to fix the attachment portion to a bracket on a corresponding tooth. For example, the method can include predicting whether a connector connected to the attachment portion would primarily be subject to tension, compression, bending, and / or torsion when fixing the attachment portion to the fixing member. It can be more difficult to install a connector in a compression state than in a tension state, and thus, an attachment portion connected to a connector that would be installed in a compression state can have a higher predicted difficulty than an attachment portion connected to a connector that would be installed in a tension state. In various embodiments, the difficulty parameter assigned to an attachment portion can be based on the predicted magnitude of the deformation that the connector connected to the attachment portion would undergo. For example, a first attachment portion connected to a first connector can have a higher difficulty parameter than a second attachment portion connected to a second connector if the first connector is predicted to undergo a greater deformation than the second connector.

[0100] Figure 4 is a flowchart of an exemplary method for determining an order for fixing an attachment portion of an orthodontic device to a patient's teeth according to some embodiments of the present technology. As shown in Figure 4, the method can include obtaining tooth movement data characterizing planned movement of the patient's teeth during orthodontic treatment. From the tooth movement data, a difficulty parameter characterizing the difficulty of deforming a connector connected to the attachment portion, which the attachment portion will undergo when fixed to the teeth, can be determined for each connector and / or for each attachment portion. The method can further include determining an order for fixing the attachment portion to the patient's teeth based on the difficulty parameter.

[0101] According to various embodiments, the planned movement of a patient's teeth can include a movement from an OTA to an FTA. The OTA can include the tooth arrangement when the device is first installed, and the teeth are malaligned and / or maloccluded. The FTA can include a tooth arrangement in which the tooth alignment and / or occlusion is improved. In some embodiments, the FTA includes an arrangement in which the tooth alignment in one of the patient's dental arches is improved (e.g., FTA blue). Additionally, or alternatively, the FTA can include an overcorrected arrangement (e.g., FTA blue + green), in which the tooth alignment in one of the patient's dental arches is improved, and one or more compensation parameters are applied to the final positions of one or more teeth. In some cases, the teeth may not reach the desired final position due to various issues including backsliding, insufficient force applied by the device, manufacturing errors, etc. Thus, the overcorrected arrangement can account for such issues such that the teeth at the end of treatment are located at a desired final position that may be different from the overcorrected final position. In any case, the tooth movement data can include three translations (e.g., along the occlusogingival dimension, along the mesiodistal dimension, and / or along the buccolingual dimension) and / or three rotations (e.g., around the occlusogingival dimension, around the mesiodistal dimension, and / or around the buccolingual dimension). In some embodiments, the tooth movement data characterizes the change in distance between adjacent teeth from the OTA to the FTA.

[0102] The difficulty parameter can characterize the planned deformation that the connector connected to the attachment portion will undergo when fixing the attachment portion to each tooth, and thereby the force experienced by the user who deforms the connector to fix the attachment portion. The device has a passive predetermined shape, and in the passive predetermined shape, the attachment portion is located at a position corresponding to the final position of the tooth in the FTA. Therefore, in order to install the device and fix the attachment portion to the patient's tooth in the OTA, the connector of the device must be deformed such that the ends of the connector are located at different positions relative to each other. The magnitude and type of deformation of the connector are based on the difference between the original position of the tooth and the final position of the tooth, since at least partially the connector must be deformed such that the attachment portion moves from the final position of the tooth to the original position of the tooth to fix the attachment portion to the tooth.

[0103] The difficulty parameter can be based at least in part on the planned movement of the attachment portion from the final position of the tooth to the original position of the tooth. Therefore, the difficulty parameter can indirectly characterize the planned deformation of the connector connected to the attachment portion. Nevertheless, in some embodiments, the difficulty parameter directly characterizes the planned deformation of the connector. For example, the difficulty parameter can be based on a numerical simulation that simulates the deformation of the connector when moving the attachment portion from the final position of the tooth to the original position of the tooth.

[0104] Determining the difficulty parameter can include using tooth movement data to determine the amount of deformation the connector undergoes during installation and / or whether the connector undergoes elongation (e.g., tension, stretch, etc.) or compression along the occlusogingival dimension, buccolingual dimension, and / or mesiodistal dimension. Figures 5-11 illustrate examples of specific tooth movements along the occlusogingival dimension, buccolingual dimension, and mesiodistal dimension, and the associated types of deformation that the connector connected to the tooth of interest will undergo. Figures 5 and 6 illustrate tooth movement data and the planned deformation of the connector when the tooth is to be extruded during treatment and when the tooth is to be intruded during treatment, respectively. As shown in Figure 5, when the tooth is to be extruded (e.g., moved in the occlusal direction) during treatment, the original position of the tooth is on the gingival side of the final position of the tooth, and the connector must be compressed along the occlusogingival dimension to fix the attachment portion to the tooth in the OTA. As shown in Figure 6, when the tooth is to be intruded (e.g., moved in the gingival direction) during treatment, the original position of the tooth is on the occlusal side of the final position of the tooth, and the connector must be stretched along the occlusogingival dimension to fix the attachment portion to the tooth in the OTA. Figures 7 and 8 depict the mesial and distal movement of the tooth from the OTA to the FTA, respectively. As shown in Figures 7 and 8, both mesial and distal tooth movements from the OTA to the FTA result in elongation of the associated connector because the connector is substantially perpendicular to the mesiodistal dimension in the passive state. In contrast, as shown in Figures 9 and 10, in the passive state, the connector of the device can be angled in the buccolingual direction. In some embodiments, the connector is angled in the buccolingual direction when the device is configured to be positioned on the lingual side of the patient's teeth. In some embodiments, the buccolingual angle of the connector is based on the shape of the patient's anatomical structure. For example, the buccolingual angle of the connector can be based on the shape of the patient's palate. The angle of the palate can be significant with respect to the maxilla compared to the mandible, and thus the buccolingual angle of the connector with respect to the maxilla can be more significant than the buccolingual angle of the connector with respect to the mandible. Additionally, or alternatively, the buccolingual angle of the connector can be based on the buccolingual inclination of the teeth.Therefore, when the tooth moves lingually from the OTA to the FTA (see Fig. 9), the connector is stretched when installed, but when the tooth moves buccally from the OTA to the FTA (see Fig. 10), the connector is compressed when installed. As shown in Fig. 11, whether the connector is compressed or stretched when installed in the mouth with the tooth at the OTA may depend at least in part on the distance by which the tooth is positioned lingually at the OTA relative to the FTA. For example, if the tooth is positioned very far lingually at the OTA relative to the FTA, the connector associated with the tooth may be stretched to reach the tooth instead of being compressed. However, in most cases, the tooth can be positioned lingually at the OTA relative to the FTA, and thus the connector is compressed when installed instead of being stretched.

[0105] In some embodiments, the difficulty parameter for the attachment portion is based on the type and / or magnitude of the planned deformation of the connector along each of the occlusogingival dimension, the buccolingual dimension, and / or the mesiodistal dimension. However, when the connector is deformed along multiple dimensions, the deformations can interact, such that the deformation can be more difficult or easier to perform than a similar deformation along a single dimension. FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate this concept. Specifically, FIG. 12 illustrates five exemplary connectors, and FIG. 13 shows a table summarizing the lengths and deformations of the exemplary connectors. Referring collectively to FIGS. 12 and 13, the first exemplary connector is passive and extends along the occlusogingival (OG) dimension such that the connector has a length of 4. The first connector can have a first end representing the fixed end of the connector and a second end representing the position of the tooth in the FTA. The second - fifth exemplary connectors are discussed with reference to the passive connector and each have a fixed first end and a second end representing the position of the tooth in the OTA. The second example (OG compression) illustrates a connector that undergoes compression along the OG dimension such that it is fixed to the tooth in the OTA having its original position on the gingival side of the final position of the tooth in the FTA. The length of the second connector is 2, and the second connector undergoes an absolute deformation of 2 when deformed from the passive state to the installed state. In the third example (MD elongation), the tooth in the OTA is spaced from the tooth in the FTA along the mesiodistal (MD) dimension, such that the third connector undergoes mesiodistal elongation when installed. In this example, the tooth is spaced 2 along the MD dimension between the OTA and the FTA, which is similar to the OG compression example where the tooth is spaced 2 along the OG dimension between the OTA and the FTA. However, in the MD elongation example, the length of the third connector is only 4.5, and thus the expected deformation is 0.5 compared to the expected deformation of 2 for the OG compression connector. This is because the direction of the deformation (along the MD dimension) in the MD elongation example is not parallel to the dimension (OG dimension) along which the third connector extends in the passive state.As shown in FIG. 12, in the fourth and fifth examples, the connector undergoes deformation along the OG dimension and the MD dimension, and these deformations along different dimensions can interact to increase or decrease the overall deformation of the connector. In the fourth example (OG compression + MD elongation), the teeth in the OTA are positioned 2 in the gingival direction and 2 in the mesial or distal direction with respect to the teeth in the FTA. Therefore, the fourth connector undergoes compression along the OG dimension and elongation along the MD dimension. Thus, the fourth connector undergoes an absolute deformation of 1.2, which is less than the absolute deformation of 2 using the OG compression connector because the elongation along the MD dimension releases a portion of the deformation from the compression of the fourth connector along the OG dimension. In contrast, in the fifth example (OG elongation + MD elongation), the fifth connector undergoes elongation along both the OG dimension and the MD dimension. Thus, the absolute deformation is 2.3, which is the maximum absolute deformation among the five examples because the elongation in the two dimensions increases the degree. Due to the cumulative effect of the deformations along different dimensions, it may be useful for the difficulty parameter to reflect the cumulative measurement of the deformation of the connector along the occlusal gingival dimension, the buccolingual dimension, and the mesiodistal dimension.

[0106] Figures 14 and 15 illustrate and describe an exemplary formula for determining the difficulty parameter of a tooth and / or an associated attachment portion of an apparatus based on a planned movement of a tooth from an OTA to an FTA. FIG. 16 shows an exemplary calculation using the formula from FIGS. 14 and 15. As shown in FIG. 14, the difficulty parameter can comprise a stretch-compression (SC) parameter, which is a measure of the amount of deformation that an associated connector would undergo when installed in a patient's mouth with the tooth in the OTA and the main type of deformation (e.g., compression or stretch) that the connector would undergo. A negative SC parameter can represent a connector that would mainly be in a compressed state, while a positive SC parameter can represent a connector that would mainly be stretched. The inputs to the formula are BL, OG, and MD, each of which can represent the planned movement of a tooth along one dimension from the OTA to the FTA (the buccolingual dimension, the occlusogingival dimension, and the mesiodistal dimension, respectively). In various embodiments, BL, OG, and MD represent the movement of a tooth from the OTA to an FTA (e.g., FTA blue) in which the alignment of the tooth in one of the patient's dental arches is improved. Alternatively, BL, OG, and MD represent the movement of a tooth from the OTA to an overcorrected FTA (e.g., FTA blue + green). In either case, the formula can function similarly to a distance formula in which the tooth movements along the three dimensions are cumulatively assessed. The output of the formula is an SC parameter for the tooth and / or the associated attachment portion that can be compared to the SC parameters of other teeth / attachment portions to determine the attachment portion that is most difficult to fix and thus should be fixed first.

[0107] Referring again to FIG. 4, a method of determining a fixation order can include determining an order for fixing attachment portions to a patient's teeth based on difficulty parameters such as the SC parameter calculated from the formula of FIG. 14. The order can comprise a sequential list in which the attachment portions are ordered according to those difficulty parameters. In some embodiments, the order comprises a list of groups of attachment portions. For example, the order can indicate that three of the attachment portions should be fixed before another three of the attachment portions are fixed. The use of a list of groups can have certain advantages over a sequential list including, for example, ease of following the order, flexibility during installation, and others.

[0108] FIG. 17 illustrates an example of determining an order for fixing attachment portions to a patient's teeth based on SC parameters. The SC parameters can be obtained for each tooth of the patient to be treated. As shown in FIG. 17, the maximum SC parameter and the minimum SC parameter can be identified and used to define one or more groups of attachment portions with respect to the fixing order. In some embodiments, the order comprises a list of four groups of attachment portions, where the first group indicates the attachment portions to be fixed first, the second group indicates the attachment portions to be fixed second, the third group indicates the attachment portions to be fixed third, and the fourth group indicates the attachment portions to be fixed fourth. Nevertheless, any suitable number of groups (e.g., one group, two groups, three groups, four groups, five groups, six groups, seven groups, etc.) and / or a continuous list are within the scope of the present technique. The groups can be evenly spaced so as to span a consistent range of SC scores and / or can be defined to include a predetermined number of teeth. In some embodiments, for example, as shown in FIG. 17, the groups can be evenly spaced based on the maximum SC and the minimum SC. The teeth can be sorted into groups based on the SC parameters of each tooth. If a group has no teeth after sorting, the group can be modified (e.g., by modifying the limits of each group, by eliminating empty groups, etc.) so that each group has at least one tooth.

[0109] As shown in FIG. 17, the teeth are sorted such that those teeth with large negative SC parameters (e.g., teeth associated with connectors that receive large compression during installation) are in the first group and should be installed first. After the first group but before the third group, the second group, which should be installed, includes teeth associated with connectors that receive less compression during installation. The third and fourth groups include teeth associated with connectors that undergo elongation. As shown and described in FIG. 18, since it may be easier to stretch the connector rather than compress it, the teeth are sorted in this way. The connector has a fixed-length material that must fit between the endpoints of the connector. As a result, more stress is accumulated within the connector when the material of its length is forced to fit within a shorter distance, and the spring applies a greater force to the object, deforming it and making it more difficult to fix the attachment portion to the tooth. Thus, the order can show that those teeth with negative SC parameters (e.g., associated with connectors that receive compression) should be fixed earlier than those teeth with positive SC parameters (e.g., associated with connectors that receive tension).

[0110] As shown in FIGS. 19 - 21, the present technique includes additional methods for determining the difficulty parameter and / or the fixing order. For example, the planned movement of the teeth from OTA to FTA along the occlusal - gingival dimension, buccal - lingual dimension, and mesial - distal dimension can be added and / or subtracted to determine the difficulty parameter (see FIG. 19). The use of addition or subtraction and the use of absolute values can be implemented to distinguish between multiple types of deformations (e.g., compression vs. elongation, etc.).

[0111] As shown in FIG. 20, the method of determining the fixing order can include calculating the planned deformation of each connector in the device, calculating the absolute value of the deformation for each connector, applying a compensation factor to the absolute deformation, and determining the fixing order based on the compensated absolute deformation. The compensation factor can weight different types of deformations more than others. For example, the fixing order shown in FIG. 17 classifies any negative SC parameter (compression) as more difficult than any positive SC parameter (tension). However, in practice, it can be more difficult to stretch a connector a large amount than to compress it a small amount. The approach shown in FIG. 20 can address this issue by applying an appropriate compensation factor to the connector. For example, the absolute deformation of a connector that will be compressed can be multiplied by the compensation factor to reflect the increased difficulty of compressing the connector relative to stretching it. However, if the connector will undergo a large elongation, the compensated compression can still be less than the absolute deformation of the large elongation, and the fixing order can indicate that the attachment portion associated with the connector that will undergo a large elongation should be fixed to the teeth before the attachment portion associated with the connector that will be compressed is fixed.

[0112] The compensation factor can be applied to the absolute deformation based on factors not related to the type of deformation the connector will undergo. For example, the compensation factor can be based on one or more parameters of the fixing member configured to at least partially secure the attachment portion. In various embodiments, different teeth can have different fixing members that can secure the attachment portion with different levels of difficulty due to different fixing mechanisms (e.g., tie, clip, clamp, etc.), different sizes (e.g., narrower, wider, larger base portions, etc.), different materials, and / or other parameters. Such variable difficulty can be reflected in the compensation parameters applied to the attachment portion / teeth.

[0113] FIG. 21 depicts another method for determining a fixing order using numerical simulation. The method can include virtually deforming a digital model of the device from its passive configuration to its installed configuration such that the attachment portions of the digital model of the device are located at the positions of the teeth in the OTA. Such virtual deformation can include performing finite element analysis (FEA), finite difference method, finite volume method, or other numerical simulation using the digital model of the device in its passive configuration. From the virtual deformation, the forces exerted by each connector at its respective attachment portion can be virtually measured and evaluated to what extent it would be difficult to deform the connector and fix the attachment portion to the tooth. Specifically, a connector with a larger force may be more difficult to deform during installation than a connector with a smaller force. Such virtual deformation can take into account not only the shape, geometry, and material properties of the connector, but also the boundary conditions (e.g., end points). The fixing order can be determined based on these forces measured from the virtual deformation.

[0114] The example shown in FIG. 5-11 illustrates an example in which each connector has a fixed first end (e.g., connected to an anchor / the third connector, etc.) and a second end having an attachment portion configured to be fixed to a tooth. However, in some cases, the connector can have first and second ends with attachment portions configured such that each end of the connector is fixed to a tooth and the connector extends between two teeth instead of between one tooth and an anchor. FIGS. 22-28 illustrate examples of such connectors. In these embodiments, it may be useful to evaluate the difference in position between pairs of teeth from OTA to FTA rather than the difference in position of a single tooth from OTA to FTA. For example, in FIGS. 22 and 23, both the first tooth and the second tooth move from OTA to FTA. However, the distance between the first tooth and the second tooth does not change between OTA and FTA, and thus the connector does not deform when installing the device. In contrast, FIGS. 24 and 25 illustrate scenarios where the connector deforms here during installation. In FIG. 24, the second tooth is farther from the first tooth in FTA than in OTA, and thus the connector is compressed to install the device. In FIG. 25, the second tooth is closer to the first tooth in FTA than in OTA, and thus the connector is stretched to install the device.

[0115] Figure 26 depicts an example where each of the second to fourth teeth moves mesially from the OTA and the FTA. Specifically, the second tooth moves away from the first tooth, and the third and fourth teeth move towards the second tooth. Since the distance between the first tooth and the second tooth is shorter at the OTA than at the FTA, the connector extending between these teeth is compressed during installation. Conversely, the distance between the second tooth and the third tooth is longer at the OTA than at the FTA, and thus the connector extending between these teeth is stretched during installation. Both the third and fourth teeth move from the OTA to the FTA, and the third and fourth teeth move in the same direction by the same distance. Therefore, the distance between the third tooth and the fourth tooth remains constant, and the connector extending between the third tooth and the fourth tooth does not deform during installation.

[0116] Figures 27 and 28 illustrate examples where the connector can be stretched and compressed along the occlusogingival dimension when installing the device. In Figure 27, the second and fourth teeth move from the OTA to the FTA towards the first and third teeth, and thus the connectors between the first and second teeth, between the second and third teeth, and between the third and fourth teeth are each stretched during installation of the device. Conversely, Figure 28 illustrates an example where the second and third teeth move from the OTA to the FTA away from the first and fourth teeth, and thus the connectors between the first and second teeth and between the third and fourth teeth are compressed during installation of the device. A scenario such as that shown in Figure 28 (e.g., moving the teeth away from each other along the occlusogingival dimension) may be less likely to occur than the scenario shown in Figure 27 (e.g., moving the teeth towards each other along the occlusogingival dimension). Although the buccolingual example is not shown for the connector extending between two teeth, the principle may be similar to those of the occlusogingival examples.

[0117] Various aspects of the present technology relate to instructions for fixing an orthodontic device to a patient's teeth, according to specific instructions. The instructions can be conveyed by tangible articles such as one or more pieces of paper, cards, books, computer and / or mobile device display screens, etc. The instructions can define any useful information for improving the efficiency of treatment, the accuracy of treatment, the ease and / or efficiency of installing the device into the patient's mouth, and / or the degree of comfort of the patient during the installation of the device and / or orthodontic treatment.

[0118] By way of example only, the instructions can define an order for fixing the attachment portion of the device to each fixing member held by the patient's teeth, which can facilitate the installation of the device into the patient's mouth. As described herein with reference to device 100, for example, installing the device into the patient's mouth can include deforming the device from its "designed" configuration to a deformed configuration and fixing the device to the fixing member. The device can then transmit a continuous orthodontic force to the teeth and move the teeth towards a final position where the device resumes its "designed" configuration.

[0119] To facilitate the fixing of the device to the patient's teeth, the instructions according to the present technology can define an order for fixing the attachment portion of the device to the fixing member held by the patient's teeth. Thus, various embodiments of the present technology are directed to a method of obtaining an order for fixing a plurality of attachment portions to a plurality of fixing members.

[0120] The sequence can have a timeline for fixing each attachment part to its respective fixing member relative to other attachment parts. Each attachment part can be assigned a unique difficulty parameter and / or a group difficulty parameter. For example, the attachment parts can be sorted into groups, and the sequence can have a relative timeline for fixing each group of attachment parts. For example, the sequence can indicate that attachment parts associated with a higher difficulty of fixation should be fixed to their respective fixing members before other attachment parts. In some embodiments, a given sequence can be based on other parameters in addition to, or other than, the difficulty associated with fixing each attachment part to its respective fixing member. In various embodiments, a given sequence can be determined from one or more rules. In some embodiments, a method for determining a given sequence can include determining whether any of the patient's teeth have a specific original position, and based on this determination, assigning specific and / or relative timings regarding the attachment parts to be fixed relative to other attachment parts. For example, the given sequence can indicate that attachment parts associated with teeth having an original position that is substantially lingual and gingival (or having buccal root torque, lingual crown torque, etc.) should be fixed first. In some cases, a given sequence can include a relative order for fixing attachment parts to their respective fixing members and / or a predetermined time between fixing two or more sequential attachment parts. For example, it may be useful to fix only some of the attachment parts to their respective fixing members at an initial time point and delay fixing the remaining attachment parts to their respective fixing members until a later time point. The device can move the teeth fixed to the device via the fixed attachment parts, which can facilitate fixing the remaining attachment parts to their respective fixing members (e.g., by expanding the dental arch, rotating the teeth, etc.).

[0121] Various embodiments of the present technology include devices, systems, and methods for communicating instructions to an operator for orthodontically treating a patient's teeth. In some embodiments, a method of communicating such instructions includes, for example, displaying the instructions on a display screen of a computing device, such as a personal computer and / or a mobile device, via a graphical user interface. In some embodiments, the graphical user interface can display a graphical representation of the patient's teeth and / or a graphical representation of the instructions. In various embodiments, the user can toggle between different views. The different views can include, for example, only the graphical representation of the patient's teeth, only the graphical representation of the instructions, and / or both the graphical representation of the patient's teeth and the graphical representation of the instructions. Additionally, or alternatively, a method of communicating such instructions can include providing the instructions to the operator on a physical article, such as a card, a leaflet, or other tangible form. In some embodiments, the packaging of the orthodontic device can include the instructions.

[0122] FIG. 29 depicts an example of an order 400 for orthodontically treating a patient's teeth. The order 400 can have features similar to any of the orders disclosed herein. As shown in FIG. 29, the order can include documentation information 402 that identifies the patient associated with order 400, the orthodontist associated with order 400, the orthodontic practice associated with order 400, etc. In various embodiments, the order 400 can include a predetermined sequence 404 for securing attachment portions of the device to the patient's teeth. For example, as shown in FIG. 29, the order 400 can include an illustration 406 of the patient's upper teeth and / or an illustration 408 of the patient's lower teeth. The order 400 can include a mark 410 indicating the sequence 404. In some embodiments, the mark 410 can include one or more numbers, letters, symbols, colors, patterns, shapes, etc. For example, as shown in FIG. 29, the mark 410 can include a first mark 410a having a first number (e.g., the shown "1" mark, etc.), a first shape (e.g., a circle, etc.), and / or a first color (e.g., red, etc.), a second mark 410b having a second number (e.g., the shown "2" mark, etc.), a second shape (e.g., a circle, etc.), and / or a second color (e.g., orange, etc.), a third mark 410c having a third number (e.g., the shown "3" mark, etc.), a third shape (e.g., a circle, etc.), and / or a third color (e.g., yellow, etc.), and / or a fourth mark 410d having a fourth number (e.g., the shown "4" mark, etc.), a fourth shape (e.g., a circle, etc.), and / or a fourth color (e.g., green, etc.). The first - fourth numbers can be configured to convey a relative timeline for securing the attachment portions associated with the teeth associated with each number. For example, the order 400 can be configured to convey that the teeth associated with the first mark 410a having the number "1" should be secured to their respective fixing members before the teeth associated with the second mark 410b having the number "2", and that the teeth associated with the second mark 410b should be secured to their respective fixing members before the teeth associated with the third mark 410c having the number "3", etc.In some embodiments, the shape, color, pattern, etc. of the mark 410 can be configured to convey an order for fixing the attachment portions to their respective members. Additionally, or alternatively, the shape, color, pattern, etc. of the mark 410 may not be configured to convey any unique information about the teeth associated therewith (e.g., the circular shape of the mark may not encode any unique information about an order for fixing the attachment portion and instead may be aesthetic, etc.).

[0123] In some embodiments, the instruction 400 comprises information about auxiliary dental treatment and / or intervention. For example, as shown in FIG. 29, the instruction 400 can comprise a prescription 412 regarding interdental reduction to be performed between adjacent teeth of the patient. In some embodiments, the instruction 400 includes a mark configured to identify an interdental space for treatment and / or an amount of enamel to be removed from one or more teeth adjacent to the interdental space.

[0124] Figure 30 depicts an example of an order 500 for orthodontically treating a patient's teeth. The order 500 can have features similar to any of the orders disclosed herein. As shown in Figure 30, the order can include documentation information 502 that identifies the patient associated with the order 500, the orthodontist associated with the order 500, the orthodontic practice associated with the order 500, and so on. In various embodiments, the order 500 can include an order 504 for securing the attachment portion of the device to the patient's teeth. For example, as shown in Figure 30, the order 500 can include an illustration 506 of the patient's upper teeth and / or an illustration 508 of the patient's lower teeth. The order 500 can include a mark 510 indicating the order 504. In some embodiments, the mark 510 can include one or more numbers, letters, symbols, colors, patterns, shapes, and the like. For example, as shown in Figure 30, the mark 510 can include a first mark 510a having a first letter (e.g., the shown "A" mark, etc.), a second mark 510b having a second letter (e.g., the shown "B" mark, etc.), a third mark 510c having a third letter (e.g., the shown "C" mark, etc.), a fourth mark 510d having a fourth letter (e.g., the shown "D" mark, etc.), and / or other marks 510. The first through fourth letters can be configured to convey a relative timeline for securing the attachment portions associated with the teeth associated with each number. For example, the order 500 can be configured to convey that the teeth associated with the first mark 510a having the letter "A" should be secured to their respective fixing members before the teeth associated with the second mark 510b having the letter "B", the teeth associated with the second mark 510b should be secured to their respective fixing members before the teeth associated with the third mark 510c having the letter "C", and the teeth associated with the third mark 510c should be secured to their respective fixing members before the teeth associated with the fourth mark 510d having the letter "D", and so on.In some embodiments, for example, as shown in FIG. 30, the first mark 510a, the second mark 510b, the third mark 510c, and / or the fourth mark 510d can have similar shapes, colors, patterns, etc. Additionally, or alternatively, the first mark 510a, the second mark 510b, the third mark 510c, and / or the fourth mark 510d can have similar shapes, colors, patterns, etc., and can have unique shapes, unique colors, unique patterns, etc.

[0125] In some embodiments, the instruction 500 includes information about auxiliary dental treatment and / or intervention. For example, as shown in FIG. 30, the instruction 500 can include a space mark 512 indicating one or more spaces between adjacent teeth. The space mark 512 can indicate the current spacing between adjacent teeth, the previous spacing between adjacent teeth, and / or the intended spacing between adjacent teeth. In some embodiments, the space mark 512 includes a prescription regarding interdental reduction to be performed between adjacent teeth. In some embodiments, the space mark 512 is configured to identify the amount of enamel to be removed from the interdental space for treatment and / or one or more teeth adjacent to the interdental space.

[0126] Various embodiments of the present technology include orthodontically treating a patient's teeth according to specific instructions, such as the instructions described previously herein. In some embodiments, the method of orthodontically treating a patient's teeth includes obtaining instructions. The instructions can be obtained from a graphical user interface and / or a physical manufactured article. In some embodiments, the graphical user interface can display a graphical representation of the patient's teeth and / or a graphical representation of the instructions. In various embodiments, the user can toggle between views and view only the graphical representation of the patient's teeth, only the graphical representation of the instructions, and / or both the graphical representation of the patient's teeth and the graphical representation of the instructions. Additionally, or alternatively, the method of orthodontically treating a patient's teeth can include obtaining an apparatus for applying an orthodontic force to the patient's teeth and / or obtaining a tool for performing another orthodontic intervention (e.g., obtaining a file for performing an interproximal reduction, obtaining a tool for facilitating the installation of an apparatus, etc.). Treating a patient's teeth according to specific instructions can include securing an attachment portion of an orthodontic device to the patient's teeth according to the instructions, which can include securing the attachment portion to each fixing member held by the patient's teeth in the order communicated by the instructions.

[0127] In some embodiments, a method of manufacturing an orthodontic device can include evaluating the predicted difficulty of attaching the device to a patient's teeth and optionally modifying the design of the device to reduce the predicted difficulty based on the evaluation. In various embodiments, evaluating the predicted difficulty can include evaluating the predicted difficulty of a single attachment portion and / or evaluating the predicted difficulty of a plurality of attachment portions. For example, evaluating the predicted difficulty can include comparing the predicted difficulty of each attachment portion to a predetermined difficulty threshold, and if the predicted difficulty of one, some, or all of the attachment portions exceeds the predetermined difficulty threshold, the design of the device can be modified. Such a method can include repeatedly evaluating the predicted difficulty of attaching the device to the patient's teeth and modifying the design of the device based on the evaluation.

[0128] (Conclusion) Many of the embodiments have been described above with respect to systems, devices, and methods for orthodontic devices positioned primarily on the lingual side of a patient's teeth, but the technology is applicable to other uses and / or other approaches such as orthodontic devices positioned on the facial or buccal side of a patient's teeth. Additionally, in addition to what is described herein, other embodiments are within the scope of the technology. In addition, some other embodiments of the technology can have a configuration, components, or techniques different from what is described herein. One of ordinary skill in the art will accordingly understand that the technology can have other embodiments with additional elements or that the technology can have other embodiments without some of the features shown and described above with reference to FIGS. 1A-30.

[0129] The description of embodiments of the present technology is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present technology to the precise forms disclosed above. When the context permits, the singular or plural terms may further include the plural or singular terms, respectively. Specific embodiments of the present technology and examples thereof are described above for illustrative purposes, but as will be recognized by those skilled in the art, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the present technology. For example, steps are presented in a given order, but alternative embodiments may perform the steps in a different order. The various embodiments described herein may further be combined to provide additional embodiments.

[0130] As used herein, the terms "generally", "substantially", "about", and similar terms are used as terms of approximation and not of degree, and are intended to account for inherent variations in measured or calculated values that would be recognized by those skilled in the art.

[0131] Moreover, unless the word "or" is explicitly limited to mean only a single item exclusively from among other items when referring to a list of two or more items, the use of "or" in such a list is to be construed as including (a) any single item in the list, (b) all of the items in the list, or (c) any combination of items in the list. In addition, the term "comprising" is used throughout to mean including at least the recited features such that any greater number of the same features and / or additional types of other features are not excluded. Further, specific embodiments are described herein for purposes of illustration, and it is to be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the technology. Additionally, while the advantages associated with certain embodiments of the technology are described in the context of those embodiments, other embodiments may also exhibit such advantages, and not all embodiments necessarily need to exhibit such advantages in order to fall within the scope of the technology. Accordingly, the present disclosure and the related technology can encompass other embodiments not explicitly shown or described herein.

Claims

1. A tangible non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a computing device, determine a first deformation parameter for a first attachment portion of an orthodontic device, the first attachment portion being held by a first connector, the first deformation parameter indicating a force required to deform the first connector from a designed configuration to a mounted configuration; determine a second deformation parameter for a second attachment portion of the orthodontic device, the second attachment portion being held by a second connector, the second deformation parameter indicating a force required to deform the second connector from a designed configuration to a mounted configuration; determine a first difficulty score for the first attachment portion, at least in part based on the first deformation parameter, the first difficulty score indicating a degree of difficulty for a clinician in attaching the first attachment portion to a corresponding fixing member during installation of the orthodontic device; determine a second difficulty score for the second attachment portion, at least in part based on the second deformation parameter, the second difficulty score indicating a degree of difficulty for a clinician in attaching the second attachment portion to a corresponding fixing member during installation of the orthodontic device; display the first and second difficulty scores to a user; and cause the computing device to perform operations including these, a tangible non-transitory computer-readable medium.

2. The tangible non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 1, wherein the first and second difficulty scores indicate a proposed order for connecting the first and second attachment portions to their respective fixing members during installation of the orthodontic device.

3. The tangible non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the operations further include comparing the first difficulty score and the second difficulty score.

4. Determining the first difficulty score includes comparing the first deformation parameter with the second deformation parameter, the tangible non-transitory computer-readable medium according to any one of claims 1-3.

5. The first difficulty score and the second difficulty score are the same, the tangible non-transitory computer-readable medium according to any one of claims 1-4.

6. The first difficulty score and the second difficulty score are different, the tangible non-transitory computer-readable medium according to any one of claims 1-4.

7. The dental correction device includes a connector configured to extend along two or more of the patient's teeth when the dental correction device is installed in the patient's mouth, and the first and second connectors extend in the occlusal direction away from the connector, the tangible non-transitory computer-readable medium according to any one of claims 1-6.

8. A method for assisting in the installation of a dental correction device, the method comprising: Determining a first deformation parameter for a first attachment portion of the dental correction device, wherein the first attachment portion is held by a first connector, and the first deformation parameter indicates the force required to deform the first connector from its designed configuration to an installed configuration; Determining a second deformation parameter for a second attachment portion of the dental correction device, wherein the second attachment portion is held by a second connector, and the second deformation parameter indicates the force required to deform the second connector from its designed configuration to an installed configuration; Determining a first difficulty score for the first attachment portion based at least in part on the first deformation parameter, the first difficulty score indicating the degree of difficulty for a clinician when attaching the first attachment portion to a corresponding fixing member during installation of the dental correction device; Determining a second difficulty score for the second attachment portion based at least in part on the second deformation parameter, the second difficulty score indicating the degree of difficulty for a clinician when attaching the second attachment portion to a corresponding fixing member during installation of the dental correction device; displaying the first and second difficulty scores to the user A method comprising.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the first and second difficulty scores indicate a proposed order for connecting the first and second attachment portions to their respective fixing members during installation of the dental correction device.

10. The method according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the operation further comprises comparing the first difficulty score and the second difficulty score.

11. The method according to any one of claims 8-10, wherein determining the first difficulty score includes comparing the first deformation parameter with the second deformation parameter.

12. The method according to any one of claims 8-11, wherein the first difficulty score and the second difficulty score are the same.

13. The method according to any one of claims 8-11, wherein the first difficulty score and the second difficulty score are different.

14. The dental correction device comprises a connector configured to extend along two or more of the patient's teeth when the dental correction device is installed in the patient's mouth, and the first and second connectors extend in the occlusal direction away from the connector. The method according to any one of claims 8-13.

15. The method according to any one of claims 8-14, wherein the dental correction device is configured to move the teeth from an original position to a different final position.

Images