Occlusal seating device for orthodontic aligners

Abstract

An occlusal seating device for orthodontic aligners, the body of which consists of two semi-autonomous arches, namely an upper arch (1) and a lower arch (2), which have spine-like interdental projections (3). The arches are interconnected in the rear distal part through pillars (4) and in the front by a flexible fusion. On the body of the seating device or at the ends of the spine-like interdental projections (3) buffer pressure points (6) are located for the application of a seating stick or an extraoral vibration source. Between the upper arch (1) and the lower arch (2) inter-arch vestibular connections (7) are located, the course of which is vestibularly convex. The body of the occlusal seating device has a shape complementary to the occlusal part of the upper and lower teeth of the patient with an invisible orthodontic aligner fitted.

Description

[0001] Occlusal Seating Device for Orthodontic Aligners

[0002] Technical Field

[0003] The present invention relates to an occlusal seating device for orthodontic aligners and falls within the field of dentistry, more specifically orthodontics, i.e. achieving or maintaining the desired position of teeth, for example by straightening, aligning, leveling, separating, or correcting malocclusion of the teeth.

[0004] Background Art

[0005] For the movement of teeth within the oral cavity, essentially the same biomechanical principles proven over millennia are still applied in orthodontic therapy. What changes is only the tool by which various biomechanical vectors are applied to the teeth, not their biological basis. In modem orthodontic therapy, the entire surface of the tooth can now be used for the application of these forces, which is made possible by modem aesthetic materials of removable braces covering the entire surface of the tooth. With the introduction of biocompatible transparent materials having 4D properties - the ability of shape memory - their role as the dominant tool in the correction of teeth position has been further strengthened. Their superiority, in the context of the possible application of ideal therapeutic forces on the vestibular and lingual surfaces of the teeth or combinations thereof, with the possibility of adaptive thickness and connection to skeletal anchorage, represents a further evolutionary step in therapeutic tools in orthodontics. Current fixed vestibular and fixed lingual appliances are able to keep pace with this development.

[0006] In this context, one important aspect is overlooked and underestimated. While in fixed appliances the application of force is firmly attached to the tooth and thus precisely targeted, in the case of removable appliances their “fit”, i.e. the correct and precise therapeutic position on the teeth, is uncertain. The more demanding the shift, the greater the chance that the sequence of aligners (correctors) does not take the exact planned therapeutic position on the dentition. The resilience of teeth position due to insufficient duration of force application or insufficient retention of the appliance on the teeth via attachments (i.e. auxiliary elements for improving the grip of the aligner on the tooth) usually results in an increasing discrepancy between the actual position of the teeth and the planned position assumed by the aligner. When the aligners are seated imprecisely, the intended forces of the aligner are applied at incorrect points and move the teeth differently than intended, which subsequently, in a vicious circle, leads to a discrepant “non-tracking” spiral (i.e. the teeth do not move according to the expected treatment progression set by the aligners), in which the aligner completely loses control over one tooth or a group of teeth.

[0007] Therefore, for the success of treatment with removable appliances (foil or DPA - directly printed aligners), it is crucial to focus on the accuracy of the “fit” of the aligner. Initial stages of discrepancy usually begin in known locations and are preventable if the braces is worn correctly. The act of seating the braces on the dentition is commonly underestimated by both the patient and the doctor.

[0008] Currently, two main approaches are used to improve treatment by precise placement of transparent aligners, known as CAT (Clear Aligner Therapy). The first approach comprises very simple and economically accessible orthodontic chewables or bite aids, which usually consist of rollers made of elastic material into which the patient gradually bites. Their problem is that the patient often bites at a specific point with extreme force, which frequently results in the detachment of attachment points bonded to the teeth. During seating, they also cause considerable discomfort to the patient in the area of the temporomandibular joint. The effect of chewables and / or bite aids is also very non-targeted, since the patient does not apply pressure specifically at the required locations.

[0009] The second category of aids comprises financially demanding active accelerators, which usually contain their own source of vibrations or even light and exert an active effect on the suspension apparatus of the teeth, whether through vibrations of a specific frequency or through the applied light. These so-called accelerators usually do not have specific shapes of the occlusal part, or are available only in a limited number of arch size variants, which are used throughout the entire duration of the patient’s treatment as universal, practically nonpersonalized aids.

[0010] Disclosure of Invention

[0011] The disadvantages of the prior art are to a substantial extent eliminated by the occlusal seating device for orthodontic aligners according to the present invention.

[0012] The occlusal seating device for orthodontic aligners has a body consisting of two semi- autonomous arches, namely an upper arch and a lower arch. Spine-like interdental projections are provided on both arches. The arches are interconnected in the rear distal part by pillars and at the front by a flexible fusion. On the body of the seating device and / or at the ends of the spine-like interdental projections, buffer pressure points are located for the application of a seating stick or an extraoral vibration source. Inter-arch vestibular connections are located between the upper arch and the lower arch. Their course between the upper arch and lower arch of the body of the seating device is vestibularly convex, allowing the application of vestibular pressure with the finger, with a pressure effect in the terminal portions of the spine-like projections. The body of the occlusal seating device has a shape complementary to the occlusal part of the upper and lower teeth of the patient with an invisible orthodontic aligner fitted.

[0013] The fusion of the upper arch and the lower arch represents a smooth transition of one arch into the other over a smaller area, so that, during occlusal pressure (biting), bending of the seating device can occur at this location, allowing the patient to bite down into the aligner and enabling its limited deformation at this location and at the pillars on the posterior teeth. The body of the occlusal seating device thus represents a flexible connection between the upper arch and the lower arch, generally covering the occlusal edges of the teeth covered by the aligner up to the first molars. The body of the lower arch is generally load-bearing, with a larger surface area distributing occlusal pressure onto the occlusal edges of the lower incisors and partially onto their lingual surfaces. The lower arch of the body continues onto the occlusal edges of the premolars, with emphasis on their lingual cusps, onto which it seats under occlusal pressure. The upper arch likewise covers the palatal cusps of the premolars, but does not include a larger palatal surface, as is the case with the lower arch.

[0014] The pillars are connectors that are positionable at the palatal and lingual edges of the body in the area of the premolars or molars. The pillars transmit occlusal pressure to the lingual occlusal rims of the upper arch and the lower arch, distributing the pressure onto the lingual portions of the premolars, or optionally the molars. They generally have a thickness diameter of approximately 1.5 to 3 mm. The occlusal seating device typically comprises two to three pairs of pillars. The pillars allow occlusal deformation of the entire seating device until contact between the upper arch and the lower arch, which are usually spaced apart by 1 to 3 mm. This masticatory effect enhances the pressure of the occlusal seating device particularly in problematic lingual portions on the premolars and also potentiates the effect of the vestibular inter-arch connections.

[0015] The spine-like interdental projections may be either blind or fused along the cervical portion of the aligner in such manner that two adjacent spine-like interdental projections of one arch are interconnected by a cervical connection. Fused spine-like interdental projections are also used where the priority is to press the transparent aligner more in the cervical portion of the tooth than in the vicinity of the papilla. Three types of spine-like interdental projections are distinguished, namely vestibular (external), lingual (internal), and palatal (internal). Vestibular projections are provided on both the upper arch and the lower arch and concentrate the applied pressure force at key locations of the transparent aligner by means of their attachments. Lingual projections are provided on the lower arch. Palatal projections are provided on both the upper arch and the lower arch and distribute pressure onto the lingual portions of the premolars, or optionally the molars.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, some of the spine-like interdental projections are reinforced and, in their terminal portions, contain impressors, i.e. pressure enhancers, which exert pressure on the aligner, typically in areas where it protrudes. The impressors are generally spherical in shape and extend beyond the surface facing the aligner, preferably by approximately 1 mm. The buffer pressure points represent concavities in the form of tapering recesses. Preferably, they have a diameter of approximately 2.5 mm at the entrance , approximately 1.5 mm at the bottom, and a depth of at least 2 mm. The occlusal seating device comprises at least two buffer pressure points, one on each side. Their optimal number is approximately three on each side. The main buffer pressure points on the body of the seating device are located in the areas of the central and lateral incisors, premolars, or in the vicinity of the canines. They allow the safe utilization of various vibration sources, including commonly available sonic toothbrushes after removal of the brush head. They usually have an inclination facilitating access of the seating stick or the extraoral vibration source, which is generally approximately 10° to 30° downward (caudally) from the horizontal (occlusal) plane.

[0017] The inter-arch vestibular connections are either two-point connections between the terminal portions of the spine-like interdental projections of the upper arch and the lower arch, or three- point connections anchored to the cervical connection between the terminal portions of two adjacent spine-like interdental projections. Their number is determined according to where the highest need for seating the transparent aligners is anticipated. The transfer of pressure acts at the point where the greatest force is applied to the transparent aligner, which is usually the interdental space in the vicinity of the interdental papilla. The selection or combination of types of vestibular inter-arch connections depends on the individual case, in particular on anatomical conditions - topography. They are intended primarily for the lateral portions of the seating device. The three-point vestibular inter-arch connections are more rigid.

[0018] The body of the occlusal seating device may comprise cut-outs on both the upper arch and the lower arch, which represent the naturally occluded dentition of the patient. The cut-outs may be generated from a digital intraoral scan, which is routinely performed in dental clinics. The occlusal seating device for orthodontic aligners is made of biocompatible materials, for example biocompatible resins.

[0019] The seating stick for the occlusal seating device for orthodontic aligners is an accessory for the patient. It is complementary to the buffer pressure points and can be applied therein.

[0020] The occlusal seating device for orthodontic aligners according to the present invention and the seating stick complementary thereto may be provided as a set.

[0021] The occlusal seating device according to the present invention represents a personalized aid for transmitting occlusal forces or additional mechanical forces from an extraoral environment to fitted orthodontic aligners, mainly through the buffer points. The occlusal seating device improves the accuracy of seating of transparent orthodontic aligners, to which it is shape- complementary, and is applied to them after the aligners have been fitted onto the teeth. It is intended for daily application prior to fitting the aligners in use. It serves not only to prevent loss of precise placement of the aligners, but also to correct such conditions to a small extent. Its purpose is the prevention and correction of discrepancies between the shape of the aligner and the actual position of the teeth, which arise due to insufficient adaptability and discipline of the patient, the demanding nature of tooth movement, or other reasons. By virtue of its specific individualized shape, it is capable of improving the distribution of closing forces during seating of the orthodontic aligner by the patient, and may additionally be used for supplemental transmission of vibrations from the patient’s fingers, the seating stick, or another supplemental vibration source (e.g. a sonic toothbrush) to the orthodontic aligner. Through the mechanical transmission of forces to the orthodontic aligner, the accuracy of its positioning and the attainment of the expected position relative to the teeth, or between the given aligner and the actual position of the teeth, are improved. Within orthodontic treatment, the occlusal seating device contributes to subjective relief resulting from pressure loading of the suspension apparatus between individual transparent aligners.

[0022] The shape of the occlusal seating device according to the present invention is derived from the shape of the aligner arch of an individual patient. The occlusal seating device may be automatically designed in 3D via a UI agent. It may be manufactured using additive manufacturing technologies (3D printing) from a biocompatible 4D shape-memory material, or from other flexible yet rigid biocompatible materials. It is cleanable in a sonic bath. In addition to improving the accuracy of aligner fit by transmitting vibrations from an external vibration source, it reduces unpleasant sensations associated with prolonged pressure on the teeth accompanying orthodontic treatment. Brief Description of Drawings

[0023] Fig. 1 shows an occlusal seating device with two pairs of lingually positioned pillars.

[0024] Fig. 2 shows an occlusal seating device illustrating the fusion of the upper arch and the lower arch in the frontal part.

[0025] Fig. 3 shows a front view of the occlusal seating device.

[0026] Fig. 4 shows a top view of the occlusal seating device.

[0027] Fig. 5 shows a top view of the vestibular (external) spine-like interdental projections.

[0028] Fig. 6 shows a front view of the body of the occlusal seating device without buffer pressure points and inter-arch vestibular connections (simplified view).

[0029] Fig. 7 shows a bottom view of the occlusal seating device without buffer pressure points and inter-arch vestibular connections (simplified view).

[0030] Figs. 8.1, 8.2 and 8.3 show a lateral oblique view of the occlusal seating device or its upper arch and lower arch without buffer pressure points and inter-arch vestibular connections (simplified view). Fig. 8.1 shows the upper arch, Fig. 8.2 shows the lower arch, and Fig. 8.3 shows the occlusal seating device comprising the upper arch and the lower arch.

[0031] Fig. 9 shows an occlusal view of the lower arch of the occlusal seating device on a lower transparent aligner fitted on the lower teeth. A section through the body of the occlusal seating device at the location of a spine-like interdental projection and a section through the body of the transparent aligner at the location of an attachment on a canine are shown.

[0032] Fig. 10 shows an oblique lateral view of the lower arch of the occlusal seating device in section with a key pressure application area. A section of the aligner at the location of a bonded attachment on a tooth and an illustration of a two-point inter-arch vestibular connection are shown.

[0033] Fig. 11 shows a lateral view of the lower arch of the occlusal seating device on a lower aligner without the upper arch and upper teeth. An illustration of a three-point inter-arch vestibular connection is also shown.

[0034] Fig. 12 shows a lateral view of the occlusal seating device with an enlarged pressure area at the apex of a spine-like projection by means of an impressor exerting pressure on a protruding transparent aligner.

[0035] Examples of Embodiments

[0036] The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the following examples, which do not limit its scope. Example 1

[0037] An occlusal seating device for orthodontic aligners was produced, the body of which consists of two semi-autonomous arches, namely an upper arch 1 and a lower arch 2, having spine-like interdental projections 3. Two pairs of spine-like interdental projections 3 of the lower arch 2 are interconnected by a cervical connection 8, while the remaining spine-like interdental projections 3 are blind. The arches are interconnected in the rear distal part by two pairs of pillars 4 and at the front by a flexible fusion. The pillars 4 are positionable at the palatal and lingual edges of the body in the area of the patient’s premolars. Six buffer pressure points 6 for the application of a seating stick or an extraoral vibration source are provided on the body of the seating device and at the ends of the spine-like interdental projections 3. Six inter-arch vestibular connections 7 with a vestibularly convex course are provided between the upper arch 1 and the lower arch 2. Four inter-arch vestibular connections 7 are two-point connections. Two inter-arch vestibular connections 7 are three-point connections and have a shape similar to the letter “V”. Two anchoring points of the three-point inter-arch vestibular connection 7b are located on the terminal portions of two adjacent spine-like interdental projections 3 of the upper arch 1, and one anchoring point is located approximately in the center of the cervical connection 8 between the terminal ends of the spine-like interdental projections 3 of the lower arch 2. The buffer pressure points 6 are tapering recesses. The main buffer pressure points 6 on the body of the seating device are located in the areas of the central and lateral incisors and the premolars. The body of the occlusal seating device has a shape complementary to the occlusal portion of the upper and lower teeth of a patient with an invisible orthodontic aligner fitted on the teeth. The occlusal seating device for orthodontic aligners is made of biocompatible materials.

[0038] Example 2

[0039] An occlusal seating device for orthodontic aligners was produced, the body of which consists of two semi-autonomous arches, namely an upper arch 1 and a lower arch 2, having spine-like interdental projections 3. The arches are interconnected in the rear distal part by three pairs of pillars 4 and at the front by a flexible fusion. The pillars 4 are positionable at the palatal and lingual edges of the body in the area of the patient’s premolars and molars. Two buffer pressure points 6 for the application of a seating stick 12 or an extraoral vibration source are provided on the body of the seating device, namely one on the left side and one on the right side. Two two-point inter-arch vestibular connections 7a are provided in the lateral portions between the upper arch 1 and the lower arch 2, one on the right side and one on the left side. Their course is vestibularly convex. All spine-like interdental projections 3 are blind. Four spine-like interdental projections 3 are reinforced and, in their terminal portions, comprise impressors 5, which have a spherical shape and protrude beyond the surface facing the aligner by approximately 1 mm. The buffer pressure points 6 have a diameter at the entrance of 2.5 mm and at the bottom of 1.5 mm and a depth of more than 2 mm. The main buffer pressure points 6 on the body of the seating device are located in the areas of the central and lateral incisors and in the vicinity of the canines. The body of the occlusal seating device has a shape complementary to the occlusal portion of the upper and lower teeth of a patient with an invisible orthodontic aligner fitted on the teeth. The occlusal seating device for orthodontic aligners is made of biocompatible materials.

[0040] Example 3

[0041] A seating stick 12 according to the present invention was produced, which is complementary at one end to the buffer pressure points 6.

[0042] Example 4

[0043] Sets of the occlusal seating device for orthodontic aligners according to Examples 1 and 2 and the seating stick 12 according to Example 3 were produced.

[0044] Industrial Applicability

[0045] The occlusal seating device for orthodontic aligners is applicable in the field of dental care, in particular in the treatment of dental irregularities.

[0046] List of reference numerals

[0047] 1 upper arch

[0048] 2 lower arch

[0049] 3 spine-like interdental projection a lingual spine-like interdental projectionsb palatal spine-like interdental projectionsc vestibular spine-like interdental projections pillar impressor buffer pressure point inter-arch vestibular connection a two-point inter-arch vestibular connectionb three-point inter-arch vestibular connection cervical connection occlusal rim 0 frontal part of the occlusal seating device 1 key pressure application area 2 seating stick

Claims

Patent claims1. An occlusal seating device for orthodontic aligners, characterized in that its body consists of two semi -autonomous arches, namely an upper arch (1) and a lower arch (2), which have spine-like interdental projections (3), wherein:- the arches are interconnected in the rear distal part through pillars (4) and in the front by a flexible fusion,- on the body of the seating device and / or at the ends of the spine-like interdental projections (3) buffer pressure points (6) are located for the application of a seating stick or an extraoral vibration source,- between the upper arch (1) and the lower arch (2) inter-arch vestibular connections (7) are located, the course of which is vestibularly convex,- the body of the occlusal seating device has a shape complementary to the occlusal part of the upper and lower teeth of the patient with an invisible orthodontic aligner fitted.

2. The occlusal seating device for orthodontic aligners according to claim 1, characterized in that the pillars (4) are positionable at the palatal and lingual edges of the body in the area of the premolars and / or molars.

3. The occlusal seating device for orthodontic aligners according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the spine-like interdental projections (3) are either blind or fused along the cervical portion of the aligner in such manner that two adjacent spine-like interdental projections (3) of one arch are interconnected by a cervical connection (8).

4. The occlusal seating device for orthodontic aligners according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that some of the spine-like interdental projections (3) are reinforced and in their terminal portions contain impressors (5), which are preferably spherical in shape and protrude beyond the surface facing the aligner.

5. The occlusal seating device for orthodontic aligners according to claim 4, characterized in that the buffer pressure points (6) have a diameter of approximately 2.5 mm at the entrance and approximately 1.5 mm at the bottom.

6. The occlusal seating device for orthodontic aligners according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the main buffer pressure points (6) on the body of the seating device are located in the areas of the central and lateral incisors, premolars, or in the vicinity of the canines.

7. The occlusal seating device for orthodontic aligners according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the inter-arch vestibular connections (7) are either two-point connections between the terminal ends of the spine-like interdental projections (3) or three- point connections anchored to the cervical connection (8) between the terminal ends of the spine-like interdental projections (3).

8. The occlusal seating device for orthodontic aligners according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it is made of biocompatible materials.

9. A seating stick for the occlusal seating device for orthodontic aligners according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it is complementary to the buffer pressure points (6).

10. A set of the occlusal seating device for orthodontic aligners according to any of claims 1 to 8 and the seating stick (12) according to claim 9.

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