Methods of forming orthodontic devices with palatal anchorage

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12357429-B2
Application number	US-202217893069-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 22, 2022
Priority date	Jul 21, 2017
Publication date	Jul 15, 2025
Grant date	Jul 15, 2025

Abstract

Methods of fabricating orthodontic alignment devices. First forces may be applied to teeth of a digital model to simulate movement of the teeth from one stage of an ordered sequence of stages to a next stage. The first forces may include one or more unwanted forces that move one or more teeth of the digital model in an unwanted direction. One or more forces may be applied to the palate of the digital model that results in second forces applied to the teeth of the digital model to replace or offset the one or more unwanted forces. A shape for the orthodontic alignment device may be determined based on the first and second forces applied to the teeth and in combination with the one or more forces applied to the palate of the digital model. An orthodontic alignment device may be fabricated based on the determined shape.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for fabricating an orthodontic alignment device, the method comprising:
generating a digital model having teeth and a palate representing teeth and a palate of a patient's mouth, wherein each tooth of the digital model is a separate object that can be independently moved in the digital model;
generating an ordered sequence of stages each comprising corresponding teeth position;
applying a first plurality of forces to the teeth of the digital model to simulate movement of the teeth of the digital model from one stage of the ordered sequence of stages to a next stage of the ordered sequence of stages;
determining that the first plurality of forces includes one or more unwanted forces that move one or more teeth of the digital model in an unwanted direction;
applying one or more forces to the palate of the digital model that results in a second plurality of forces applied to the teeth of the digital model to replace or offset the one or more unwanted forces;
determining a shape for the orthodontic alignment device based on the first and second plurality of forces applied to the teeth of the digital model and in combination with the one or more forces applied to the palate of the digital model; and
fabricating the orthodontic alignment device based on the determined shape, wherein the fabricated orthodontic alignment is configured to move the teeth of the patient's mouth from the one stage to the next stage.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a level of pressure applied to the palate of the digital model when the orthodontic alignment device is worn by the patient.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising modifying the shape of the orthodontic alignment device when the determined level of pressure applied to the palate of the digital model exceeds a set or predetermined level, wherein the modified shape of the orthodontic alignment device reduces the level of pressure applied to the palate of the digital model below the set or predetermined level.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein modifying the shape of the orthodontic alignment device includes increasing a size of a portion of the orthodontic alignment device configured to contact the palate of the patient's mouth.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising fabricating a series of orthodontic alignment devices to sequentially move the teeth of the patient's mouth from a stage for an initial position of the teeth to a stage for a final position of the teeth according to the ordered sequence of stages.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the palate of the digital model is an object separate from each of the teeth of the digital model.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ordered sequence of stages includes a stage for an initial position of the teeth of the patient's mouth, a plurality of stages for a plurality of intermediate positions of the teeth of the patient's mouth, and a stage for a final position of the teeth of the patient's mouth.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the shape for the orthodontic alignment device comprises forming a digital offset portion having an offset shape with respect to at least a portion of a surface contour of the palate of the digital model, wherein the digital offset portion applies the one or more forces to the palate of the digital model.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the offset shape is configured to exert a reaction force on an anterior portion of a hard palate of the patient to generate a distalizing force against one or more molars of the teeth of the patient or to push one or more anterior teeth of the teeth of the patient outward.

10. A method for fabricating an orthodontic alignment device, comprising:
generating a treatment plan using a digital model having teeth and a palate and/or a gingiva representing teeth and a palate and/or a gingiva of a patient, wherein the treatment plan includes an ordered sequence of stages each associated with corresponding teeth positions;
applying a first plurality of forces to the teeth of the digital model to simulate movement of the teeth of the digital model from one stage of the ordered sequence of stages to a next stage of the ordered sequence of stages;
determining that the first plurality of forces includes one or more unwanted forces that move one or more of the teeth of the digital model in an unwanted direction;
applying one or more forces to the palate and/or the gingiva of the digital model that results in application of a second plurality of forces on the teeth of the digital model to replace or offset the one or more unwanted forces;
determining a shape for the orthodontic alignment device based on applying the first and second plurality of forces to the teeth of the digital model in combination with the one or more forces applied to the palate and/or the gingiva of the digital model; and
fabricating the orthodontic alignment device based on the determined shape, wherein the fabricated orthodontic alignment is configured to move the teeth of the patient from the one stage to the next stage.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising segmenting the digital model of the teeth and the palate and/or the gingiva of the digital model such that each tooth of the digital model is a separate object that can be independently moved in the digital model.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising determining a level of pressure applied to the palate and/or the gingiva of the digital model.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising determining that the level of pressure exceeds a predetermined level and modifying the shape of the orthodontic alignment device to reduce the level of pressure.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein modifying the shape of the orthodontic alignment device includes increasing a size of a portion of the orthodontic alignment device configured to contact the palate and/or the gingiva of the patient.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the ordered sequence of stages includes a stage for an initial position of the teeth of the patient, a plurality of stages for a plurality of intermediate positions of the teeth of the patient, and a stage for a final position of the teeth of the patient.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising determining a shape for each of a plurality of orthodontic alignment devices corresponding to each of the ordered sequence of stages.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein determining the shape for the orthodontic alignment device comprises forming a digital offset portion having an offset shape with respect to at least a portion of a surface contour of the palate and/or the gingiva of the digital model, wherein the digital offset portion applies the one or more forces to the palate and/or the gingiva of the digital model.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the offset shape is configured to exert a reaction force on an anterior portion of a hard palate of the patient to generate a distalizing force against one or more molars of the teeth of the patient or to push one or more anterior teeth of the teeth of the patient outward.

19. A method for fabricating an orthodontic alignment device, comprising:
generating a treatment plan using a digital model having teeth and a palate and/or a gingiva representing teeth and a palate and/or a gingiva of a patient, wherein the treatment plan includes an ordered sequence of stages each associated with corresponding teeth positions;
applying a first plurality of forces to the teeth of the digital model to simulate movement of

Assignees

• Align Technology Inc

Inventors

• Sato Jun
• Kimura Ryan
• Shanjani Yaser
• Wu Ken
• Pesenti Bastien
• Cam Bruce

Classifications

• A61C7/14

  Brackets (A61C7/28 takes precedence); Fixing brackets to teeth · CPC title

• A61C7/10

  Devices having means to apply outwardly directed force, e.g. expanders · CPC title

• A61C7/002

  Orthodontic computer assisted systems · CPC title

• A61C8/0096

  Implants for use in orthodontic treatment · CPC title

• A61C7/00

  Orthodontics, i.e. obtaining or maintaining the desired position of teeth, e.g. by straightening, evening, regulating, separating, or by correcting malocclusions · CPC title