Mold with receiving element and separable features

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12390960-B2
Application number	US-202016915914-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 29, 2020
Priority date	May 21, 2014
Publication date	Aug 19, 2025
Grant date	Aug 19, 2025

Abstract

A method includes determining a first shape of a main body of a mold associated with a dental arch for a patient. The method further includes determining a second shape of a separable feature of the mold. The method further includes determining a third shape and configuration of a receiving element of the main body to receive the separable feature. The method further includes outputting instructions for fabricating the separable feature and the main body that includes the receiving element for receiving the separable feature.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of manufacturing, the method comprising:
determining, by a processing device coupled to memory, a first shape of a main body of a mold associated with a dental arch for a patient, the main body corresponding to a plurality of teeth of the dental arch;
determining, by the processing device, a second shape of a separable feature of the mold;
determining, by the processing device, a third shape and configuration of a receiving element that comprises one or more holes formed in at least a portion of at least one of the plurality of teeth of the main body to receive the separable feature;
causing, by the processing device, fabrication of the separable feature that comprises one or more protrusions configured to insert into the one or more holes;
causing, by the processing device, fabrication of the main body that includes the receiving element that comprises the one or more holes for receiving the one or more protrusions of the separable feature, wherein the one or more protrusions of the separable feature insert into the main body via the one or more holes of the receiving element to cause the separable feature to extend above top surfaces of the plurality of teeth of the main body; and
causing, by the processing device, fabrication of a shell over the main body and the separable feature, wherein the shell is configured to be worn in a mouth of the patient.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the separable feature is attached to the main body via the receiving element.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the shell is formed over the main body and the separable feature via thermoforming or pressure forming the shell over the main body and the separable feature.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the shell is an orthodontic aligner, an orthodontic retainer, or an orthodontic splint for at least one of aligning, retaining, or positioning one or more teeth of the patient.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the separable feature is to generate a protrusion in the shell to facilitate application of forces via the shell to reposition teeth or jaw of the patient.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein the shell and the separable feature are to be removed from the main body, wherein the separable feature is retained inside the shell responsive to the shell being removed from the main body, and wherein the separable feature is to be removed from the shell subsequent to the shell being removed from the main body.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the separable feature is mechanically affixed to the main body via insertion into the receiving element.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the separable feature is formed at an area of the dental arch corresponding to a retentive feature comprising at least one of the plurality of teeth that have an undercut or a negative inclination.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the main body of the mold is generated from a model based on an intraoral scan of the dental arch of the patient.

10. An orthodontic shell fabricated by the method of claim 1 , wherein the orthodontic shell comprises protrusions caused by the separable feature.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising first instructions which, when executed by a processing device, cause the processing device to perform operations comprising:
determining a first shape of a main body of a mold associated with a dental arch for a patient, the main body corresponding to a plurality of teeth of the dental arch;
determining a second shape of a separable feature of the mold;
determining a third shape and configuration of a receiving element that comprises one or more holes formed in at least a portion of at least one of the plurality of teeth of the main body to receive the separable feature;
causing fabrication of the separable feature that comprises one or more protrusions configured to insert into the one or more holes;
causing fabrication of the main body that includes the receiving element that comprises the one or more holes for receiving the one or more protrusions of the separable feature, wherein the one or more protrusions of the separable feature insert into the main body via the one or more holes of the receiving element to cause the separable feature to extend above top surfaces of the plurality of teeth of the main body; and
causing fabrication of a shell over the main body and the separable feature, wherein the shell is configured to be worn in a mouth of the patient.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the separable feature is attached to the main body via the receiving element.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the shell is formed over the main body and the separable feature via thermoforming or pressure forming the shell over the main body and the separable feature.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the shell is an orthodontic aligner, an orthodontic retainer, or an orthodontic splint for at least one of aligning, retaining, or positioning one or more teeth of the patient.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the separable feature is to generate a protrusion in the shell to facilitate application of forces via the shell to reposition teeth or jaw of the patient.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the shell and the separable feature are to be removed from the main body, wherein the separable feature is retained inside the shell responsive to the shell being removed from the main body, and wherein the separable feature is to be removed from the shell subsequent to the shell being removed from the main body.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the separable feature is mechanically affixed to the main body via insertion into the receiving element.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the separable feature is formed at an area of the dental arch corresponding to a retentive feature comprising at least one of the plurality of teeth that have an undercut or a negative inclination.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the main body of the mold is generated from a model based on an intraoral scan of the dental arch of the patient.

Assignees

• Align Technology Inc

Inventors

• Tanugula Rohit
• Te Dennis
• Webber Peter
• Sambu Shiva P
• Tjhia Crystal

Classifications

• B33Y40/20

  Post-treatment, e.g. curing, coating or polishing · CPC title

• G05B19/4093

  characterised by part programming, e.g. entry of geometrical information as taken from a technical drawing, combining this with machining and material information to obtain control information, named part program, for the NC machine · CPC title

• B29C33/3835

  Designing moulds, e.g. using CAD-CAM · CPC title

• A61C7/08 Primary

  Mouthpiece-type retainers {or positioners, e.g. for both the lower and upper arch (arch-shaped medicament applicators for teeth or gums A61C19/063; mouthguards for protecting the teeth of sportsmen A63B71/085)} · CPC title

• B33Y10/00

  Processes of additive manufacturing · CPC title