Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a dental implant positioning.SOLUTION: Methods, devices, systems and a series of devices for dental implant positioning are provided. One method for implant positioning in dental treatment includes: determining the implant location based on a virtual model of optimized dental occlusion; moving one or more teeth using a first number of a series of dental appliances, from a first orientation to a second orientation (the second orientation exposes the implant location); placing an implant at the exposed implant location using a landmark included in at least one of the series of dental appliances; and repositioning one or more teeth using a second number of the series of dental appliances, from the second orientation to a successive orientation.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide effective data for communicating apparatus compliance with patients, including increased patient knowledge and recall of appliance usage, increased compliance in wearing the dental appliance, and increased patient satisfaction as a result.SOLUTION: An apparatus for monitoring orthodontic treatment compliance includes: an appliance 15 adapted to be worn over one or more teeth; and a compliance indicator 100 mounted on the appliance 15 to indicate compliance.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide systems and methods for intra-oral delivery of drugs.SOLUTION: The system enables drugs or therapeutic agents to be delivered through a mouth. The system provides ideal drug delivery for certain diseases relating to periodontics, tooth surface, and endodontics, and diseases associated with cancer and medical conditions. For dental diseases, the system is placed so that release of the therapeutic agent occurs in the immediate vicinity of the disease process. As the volume of distribution is limited to the volume of gum pocket or crevice, relatively high concentrations of therapeutic agent can be delivered by devices with small therapeutic agent reservoir capacities. The small amount of therapeutic agent required under these conditions, typically a few milligrams, greatly reduces the effect of the therapeutic agent at distal sites within the body, thereby greatly decreasing the potential for systemic side effects. Thus, a high degree of effectiveness is achieved using a relatively small amount of drug.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an improved method and system for repositioning teeth from an initial tooth arrangement to a final tooth arrangement. SOLUTION: The system for repositioning teeth comprises a plurality of individual appliances. The appliances are configured to be placed successively on the patient's teeth and to incrementally reposition the teeth from an initial tooth arrangement, through a plurality of intermediate tooth arrangements, and to a final tooth arrangement. The system of appliances is usually configured at the outset of treatment so that the patient may progress through treatment without the need to have a treating professional perform each successive step of treatment. COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide improved devices, systems and methods using elastic repositioning appliances while concurrently providing dental and periodontal therapies and/or improving them. SOLUTION: The system repositions teeth and releases an agent to an oral environment. The system comprises: at least three tooth-positioning appliances, wherein the appliances 10 include a polymeric shell 12 having cavities 14, the shell can be detachably installed on the teeth, and the cavities 14 of sequential shells are shaped into reposition teeth from one tooth arrangement to a successive tooth arrangement; and a means for releasing an agent to the oral environment when the appliances are positioned in prescribed positions by teeth and is connected to at least a part of the appliances. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an improved system and method of removably attaching a dental positioning appliance (105) to the dental features (103) of a patient during orthodontic treatment. SOLUTION: The appliance (105) is often preferred over conventional braces due to comfort, appearance, and ease of use. The appliance (105) functions by applying force to specific surfaces of the teeth or dental features (103) to cause direct movement. The type of movement, the level of force applied is usually dependent on the surface characteristics and positions of the dental features (103). These aspects are inadequate to provide sufficient anchoring or to impart force on the teeth (103) to be repositioned. Such limitations may be diminished with the use of one or more attachment devices (100) which may be positioned on the teeth or dental features (103) to provide the appropriate physical features. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide improved devices, systems, and methods for repositioning teeth from an initial tooth arrangement to a final tooth arrangement. SOLUTION: The improved devices, systems, and methods for repositioning teeth from an initial tooth arrangement to a final tooth arrangement are disclosed. Repositioning is accomplished with a system comprising a series of polymeric shell appliances (100) configured to receive the teeth (115) and incrementally reposition individual teeth in a series of successive steps. The individual appliances may be formed from layers (110, 111) having different stiffnesses (elastic moduluses), and the stiffnesses of successive appliances may be different, or both. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide polymeric materials for production of a dental positioning appliances, which are less susceptible to stress relaxation and creep and less susceptible to degradation caused by exposure to saliva and other chemicals in a patient's mouth. SOLUTION: The polymeric shell of a removable dental positioning appliance is formed from transparent polymeric materials having a tensile strength at yield of greater than 6,000 pounds per square inch (psi), an elongation at yield of greater than 4%, an elongation at break of greater than 80%, a tensile modulus greater than 200,000 psi, a flexural modulus greater than 200,000 psi, stress relaxation over time of not more than 50%, and transmissivity of light between 400 nm and 800 nm greater than 75%. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an improved method and system for repositioning teeth from an initial tooth arrangement to a final tooth arrangement. SOLUTION: A jaw 100 includes 16 teeth 102. At least some of the teeth are moved from the initial tooth arrangement to the final tooth arrangement. An optional central line CL is drawn through one of the teeth 102 to understand how to move the teeth. The tooth is movable in the orthogonal direction (104 is the central line) expressed by axes 104, 106 and 108. The central line can be rotated around the axis 108 (an angle of the root) and an axis 104 (twist) shown by arrows 110 and 112 respectively. The tooth can be rotated around the central line indicated by an arrow 104. This method can execute all the possible and free-form movement of the tooth. COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To move patient's teeth into a position where the teeth function optimally and are also aesthetically pleasing. SOLUTION: The method for fabricating a dental template to position an object on the patient's tooth includes a process for creating a model of the patient's tooth; a process for adding an object to a predetermined location on the tooth model; and a process for fabricating the dental template to locate the object on the patient's tooth. In one aspect, the dental template supports positioning the object on the patient's tooth oriented in such a way that all the objects as a whole are lined up to a user-defined ideal arrangement. Also, the method is disclosed for fabricating the template. This method includes a process for digitizing the patient's tooth; a process for adding a virtual object to a predetermined location on the digitized tooth; and a process for fabricating the dental template to locate the object on the patient's tooth. COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI