Abstract:
Systems, methods, and devices for producing appliances for expansion of the arch or palate of a patient are provided. In one aspect, a palate expanding orthodontic appliance comprises a teeth engagement portion comprising a plurality of teeth engagement structures and a force generating portion coupled to the teeth engagement portion and configured to apply force to cause the patient's palate to expand. In another embodiment, an arch expanding appliance comprises a force generating portion to apply an arch expansion force and a retention portion to hold the force generating portion on the teeth. The force generating portion is stiffer than the retention portion. The orthodontic appliances can be designed according to the specifications provided herein and manufactured using direct fabrication methods.
Abstract:
Apparatuses and methods for monitoring the performance of an orthodontic appliance for repositioning a patient's teeth. An orthodontic appliance may include a plurality of teeth receiving cavities shaped to reposition the patient's teeth from an initial arrangement towards a target arrangement, and one or more sensors configured to determine tooth movement (based on position and/or orientation) and/or forces applied to the teeth. The sensor may be distributed between attachments and aligners that mate with the attachments.
Abstract:
Method and system comprising one or more processors configured with instructions to perform said method for fabricating an orthodontic appliance comprising an integrally formed component, the method comprising: determining a movement path to move one or more teeth from an initial arrangement to a target arrangement; determining an appliance geometry for an orthodontic appliance comprising a shell and one or more integrally formed components, wherein the shell comprises a plurality of teeth receiving cavities shaped to move the one or more teeth from the initial arrangement to the target arrangement; and generating instructions for direct fabrication of the orthodontic appliance wherein the appliance is made of more than one material or thickness or comprises a plurality of arms.
Abstract:
Method and Apparatuses for monitoring progress of an orthodontic treatment plan and automatically or semi- automatically modifying the orthodontic treatment plan. The orthodontic treatment plan may be monitored by sensors on one or more appliance in the treatment plan, and may be monitored if the sensed data deviates from the expected treatment plan.
Abstract:
Provided herein are crosslinked polymers useful in orthodontic appliances and light polymerizable liquid compositions and formulations useful for making crosslinked polymers. Also provided are methods of making an orthodontic appliance comprising a cross-linked polymer formed by a direct fabrication technique.
Abstract:
Systems, methods, and devices for post-processing additively manufactured objects are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving a plurality of additively manufactured objects (404) having excess material thereon. The method can include removing the excess material from the plurality of additively manufactured objects by rotating the plurality of additively manufactured objects. The method can also include adjusting an environmental temperature while rotating the plurality of additively manufactured objects according to a dynamic temperature profile that facilitates removal of the excess material from the plurality of additively manufactured objects. The dynamic temperature profile can include (a) a first temperature configured to decrease a viscosity of the excess material, and (b) a second temperature configured to increase a stiffness of the plurality of additively manufactured objects.
Abstract:
Interproximal reduction guides apparatuses and methods of making and using them are described herein. These interproximal reduction guides apparatuses may include a body that fits over the patient's dental arch and one or more guide slots formed in them configured to limit the motion of an interproximal reduction cutting tool in a defined manner.
Abstract:
Provided herein are photopolymerizable monomers, optionally for use as reactive diluents in a high temperature lithography-based photopolymerization process, a method of producing polymers using said photopolymerizable monomers, the polymers thus produced, and orthodontic appliances comprising the polymers.
Abstract:
Provided herein are curable compositions for use in a high temperature lithography-based photopolymerization process, a method of producing crosslinked polymers using said curable compositions, crosslinked polymers thus produced, and orthodontic appliances comprising the crosslinked polymers.
Abstract:
Soft tissue (e.g., gingival) sensors for sensing one or more analytes from the soft tissue while being stably held in position against hard tissue, such as the teeth. Described herein are methods and apparatuses for stably holding a soft tissue sensor relative to the teeth so that the soft tissue sensor can sample, including continuously sample. In particular, described herein are methods and apparatuses for holding a sensor having one or more microneedles in position for sampling from the gingiva.