Systems and methods for fabricating a dental template

Abstract

A dental template to position an object on a patient's tooth includes digitizing the patient's tooth; adding virtual objects to predetermined locations on the digitized tooth; and fabricating the dental template to locate the object on the patient's tooth. The template can be used for etching or for positioning brackets on teeth.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of fabricating a dental template to position an object on a patient's tooth, comprising: 
 creating a model of the patient's tooth;    adding objects to predetermined locations on the tooth model; and    fabricating the dental template to locate the object on the patient's tooth.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising scaling the tooth model.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising superimposing the scaled tooth model over the original tooth model.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising placing a virtual object on the superimposed scaled tooth model.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising placing a virtual object at a predetermined location and orientation in the superimposed scaled tooth model.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising removing the tooth model from the scaled tooth model to form a virtual appliance.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising removing digitized structures at, below, or along the gingival line.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising removing structure in proximal contact with an adjacent tooth.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tooth model is either a physical model or a digital model.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein fabricating comprises rendering a physical dental template using a rapid prototyping method.  
     
     
         11 . A method of placing an orthodontic object on a patient's tooth, comprising: 
 digitizing the patient's tooth;    adding a virtual object to a predetermined location on the digitized tooth;    fabricating a template to locate the orthodontic bracket on patient's teeth;    placing the template on the patient's teeth;    mounting the orthodontic object between the template and the tooth; and    bonding the orthodontic object to the tooth.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising scaling the digital tooth.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising superimposing the scaled digital tooth over the digital tooth.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising placing the virtual object in the superimposed scaled digital tooth.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising placing the virtual object at a predetermined location and orientation in the superimposed scaled digital tooth.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising removing the digitized tooth from the scaled digitized tooth to form a virtual appliance.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising removing digitized structures at, below, or along the gingival line or lines.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising removing digitized structures in direct interproximal contact with or undesireable proximity to an adjacent tooth.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising removing buccal, gingival, or lingual structures.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein fabricating comprises rendering a physical dental template using a rapid prototyping method.  
     
     
         21 . A method of placing an orthodontic object on a patient's tooth, comprising: 
 digitizing the patient's tooth;    adding a virtual object to a predetermined location on the digitized tooth;    fabricating a template to locate the orthodontic bracket on a patient's teeth;    placing the orthodontic object in the template;    inserting the template containing the orthodontic object onto the patient's teeth; and    bonding the orthodontic object to the tooth.    
     
     
         22 . An orthodontic bonding template, comprising a shell having a plurality of cavities shaped to be inserted over a patient's teeth, the polymeric shell having at least one opening adapted to receive an orthodontic device positioned on the opening of the shell.  
     
     
         23 . The template of  claim 22 , wherein the shell is polymeric.  
     
     
         24 . The template of  claim 22 , further comprising a curvaceous edge on the opening to secure the orthodontic device to the shell.  
     
     
         25 . The template of  claim 22 , wherein the orthodontic device is a bracket.  
     
     
         26 . The template of  claim 22 , wherein the shell is articulable with a plurality of flexibly linked cavities.  
     
     
         27 . The template of  claim 26 , wherein the shell is directly fabricated.  
     
     
         28 . The template of  claim 26 , wherein the shell is indirectly fabricated.  
     
     
         29 . The template of  claim 22 , wherein in the template is an unarticulated unit.