Methods for correcting deviations in preplanned tooth rearrangements

Abstract

Orthodontic treatment is achieved using a series of successive, removable repositioning appliances, such as thin polymeric shell appliances referred to as aligners. A set of aligners is originally provided to the patient. If the patient's treatment goes off course using the original set of aligners, further aligners are designed and fabricated to move the deviant tooth arrangement back to a target tooth arrangement which was part of the original treatment program.

1 . A method for orthodontic treatment comprising: 
 providing an original set of thin polymeric shell orthodontic aligners to a patient, wherein each aligner in the set was shaped to move teeth through a plurality of planned successive arrangements corresponding to the shape of each appliance;    observing the actual arrangement of the teeth over time;    determining if the actual arrangement of the teeth deviates from the planned successive arrangements; and    if the actual arrangement deviates from the planned successive arrangements, providing at least one additional removable appliance which is shaped to move the teeth.    
     
     
         2 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one additional removable appliance is shaped to move the teeth from the actual tooth arrangement back to one of the planned successive arrangements.  
     
     
         3 . A method as in  claim 1  or  2 , wherein determining comprises observing whether a particular predetermined removable appliance fits over the teeth at the expected corresponding tooth arrangement.  
     
     
         4 . A method as in  claim 1  or  2 , wherein providing comprises providing removable positioning appliances which have a shape different from the original appliances, wherein the shape is selected to move the teeth from their actual arrangement back to one of the predetermined successive arrangements.  
     
     
         5 . A method as in  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the at least one additional removable appliance is shaped the same as an appliance in the original set but has a different compliance selected to move the teeth from an actual deviant arrangement to a designed arrangement.  
     
     
         6 . A method as in  claim 1  or  2 , wherein a series of at least two aligners are provided.  
     
     
         7 . A method as in  claim 6 , wherein the at least two aligners are marked to indicate their order of use.  
     
     
         8 . A method as in  claim 1  or  2 , wherein a series of at least three aligners are provided.  
     
     
         9 . A method as in  claim 8 , wherein the at least three aligners are marked to indicate order of use.  
     
     
         10 . A method as in  claim 1  or  2 , wherein a series of at least four aligners are provided.  
     
     
         11 . A method as in  claim 10 , wherein the at least four aligners are marked to indicate order of use.  
     
     
         12 . A method as in  claim 1  or  2 , wherein a series of at least five aligners are provided.  
     
     
         13 . A method as in  claim 12 , wherein the at least five aligners are marked to indicate order of use.