Treatment of teeth by aligners

Abstract

A method for moving a subject's teeth in a dental treatment includes moving the subject's teeth toward desired positions by one or more dental aligners. A movement pathway may comprise determining a number of intermediate movement positions on the way to achieving a final configuration. In selecting the movement path, movement in one or more directions may be constrained. Feedback based on the actual position of the subject's teeth during treatment may be used to modify the treatment, including the movement path and aligners.

1 . A dental treatment method for moving a subject's teeth having feedback, the dental treatment comprising: 
 producing a first dental aligner for moving the subject's teeth toward a first target configuration;    analyzing the positions of the subject's teeth after the subject has worn the first dental aligner;    determining a second target configuration in response to the position of the subject's teeth after the subject has worn the first dental aligner;    producing a second dental aligner for moving the subject's teeth toward the second target configuration by: 
 producing a dental base having receiving features, wherein the receiving features correspond to the second target configuration for the subject's teeth, the receiving features configured to receive physical tooth models;  
 assembling the physical tooth models on the dental base to form a physical arch model; and  
 forming a second dental aligner using the physical arch model.  
   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the physical tooth models comprise registration features configured to be attached to the receiving features on the dental base.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the registration features include one or more of: pins, protrusions, studs, sockets, slots, and holes.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 creating physical tooth models from the subject's dental arch by 
 producing a template physical arch model using an impression of the subject's teeth;  
 incorporating registration features in the template physical arch model; and  
 separating the template physical arch model into a plurality of physical tooth models wherein each of the physical tooth models includes at least one registration feature.  
   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving features on the dental base include one or more of a pin, a protrusion, a stud, a socket, a slot, and a hole.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining a final target configuration of the subject's teeth, wherein the first dental aligner and the second dental aligners move the subject's teeth towards the final target configuration.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of analyzing the position of the subject's teeth after the subject has worn the first dental aligner further comprises: 
 producing an impression of the subject's teeth after the subject has worn the first dental aligner; and    measuring the positions of the subject's teeth using the impression of the subject's teeth.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of forming the second dental aligner using the physical arch model comprises: 
 vacuum forming the second dental aligner using a sheet of aligner-making material over the physical arch model.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 calculating the differences between the final target configuration of the subject's teeth and the positions of the subject's teeth after the subject has worn the first dental aligner.    
   
   
       10 . A dental treatment system for moving a subject's teeth, comprising: 
 a first dental aligner configured to move the subject's teeth toward a first target configuration;    a measurement device configured to determine the positions of the subject's teeth after the subject has worn the first dental aligner;    a dental base having receiving features for receiving physical tooth models; and    an analysis device configured to assist a technician in determining a second target configuration based on the positions of the subject's teeth after the subject has worn the first dental aligner, wherein the analysis device is further configured to form the receiving features of the dental base so that they correspond to the second target configuration.    
   
   
       11 . The dental treatment system of  claim 10 , wherein the measurement device comprises a mechanical location device or an optical scanner.  
   
   
       12 . The dental treatment system of  claim 10 , wherein the analysis device comprises a computer configured to manipulate a digital model of the subject's teeth, wherein the analysis device comprises constraint logic indicating constraints on movement to of the teeth.  
   
   
       13 . A method of fabricating a dental aligner for a subject, comprising: 
 determining an initial configuration of the subject's teeth;    determining a target configuration of the subject's teeth from the initial configuration, wherein the teeth in the target configuration are moved from the initial configuration under the constraint of no movement in at least one degree of freedom; and    producing a physical model of the dental arch having physical tooth models arranged in the target configuration.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the initial configuration reflects the current configuration of the teeth in the subject's dental arch.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of determining a target configuration comprises manually determining a target configuration.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of determining a target configuration further comprises using an analysis device comprising constraint logic that indicates constraints on the movement of the teeth.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the degree of freedom is selected from the group of: the x-direction, the y-direction, the z-direction, the polar direction, the azimuthal direction, and the self-rotation direction.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the constraint of no movement comprises no translational movement of the teeth in the x-direction, the y-direction, or the z-direction, or no rotations of the teeth around the roots of the tooth in the polar direction, the azimuthal direction, or the self-rotation direction.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 vacuum forming the dental aligner using a sheet of aligner-making material over the physical tooth model of the dental arch.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of producing a physical model of the dental arch comprises producing a dental base having receiving features wherein the receiving features are configured to mate with the physical tooth models to produce a physical model of the dental arch having physical tooth models arrange din a target configuration.  
   
   
       21 . A dental treatment system for fabricating a dental aligner, comprising: 
 an analysis device configured to allow manipulation of a model of the subject's dental arch from an initial configuration to a target configuration, wherein the analysis device comprises constraint logic indicating constraints on movement of the subject's teeth in the direction of one or more degrees of freedom;    a plurality of physical tooth models configured to form a subject's dental arch, the physical tooth models having registration features corresponding to the roots of the subject's teeth; and    a dental base having receiving features configured to receive the physical tooth models so that the physical tooth models are arranged in the target configuration.    
   
   
       22 . The dental treatment system of  claim 21 , wherein the degree of freedom is selected from the group of: the x-direction, the y-direction, the z-direction, the polar direction, the azimuthal direction, and the self-rotation direction.  
   
   
       23 . The dental treatment system of  claim 21 , wherein the analysis device comprises a computer device configured to decouple the movements of the subject's tooth to rotations around the roots of the subject's tooth and translations of the subject's tooth.  
   
   
       24 . A method for producing a dental aligner to move a subject's teeth, comprising: 
 producing a tooth model simulating the tooth body of one of the subject's teeth;    affixing to the tooth model one or more registration features simulating the roots of the subject's tooth;    producing a dental base having one or more receiving features configured to receive the tooth model; and    fabricating a dental aligner using the tooth model attached to the one or more receiving features on the dental base.    
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the step of fabricating a dental aligner comprises: 
 producing a plurality of tooth models simulating the tooth bodies of the subject's teeth;    assembling the physical tooth models on the dental base to form a physical arch model; and    fabricating the dental aligner using the physical arch model attached to the dental base.    
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the registration features on the physical tooth model comprises pins.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the receiving features comprise: sockets, slots or holes.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the step of producing a tooth model comprises: 
 producing a physical arch model of the subject's teeth using an impression of the subject's teeth; and    separating the physical arch model into one or more tooth models.    
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the step of fabricating a dental aligner comprises: 
 vacuum forming the dental aligner using a sheet of aligner-making material over the tooth model attached to the dental base.    
   
   
       30 . A dental treatment system for moving a subject's teeth, comprising: 
 a plurality of physical teeth models each having one or more registration features, wherein the registration features simulate the roots of the subject's teeth, further wherein each tooth model comprises a tooth body formed from a model of the subject's tooth;    a dental base comprising one or more receiving features, the dental base configured to receive the plurality of teeth models to form a physical dental arch model corresponding to a target configuration of the subject's dental arch; and    a dental aligner fabricated using the plurality of physical teeth models attached to the dental base, so that the dental aligner corresponds to the target configuration of the subject's dental arch.    
   
   
       31 . The dental treatment system of  claim 30 , wherein the dental aligner is configured to rotate at least one of the subject's teeth in one or more directions around its roots when the aligner is worn by the subject.  
   
   
       32 . The dental treatment system of  claim 30 , wherein the dental aligner is configured to rotate at least one of the subject's teeth around its roots in one or more of: the polar direction, the azimuthal direction, and the self-rotation direction.  
   
   
       33 . The dental treatment system of  claim 30 , wherein the dental aligner is configured to translate at least one or more of the subject's teeth in one or more of: the x-direction, y-direction, and the z-direction.  
   
   
       34 . The dental treatment system of  claim 30 , wherein the registration features on the physical tooth models include one or more of: a pin, a protrusion, a stud.  
   
   
       35 . The dental treatment system of  claim 30 , wherein the receiving features on the dental base plate include one of: a socket, a slot, a hole.  
   
   
       36 . A method for treating a subject's teeth, comprising determining a target configuration for the subject's teeth; 
 producing receiving features on a dental base in response to the target configuration, the receiving features being configured to receive physical tooth models;    assembling the physical tooth models on the dental base to form a physical arch model; and    producing a dental aligner using the physical arch model to move the subject's teeth to the target configuration.    
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the step of producing receiving features on a dental base comprises: 
 determining the locations of the receiving features on the dental base in response to the target configuration for the subject's teeth; and    producing the receiving features at the determined locations on the dental base.    
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the physical tooth models comprise registration features to be attached to the receiving features on the dental base.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the registration features on the physical tooth models include one or more of: a pin, a protrusion, a stud, a socket, a slot, and a hole.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the step of producing receiving features on a dental base further comprises: 
 producing an subject physical arch model by molding a malleable casting material using an impression of the subject's teeth;    producing the registration features on the subject physical arch model; and    separating the subject physical arch model into a plurality of physical tooth models, wherein each physical tooth model includes one or more registration features.    
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the step of determining a target configuration for the subject's teeth comprises: 
 determining an initial configuration of the subject's teeth;    determining a final configuration of the subject's teeth; and    determining a target configuration for each of a plurality of treatment steps for moving the subject's teeth from the initial configuration to the final configuration.    
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the step of producing receiving features on a dental base comprises: 
 producing the physical tooth models using CNC based manufacturing.    
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the receiving features on the dental base include one or more of: pins, protrusions, studs, sockets, slots, and holes.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the step of producing a dental aligner comprises: 
 vacuum forming the dental aligner using a sheet of aligner-making material over the physical arch model.    
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the step of producing a dental aligner comprises: 
 molding a malleable casting material over physical arch model in a casting chamber to form the dental aligner.    
   
   
       46 . A method for treating a subject's teeth, comprising 
 determining an initial configuration of the subject's teeth;    determining a final configuration of the subject's teeth;    designing a movement path from the initial configuration to the final configuration for one or more of the subject's teeth;    dividing the movement path into a plurality of treatment steps, each having a target configuration for the subject's teeth;    producing receiving features on a dental base in response to the target configuration for the subject's teeth, the receiving features being configured to receive physical tooth models;    assembling the physical tooth models on the dental base to form a physical arch model in the target configuration; and    producing at least one dental aligner using the physical arch model configured to move the subject's teeth to the target configuration.    
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the step of producing receiving features on a dental base comprises: 
 determining the locations of the receiving features on the dental base in response to the target configuration for the subject's teeth; and    producing the receiving features at the determined locations on the dental base.    
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the step of assembling the physical tooth models on the dental base comprises: 
 producing physical tooth models from a model of the subject's teeth, wherein the physical tooth models comprise registration features configured to be attached to the receiving features on the dental base.    
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the registration features on the physical tooth models include one or more of: a pin, a protrusion, a stud, a socket, a slot, and a hole.  
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the step of assembling the physical tooth models on the dental base comprises: 
 producing a subject physical arch model by molding a malleable casting material using an impression of the subject's teeth;    producing registration features on the subject physical arch model; and    separating the subject physical arch model into a plurality of physical tooth models wherein each physical tooth model includes one or more of the registration features.    
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the step of assembling the physical tooth models on the dental base comprises: 
 producing the physical tooth models using CNC based manufacturing.    
   
   
       52 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the step of producing receiving features on a dental base: including producing receiving features comprising one or more of: pins, protrusions, studs, sockets, slots, and holes.  
   
   
       53 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the step of producing at least one dental aligner comprises: 
 vacuum forming the dental aligner using a sheet of aligner-making material over the physical arch model.    
   
   
       54 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the step of producing at least one dental aligner comprises: 
 producing the dental aligner by molding a malleable casting material over physical arch model in a casting chamber.    
   
   
       55 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the step of producing at least one dental aligner comprises: 
 producing the dental aligner using CNC based manufacturing.    
   
   
       56 . A dental treatment system for moving a subject's teeth, comprising: 
 a storage device configured to store an initial configuration of the subject's teeth, a final configuration of the subject's teeth, a movement path from the initial configuration to the final configuration for one or more of the subject's teeth, and a target configuration intermediate between the initial configuration and the final configuration along the movement path; 
 a dental base having receiving features corresponding to the target configuration for the subject's teeth;  
   a physical arch model comprising physical tooth models attached to the receiving features on the dental base; and    a dental aligner produced using the physical arch model, configured to move the subject's teeth toward the target configuration.    
   
   
       57 . The dental treatment system of  claim 56 , wherein the storage device comprises a computer.  
   
   
       58 . The dental treatment system of  claim 57 , wherein the computer is configured to control the fabrication of receiving features on the dental base at locations in response to the target configuration for the subject's teeth.  
   
   
       59 . A dental treatment system for moving a subject's teeth, comprising: 
 a computer configured to store a target configuration for the subject's teeth;    a dental base having receiving features corresponding to the target configuration stored in the computer;    one or more physical tooth models configured to attached to the receiving features on the dental base; and    a dental aligner produced using the one or more physical tooth models attached to the dental base, configured to move the subject's teeth toward the target configuration.    
   
   
       60 . The dental treatment system of  claim 59 , wherein the computer is configured to control the fabrication of receiving features on the dental base at locations in response to the target configuration.  
   
   
       61 . The dental treatment system of  claim 59 , wherein the physical tooth models comprise registration features configured to mate with the receiving features on the dental base.  
   
   
       62 . The dental treatment system of  claim 61 , wherein the registration features on the physical tooth models include one or more of: a pin, a protrusion, a stud, a socket, a slot, and a hole.  
   
   
       63 . The dental treatment system of  claim 59 , wherein the computer is configured to store an initial configuration of the subject's teeth and a final configuration of the subject's teeth, and a plurality of target configurations corresponding to treatment steps from the initial configuration to the final configuration.  
   
   
       64 . The dental treatment system of  claim 59 , wherein the physical tooth models are fabricated using CNC-based manufacturing.  
   
   
       65 . The dental treatment system of  claim 59 , wherein the receiving features on the dental base include one or more of: pins, protrusions, studs, sockets, slots, and holes.  
   
   
       66 . The dental treatment system of  claim 59 , wherein the dental aligner comprises a formed sheet of aligner-making material vacuum formed over the physical arch model.  
   
   
       67 . The dental treatment system of  claim 59 , wherein the dental aligner comprises a molded structure molded from a malleable casting material over physical arch model in a casting chamber.  
   
   
       68 . A dental treatment system for moving a subject's teeth, comprising: 
 a physical arch model comprising one or more physical tooth models each having one or more registration features;    a dental base having receiving features configured to receive the registration features of the physical tooth models to form the physical arch model;    a computer system configured to store a target configuration for the subject's teeth and to control the fabrication of the receiving features on the dental base; and    a dental aligner produced using the physical arch model, configured to move the subject's teeth toward the target configuration.    
   
   
       69 . The dental treatment system of  claim 68 , wherein the computer system is configured to determine the locations of the receiving features on the dental base in response to the target configuration for the subject's teeth to control the fabrication of the receiving features at the determined locations on the dental base.  
   
   
       70 . The dental treatment system of  claim 68 , wherein the registration features on the physical tooth models include one or more of: pins, protrusions, studs, sockets, slots, and holes.  
   
   
       71 . The dental treatment system of  claim 68 , wherein the computer is configured to store an initial configuration of the subject's teeth and a final configuration of the subject's teeth, and to determine target configurations for a plurality of treatment steps from the initial configuration to the final configuration.  
   
   
       72 . The dental treatment system of  claim 68 , wherein the receiving features on the dental base include one or more of: pins, protrusions, studs, sockets, slots, and holes.  
   
   
       73 . A dental treatment system for moving a subject's teeth, comprising: 
 a computer system configured to store a target configuration for the subject's teeth;    one or more physical tooth models comprising registration features;    a dental base having receiving features to receive the registration features;    a device configured to fabricate the receiving features on the dental base in response to the target configuration under the control of the computer system; and    a dental aligner formed over the physical tooth models attached to the dental base, wherein the dental aligner is configured to move the subject's teeth toward the target configuration.    
   
   
       74 . The dental treatment system of  claim 73 , wherein the computer system is configured to determine the locations of the receiving features on the dental base in response to the target configuration for the subject's teeth to control the fabrication of the receiving features at the determined locations on the dental base.  
   
   
       75 . The dental treatment system of  claim 73 , wherein the registration features on the physical tooth models include one or more of: a pin, a protrusion, a stud, a socket, a slot, and a hole.  
   
   
       76 . The dental treatment system of  claim 73 , wherein the receiving features on the dental base include one or more of: pins, protrusions, studs, sockets, slots, and holes.