Methods for orthodontic devices

Abstract

Embodiments presented herein provide methods for forming and coupling an attachment device onto teeth. An embodiment of a method comprises providing a template including a prescribed number and placement of apertures, disposing the template over the teeth exposing tooth surface through each aperture, and disposing an attachment mold through each respective aperture to the tooth surface. The attachment mold includes a mold bore suitable for providing a mold for forming an attachment device of a desired shape from curable material. The method further includes removably coupling the attachment mold to the tooth surface with the mold bore defining target tooth surface, disposing curable material within the mold bore and in contact with the target tooth surface, curing the curable material to a hardened state to form an attachment device that is coupled to the target tooth surface, removing the template, and removing the attachment mold from the attachment device.

1 . A method of forming and coupling an attachment device onto one or more teeth, comprising:
 providing a template including a prescribed number and placement of apertures;   disposing the template over the teeth exposing tooth surface defining exposed tooth surface through each aperture;   disposing an attachment mold through each respective aperture, wherein the attachment mold includes a mold bore suitable for providing a mold for forming an attachment device of a desired shape from curable material;   removably coupling a mold first surface of the attachment mold to the exposed tooth surface with the mold bore defining target tooth surface;   preparing the target tooth surface to receive curable material;   disposing curable material within the mold bore and in contact with the target tooth surface;   curing the curable material to a hardened state to form an attachment device that is coupled to the target tooth surface;   removing the template; and   removing the attachment mold from the attachment device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 preparing the surface of the teeth to facilitate coupling with an adhesive layer on the mold first surface before disposing the template over the teeth.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein preparing the surface of the teeth to facilitate coupling with an adhesive layer includes removing tarter and plaque from the surface of the teeth. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 leveling the curable material substantially flush with a mold second surface of the attachment mold prior to curing the curable material.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 disposing a cover plate onto a mold second surface opposite the mold first surface over the mold bore compressing the curable material within the mold bore and against the tooth surface extruding any excess curable material about edges of the cover plate prior to curing the curable material.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 disposing a cover plate with a plate aperture onto a mold second surface opposite the mold first surface over the mold bore extruding any excess curable material through the plate aperture, with any excess curable material being removed from the cover plate prior to curing the curable material.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 creating an impression of a patient's teeth;   creating a computer model of the patient's teeth based on the impression;   analyzing the computer model of the patient's teeth and a desired result in the positions of the teeth to determine whether the use of attachment devices would aid in a desired movement of the teeth from a first position to a second position;   determining locations of attachment devices at specific locations of the teeth, as well as which specific shape of attachment device is appropriate for an intended purpose; and   creating the template operable to be disposed onto one or more of the teeth, the template being provided with apertures corresponding to those locations that analysis had determined an attachment device is to be provided on the teeth.   
     
     
         8 . A method of forming and coupling an attachment device onto one or more teeth, comprising:
 providing a system comprising:   a template comprising a shell having a cavity defining a shape operable to receive one or more teeth, the template including a template inner surface and a template outer surface opposite the template inner surface, the template further comprising an aperture at one or more predetermined locations that extends from the template inner surface to the template outer surface therethrough, the aperture defining an aperture perimeter; and   one or more attachment molds, each attachment mold comprising a mold first surface and a mold second surface opposite the mold first surface, the attachment mold includes a mold bore having a bore surface extending from the mold first surface to the mold second surface therethrough, the attachment mold further includes a mold perimeter surface that defines a predetermined shape, wherein each of the aperture perimeters being operable to receive and cooperate with the mold perimeter surface of one of the attachment molds, wherein each mold bore being operable for providing a mold for forming an attachment device of a desired shape and orientation from curable material that may be disposed within the mold bore;   disposing the template over the teeth exposing tooth surface defining exposed tooth surface through each aperture;   disposing a complementary attachment mold through each respective aperture;   removably coupling the mold first surface of the attachment mold to the exposed tooth surface with the mold bore defining target tooth surface;   preparing the target tooth surface to receive curable material;   disposing curable material within the mold bore and in contact with the target tooth surface;   curing the curable material to a hardened state to form an attachment device that is coupled to the target tooth surface;   removing the template; and   removing the attachment mold from the attachment device.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 preparing the surface of the teeth to facilitate coupling with an adhesive layer on the mold first surface before disposing the template over the teeth.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein preparing the surface of the teeth to facilitate coupling with an adhesive layer includes removing tarter and plaque from the surface of the teeth. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 leveling the curable material substantially flush with the mold second surface of the attachment mold prior to curing the curable material.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 disposing a cover plate onto the mold second surface over the mold bore compressing the curable material within the mold bore and against the tooth surface extruding any excess curable material about edges of the cover plate prior to curing the curable material.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 disposing a cover plate with a plate aperture onto the mold second surface over the mold bore extruding any excess curable material through the plate aperture, with any excess curable material being removed from the cover plate prior to curing the curable material.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , where providing a system further comprises:
 providing the template wherein each aperture defines one of a unique shape of the aperture perimeter, and   providing an attachment mold wherein each attachment mold has one of a unique shape of mold perimeter surface that is complementary to one of unique shape of the aperture perimeter other such that a respective attachment mold may be received within a respective aperture.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 removing excess curable material which may have extruded from the cover plate prior to curing the curable material.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein disposing an attachment mold through each respective aperture comprises disposing the attachment molds within respective apertures prior to placement of the template onto the teeth, the attachment molds being removably coupled to the template within the respective aperture and recessed from the template inner surface and therefore the tooth surface upon placement of the template onto the teeth; and
 wherein removably coupling the mold first surface of the attachment mold to the exposed tooth surface further comprises releasing the attachment mold from the template and pressing the attachment molds against the exposed tooth surface.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 collecting measurement data of a patient's teeth;   creating a computer model of the patient's teeth based on the measurement data;   analyzing the computer model of the patient's teeth and a desired result in the positions of the teeth to determine whether the use of attachment devices would aid in a desired movement of the teeth from a first position to a second position;   determining locations of attachment devices at specific locations of the teeth, as well as which specific shape of attachment device is appropriate for an intended purpose; and   creating the template operable to be disposed onto one or more of the teeth, the template being provided with apertures corresponding to those locations that analysis had determined an attachment device is to be provided on the teeth.   
     
     
         18 . A method of forming and coupling an attachment device onto one or more teeth, comprising:
 providing one or more attachment molds, each attachment mold comprising a mold first surface and a mold second surface opposite the mold first surface, the attachment mold includes a mold bore having a bore surface extending from the mold first surface to the mold second surface therethrough, each mold bore being operable for providing a mold for forming an attachment device of a desired shape from curable material that may be disposed within the mold bore, the attachment mold further comprising an adhesive layer disposed on the mold first surface, the adhesive layer being operable for removably coupling the attachment mold to a tooth surface;   removably coupling the mold first surface of the attachment mold to a tooth surface with the mold bore defining target tooth surface;   preparing the target tooth surface to receive curable material;   disposing curable material within the mold bore and in contact with the target tooth surface;   curing the curable material to a hardened state to form an attachment device that is coupled to the target tooth surface; and   removing the attachment mold from the attachment device.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 preparing the surface of the teeth to facilitate coupling with an adhesive layer on the mold first surface before removably coupling the mold first surface of the attachment mold to a tooth surface.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 leveling the curable material substantially flush with the mold second surface of the attachment mold prior to curing the curable material.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 disposing a cover plate onto the mold second surface over the mold bore compressing the curable material within the mold bore and against the tooth surface extruding any excess curable material about edges of the cover plate prior to curing the curable material.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 disposing a cover plate with a plate aperture onto the mold second surface over the mold bore extruding any excess curable material through the plate aperture, with any excess curable material being removed from the cover plate prior to curing the curable material.