System and method for treating sleep apnea while straightening teeth

Abstract

A computationally implemented method includes, but is not limited to: determining an incrementally progressive series of adjustment appliances, each of the series of adjustment appliances having geometries selected to progressively reposition teeth; and determining for each of the series of adjustment appliances, a vertical displacement and a forward mandibular position for treating sleep apnea. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dental appliance system, comprising:
 means for determining an incrementally progressive series of adjustment appliances, each of the series of adjustment appliances having geometries selected to progressively reposition teeth; and   means for determining for each of the series of adjustment appliances, a vertical displacement and a forward mandibular position for treating sleep apnea.   
     
     
         2 . The dental appliance system of  claim 1 , wherein the means for determining for each of the series of adjustment appliances, a vertical displacement and a forward mandibular position for treating sleep apnea includes:
 means for determining an alternate series of adjustment appliances configured to be worn during sleep.   
     
     
         3 . The dental appliance system of  claim 2  wherein the incrementally progressive series of adjustment appliances are formed via a three-dimensional printing apparatus. 
     
     
         4 . The dental system of  claim 1 , wherein the means for determining for each of the series of adjustment appliances, a vertical displacement and a forward mandibular position for treating sleep apnea further comprises:
 means for determining for each of the series of adjustment appliances, an upper and lower tray adapted to fit tightly but removably over upper and lower teeth such that the lower tray creates the forward mandibular position with respect to the upper tray.   
     
     
         5 . The dental appliance system of  claim 4 , wherein the means for determining for each of the series of adjustment appliances, an upper and lower tray adapted to fit tightly but removably over upper and lower teeth such that the lower tray creates the forward mandibular position with respect to the upper tray further comprises:
 means for releasably attaching forward and rearward portions of opposite sides of the upper and lower trays, respectively, to enable the forward mandibular position of the lower tray with respect to the upper tray.   
     
     
         6 . The dental appliance system of  claim 4 , wherein the means for determining for each of the series of adjustment appliances, an upper and lower tray adapted to fit tightly but removably over upper and lower teeth such that the lower tray creates the forward mandibular position with respect to the upper tray further comprises:
 means for determining one or more removably attachable elastic bands adapted to connect the upper and lower tray via protrusions' on each of the upper and the lower tray such that the elastic bands create the forward mandibular position with respect to the upper tray.   
     
     
         7 . The dental appliance system of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more removably attachable elastic bands adapted to connect the upper and lower tray via protrusions' on each of the upper and the lower tray such that the elastic bands create the forward mandibular position with respect to the upper tray comprises:
 a plurality of pairs of elastic bands, each pair being of different length and/or elasticity.   
     
     
         8 . A computationally-implemented system, comprising:
 circuitry for determining an incrementally progressive series of adjustment appliances, each of the series of adjustment appliances having geometries selected to progressively reposition teeth; and   circuitry for determining for each of the series of adjustment appliances, a vertical displacement and a forward mandibular position for treating sleep apnea.   
     
     
         9 . The computationally-implemented system of  claim 8 , further comprising: circuitry for forming each of the series of adjustment appliances via a three dimensional printing apparatus. 
     
     
         10 . The computationally-implemented system of  claim 8 , further comprising: circuitry for determining the vertical displacement appropriate for each of the series of adjustment appliances. 
     
     
         11 . The computationally-implemented system of  claim 8 , further comprising: circuitry for determining one or more alternative vertical displacements appropriate for each of the series of adjustment appliances. 
     
     
         12 . The computationally-implemented system of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 circuitry for communicating the determined incrementally progressive series of adjustment appliances and the determined vertical displacement to a three-dimensional printing apparatus.   
     
     
         13 . The computationally-implemented system of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 circuitry for determining an alternate series of adjustment appliances configured to be worn during sleep.   
     
     
         14 . The computationally-implemented system of  claim 8 , wherein the circuitry for determining for each of the series of adjustment appliances, a vertical displacement and a forward mandibular position for treating sleep apnea comprises:
 circuitry for determining for each of the series of adjustment appliances, an upper and lower tray adapted to fit tightly but removably over upper and lower teeth such that the lower tray creates the forward mandibular position with respect to the upper tray; and   circuitry for releasably attaching forward and rearward portions of opposite sides of the upper and lower trays, respectively, to enable the forward mandibular position of the lower tray with respect to the upper tray.   
     
     
         15 . The computationally-implemented system of  claim 8 , wherein the circuitry for determining for each of the series of adjustment appliances, a vertical displacement and a forward mandibular position for treating sleep apnea comprises:
 circuitry for determining a dimension and elasticity for one or more removably attachable elastic bands adapted to connect the upper and lower tray via protrusions' on each of the upper and the lower tray such that the elastic bands create the forward mandibular position with respect to the upper tray.   
     
     
         16 . The computationally-implemented system of  claim 15 , wherein the circuitry for one or more removably attachable elastic bands adapted to connect the upper and lower tray via protrusions' on each of the upper and the lower tray such that the elastic bands create the forward mandibular position with respect to the upper tray comprises:
 circuitry for a plurality of pairs of elastic bands, each pair being of different length and/or elasticity.   
     
     
         17 . A method for treating sleep apnea while straightening teeth, the method comprising:
 determining an incrementally progressive series of adjustment appliances, each of the series of adjustment appliances having geometries selected to progressively reposition teeth; and   determining for each of the series of adjustment appliances, a vertical displacement and a forward mandibular position for treating sleep apnea.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the determining an incrementally progressive series of adjustment appliances, each of the series of adjustment appliances having geometries selected to progressively reposition teeth comprises:
 receiving data pertaining to a patient;   determining a treatment plan for progressively repositioning teeth based on the data from the patient; and   forming the series of adjustment appliances via one or more of a three-dimensional printing apparatus or a plurality of thermoform molds.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the determining for each of the series of adjustment appliances, a vertical displacement and a forward mandibular position for treating sleep apnea comprises:
 determining for each of the series of adjustment appliances, an upper and lower tray adapted to fit tightly but removably over upper and lower teeth such that the lower tray creates the forward mandibular position with respect to the upper tray; and   releasably attaching forward and rearward portions of opposite sides of the upper and lower trays, respectively, to enable the forward mandibular position of the lower tray with respect to the upper tray.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the determining for each of the series of adjustment appliances, a vertical displacement and a forward mandibular position for treating sleep apnea comprises:
 determining a dimension and elasticity for one or more removably attachable elastic bands adapted to connect the upper and lower tray via protrusions' on each of the upper and the lower tray such that the elastic bands create the forward mandibular position with respect to the upper tray.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the one or more removably attachable elastic bands adapted to connect the upper and lower tray via protrusions' on each of the upper and the lower tray such that the elastic bands create the forward mandibular position with respect to the upper tray comprises:
 determining for each of the series of adjustment appliances an appropriate forward mandibular position and based on the appropriate mandibular position identifying an appropriate pair of attachable elastic bands from a plurality of pairs of elastic bands, each pair being of different length and/or elasticity.