Patent ID: 8992215
Filing Date: 2015-03-31
Classification: A61C,B33Y

Abstract:
1. A method of providing a custom orthodontic appliance based on the anatomy of an individual patient wherein the appliance has a three dimensional surface having a shape matching the shape of at least a portion of a crown of at least one tooth of the individual patient, the method comprising: presenting a three-dimensional view of a plurality of teeth of an individual patient to an operator, producing three dimensional digital data of shapes of crowns of a plurality of teeth of an individual patient at desired post-treatment positions, by a process including receiving an operator adjustment of the positions of one or more teeth relative to other teeth, through manipulation of a relative position of one or more tooth images in said three-dimensional view; manufacturing a custom orthodontic appliance having a three dimensional surface having a shape matching the shape of at least a portion of the crown of at least one tooth of the individual patient, based on the digital data, by a process that includes depositing material, in accordance with the digital data, layer by layer into a plurality of layers to form cross sections of a pattern having the shape of at least a portion of one crown of a tooth of the individual patient, the layers being stacked so the edges form a three dimensional surface having a shape matching the shape of at least a portion of the crown of at least one tooth of the individual patient; and, using the pattern to form the custom orthodontic appliance having a three dimensional surface matching the shape of at least a portion of the crown of at least one tooth of the individual patient.