Patent ID: 8296952

Claim:
A method of manufacturing a template for orthodontic movement of at least one tooth, said method comprising: forming a radiographic template, the radiographic template having a plurality of metallic markers and being a negative impression of the at least one tooth; taking a first CT scan of said tooth surface and the radiographic template, including at least one tooth root; removing the radiographic template from said tooth surface; taking a second CT scan of the radiographic template apart from said tooth surface; comparing the first and second CT scans to determine the shape of said tooth surface; forming an aligner for orthodontic movement for the at least one tooth, the aligner based at least in part on the first CT scan and the at least one tooth root, said aligner conforming to said radiographic template and including an altered form of said radiographic template along said desired position for the at least one tooth so that said aligner contacts said surface to effect orthodontic movement of the at least one tooth at a desired location.