Manipulable dental model system for fabrication of a dental appliance
US6227851A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 3, 1999 |
| Grant date | May 8, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 3, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB33Y80/00
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention provides a manipulable or reconfigurable dental model system and methods for its use to model a series of tooth configurations corresponding to sequential tooth movements during an orthodontic treatment. When a patient undergoes orthodontic treatment, teeth and bite configurations are realigned in a series of stages. Each stage represents a new pattern or dental configuration that will eventually lead to a proper final positioning of the entire dentition. Progress from the initial configuration, through the intermediate stages and finally to the final configuration may be accomplished using any one or a combination of different dental appliances. Of particular interest to the present invention, many of these appliances may be made using a dental mold representing the patient's dental configuration. In particular, thermoformable plastic positioning appliances which fit over the patient's teeth may be formed over a three-dimensional mold of the patient's dentition. When successive appliances are used throughout treatment to reposition the teeth from initial to final configuration, a new mold has typically been produced to fabricate the appliance for each stage. …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.