Systems and methods for temporarily staging teeth

The present application is continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/788,555, filed on Feb. 27, 2004, the disclosure of which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference.

The present invention is related generally to the field of orthodontics, and more particularly to a system and a method for gradually repositioning teeth.

A fundamental objective in orthodontics is to realign a patient\'s teeth to positions where the teeth function optimally and aesthetically. Typically, appliances such as braces are applied to the teeth of the patient by a treating orthodontist. Each appliance exerts continual forces on the teeth which gradually urge the teeth toward their ideal positions. Over a period of time, the orthodontist adjusts the appliances to move the teeth toward their final destination.

The process of attaching the braces to teeth is tedious and painful. Additionally, each visit to the orthodontist is time consuming and expensive. The process is further complicated by uncertainties in determining a final arrangement for each tooth. Generally, the final tooth arrangement is determined by the treating orthodontist who writes a prescription. Traditionally, the prescription is based on the orthodontist\'s knowledge and expertise in selecting the intended final position of each tooth and without a precise calculation of forces being exerted on the teeth when they contact each other.

In one aspect, systems and methods are disclosed for moving teeth by moving a first tooth; and moving a second tooth while isolating the first tooth at a rest position.

In another aspect, a system to treat teeth includes means for moving a first tooth; and means for moving a second tooth while isolating the first tooth at a rest position.

In another aspect, a system for generating one or more appliances for a patient includes a processor; a display device coupled to the processor; a data storage device coupled to the processor; a scanner coupled to the processor for providing data to model the patient\'s masticatory system; means for moving a first tooth; means for moving a second tooth while isolating the first tooth at a rest position; and a dental appliance fabrication machine coupled to the processor for generating the appliances in accordance with the moved tooth and the isolated tooth.

Implementations of each of the above aspects may include one or more of the following. The second tooth can be moved for a first duration and immobilized for a second duration. The duration can be on an hourly basis, a daily basis, or a weekly basis. A plurality of appliances can be generated, wherein the appliances comprise polymeric shells having cavities and wherein the cavities of successive shells have different geometries shaped to receive and resiliently reposition the teeth from one arrangement to a successive arrangement. A first cavity isolates the first tooth at the rest position. A second cavity urges the second tooth to one of the successive position. The appliance can be replaced on an intra-day basis, daily basis, multi-day basis, intra-week basis, or weekly basis. Additionally, the system can move a first group of teeth; and move a second group of teeth while isolating the first group of teeth at a rest position. Each group can be contiguous teeth or can be non-contiguous teeth.

Advantages of the invention include one or more of the following. Tooth movement can be achieved quickly. Other advantages include moving the teeth in a manner that is optimum in methodology. The system also provides the ability to stop moving certain teeth that have reached their intended locations while allowing other teeth to move. The prescription may be automatically interpreted in order to generate an image as well as a digital data set representing the final tooth arrangement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational diagram showing the anatomical relationship of the jaws of a patient.

FIG. 2A illustrates in more detail the patient\'s lower jaw and provides a general indication of how teeth may be moved by the methods and apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2B illustrates a single tooth from FIG. 2A and defines how tooth movement distances are determined.

FIG. 2C illustrates the jaw of FIG. 2A together with an incremental position adjustment appliance which has been configured according to the methods and apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a process for producing incremental position adjustment appliances.

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