Systems and methods for varying elastic modulus appliances

摘要

The present invention provides improved devices, systems and methods for repositioning teeth from an initial tooth arrangement to a final tooth arrangement. Repositioning is accomplished with a system comprising a series of polymeric shell appliances configured to receive the teeth and incrementally reposition individual teeth in a series of successive steps. The individual appliances may be formed from layers having different stiffnesses (elastic moduluses), and the stiffnesses of successive appliances may be different, or both.

主权项

1. A method for moving one or more of a patient's teeth, the method comprising:
providing a first shell appliance for placement in the patient's mouth, the first shell appliance having cavities shaped to receive the patient's teeth; and providing a second shell appliance for placement in the patient's mouth in place of the first shell appliance, the second shell appliance having cavities shaped to receive the patient's teeth, wherein at least one of the first shell appliance or the second shell appliance comprises:
a first reinforcement mesh embedded in a first layer of the at least one shell appliance;a second reinforcement mesh embedded in a second layer of the at least one shell appliance; andan overlapping portion comprising the first layer overlapped with the second layer, wherein the overlapping portion comprises a stiffness greater than a stiffness of the first layer and a stiffness of the second layer.