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 dental appliance comprising:
a shell having teeth receiving cavities shaped to receive and resiliently position teeth; a first reinforcement mesh embedded in a first layer of the shell; and a second reinforcement mesh embedded in a second layer of the shell, the first and second layers overlapping in a first portion of the shell such that the first portion has a stiffness greater than a second portion of the shell, the first portion at least partially covering at least one of: (1) a buccal portion of a tooth and (2) a lingual portion of the tooth, the second portion at least partially covering the remaining portion of the tooth including an occlusal surface of the tooth.