Lightforce Orthodontics Inc.

Dylan Winchell

Alfred Charles Griffin, Iii

Kelsey A Fafara

Samuel VanNoy

Alexander Yarmarkovich

Oisin Duggan

Oisín Duggan

Embodiments relate to the methodology of direct manufacture of a customized labial/lingual orthodontic tube by using a ceramic slurry-based additive manufacturing (AM) technology. For example, a method of manufacturing customized ceramic labial/lingual orthodontic tubes by additive manufacturing may comprise measuring dentition data of a profile of teeth of a patient, based on the dentition data, creating a three-dimensional computer-assisted design (3D CAD) model of the patient's teeth, and saving the 3D CAD model, designing a virtual 3D CAD tube structure model for a single labial or lingual tube structure based upon said 3D CAD model, importing data related to the 3D CAD tube structure model into an additive manufacturing machine, and directly producing the tube with the additive manufacturing machine by layer manufacturing from an inorganic material including at least one of a ceramic, a polymer-derived ceramic, and a polymer-derived metal.

Manufacture of patient-specific orthodontic tube

Embodiments may provide improved techniques for creating custom lingual or labial ceramic orthodontic brackets, and which provides the capability for in-office fabrication of such brackets. For example, a method of manufacturing customized ceramic labial/lingual orthodontic brackets by ceramic slurry-based AM may comprise measuring dentition data of a profile of teeth of a patient, based on the dentition data, creating a three dimensional computer-assisted design (3D CAD) model of the patient's teeth using reverse engineering, and saving the 3D CAD model on a computer, designing a 3D CAD bracket structure model for a single labial or lingual bracket structure, importing data related to the 3D CAD bracket structure model into a ceramic slurry-based AM machine, directly producing the bracket (green part) in the ceramic slurry-based AM machine by layer manufacturing, and processing the brackets in a sintering and debinding oven prior to direct use.

Manufacture of patient-specific orthodontic brackets with tooth-specific breakaway mechanism

Orthodontic tube

Embodiments may provide Bite Opening Devices (BODs) that are quicker and easier to place and provide improved accuracy. For example, a method may include using a computer system to perform: receiving data relating to teeth and jaws of a person, identifying a hinge axis of the jaw in three dimensional space using the data relating to teeth and jaws of a person, rotating the jaw to provide a desired clearance of the teeth, placing at least one Bite Opening Device on the teeth so as to provide the desired clearance of the teeth, and generating data defining a bonding tray to fit over the teeth, the bonding tray including a void corresponding to each Bite Opening Device, the generated data defining the bonding tray to be used for manufacturing the bonding tray using additive manufacturing.

Process for fabricating a digital bite opening appliance during orthodontic treatment

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Somerville, MA, United States of America

Dylan Winchell