Align Technology, Inc.

Ian Kitching

Eric E Kuo

Rene M Sterental

Alexey Vishnevskiy

Alexander Dmitriev

Maia Singer

Ka Man Cheang

Lou Shuman

Vadim Matov

Roman A Roschin

Fuming Wu

Alexy Vishnevskiy

Rene Sterenthal

Roman Roschin

Systems and methods for moving teeth of a patient from a first tooth arrangement toward a second tooth arrangement are provided, including: a first dental appliance corresponding to a first stage of an orthodontic treatment plan and corresponding to the first tooth arrangement; a second dental appliance corresponding to a second stage of the orthodontic treatment plan and corresponding to the second tooth arrangement; and a plurality of intermediate dental appliances corresponding to a plurality of intermediate stages between the first stage and the second stage of the orthodontic treatment plan. The intermediate dental appliances include a first intermediate dental appliance having first tooth receiving cavities shaped for moving the patient's teeth as prescribed for the respective intermediate stage by the orthodontic treatment plan, and a duplicate intermediate dental appliance having duplicate tooth receiving cavities with the same geometries as the first tooth receiving cavities.

Systems and methods for orthodontic treatment with duplicate appliances

Systems and methods for orthodontic treatment progress tracking. Information based on an orthodontic treatment plan prescribed for a patient undergoing orthodontic treatment may be received. The orthodontic treatment plan specifies planned tooth movements according to a series of treatment stages. An orthodontic progress tracking schedule for the patient based on one or more particular tooth movements of the planned tooth movements may be generated. The orthodontic progress tracking schedule may prescribe a timing schedule for acquiring images of the patient's teeth to track progress of the orthodontic treatment. Images of teeth arrangements of the patient according to the orthodontic progress tracking schedule may be received. Results based on the tracked orthodontic treatment progress may be provided, for example, on a display.

Systems and methods for orthodontic treatment progress tracking

Methods for detecting and avoiding collisions of teeth during orthodontic treatment may include determining a schedule of movement for dental objects during treatment stages, calculating a respective route from an initial position toward a final position for each of the dental objects during the treatment stage, and modifying the schedule of movement with a first modification to avoid a collision or obstruction between two of the dental objects on their respective routes. The modification may include moving a first of the dental objects away from the respective route of a second of the dental objects, and moving the first dental object toward its respective final position after the second dental object has sufficiently traversed its respective route to avoid the collision.

Methods for schedule of movement modifications in orthodontic treatment

Methods for obtaining an adjusted 3D model of patient's teeth based on a 2D image of the patient's teeth. In some examples, the method includes: obtaining a 3D digital model based on a scan of the patient's teeth; obtaining a 2D image based on a camera picture; iteratively comparing a distance between corresponding points on one or more teeth of the 3D digital model and of the 2D image, and generating an adjusted 3D model in which the one or more teeth of the 3D digital model are moved to reduce said distance, wherein iteratively comparing and generating comprises iterating until one or more deviations between the teeth of the 3D digital model and the 2D image are below a threshold.

Generating 3D models of a patient's teeth based on 2D teeth images

The present invention relates to systems and methods of developing and tracking delivery and patient progression through an orthodontic treatment plan. One method includes identifying deviations from an orthodontic treatment plan, including receiving a digital representation of an actual arrangement of a patient's teeth after an orthodontic treatment plan has begun for the patient and prior to completion of the orthodontic treatment plan. The method further includes comparing the actual arrangement to a pre-determined planned arrangement to determine if the actual arrangement substantially deviates from the planned arrangement, the comparing comprising matching teeth from a previously segmented model to a surface of an unsegmented representation of the actual arrangement; and calculating one or more positional differences between the actual and planned arrangements of at least some of the corresponding teeth.

Treatment progress tracking and recalibration

Apparatus, system, and methods for utilizing one or more computing devices to stage the movement of teeth during an alignment treatment are disclosed. The computing device receives an electronic representation of the patient's teeth in their initial position and an electronic representation of the teeth a final position for each tooth. A route each tooth will travel to reach its final position is determined, and the teeth are scheduled to move according to a movement pattern. Moreover, the schedule of movement takes into account a maximum rate of tooth movement for each tooth, the path of movement for each tooth, the distance each tooth needs to move, any needed tooth staggering, any needed round-tripping or tooth movement slowing. The invention also includes techniques for determining an optimum number of stages for the treatment based on the schedule of movement.

Methods for tooth collision detection and avoidance in orthodontic treament

The present invention provides systems and methods of managing planning and delivery of an orthodontic treatment using planning tools, treatment guidelines, instructions and appointment planning tools customized to the individual patient being treated, as well as tools and methods for tracking delivery and patient progression through an orthodontic treatment plan.

Treatment planning and progress tracking systems and methods

Automated treatment staging for teeth

Method and system for detecting and correcting deviation during an orthodontic treatment plan is provided. The method includes the steps of receiving an un-segmented current teeth image representing a patient's teeth after an orthodontic treatment plan has begun and before the plan ends for the patient; matching a previously segmented teeth model with the current teeth image; and generating at least one corrective stage to define an intermediate tooth arrangement, wherein the at least one corrective stage repositions a digital teeth image so that a prescribed tooth arrangement of the previously segmented teeth model can be used.

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Saratoga, CA, United States of America

Ian Kitching