The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 14, 2025
Filed:
Mar. 27, 2023
Align Technology, Inc., San Jose, CA (US);
Avi Kopelman, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Shiva Sambu, Milpitas, CA (US);
Rene M. Sterental, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Eric Kuo, San Jose, CA (US);
Mauricio De Alencar Casa, São Paulo, BR;
Align Technology, Inc., San Jose, CA (US);
Abstract
Methods of forming dental appliances for expanding dental arches. Methods may include forming first and second virtual dental appliances, each having: virtual teeth receiving cavities shaped to conform to representations of the teeth at a point during respective first and second stages of orthodontic treatment, and virtual arch elements that extend between respective virtual teeth receiving cavities and having widths that are wider than an anatomical arch width. The methods may include fabricating first and second dental appliances using the first and second virtual dental appliances, respectively. At least one of the dental appliances may be fabricated to vary in thickness along the respective arch element.