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:
Sep. 08, 2026
Filed:
Sep. 11, 2023
Align Technology, Inc., San Jose, CA (US);
Ryan Kimura, San Jose, CA (US);
John Morton, San Jose, CA (US);
Richard Shaw, Morgan Hill, CA (US);
Chunhua Li, Cupertino, CA (US);
Align Technology, Inc., San Jose, CA (US);
Abstract
Methods of forming dental appliances. A virtual arch element may be formed using a virtual dental arch of a patient. The virtual arch element may be wider than an arch width across the virtual dental arch. One or more virtual tooth engagement structures connected to the virtual arch element may be formed. The virtual tooth engagement structure(s) may be configured to engage with teeth on opposing sides of the virtual dental arch. The virtual arch element may extend from a lingual side of the virtual tooth engagement structure(s) so that, when the virtual tooth engagement structure(s) are engaged with the teeth, the virtual arch element spans across the palate and the virtual arch element and the virtual tooth engagement structure(s) applies a virtual force on the teeth on opposing sides of the virtual dental arch in accordance with a stage of a treatment plan.