Dentistry – Orthodontics – Method of positioning or aligning teeth
Reexamination Certificate
2002-01-10
2004-07-27
Manahan, Todd E. (Department: 3732)
Dentistry
Orthodontics
Method of positioning or aligning teeth
C433S214000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06767208
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is related generally to the field of orthodontics, and more particularly to a system and a method for gradually repositioning teeth.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A fundamental objective in orthodontics is to realign a patient's teeth to positions where the teeth function optimally and aesthetically. Typically, appliances such as braces are applied to the teeth of the patient by a treating orthodontist. Each appliance exerts continual forces on the teeth which gradually urge the teeth toward their ideal positions. Over a period of time, the orthodontist adjusts the appliances to move the teeth toward their final destination.
The process of attaching the braces to teeth is tedious and painful. Additionally, each visit to the orthodontist is time consuming and expensive. The process is further complicated by uncertainties in determining a final arrangement for each tooth. Generally, the final tooth arrangement is determined by the treating orthodontist who writes a prescription. Traditionally, the prescription is based on the orthodontist's knowledge and expertise in selecting the intended final position of each tooth and without a precise calculation of forces being exerted on the teeth when they contact each other.
A method to create a digital model of a patient's teeth includes creating an impression of the patient's teeth; and scanning the impression using an X-ray source to generate the digital model.
Advantages of the invention include one or more of the following. The system eliminates the need to pour plaster models. The system generates the digital models independent of geometry of teeth since X-rays always pass through. The system assists with the alignment of upper and lower jaws into a bite using the scan model of a bite and allows for accurate bite alignment. Digital detailing allows a cleanup of any defects in the model. The system assists in the reconstruction of teeth in cases where they are distorted/chipped, for example. Bite articulation can be done in a virtual mode. The system can scan impressions as well as plaster models. When a prescription or other final designation is provided, a computer model can be generated and manipulated to match the prescription. The prescription may be automatically interpreted in order to generate an image as well as a digital data set representing the final tooth arrangement.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1831390 (1931-11-01), Lindelov
patent: 3922786 (1975-12-01), Lavin
patent: 3983628 (1976-10-01), Acevedo
patent: 4001938 (1977-01-01), Cooper
patent: 4022419 (1977-05-01), Haker
patent: 4161065 (1979-07-01), Gigante
patent: 4323779 (1982-04-01), Albert
patent: 4324546 (1982-04-01), Heitlinger et al.
patent: 4324547 (1982-04-01), Arcan et al.
patent: 4500294 (1985-02-01), Lewis
patent: 4504225 (1985-03-01), Yoshii
patent: 4505673 (1985-03-01), Yoshii
patent: 4575330 (1986-03-01), Hull
patent: 4591341 (1986-05-01), Andrews
patent: 4671769 (1987-06-01), Gill et al.
patent: 4793803 (1988-12-01), Martz
patent: 4836778 (1989-06-01), Baumrind et al.
patent: 4845747 (1989-07-01), Koike et al.
patent: 4935635 (1990-06-01), O'Hara
patent: 4941826 (1990-07-01), Loran et al.
patent: 5023895 (1991-06-01), McCroskey et al.
patent: 5028232 (1991-07-01), Snow
patent: 5078600 (1992-01-01), Austin
patent: 5119408 (1992-06-01), Little et al.
patent: 5139419 (1992-08-01), Andreiko et al.
patent: 5338198 (1994-08-01), Wu et al.
patent: 5340309 (1994-08-01), Robertson
patent: 5340433 (1994-08-01), Crump
patent: 5342202 (1994-08-01), Deshayes
patent: 5368478 (1994-11-01), Andreiko et al.
patent: 5382164 (1995-01-01), Stern
patent: 5386292 (1995-01-01), Massen et al.
patent: 5424836 (1995-06-01), Weise et al.
patent: 5431562 (1995-07-01), Andreiko et al.
patent: 5434418 (1995-07-01), Schick
patent: 5447432 (1995-09-01), Andreiko et al.
patent: 5452219 (1995-09-01), Dehoff et al.
patent: 5454717 (1995-10-01), Andreiko et al.
patent: 5474448 (1995-12-01), Andreiko et al.
patent: 5533895 (1996-07-01), Andreiko et al.
patent: 5549476 (1996-08-01), Stern
patent: 5550891 (1996-08-01), Burbury et al.
patent: 5587912 (1996-12-01), Andersson et al.
patent: 5605459 (1997-02-01), Kuroda et al.
patent: 5607305 (1997-03-01), Andersson et al.
patent: 5621648 (1997-04-01), Crump
patent: 5683243 (1997-11-01), Andreiko et al.
patent: 5725376 (1998-03-01), Poirier
patent: 5725378 (1998-03-01), Wang
patent: 5740267 (1998-04-01), Echerer et al.
patent: 5851115 (1998-12-01), Carlsson et al.
patent: 5866058 (1999-02-01), Batchelder et al.
patent: 5880961 (1999-03-01), Crump
patent: 5882192 (1999-03-01), Bergersen
patent: 5927973 (1999-07-01), Hanebaum et al.
patent: 5957686 (1999-09-01), Anthony
patent: 5975893 (1999-11-01), Chishti et al.
patent: 5995583 (1999-11-01), Schick et al.
patent: 6049743 (2000-04-01), Baba
patent: 6068482 (2000-05-01), Snow
patent: 6091999 (2000-07-01), Crump et al.
patent: 6099314 (2000-08-01), Kopelman et al.
patent: 6158888 (2000-12-01), Walker et al.
patent: 6210162 (2001-04-01), Chishti et al.
patent: 6217325 (2001-04-01), Chishti et al.
patent: 6217334 (2001-04-01), Hultgren
patent: 6217335 (2001-04-01), Riitano et al.
patent: 6227850 (2001-05-01), Chishti et al.
patent: 6227851 (2001-05-01), Chishti et al.
patent: 6299440 (2001-10-01), Phan et al.
patent: 6309215 (2001-10-01), Phan et al.
patent: 6318994 (2001-11-01), Chishti et al.
patent: 2002/0081554 (2002-06-01), Marshall et al.
patent: WO 91/03980 (1991-04-01), None
patent: WO 94/10935 (1994-05-01), None
patent: WO 98/15227 (1998-04-01), None
patent: WO 98/32394 (1998-07-01), None
patent: WO 00/74374 (2000-12-01), None
Doyle, “Digital Dentistry”Computer Graphics World(Oct. 2000) pp. 50-52, 54.
Redmond et al., “Clinical Implications of Digital Orthodontics”Am. J. Orthodont. Dentofacial Orthopedics(2000) 117(2):240-242.
Biostar Operation & Training Manual, Great Lakes Orthodontics, Ltd. 199 Fire Tower Drive, Tonawanda, New York 14150-5890. 20 pp.
Graber, T.M., D.D.S., M.S.D., Ph.D., Orthodontics Principles and Practice, 2nd. Ed., W.B. Saunders Co., 1966.
Kuroda, T., DDS, PhD, et al., Three-dimensional dental cast analyzing system using laser scanning,American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Oct. 1996, pp. 365-369.
Raintree Essix™ & ARS Materials, Inc., Raintree Essix™ Technical Magazine Table of Contents and Essix™ Applications, http://www.essix.com/magazine/default.html (Aug. 13, 1997) 7 pages.
Rekow, Dianne, M.S.M.E., D.D.S., Computer-aided design and manufacturing in dentistry: A review of the state of the art,The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry, vol. 58, No. 4, Oct. 1987, pp. 512-516.
Align Technology Inc.
Manahan Todd #E.
Townsend and Townsend / and Crew LLP
Tran, Esq. Bao
LandOfFree
System and method for positioning teeth does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with System and method for positioning teeth, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and System and method for positioning teeth will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3201613