Method and system for incrementally moving teeth

Abstract

A system for repositioning teeth comprises a plurality of individual appliances. The appliances are configured to be placed successively on the patient's teeth and to incrementally reposition the teeth from an initial tooth arrangement, through a plurality of intermediate tooth arrangements, and to a final tooth arrangement. The system of appliances is usually configured at the outset of treatment so that the patient may progress through treatment without the need to have the treating professional perform each successive step in the procedure.

1 . A system for repositioning teeth, said system comprising: 
 at least four polymeric shell appliances having cavities selected to receive and progressively reposition teeth from an initial arrangement through four successive tooth arrangements.    
   
   
       2 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein the system comprises from 4 to 10 polymeric shell appliances.  
   
   
       3 . A system as in  claim 1 , further comprising instructions which set forth that the patient is to wear the appliances in a predetermined order to achieve said progressive repositioning.  
   
   
       4 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein the appliances are marked to indicate order of use.  
   
   
       5 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein the appliances are marked with sequential numbering directly on the appliances.  
   
   
       6 . A system as in  claim 4 , wherein the appliances are marked on tags which are affixed to the appliances.  
   
   
       7 . A system as in  claim 4 , wherein the appliances are marked by placement in a pouch.  
   
   
       8 . A method for repositioning teeth, said method comprising: 
 providing the patient with a system including at least four polymeric shell appliances, wherein said appliances each have a geometry which is selected to receive and progressively reposition teeth from an initial position through at least four successive tooth arrangements.    
   
   
       9 . A method as in  claim 8 , wherein from four to ten appliances are provided to the patient at one time to provide a treatment.  
   
   
       10 . A method as in  claim 8 , wherein the appliances are marked to allow the patient to determine order of use.  
   
   
       11 . A method for fabricating a set of tooth repositioning appliances, said method comprising: 
 fabricating at least four polymeric shell appliances, wherein said appliances each have a geometry which is selected to receive and progressively reposition teeth from an initial position through at least four successive tooth arrangements.    
   
   
       12 . A method as in  claim 11 , wherein from four to ten appliances are fabricated.  
   
   
       13 . A method as in  claim 12 , further comprising placing all of said appliances in a single package which can be given to the patient.  
   
   
       14 . A method as in  claim 13 , further comprising marking the appliances with an order of use.  
   
   
       15 . A method as in  claim 14 , wherein marking comprises placing sequential numbering directly on each appliance.  
   
   
       16 . A method as in  claim 14 , wherein marking comprises affixing marked tags on the appliances.  
   
   
       17 . A method as in  claim 14 , wherein marking comprises placing the appliances in marked pouches.  
   
   
       18 . A system for repositioning teeth, comprising: 
 a plurality of appliances having geometries selected to progressively reposition the teeth, wherein at least some of the appliances are marked to indicate their order of use.    
   
   
       19 . A system for repositioning teeth from an initial tooth arrangement to a final tooth arrangement, said system comprising a plurality of dental incremental position adjustment appliances including: 
 one or more appliances having geometries selected to progressively reposition the teeth; and    a final appliance having a geometry selected to progressively reposition the teeth to the final tooth arrangement, wherein at least some of the appliances are marked to indicate their order of use.    
   
   
       20 . A system for repositioning teeth from an initial tooth arrangement to a final tooth arrangement, said system comprising a plurality of dental incremental position adjustment appliances including: 
 a first appliance having a geometry selected to reposition the teeth from the initial tooth arrangement to a first intermediate arrangement;    one or more intermediate appliances having geometries selected to progressively reposition the teeth from the first intermediate arrangement to successive intermediate arrangements; and    a final appliance having a geometry selected to progressively reposition the teeth from the last intermediate arrangement to the final tooth arrangement, wherein at least some of the appliances are marked to indicate their order of use.    
   
   
       21 . A system for repositioning teeth, comprising: 
 one or more appliances having geometries selected to progressively reposition the teeth from to successive intermediate arrangements; and    instructions which set forth that the patient is to wear the appliances in a predetermined order which will progressively move the patient's teeth, a package, said package containing said one more appliances, wherein the appliances are provided in a single package to the patient.    
   
   
       22 . A system for repositioning teeth from an initial tooth arrangement to a final tooth arrangement, said system comprising a plurality of dental incremental position adjustment appliances including: 
 a first appliance having a geometry selected to reposition the teeth from the initial tooth arrangement to a first intermediate arrangement;    one or more intermediate appliances having geometries selected to progressively reposition the teeth from the first intermediate arrangement to successive intermediate arrangements;    a final appliance having a geometry selected to progressively reposition the teeth from the last intermediate arrangement to the final tooth arrangement; and    instructions which set forth that the patient is to wear the individual appliances in a predetermined order which will progressively move the patient's teeth toward the final arrangement, a package, said package containing said first appliance, said one more intermediate appliances and said final appliance, wherein the appliances are provided in a single package to the patient.    
   
   
       23 . A system for repositioning teeth from a first tooth arrangement to a second tooth arrangement, comprising: 
 a plurality of appliances having geometries selected to progressively reposition the teeth from the first intermediate arrangement to successive arrangements;    instructions which set forth that the patient is to wear the individual appliances in a predetermined order which will progressively move the patient's teeth toward the second arrangement; and    a package containing said appliances, wherein the appliances are provided in a single package to the patient.