Designing a bracket alignment device

Abstract

A method includes obtaining an electronic model image representing teeth of a patient; determining a desired bracket arrangement for one or more brackets on the teeth; designing an electronic model image of an alignment device based in part on the desired bracket arrangement; and fabricating the alignment device based on the electronic model image of the alignment device. The desired bracket arrangement includes a surface location, a tip orientation, and a torque orientation of each bracket. The alignment device defines at least one slot through which a bracket can be placed at a surface location and an orientation indicator to indicate a desired tip orientation and a desired torque orientation of each bracket.

1 . A method comprising:
 obtaining an electronic model image representing teeth of a patient;   determining a desired bracket arrangement for a plurality of brackets on the teeth of the electronic model image when the teeth are arranged in desired positions, the desired bracket arrangement including a surface location, a tip orientation, and a torque orientation of each bracket;   designing an electronic model image of an alignment device based in part on the electronic model image of the teeth of the patient and on the desired bracket arrangement, the electronic model image of the alignment device defining at least one slot through which a bracket can be placed at a surface location and an orientation indicator to indicate a desired tip orientation and a desired torque orientation; and   fabricating the alignment device based on the electronic model image of the alignment device.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the desired bracket arrangement further comprises determining the desired bracket arrangement within six degrees of freedom. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising using the fabricated alignment device to properly position one or more brackets on the teeth of a patient. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein using the fabricated alignment device comprises:
 coupling the alignment device to a dental cast of the patient;   placing a plurality of brackets through the slots defined by the alignment device and onto surface locations; and   arranging each of the plurality of brackets according to the desired tip orientation and the desired torque orientation of the bracket; and   producing an indirect bonding tray using the plurality of brackets.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein using the fabricated alignment device comprises fitting an alignment tool within a slot defined by each bracket and within an alignment channel defined by the alignment device simultaneously. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising manipulating the electronic model image to plan a course of treatment for shifting the teeth into the desired positions. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein obtaining an electronic model image representing teeth of a patient comprises:
 obtaining a dental cast representing the teeth of the patient;   scanning the dental cast to obtain spatial data representing the teeth of the patient; and   generating the electronic model image representing teeth of a patient based on the obtained spatial data.   
   
   
       8 . A system comprising:
 a three-dimensional scanner configured to obtain spatial data corresponding to a dental cast, the dental cast representing teeth of a patient;   a computing system coupled to the three-dimensional scanner, the computing system configured to generate an electronic model image representing the teeth of the patient based on the spatial data obtained by the scanner, the computing system also configured to generate an electronic model image of an alignment device, the alignment device configured to facilitate positioning one or more brackets according to a desired surface location, a desired tip orientation, and a desired torque; and   a prototyping device coupled to the computing system, the prototyping device configured to fabricate the alignment device based on the electronic model images of the alignment device.   
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the computing system is also configured to enable display, manipulation, storage, and transmission of the electronic model images. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the computing system is also configured to enable a user to manipulating the electronic model image representing the teeth of the patient to plan a course of treatment for shifting the teeth into desired positions. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the three-dimensional scanner is a line-scanner. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the prototyping device is configured to print the alignment device in wax.