Tooth attachment placement device

Abstract

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, tooth attachment placement (TAP) device or for assisting a user in placing one or more appliances or attachments on one or more teeth is disclosed. The TAP device comprises single tooth jigs connected through splines. The geometry of the device is automatically designed in the treatment planning unified workstation, thereby generating a digital STL file. Then the device is created from a non-flexible biocompatible material by a 3D printer in accordance with the digital STL file. Appliance, for example, may be a bracket or a bracket shim; and the attachment may be an aligner attachment or a pad. Different embodiments of the TAP device are disclosed. Methods for verifying the accuracy of the placements of the brackets on the teeth using the TAP device are disclosed.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method for indirect bonding orthodontic brackets on a patient's teeth, comprising the steps of:
 a) obtaining a virtual model comprising the dentition of a patient in a current stage and placement locations of virtual orthodontic brackets on the dentition in said current stage, including type and dimensions of said virtual orthodontic brackets;   b) defining the geometry of a bracket placement tray; wherein the geometry is derived basically from the inverse shape of virtual the model with orthodontic brackets on;   c) wherein said bracket placement tray is designed for a plurality of real teeth of said patient based on said virtual model;   d) said bracket placement tray having features for placement of real orthodontic brackets thereby enabling bonding of said real orthodontic brackets to said real teeth at desired locations;   e) wherein said bracket placement tray is manufactured using generative manufacturing technologies (3D printing, 3D laser sintering, etc.);   f) wherein the real brackets will be put into the holding features of the indirect bonding tray;   g) bonding said real orthodontic brackets on said patient's real teeth using said bracket placement tray;   
     
     
         2 . Method according to  claim 1 , where the transfer tray consists from separate transfer jigs for each single tooth connected to each other by structures like one or more splines or other connecting geometries. 
     
     
         3 . Method according to  claim 2 , where the rigidity of the complete tray, the jigs and/or the connectors is adjusted by different material properties or geometries at different locations of the transfer tray (thickness, diameter and shape of connectors, etc.) 
     
     
         4 . Method according to  claim 3 , where the features holding the brackets are optimized by geometries acting like a spring, having prominent ridges, using snap fit mechanisms or other geometries to better hold the brackets or allow for using adhesive in addition (like silicon) to hold the brackets in the transfer tray. 
     
     
         5 . Method according to  claim 4 , where the transfer jig(s) for at least one tooth that cannot be bonded due to crowding or missing eruption are already designed and manufactured with this tray, but positioned outside of but connected to the transfer tray area that will be used intra-orally, so that it can be cut to be used at a later point in time. (“cut off jigs”) 
     
     
         6 . Method according to  claim 5 , where the geometry of the “cut off jigs” comprises a significantly larger surface area covering the respective tooth for more accurate placement of a bracket with that separate “cut off jig”. 
     
     
         7 . Method according to  claim 2 , where the connecting geometries comprise features of easy separation like constrictions or notches. 
     
     
         8 . Method according to  claim 2 , where the separate transfer jigs are as narrow as possible to allow for better placement. 
     
     
         9 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the placement of the virtual brackets is based on jig heights. 
     
     
         10 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the placement of the virtual brackets is based on a virtual setup. 
     
     
         11 . Method according to  claims 9  and  10 , wherein the geometry of the transfer tray is calculated automatically in a format allowing for using a generative manufacturing method to produce the real transfer tray. 
     
     
         12 . Method according  claim 1 , scanning the dentition of said patient after bonding of said real orthodontic brackets is complete; 
     
     
         13 . Method according  claim 12 , verifying positions of said real orthodontic brackets on said patient's real teeth. 
     
     
         14 . A tooth attachment placement device, comprising:
 (a) single tooth jigs; and   (b) an upper spline and a lower spline;
 wherein said single tooth jigs are interconnected by said upper spline and said lower spline; 
 wherein each jig is designed to hold a bracket to be placed on a tooth; 
   wherein said upper spline and said lower spline is made in tubular form for carrying ultra violet rays for curing pads attached to said brackets;   wherein said tooth placement device is made from translucent material;   wherein said tooth placement device is created with generative manufacturing technologies.