Method of making an indirect bonding tray for orthodontic treatment
View Patent ↗An indirect bonding tray for use in applying and bonding orthodontic appliances to a patient's teeth is made by providing a replica of the patient's dentition including replicas of the patient's teeth. A guide is provided on each replica tooth in a location corresponding to the ultimate intended location of the orthodontic appliance on the patient's teeth. Each guide has a receptacle for receiving an orthodontic appliance, and serves to ensure that the respective orthodontic appliance is placed in its proper, intended position on the replica tooth. A tray is then formed over the replica teeth and the appliances for subsequent use in bonding the appliances to the patient's teeth.
1. A method of making an indirect bonding tray for orthodontic treatment comprising:
providing a replica of a patient's dentition, wherein the replica includes replica tooth structure;
providing a guide on the replica tooth structure at a location corresponding to the intended location of an orthodontic appliance on the patient's tooth structure;
placing an orthodontic appliance on the replica tooth structure next to the guide;
bonding the appliance to the replica tooth structure;
removing the guide from the replica tooth structure after the appliance has been bonded to the replica tooth structure; and subsequently
forming a tray over the replica including the orthodontic appliance.
2. A method of making an indirect bonding tray for orthodontic treatment according to claim 1 wherein the act of removing the guide includes the act of dissolving at least part of the guide.
3. A method of making an indirect bonding tray for orthodontic treatment according to claim 1 wherein the act of removing the guide includes the act of detaching at least part of the guide.
4. A method of making an indirect bonding tray for orthodontic treatment according to claim 1 wherein the act of providing the replica and the act of providing the guide are carried out by making an integral, unitary body.
5. A method of making an indirect bonding tray for orthodontic treatment according to claim 4 wherein the act of making an integral, unitary body is carried out at least in part using a rapid prototyping method.
6. A method of making an indirect bonding tray for orthodontic treatment according to claim 1 wherein the act of providing a replica includes the act of forming a replica, and wherein the act of providing a guide includes the act of applying a material to the replica after the replica has been formed.
7. A method of making an indirect bonding tray for orthodontic treatment according to claim 6 wherein the act of forming a replica and the act of applying a material to the replica after the replica has been formed are carried out at least in part using a rapid prototyping process.
8. A method of making an indirect bonding tray for orthodontic treatment according to claim 6 wherein the act of applying a material to the replica includes the act of applying a soluble material to the replica.
9. A method of making an indirect bonding tray for orthodontic treatment according to claim 1 wherein the act of providing a guide includes the act of providing at least three wall sections for engagement with three sides of a base of the appliance.
10. A method of making an indirect bonding tray for orthodontic treatment according to claim 1 wherein the act of providing a guide includes the act of providing a guide with a receptacle for receiving a base of the appliance.
11. A method of making an indirect bonding tray for orthodontic treatment according to claim 10 wherein the receptacle has a shape that is complemental to the shape of at least three sides of the base and has an opening next to an occlusal side of the replica tooth structure.
12. A method of making an indirect bonding tray for orthodontic treatment according to claim 1 wherein the act of bonding the appliance to the replica tooth structure includes the act of applying a curable material to a region between the orthodontic appliance and the replica tooth structure.
13. A method of making an indirect bonding tray for orthodontic treatment according to claim 12 wherein the curable material is a light-curable material.
14. A method of making an indirect bonding tray for orthodontic treatment according to claim 1 wherein the replica of the patient's dentition includes a number of replica teeth, and including the act of providing a number of guides each corresponding to one of the teeth and the act of providing a number of appliances each corresponding to one of the guides.