Dental appliance
Embodiments include dental appliances, dental appliance systems, and methods of making and using such appliances. In one embodiment, a dental appliance includes a shell having a number of cavities to receive one or more teeth, each cavity having an inner surface. Fewer than all cavities are scaled-up in size by a first selected percentage over one or more dimensions of a corresponding tooth surface to provide a uniform space between the cavity inner surface and the corresponding tooth surface.
1. A method of forming a removable dental positioning appliance, the method comprising:
digitally measuring dimensions of the patient's dentition;
forming a polymeric shell having a number of cavities shaped to receive the patient's dentition, at least one of the cavities being sized snuggly based on the measured dimensions;
fabricating fewer than all of the number of cavities corresponding to the dentition that are larger than the measured dimensions by a first percentage to provide space adapted to contain a quantity of chemical in contact with the dentition; and
fabricating at least one of the number of cavities scaled-up in size by a second percentage that is different than the first percentage.
2. The method of claim 1 , where the polymeric shell is shaped to reposition one or more teeth from a first orientation to a successive orientation.
3. The method of claim 1 , where a portion of the number of cavities are scaled-up in size by a selectable percentage from the digitally measured dimensions to provide a space between an inner surface of the cavity and a corresponding tooth surface.
4. The method of claim 1 , where the method includes offsetting the inner surface of the scaled-up cavities from a corresponding tooth surface using spacer structures formed into the polymeric shell.
5. The method of claim 1 , where the portion of the cavities extend around a gingival margin area supporting a corresponding tooth surface so as to form a pocket of space between the inner surface of the cavity and the corresponding gingival margin area.
6. A method of forming a removable dental positioning appliance, the method comprising:
forming a shell having a number of cavities to receive one or more teeth, each cavity having an inner surface, where forming the shell includes:
forming fewer than all of the number of cavities scaled-up in size by a first percentage over one or more dimensions of a corresponding tooth surface to provide a space between the cavity inner surface and the corresponding tooth surface for containment of a chemical to treat the corresponding tooth surface; and
forming at least one of the number of cavities scaled-up in size by a second percentage that is different than the first percentage;
where the inner surface of the cavities that are scaled-up in size have scaled-up proportions of the dimensions relative to the corresponding tooth surface; and
where the first percentage is based on one or more properties of the chemical used to treat the corresponding tooth surface.
7. The method of claim 6 , where forming the shell includes arranging the number of cavities to reposition the one or more teeth from a first configuration to a successive configuration.
8. The method of claim 6 , where forming the shell comprises forming a polymeric shell.
9. The method of claim 8 , where forming the shell comprises forming buccal portions of the cavities of a transparent polymeric material.
10. The method of claim 6 , where the one or more properties of the chemical includes a particular viscosity of the chemical, a particular quantity of the chemical, and a particular form of delivery of the chemical.
11. The method of claim 10 , where forming fewer than all of the number of cavities scaled-up in size by a first percentage comprises forming cavities scaled-up in size by the first percentage sized to contain fluoride to treat the corresponding tooth surface, the first percentage being within a range of 1% to 0%.
12. The method of claim 10 , where forming fewer than all of the number of cavities scaled-up in size by a first percentage comprises forming cavities sized to contain a whitening agent to treat the corresponding tooth surface, the first percentage being 5%.
13. The method of claim 6 , where the corresponding tooth surface comprises a buccal surface.
14. The method of claim 6 , where the corresponding tooth surface includes all accessible surfaces of the corresponding tooth.
15. The method of claim 6 , where forming the shell includes forming a number of spacers that protrude from the inner cavity surface toward the corresponding tooth surface for a distance substantially equal to the space.
16. The method of claim 6 , where forming the shell includes forming a portion of at least one cavity that extends over a corresponding gingival outer surface adjacent the corresponding tooth surface to create a second space between a cavity inner surface and the corresponding gingival outer surface, the second space being contiguous with the first space.
17. The method of claim 16 , where forming the portion of the at least one cavity extending over the corresponding gingival outer surface comprises forming the portion of the at least one cavity scaled-up in size by a third percentage over dimensions of the corresponding gingival outer surface.
18. The method of claim 16 , where forming the shell includes arranging the second space to hold a reservoir of material in contact with the corresponding gingival outer surface to treat periodontal conditions.
19. The method of claim 18 , where forming the shell includes arranging the second space to hold material selected from the group including: gel, paste, foam, liquid, and powder.