Flexible 3D printed orthodontic device with flexible arms
A dental attachment placement device comprises a plurality of articulated registration elements shaped for placement on a plurality of teeth, which can facilitate placement, accommodate tooth movement, and improve alignment of the registration elements with the teeth, so as to accurately position an attachment for placement. The plurality of registration elements may comprise one or more attachment supports and one or more retention supports extending from the plurality of registration elements. A dental attachment can be removably coupled to the attachment support. The plurality of registration elements and attachment supports may be located on opposing sides of one or more teeth in order to maintain placement prior to adhering the attachment to the tooth. In some embodiments, each of the plurality of registration elements comprises a tooth registration surface shaped to engage the tooth with a specific position and orientation for accurate positioning of the attachment.
1. An orthodontic device, comprising:
a registration element comprising a first reduced registration surface sized and shaped to fit a first surface of a first tooth, the first reduced registration surface comprises a plurality of extension elements and a plurality of clearance portions, each extension element of the plurality of extension elements extending toward the first surface of the first tooth when the registration element is placed on the first tooth, the plurality of extension elements being configured to contact the first tooth at a plurality of locations between a first side of the first tooth and a second side of the first tooth, each of the plurality of extension elements comprising a contact surface, each contact surface shaped to match the first surface of the first tooth at respective contact locations on the tooth, each of the plurality of clearance portions being between adjacent extension elements and including a clearance surface set back from the first surface of the first tooth when the registration element is placed on the first tooth; and
a first flexible arm extending from the registration element on a lingual side, the first flexible arm having a connected end and a distal end, the distal end configured to extend at least part way over the first tooth and apply a lingual force to bias the registration element against the first tooth.
2. The orthodontic device of claim 1 , further comprising an attachment support on a buccal side of the orthodontic device and an attachment releasably carried by the attachment support.
3. The orthodontic device of claim 2 , wherein the registration element is configured to place the attachment in a location for bonding to the first tooth when placed on the first tooth.
4. The orthodontic device of claim 1 , wherein the registration element is one of a plurality of registration elements connected together by a plurality of couplings.
5. The orthodontic device of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of registration elements and the plurality of couplings are formed integrally by 3D printing.
6. The orthodontic device of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of couplings allows relative movement between adjacent registration elements of the plurality of registration elements.
7. The orthodontic device of claim 1 , further comprising a second flexible arm extending from the registration element on a lingual side, the second flexible arm having a connected end and a distal end, the distal end configured to extend at least part way over the tooth and apply a lingual force to bias the registration element against the tooth.
8. The orthodontic device of claim 1 , wherein the extension elements are configured to contact occlusal surfaces of the first tooth.
9. The orthodontic device of claim 1 , wherein the extension elements are configured to contact buccal and lingual surfaces of the first tooth.
10. The orthodontic device of claim 1 , wherein the extension elements are configured to not contact interproximal surfaces of the first tooth.
11. The orthodontic device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of extension elements have a variable cross-section with a greater cross section area at a location proximal the registration element and a smaller cross sectional area at a location distal of the registration element.
12. The orthodontic device of claim 1 , wherein the registration element is one of a plurality of registration elements that are shaped to match one or more surfaces of a patient's dentition.
13. The orthodontic device of claim 12 , further comprising a plurality of couplings to couple one or more of the plurality of registration elements to one another.
14. The orthodontic device of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of couplings are configured to allow relative movement between adjacent registration elements of the plurality of registration elements.
15. The orthodontic device of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of couplings are configured to allow the plurality of registration elements to be independently positioned on the patient's dentition.
16. The orthodontic device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of extension elements are configured to contact an occlusal surface of the first tooth.
17. The orthodontic device of claim 1 , wherein the first side is a lingual side of the first tooth and the second side is a buccal side of the first tooth.