System for producing orthodontic aligners by CNC machining

1. A method for forming a thin-walled polymeric orthodontic aligner defined by opposing first and second sides, said method comprising:

creating a model of a patient's dental anatomy in a computer-aided design (CAD) system;

manipulating the CAD model to design an aligner to exert a therapeutic force on at least one of the patient's teeth;

generating a set of instructions for a CNC milling machine to mill the first side and second side of an aligner based on the CAD model;

producing a holding pattern by CNC milling machine using a set of instructions generated based on the CAD model to support at least a portion of the first side of the aligner;

providing a blank of polymeric material on a CNC milling machine;

milling the blank with the CNC milling machine to create the first side of the aligner;

supporting at least a portion of the first side on the holding pattern; and

milling the blank with the CNC milling machine to create the second side of the aligner.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein selected regions of the aligner have different thicknesses between the first and second sides.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising designing at least one feature in the CAD model of the aligner for accepting an aligner auxiliary.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising designing at least one attachment point in the CAD model of the aligner for attaching other orthodontic components to the aligner.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising designing a bump in the CAD model of the aligner for exerting a therapeutic force on a tooth.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising designing a window in the CAD model of the aligner.