Interproximal reduction templates
Interproximal reduction guides apparatuses and methods of making and using them are described herein. These interproximal reduction guides apparatuses may include a body that fits over the patient's dental arch and one or more guide slots formed in them configured to limit the motion of an interproximal reduction cutting tool in a defined manner.
1. An interproximal reduction guide device, the device comprising:
a body configured to fit over at least a portion of a patient's dental arch, wherein the body further comprises a lingual surface, a buccal surface, and an occlusal surface; and
a guide slot extending through the body from the occlusal surface and partially into the buccal and lingual surfaces, wherein the guide slot is configured to limit the motion of an interproximal reduction tool inserted into the guide slot, wherein the guide slot comprises a tapered profile having a larger width through the buccal surface.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the guide slot is configured to extend in a plane through the body from the occlusal surface and at least partially into the buccal and lingual surfaces.
3. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of cut-out windows through the body into an inner channel configured to hold the patient's teeth, the windows configured to allow visualization of the patient's teeth through the body.
4. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a first window through the body into an inner channel configured to hold the patient's teeth, wherein the first window is positioned on a first side of the guide slot and a second window through the body into the inner channel on a second side of the guide slot, wherein the first and second windows are configured to allow visualization of the patient's teeth when the body is worn over the patient's teeth.
5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a plurality of guide slots.
6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a material that is configured to resist cutting by the interproximal reduction tool.
7. An interproximal reduction guide device, the device comprising:
a body configured to fit over at least a portion of the patient's dental arch, the body comprising an inner channel forming a plurality of chambers configured to conform to an outer surface of a patient's teeth, wherein the body further comprises a lingual surface, a buccal surface, and an occlusal surface;
a guide slot extending in a plane through the body from the occlusal surface and at least partially into the buccal and lingual surfaces, and into the inner channel between two of the plurality of chambers, wherein the guide slot is configured to limit the motion of an interproximal reduction tool inserted into the guide slot;
a plurality of windows through the body into the inner channel, configured to allow visualization of the patient's teeth within the body.
8. The device of claim 7 , wherein the guide slot comprises a tapered profile having a larger width through the buccal surface.
9. The device of claim 7 , wherein the guide slot is configured to have an hourglass profile having a narrower width region midway down either or both the buccal and lingual surfaces.
10. The device of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of windows comprises a first window through the body into an inner channel configured to hold the patient's teeth, wherein the first window is positioned on a first side of the guide slot and a second window through the body into the inner channel on a second side of the guide slot, wherein the first and second windows are configured to allow visualization of the patient's teeth when the body is worn over the patient's teeth.
11. The device of claim 7 , wherein the body comprises a plurality of guide slots.
12. The device of claim 7 , wherein the body comprises a material that is configured to resist cutting by the interproximal reduction tool.
13. A method of enlarging a patient's interproximal space, the method comprising:
placing an interproximal reduction guide device onto the patient's dental arch so that that the patient's teeth are secured within an inner channel of the interproximal reduction guide device;
inserting an interproximal reduction tool into a guide slot in the interproximal reduction device; and
operating the interproximal reduction tool within the guide slot to remove enamel from a region between two teeth, wherein the guide slot limits the movement of the interproximal reduction tool.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising confirming that the interproximal reduction guide device is secured over the patient's teeth by observing the patient's teeth through one or more windows through the interproximal reduction guide device.
15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising smoothing the interproximal region between two teeth through the guide slot.
16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising repeating the steps of inserting the interproximal reduction tool and operating the interproximal reduction tool within each of a plurality of different guide slots of the interproximal reduction guide device.
17. The method of claim 13 , wherein inserting the interproximal reduction tool into the guide slot comprises inserting the interproximal reduction tool into an hourglass-shaped profile of the guide slot, the guide slot having a narrower width region midway down either or both the buccal and lingual surfaces.
18. The method of claim 13 , wherein inserting the interproximal reduction tool into the guide slot comprises inserting the interproximal reduction tool into an a tapered profile of the guide slot, the guide slot having a larger width through the buccal surface.
19. An interproximal reduction guide device, the device comprising:
a body configured to fit over at least a portion of a patient's dental arch, wherein the body further comprises a lingual surface, a buccal surface, and an occlusal surface; and
a guide slot extending through the body from the occlusal surface and partially into the buccal and lingual surfaces, wherein the guide slot is configured to limit the motion of an interproximal reduction tool inserted into the guide slot, wherein the guide slot is configured to have an hourglass profile having a narrower width region midway down either or both the buccal and lingual surfaces.
20. The device of claim 19 , further comprising a plurality of cut-out windows through the body into an inner channel configured to hold the patient's teeth, the windows configured to allow visualization of the patient's teeth through the body.
21. The device of claim 19 , further comprising a first window through the body into an inner channel configured to hold the patient's teeth, wherein the first window is positioned on a first side of the guide slot and a second window through the body into the inner channel on a second side of the guide slot, wherein the first and second windows are configured to allow visualization of the patient's teeth when the body is worn over the patient's teeth.