| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20080286710 | PACKAGED ORTHODONTIC APPLIANCE AND ADHESIVE MATERIAL - A packaged orthodontic assembly includes a container with a chamber and an orthodontic appliance received in the chamber. A quantity of a first orthodontic adhesive material is applied by the manufacturer to the base of the orthodontic appliance. A second orthodontic adhesive material is also received in the chamber in initially spaced relationship to the first orthodontic adhesive material. The practitioner can elect to bring the first orthodontic adhesive material into contact with the second orthodontic adhesive material when desired. | 11-20-2008 |
| 20090233252 | ASSEMBLIES, METHODS, AND KITS INCLUDING A COMPRESSIBLE MATERIAL - The present invention provides assemblies, kits, and methods including a compressible material. Optionally, a hardenable dental composition (e.g., an adhesive or primer) is in contact with the compressible material for bonding a dental article (e.g., an orthodontic appliance) to a tooth structure. Removal of excess hardenable and/or hardened dental composition, if desired, can be facilitated for embodiments in which the hardenable dental composition is an unfilled or a lightly filled composition. | 09-17-2009 |
| 20100015578 | METHODS OF USING A DENTAL COMPOSITION HAVING AN ACIDIC COMPONENT AND A PHOTOBLEACHABLE DYE - Methods of using a dental composition having a photobleachable dye and an acidic component with a pKa of less than 4.5 are disclosed. The photobleachable dye is selected from the group consisting of aminoanthraquinone dyes, azo dyes, and combinations thereof. The aged color of the dental composition is substantially the same as the color of the dental composition immediately after hardening. | 01-21-2010 |
| 20100260405 | ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT MONITORING BASED ON REDUCED IMAGES - The present invention provides digitally driven methods to conveniently and efficiently monitor and evaluate the positions of a patient's teeth during the course of orthodontic treatment. In an exemplary embodiment, an initial set of 3D digital data representing a patient's dental structure is provided by means of an X-ray radiograph and/or an intraoral scan. Then during the course of treatment, a reduced image representing part of the dental structure may be quickly provided using a bite plate or a low resolution intraoral scan. A three-dimensional (3D) image of the full dental structure is subsequently rendered or ‘reconstructed’ by registering elements of the initial image with corresponding elements of the reduced image. By reconstructing the dental structure from the reduced image, the treating professional can provide a precise, manipulable 3D image of the patient's complete dental structure for diagnostic and treatment planning purposes. Other aspects include methods of using these data to compare actual and target teeth positions to evaluate the progress of treatment and suggest revisions to the specification of an orthodontic appliance. | 10-14-2010 |
| 20100279243 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING DENTAL SEALANT TO AN ORTHODONTIC PATIENT'S TEETH - A set of orthodontic appliances is releasably connected to wall portions of a bonding tray that is used in an indirect bonding procedure. A quantity of dental sealant is applied to wall portions of the tray, and is subsequently transferred to enamel surfaces of the patient s teeth when the bonding tray is placed in position over one of the patient s dental arches. The dental sealant tends to reduce the formation of plaque in regions of the patient s tooth surfaces adjacent the orthodontic appliances. | 11-04-2010 |
| 20100285419 | ORTHODONTIC ARTICLE HAVING PARTIALLY HARDENED COMPOSITION AND RELATED METHOD - An orthodontic article is provided for bonding to a tooth structure comprising an orthodontic appliance, a layer of partially hardened hardenable composition adjacent the appliance, and a bonding adhesive adjacent the partially hardened hardenable composition. A method of making an orthodontic article for orthodontic bonding is provided, comprising partially hardening a hardenable composition adjacent the base of an orthodontic appliance. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20110004331 | METHODS OF PREPARING A VIRTUAL DENTITION MODEL AND FABRICATING A DENTAL RETAINER THEREFROM - A virtual model of a dental patient's dentition is provided by obtaining a digital data file of the patient's teeth and orthodontic appliances connected to the teeth, and then combining data from the data file with other data that represents surfaces of the teeth underlying the appliances. The virtual model is useful in preparing a physical model of the patient's current dentition that can be used, for example, to make a dental retainer. Advantageously, the retainer can be fabricated before the orthodontic appliances are disconnected from the patient's teeth and ready for use as soon as the patient's teeth have reached their desired positions in the oral cavity | 01-06-2011 |
| 20110027743 | Lingual Orthodontic Appliance with Removable Section - An aesthetic, partially removable orthodontic appliance is described, including a polymeric body that conforms to the lingual soft tissue and at least one wire member extending from the polymeric body. Each wire member releasably engages with a respective anchor that is, in turn, connected to the lingual surface of a respective tooth when the polymeric body is moved in a generally gingival direction into abutting relationship with the lingual soft tissue. Other features of the appliance include self-guiding magnetic couplings and couplings based on interlocking mechanical structures that provide releasable engagement between the removable section and the anchors, as well as related methods for making and using the same. | 02-03-2011 |
