US20250352302
2025-11-20
Human necessities
A61C7/002
The patent application discusses systems, apparatuses, and methods for optimizing dental appliance designs through iterative adjustments based on simulated interactions with a patient's oral cavity. This process aims to enhance the effectiveness and comfort of dental treatments, particularly those involving removable appliances like aligners and palatal expanders. The optimization is achieved by simulating changes in appliance parameters and analyzing their effects on the patient.
Traditional orthodontic treatments involve creating a model of a patient's teeth and jaw to plan a series of stages using removable appliances. These appliances are customized to suit individual patient needs, but the customization can sometimes fall short due to limited design flexibility. This can result in suboptimal treatment outcomes, such as uneven force distribution or inadequate adaptation to patient-specific oral structures. The proposed methods aim to address these limitations by providing more precise control over appliance design.
The method involves receiving a digital model of a patient's oral cavity and selecting initial parameters for a test dental appliance. An optimization process is then conducted using a surrogate model that represents the uncertainty distribution of design parameters. Simulations are used to evaluate the effects of these parameters, updating the surrogate model accordingly. The process iterates until an optimal set of parameters is identified, which is then used to generate a final digital model of the dental appliance.
The system can be implemented as a non-transitory computer-readable medium containing executable instructions for electronic processors. It may also be offered as a Software as a Service (SaaS) platform, allowing multiple entities such as dentists, orthodontists, or insurance companies to access and utilize the service. Each account on the platform can access various services corresponding to the disclosed methods and functions.
The patent outlines various embodiments and modifications that fall within its scope, emphasizing flexibility in implementation. The described systems and methods aim not only to improve appliance design but also to enhance patient comfort and treatment outcomes. By leveraging detailed digital models and sophisticated simulation techniques, the approach seeks to provide more individualized and effective dental care solutions.