CPC A61C 7/08 (2013.01) [A61C 7/002 (2013.01); A61C 7/36 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |
1. An orthodontic aligner comprising:
a first plastic segment having a first shape that fits over a first portion of a dental arch of a patient, wherein the first plastic segment is configured to apply a force to a first set of teeth in the first portion of the dental arch;
a second plastic segment having a second shape that fits over a second portion of the dental arch of the patient; and
a connector that joins the first plastic segment to the second plastic segment, wherein the connector is configured to be disposed along a lingual side of one or more additional teeth of the patient without exerting a clinically significant force on the one or more additional teeth, wherein the connector spans a gap between the first plastic segment and the second plastic segment, the gap corresponding to the one or more additional teeth that are not to receive the clinically significant force, and wherein the connector comprises a flexible material that will perform at least one of flex, move or change shape responsive to applied forces.
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