Orthodontic bracket

Abstract

In one embodiment, a pre-engaging orthodontic bracket includes a body having a lingual surface for attachment to a tooth, a pair of laterally spaced gingival tie wings and a pair of laterally spaced occlusal tie wings. The gingival and occlusal tie wings project from a labial surface of the body. An archwire slot extends mesiodistally across the body and between the gingival and occlusal tie wings at opposed mesial and distal sides of the body to accommodate an archwire. A pivot pin extends between a pair of the tie wings at opposed mesial and distal sides of the body. A shutter is moveable relative to the body between an open position in which placement and removal of an archwire into the archwire slot is facilitated and a closed position in which placement and removal of an archwire into the archwire slot is inhibited.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08 / 625,944, filed on Apr. 1, 1996 which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08 / 412,338 filed on Mar. 31, 1995 now abandoned which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08 / 206,724 filed on Mar. 7, 1994 now issued and granted under U.S. Pat. No. 5,474,445.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates in general to pre-engaging orthodontic brackets and in particular to a pre-engaging twin orthodontic bracket and to a plurality of orthodontic brackets forming a set of braces. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] According to established orthodontic techniques, it is well known that one is able to ligate an archwire to a bracket utilizing an elastic, elastomeric or metal ligature. In a twin edgewise orthodontic bracket, the elastic ligature is stretched around respective undercuts of gingival and occlusal tie wings so as to overlay the...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0028] The present invention provides advantages in that the orthodontic brackets provide predictability and accurate control of tooth movement while enhancing treatment progress. The orthodontic brackets are aesthetically pleasing due to their symmetrical designs and provide for easier hygiene than prior art orthodontic brackets.

Problems solved by technology

It has been found that the time-consuming ligation procedure contributes to lengthy chair time.

Furthermore, the elastic ligatures are known to lose their elasticity with time and are subject to degradation.

Also, the elastic and metal ligatures have been known to trap food particles in areas of the bracket which are difficult for the patient to clean, and to increase the level of friction against the archwire.

Finally, the use of sharp metal ligatures around the bracket can subject the clinician to unnecessary exposure to infectious bacteria, or viruses such as hepatitis B, or possibly the HIV virus particularly in blood.

In addition, pre-engaging orthodontic brackets permit continuous low deflection differential archwire contact separately for both round and rectangular archwires at at least two different levels of contact, which is not possible with degrading elastic, elastomeric or rigid, high deflection metal ligatures.

However, most of the known prior art pre-engaging orthodontic brackets lack the reliability and the accessible ease of operability that most clinicians require.

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