Bracket positioning instrument

Abstract

The invention relates to a bracket positioning instrument that belongs to the technical field of orthodontics. The existing instruments do not allow all the anatomical references that determine the correct positioning of the bracket on the tooth to be viewed. The instrument of the invention solves this problem since it comprises a gripping body and has a neck, which contains a working tip, at one or both ends. The working tip is made up of a position sheet for insertion into the horizontal slot of the bracket; a support sheet that is placed on the edge of the tooth and allows the occlusal plane to be viewed when it coincides with the same; and a rod for viewing the long axis of the tooth when it coincides with the same. Furthermore, said instrument provides a good view of the vestibular side while it is being used; and the tips are interchangeable.

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Bracket positioning instrument.

[0003] Technical sector

[0004] This utility model relates to a bracket positioning instrument, which belongs to the technical field of orthodontics.

[0005] Prior art

[0006] The problem that was detected and that gave rise to this invention was that it is often not easy to achieve the correct position of the brackets on the vestibular surface of the tooth, since the instruments currently used do not facilitate the visualization of all the anatomical references that are important for their correct positioning.

[0007] Orthodontics is a branch of dentistry dedicated to the study and correction of irregularities and anomalies in the position of teeth and jaws. Orthodontic treatments use braces, which are devices that can be cemented to the vestibular surface of the tooth, the surface that lies in relation to the lips and cheeks. An archwire is also used, which is the element that connects the braces together and generates the force to move the teeth.

[0008] There are two types of brackets depending on how the archwire is attached to them, and they are:

[0009] • Conventional ones, which have a square or rectangular base; cement is placed on one side of the base, and on the other side, four fins are arranged, one at each corner, forming a vertical and a horizontal groove; the arch is secured in the horizontal groove with a rubber band.

[0010] • Self-ligating ones are similar to the previous ones, they have a horizontal slot, but they do not have the vertical slot, but rather they contain a cover mechanism to fix the arch on them.

[0011] Both conventional and self-ligating brackets are normally placed halfway along the mesio-distal distance of the tooth, which is the distance from the point of contact with one neighboring tooth to the point of contact with the other neighboring tooth. They should also be positioned with an appropriate angle, as their horizontal slot should ideally be perpendicular to the long axis of the tooth. Therefore, it is important to have a visual reference of this axis and the vestibular surface.

[0012] Furthermore, they must be placed at a specific height. Self-ligating brackets are typically installed halfway between the tooth edge and the gum; while conventional brackets must be placed at a certain distance from said edge. For this purpose, it is very important to have a reference to the occlusal plane, as they can be positioned higher or lower than the required height if this plane is not taken into account. The occlusal plane is an imaginary line that passes through the cutting and chewing edges of the teeth in the same jaw.

[0013] It's important to consider that incorrect bracket placement can cause complications during treatment. It can affect tooth leveling, leaving some teeth higher than others, and can also compromise their alignment, possibly causing some to become rotated. Therefore, precision in bracket placement is one of the most important pillars of treatment to prevent unwanted movement and, secondly, to avoid wasting clinical time correcting bracket placement after cementation.

[0014] Among the alternatives or methods that are used as a solution to the problem posed, the following can be mentioned:

[0015] • Indirect method: In this method, the brackets are first positioned outside the mouth and on the patient's model or mold, and then installed in the oral cavity. This is a very precise method; however, it often requires a scanner and a computer, in addition to additional software and supplies. Furthermore, more than one appointment may be required to begin installing the appliances. Several inventions have been developed using this method; some patents found are: US20160000526, EP2941219, AR058689, among others.

[0016] • Direct method: in which the brackets are installed directly in the patient's mouth using manual instruments, and without the need for computerized technology. It is the most used method and several inventions have been developed, some patents found are: o CN210250115, as interpreted, such instrument facilitates the positioning of the bracket according to the desired height and horizontal direction, since it has a positioning member (15) and a measuring ruler (11), which can be made to coincide with the long axis of the tooth to have a visual reference of said axis, however, this is not contemplated in the objective or principle of such invention, but is used to measure the size of the surface of the dental crown.On the other hand, according to the arrangement of its elements, the positioning portion of the tooth section (155) is only contained on one side of the instrument to place it on the edge of the tooth, and does not extend to the other side, so it does not provide a reference of the occlusal plane. or EP4046588, CN215306854, CO5450238, US20160302888, EP4046588, CAI 190070, 201602695 (Chile), among others. Patent EP4046588 describes an instrument that resembles one of the most used currently, and like most positioners, it was only designed to locate the bracket according to the required height; and it has the drawback that when removing it from the bracket, it can be displaced, so its placement must be verified repeatedly and its location constantly modified.Furthermore, this instrument, as well as the others mentioned, do not facilitate the visualization of all the anatomical references that influence the correct position of the bracket, such as: the mesio-distal distance of the tooth, the occlusal plane, and the long axis of the tooth.

[0017] Considering the direct method, there is no known manual instrument that has the necessary characteristics to solve the problem posed.

[0018] Disclosure of the invention

[0019] Considering the shortcomings described above, it was determined that the solution should be a dental hand instrument that assists in visualizing all the anatomical landmarks that determine the proper position of the bracket on the facial surface of the tooth. To achieve this objective, the present utility model was developed. It consists of an instrument comprised of a gripping body and, at one or both ends, a neck containing a working tip.

[0020] The working tip has a positioning plate for insertion into the horizontal slot of the bracket; a support plate that is placed on the edge of the tooth and facilitates visualization of the occlusal plane when aligned with it, so that the bracket is not positioned higher or lower than the required height; and it also has a rod that helps visualize the long axis of the tooth when aligned with it, allowing the horizontal slot of the bracket to be positioned perpendicular to said axis and positioning it at an appropriate angle.

[0021] Another advantage over several currently available positioners is that the instrument of the invention allows a good view of the buccal surface of the tooth while in use, which facilitates placement of the bracket in the mesio-distal distance; it can be positioned without the need to repeatedly check its position, and the cement can be light-cured while it is being held, thus eliminating its displacement when the instrument is removed.

[0022] Furthermore, the working tip has a connecting end that is contained within the connecting end of the neck, and is held in place by one or more retaining mechanisms. These ends may not be permanently attached; therefore, the working tip can be interchanged, selected according to the desired height of the bracket, and adjusted within the neck to the most convenient position, which provides versatility to the instrument of the invention compared to other positioners.

[0023] An instrument with a simple and practical design was conceived, in which its few constituent elements and their arrangement were sufficient to achieve the objective; and also to solve the problem that none of the current instruments possess the elements to facilitate the visualization of all the anatomical references mentioned, and that most were only designed to position the brackets at a specific height. The novel features of the invention are specifically set forth in the attached claims. The invention can be better understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0024] Brief description of the drawings

[0025] Fig. 1 is the structural representation of the gripping body and the necks of the utility model.

[0026] Fig. 2 is the structural representation of the working tip of the utility model, in a sagittal view.

[0027] Fig. 3 is the structural representation of the working tip of the utility model, in an oblique view.

[0028] Fig. 4 is the structural representation of the working tip of the utility model, in a front view.

[0029] Fig. 5 is the structural representation of the utility model showing the working tips contained in the necks.

[0030] Fig. 6 is a sagittal view of an application example, showing the working tip contained in the neck and positioning the bracket on the tooth. A portion of the gripping body is also shown.

[0031] Fig. 7 is a front view of an application example, showing the working tip contained in the neck and positioning the bracket on the tooth. A portion of the gripping body is also shown.

[0032] Ways of carrying out the invention

[0033] This utility model consists of an orthodontic bracket positioning instrument. Its benefits and advantages over current instruments have been shown and described above; its features and operation are described in more detail below.

[0034] As shown in Fig. 1, the bracket positioning instrument comprises a gripping body (1) and at one or both ends a neck (2) which has a connecting end (3). The gripping body (1) is elongated in shape so that it can be held by the operator's hand, and is smooth or provided with a non-slip pattern. The neck (2) is straight, curved, has an angle between 80° and 170° in relation to the major axis of the gripping body (1), or has two angulations on the same plane, one between 20° and 90° in relation to the major axis of the gripping body (1) and then another between 80° and 120° in relation to the first angulation; and in its final extension or after its last angulation, it has the connecting end (3) which is solid or hollowed, and has a shape complementary to the shape of the connecting end (5) to allow precise and stable coupling.

[0035] Furthermore, the connecting end (3) contains a working tip (4). As shown in Fig. 2, Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, the working tip (4) has a connecting end (5), a support sheet (6) incorporated and arranged perpendicularly or obliquely to the connecting end (5), a position sheet (7) arranged parallel or obliquely to the support sheet (6), and a rod (8) connecting both sheets (6 and 7), which rod starts perpendicularly from the center of the support sheet (6) and passes through the position sheet (7).

[0036] The connecting end (5) is solid or hollowed, and has a shape complementary to the shape of the connecting end (3) to allow for precise and stable coupling. The positioning sheet (7) has a thickness of 0.1 to 3 millimeters; and its edges are smooth or at least one of them has one or more sheets or rods arranged perpendicularly or obliquely to the edge in which they are incorporated. The rod (8) passes through the positioning sheet (7) and the rest of its surface is smooth or has fine lines that have depth or relief, and are arranged parallel to each other at intervals of 1 to 4 millimeters; such that the rod (8) can be measured in millimeters.

[0037] Furthermore, the mechanism by which the working tip (4) is contained in the neck (2) comprises at least one of the following alternatives: a. Containment by means of at least one protuberance that the connecting end (5) has on its internal or external surface, which fits into at least one groove or slit that the connecting end (3) has, or, b. Containment by means of at least one protuberance that the connecting end (3) has on its internal or external surface, which fits into at least one groove or slit that the connecting end (5) has, or, c. Containment by means of at least one groove or slit at the connecting end (5) and at the connecting end (3) that fit together, or, d.A restraint by means of at least one protuberance that the connecting end (5) has on its internal or external surface, which fits into at least one groove or slot that the connection end (3) has, which ends with a lateral notch or with another groove arranged perpendicularly to it and which ends straight or with a lateral notch, or, e. A restraint by means of at least one protuberance that the connection end (3) has on its internal or external surface, which fits into at least one groove or slot that the connection end (5) has, which ends with a lateral notch or with another groove arranged perpendicularly to it and which ends straight or with a lateral notch, or, f. A restraint by means of an internal thread that the connection end (3) has, which fits into an external thread that the connection end (5) has, or, g.A containment by means of an internal thread having the connection end (5), which fits into an external thread having the connection end (3), or, h. A containment by means of a male thread having the connection end (3), which fits into a female thread having the connection end (5), or, i. A containment by means of a male thread having the connection end (5), which fits into a female thread having the connection end (3), or, j. A containment by means of a screw that is screwed into a threaded hole having the connection end (3) and the connection end (5), or, k. A containment by means of at least one rod having the connection end (3), which is inserted into at least one hole having the connection end (5), or, l. A containment by means of at least one rod having the connection end (5), which is inserted into at least one hole having the connection end (3), or, m.A restraint by means of a retaining clip having the connection end (3), which is held in at least one tab, a recess or a hook having the connecting end (5), or, n. A restraint by means of a retaining clip having the connecting end (5), which is held in at least one tab, a recess or a hook having the connection end (3), or, o. A restraint by means of a magnet or magnetic surface having the connection end (3), which adheres to the metal surface having the connection end (5), or, p. A restraint by means of a magnet or magnetic surface having the connection end (5), which adheres to the metal surface having the connection end (3), or, q. A restraint by means of pressure or surface friction between the connection end (5) and the connection end (3), or, r.A containment by welding, riveting, gluing, integral joining or fusion between the union end (5) and the connection end (3), which provides a permanent union between them;

[0038] Where each containment alternative is used individually, or in combination with one or more of the other alternatives; Fig. 5 shows the working tips (4) contained in the necks (2).

[0039] In case the union end (5) and the connection end (3) are not permanently joined, the operator can exchange the working tips (4) and adjust them inside the neck (2) in the position that best suits him.

[0040] Furthermore, as can be seen in Fig. 6, the positioning sheet (7) has at least two of its edges thinner than its central part; and the distance between one of these edges and the flat surface of the support sheet (6) closest to it, is equal to or different from the distance between the other edge and the same flat surface of the support sheet (6). These distances are between 2 mm. and 9 mm., and provide the different heights at which the bracket can be placed on each tooth. To position the self-ligating brackets, the operator can use the working tips (4) whose distances are between 6 mm. and 9 mm. ; and for conventional brackets, he can use those with 2 mm., 2.5 mm., 3 mm., 3.5 mm., 4 mm., 4.5 mm., 5 mm., 5.5 mm. and 6 mm. of distance. If the operator wishes to install a conventional bracket, he must select the working tip (4) according to the height at which he needs to position it; and as shown in Fig.6, the support sheet (6) must be placed on the edge of the tooth and the positioning sheet (7) inserted into the horizontal slot of the bracket. The support sheet (6) can be made to coincide with the occlusal plane as if it were a continuation of it, and as it protrudes from the vestibular surface of the tooth, the operator will be able to have the reference of said plane to achieve an adequate posture in relation to the height.

[0041] If the operator wishes to install a self-ligating bracket, he or she may select the working tip (4) and, although the support plate (6) can serve as a reference for the occlusal plane, it is not necessary to place it on the edge of the tooth; he or she only needs to insert the positioning plate (7) into the horizontal slot of the bracket and position it in the center of the vestibular surface of the tooth. The rod (8) can be measured in millimeters, and this will help to visualize said center.

[0042] In any case, as shown in Fig. 7, the operator can align the rod (8) with the long axis of the tooth, thus easily and accurately obtaining the correct bracket inclination. Furthermore, while using the instrument, the operator can have a good view of the vestibular surface, allowing the bracket to be installed more easily in the center of the mesio-distal distance.

[0043] To install the brackets on the posterior teeth, the operator must move the corner of the patient's lip backward, just as if using any positioning instrument, since the space they occupy is practically similar to the present utility model.

[0044] The preferred embodiments mentioned above do not limit the present invention. Those skilled in the art are free to make various modifications and variations provided they are consistent with the spirit and principles of the present invention. Equivalent substitutions, improvements, and any other modifications that meet these criteria are to be included within the scope of protection of this invention. Industrial application

[0045] This utility model has unique and practical features, and as described in the usage examples, it can efficiently perform its function without further complications.

[0046] It can be easily incorporated into existing industrial processes, as it can be manufactured by companies dedicated to making dental instruments, without requiring drastic or costly changes to the infrastructure and equipment used.

[0047] Its design is simple, making it easy to reproduce in significant quantities; it can be manufactured from non-corrosive, non-toxic, or allergenic metals or alloys, as well as from acrylic, plastic, and similar materials that do not harm patients' health.

[0048] Furthermore, there is a growing demand for orthodontic treatments and an increase in the offerings for this specialty; and this utility model can be used by students and orthodontic specialists worldwide, thus offering significant market potential.

Claims

Claims 1. Bracket positioning instrument, which allows the proper positioning of the bracket on the vestibular surface of the tooth, since it facilitates the visualization of the mesio-distal distance, the occlusal plane, and the long axis of the tooth, CHARACTERIZED in that it comprises a gripping body (1), and at one or both ends it has a neck (2) that has a connection end (3) which contains a working tip (4); the working tip (4) has a joining end (5), a support sheet (6) incorporated and arranged perpendicularly or obliquely to the joining end (5), a positioning sheet (7) arranged parallel or obliquely to the support sheet (6), and a rod (8) that joins both sheets (6 and 7), which starts perpendicularly from the center of the support sheet (6) and crosses the positioning sheet (7).

2. Bracket positioning instrument, according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that the gripping body (1) is smooth or provided with a non-slip pattern.

3. Bracket positioning instrument according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that the neck (2) is straight, curved, has an angle between 80° and 170° in relation to the major axis of the gripping body (1), or has two angulations on the same plane, one between 20° and 90° in relation to the major axis of the gripping body (1) and then another between 80° and 120° in relation to the first angulation; and in its final extension or after its last angulation, it has the connection end (3) which is solid or hollowed, and has a shape complementary to the shape of the connecting end (5) to allow precise and stable coupling.

4. Bracket positioning instrument, according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that the connecting end (5) is solid or hollowed, and has a shape complementary to the shape of the connection end (3) to allow precise and stable coupling.

5. Bracket positioning instrument according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that the positioning sheet (7) has a thickness of 0.1 to 3 millimeters; it has at least two of its edges thinner than its central part; and the distance between one of said edges and the flat surface of the support sheet (6) closest to it is equal to or different from the distance between the other edge and the same flat surface of the support sheet (6); said distances are between 2 mm and 9 mm.

6. Bracket positioning instrument, according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that the edges of the positioning sheet (7) are smooth or at least one of them has one or more sheets or rods arranged perpendicularly or obliquely to the edge in which they are incorporated.

7. Bracket positioning instrument, according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that the rod (8) passes through the positioning sheet (7) and the rest of its surface is smooth or has fine lines that have depth or relief, and are arranged parallel to each other at intervals of 1 to 4 millimeters.

8. Bracket positioning instrument according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that the mechanism for containing the working tip (4) in the neck (2) comprises at least one of the following alternatives: a. Containment by means of at least one protuberance that the connecting end (5) has on its internal or external surface, which fits into at least one groove or slot that the connecting end (3) has, or, b. Containment by means of at least one protuberance that the connecting end (3) has on its internal or external surface, which fits into at least one groove or slot that the connecting end (5) has, or, c. Containment by means of at least one groove or slot in the connecting end (5) and in the connection end (3) that fit together, or, d. A containment by means of at least one protuberance that the connecting end (5) has on its internal or external surface, which fits into at least one groove or slot that the connection end (3) has, which ends with a lateral notch or with another groove arranged perpendicularly to it and which ends straight or with a lateral notch, or, e. A containment by means of at least one protuberance that the connection end (3) has on its internal or external surface, which fits into at least one groove or slot that the connection end (5) has, which ends with a lateral notch or with another groove arranged perpendicularly to it and which ends straight or with a lateral notch, or, f. A containment by means of an internal thread that the connection end (3) has, which fits into an external thread that the connection end (5) has, or, g.A containment by means of an internal thread having the connection end (5), which fits into an external thread having the connection end (3), or, h. A containment by means of a male thread having the connection end (3), which fits into a female thread having the connection end (5), or, i. A containment by means of a male thread having the connection end (5), which fits into a female thread having the connection end (3), or, j. A containment by means of a screw that is screwed into a threaded hole having the connection end (3) and the connection end (5), or, k. A containment by means of at least one rod having the connection end (3), which is inserted into at least one hole having the connection end (5), or, l. A containment by means of at least one rod having the connection end (5), which is inserted into at least one hole having the connection end (3), or,. m. A containment by means of a retaining clip that has the connection end (3), which is held in at least one tab, a hollow or a hook that has the connecting end (5), or, n. A containment by means of a retaining clip that has the connecting end (5), which is held in at least one tab, a hollow or a hook that has the connection end (3), or, o. A containment by means of a magnet or magnetic surface that has the connection end (3), which adheres to the metallic surface that has the connection end (5), or, p. A containment by means of a magnet or magnetic surface that has the connection end (5), which adheres to the metallic surface that has the connection end (3), or, q. A containment by means of pressure or surface friction between the connection end (5) and the connection end (3), or, r.A containment by welding, riveting, gluing, integral joining or fusion between the union end (5) and the connection end (3), which provides a permanent union between them; Where each alternative is used individually, or in combination with one or more of the other alternatives.

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