Bonded retainer

Abstract

The invention discloses an adhesive retainer for stabilizing a plurality of teeth in a jaw, the adhesive retainer having a contact surface (4) which follows the parabolic curved structure of the jaw as a whole and locally follows the surface contour of the lingual side of the teeth along the longitudinal direction (1) of the adhesive retainer (2), and the adhesive retainer also has a lingual surface (6) extending parallel to the contact surface on the lingual side. In order to improve the stability of the retainer, a retaining portion consisting of the lingual surface (6) arranged transversely to the longitudinal direction (1) is proposed.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an adhesive retainer for stabilizing multiple teeth in a jaw, the adhesive retainer having a contact surface which follows the parabolic curved structure of the jaw as a whole and locally follows the surface contour of the lingual side of the teeth along the longitudinal direction of the adhesive retainer, the adhesive retainer also having a lingual surface extending parallel to the contact surface on the lingual side.

[0002] A retainer is a device for permanently stabilizing a patient's teeth in order to complete orthodontic treatment, especially to correct an incorrect position. Through the retainer, the jawbone can grow together with the tooth root in the position newly provided by orthodontic treatment. This can reduce the risk of recurrence. Bonded retainers (also called "fixed retainers") are bonded to the surface of the lingual side of the tooth. A linear bonded retainer of the aforementioned type is known from patent document DE 10 2013 204 359 A1, and patent document DE 10 2016109007A1 suggests manufacturing a bonded retainer of the aforementioned type from PEEK by 3D printing. It is also generally known that a bonded retainer is composed of a plurality of twisted or braided single wires.

[0003] Technical issues

[0004] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to improve the stability of the retainer.

[0005] Solution

[0006] Based on the known adhesive holder, according to the invention, a holder formed by tongue surfaces arranged transversely to the longitudinal direction is proposed. During bonding, the adhesive penetrates between the holders in a positively locking manner and prevents the adhesive holder from sliding along its longitudinal direction in the bonding position.

[0007] The retaining portion may be placed on the tongue surface or may be machined from the tongue surface.

[0008] Preferably, on the adhesive-bonded holder according to the invention, the retaining portions locally have a height of more than 0.05 mm. In this case, the adhesive-bonded holder is sufficiently fixed in the adhesive bonding position by at least five retaining portions to prevent it from slipping. The retaining portions preferably have a height of more than 0.1 mm, more preferably more than 0.15 mm. With increasing height of the retaining portions, the number of retaining portions per adhesive bonding position can be reduced.

[0009] On the adhesive bonded holder according to the invention, the tongue surface preferably has a saw blade-shaped profile. The regular distances between the grooves have the effect that the adhesive bonded holder is fixed evenly and securely in the adhesive bonded position.

[0010] Preferably, the adhesive bonded holder according to the invention is cut linearly from a sheet metal part such that the contact surface, the tongue surface and two mutually parallel cut-out surfaces of the surface of the sheet metal part form a parallelogram-shaped cross section of the adhesive bonded holder.

[0011] The sheet metal part from which the adhesive-bonded retainer according to the invention is cut is preferably made of a shape memory material. The retainer cut from this material reliably assumes the original cut shape again after being loaded. The sheet metal part is preferably made of a nickel-titanium alloy, more preferably of nitinol. These alloys are particularly suitable for producing the adhesive-bonded retainer according to the invention.

[0012] Alternatively, the retainer according to the present invention may be cut out of a titanium or steel plate or may be bent out of a titanium or steel wire.

[0013] The cross section of the adhesive-bonded retainer according to the invention preferably has an edge length of no more than 0.7 mm. Such a retainer is perceived as being particularly less disruptive. The cross section preferably has an edge length of no more than 0.5 mm, more preferably no more than 0.3 mm. The mechanical stability of the retainer increases with increasing cross section.

[0014] Alternatively, the adhesive-bonded holder according to the invention can preferably be produced by 3D printing. In 3D printing, the adhesive-bonded holder is structured three-dimensionally in layers.

[0015] The adhesive retainer according to the present invention is preferably made of thermoplastic plastic. Thermoplastic plastic can be processed or milled particularly easily in 3D printing. In particular, polyetheretherketone (PEEK) can be considered for the manufacture of the adhesive retainer according to the present invention. Alternatively, polyetherketone, fluoroplastics such as polyvinylidene fluoride (PVFD) and polyoxymethylene (POM) or polyimides such as polyetherimide (PEI) can also be used. In addition, alternatively, the adhesive retainer according to the present invention can be made of synthetic resin, ceramic or metal.

[0016] On this adhesive-bonded holder according to the present invention, the retaining portion is preferably designed as a mushroom. In this case, the retaining portion fixes the adhesive-bonded holder particularly well in the adhesive position.

[0017] As a further alternative, the holder according to the invention can be milled out of metal.

[0018] The surface of the adhesive-bonded retainer according to the invention is preferably polished. Such a retainer is perceived to be particularly less disruptive. The surface is preferably treated by electropolishing or plasma polishing. These methods are particularly suitable for polishing nickel-titanium alloys. Example

[0019] The present invention is described below based on embodiments. In the accompanying drawings:

[0020] Figure 1a A first adhesive retainer according to the present invention is shown,

[0021] Figure 1b shows details of a first adhesively bonded retainer according to the invention and

[0022] Figure 1c a section showing the detail;

[0023] Figure 2 and Figure 3 Shows sections of a second and a third adhesive-bonded holder according to the invention;

[0024] Figure 4a A fourth adhesive retainer according to the present invention is shown,

[0025] Figure 4b shows details of a fourth adhesive retainer according to the invention and

[0026] Figure 4c showing a cross section through the detail; and

[0027] Figure 5 shows a cross section obtained by cutting a fifth adhesive-bonded retainer according to the present invention;

[0028] Figure 6a A sixth adhesive retainer according to the present invention is shown and

[0029] Figure 6b A detail of a sixth adhesive-bonded holder according to the invention is shown.

[0030] exist Figure 1a to Figure 1c The longitudinal direction 1 of the first linear adhesive retainer 2 according to the invention shown in FIG. follows the parabolic curvature of the patient's jaw 3 as a whole. The adhesive retainer 2 is cut from a nitinol sheet (not shown) with a thickness of 0.4 mm and has a substantially rectangular cross section. After cutting, the adhesive retainer 2 is treated by plasma polishing.

[0031] The adhesive retainer 2 has a contact surface 4 which partially follows the surface contour of the lingual side of the tooth 5 and rests against the tooth 5 during orthodontic application. The lingual surface 6 facing the patient's tongue extends substantially parallel to the contact surface 4. The cut-out surface 7 formed by the surface of the sheet metal closes the cross section. The cut-out surface 7 has an edge length 8 of at least 0.4 mm in the cross section.

[0032] The tongue surface 6 has segments 9 with a saw-blade profile, which have trapezoidal retaining portions 10, grooves 11 extending transversely to the longitudinal direction 1 and a height 12 of approximately 0.2 mm. In orthodontic applications, the segments 9 are embedded in a nanohybrid composite adhesive that penetrates into the grooves 11 between the retaining portions 10. After curing, the adhesive retainer 2 is fixed in the adhesive position along its longitudinal direction 1 by form fit to prevent slipping.

[0033] Figure 2 A section 13 of a second adhesive-bonded holder according to the invention is shown having a triangular holder 14 . Figure 3 A section 15 of a third adhesive bonded holder according to the invention is shown, which has rectangular holders 16 and recesses 17 formed between the holders in a correspondingly rectangular contour. Apart from sections 13 and 15, the second and third adhesive bonded holders correspond to the first adhesive bonded holder 2 and are therefore not shown separately.

[0034] exist Figure 4a The fourth adhesive retainer 18 according to the present invention shown in the figure is manufactured from polyetheretherketone (PEEK) in 3D printing. The longitudinal direction 19 of the fourth adhesive retainer 18 again follows the parabolic curvature of the patient's jaw 20 as a whole. The contact surface 21 of the fourth adhesive retainer 18 locally follows the surface contour of the lingual side of the tooth 22 and rests on the tooth 22 in orthodontic applications.

[0035] The tongue surface 23 facing the patient's tongue extends substantially parallel to the contact surface 21 and has a Figure 4b In the details and in Figure 4c The mushroom-shaped retaining elements 25 and the corresponding recesses 20 between the retaining elements 25 are shown in the section 24 in FIG. Figure 5 A corresponding section 27 is shown through a fifth adhesive bonded holder according to the invention made of PEEK, which has wedge-shaped retaining portions 28 and corresponding recesses 29 between the retaining portions 28. Apart from the shape of the retaining portions, the fifth adhesive bonded holder corresponds to the fourth adhesive bonded holder 18 and is therefore not shown separately.

[0036] exist Figure 6a The sixth adhesive retainer according to the invention shown in FIG is also manufactured from steel in 3D printing. The longitudinal direction 31 of the sixth adhesive retainer 30 also follows the parabolic curvature of the patient's jaw 32 as a whole. The contact surface 33 of the sixth adhesive retainer 30 locally follows the surface contour of the lingual side of the tooth 34 and rests on the tooth 34 in orthodontic applications.

[0037] exist Figure 6bIn the substantially straight section 35 shown in detail in FIG. 1 , the sixth adhesive holder 30 has trapezoidal retaining portions 36 corresponding to the first adhesive holder 2 , which retaining portions fix the sixth adhesive holder 30 in an adhesive bonding position (not shown) in orthodontic applications.

[0038] Reference numerals list

[0039] 1 Vertical

[0040] 2 Adhesive retainer

[0041] 3 Jaws

[0042] 4Contact surface

[0043] 5 Teeth

[0044] 6. Tongue

[0045] 7 Cut out the surface

[0046] 8 Edge length

[0047] 9 Segment

[0048] 10. Holding unit

[0049] 11 Grooves

[0050] 12 Depth

[0051] 13 sectors

[0052] 14. Holding unit

[0053] 15 sectors

[0054] 16. Holding unit

[0055] 17 grooves

[0056] 18 Adhesive retainer

[0057] 19 Vertical

[0058] 20 Jaws

[0059] 21 contact surface

[0060] 22 Teeth

[0061] 23 Tongue

[0062] 24 Section

[0063] 25. Holding unit

[0064] 26 grooves

[0065] 27 Section

[0066] 28. Holding unit

[0067] 29 grooves

[0068] 30 Adhesive retainer

[0069] 31 Vertical

[0070] 32 Jaw

[0071] 33 contact surface

[0072] 34 Teeth

[0073] Section 35

[0074] 36. Maintaining part

Claims

1. An adhesive retainer for stabilizing a plurality of teeth in a jaw, the adhesive retainer having a contact surface which follows the parabolic curved structure of the jaw as a whole and locally follows the surface contour of the lingual side of the teeth along the longitudinal direction of the adhesive retainer, the adhesive retainer also having a lingual surface extending parallel to the contact surface on the lingual side, characterized in that: The tongue surface has sections, wherein the sections have trapezoidal retaining portions arranged transversely to the longitudinal direction and grooves extending transversely to the longitudinal direction, wherein during bonding, the adhesive penetrates between the retaining portions in a form-fitting manner and prevents the adhesive retainer from sliding along its longitudinal direction in the bonded position, wherein the tongue surface faces the patient's tongue.

2. The adhesive retainer according to claim 1, characterized in that: The retaining portion has a height of at least 0.05 mm in certain areas.

3. The adhesive retainer according to claim 2, characterized in that: The retaining portion has a height of at least 0.1 mm in certain areas.

4. The adhesive retainer according to claim 2, characterized in that: The retaining portion has a height of at least 0.15 mm in certain areas.

5. The adhesive retainer according to claim 1, characterized in that: The tongue surface has a saw blade-shaped profile.

6. The adhesive retainer according to claim 1, characterized in that: The adhesive bonded holder is cut out linearly from the sheet metal part in such a way that the contact surface, the tongue surface and two cut-out surfaces extending parallel to one another of the surface of the sheet metal part form a parallelogram-shaped cross section of the adhesive bonded holder.

7. The adhesive retainer according to claim 6, characterized in that: The plate is made of a shape memory material.

8. The adhesive retainer according to claim 7, characterized in that: The plate is made of nickel-titanium alloy.

9. The adhesive retainer according to claim 7, characterized in that: The plate is comprised of Nitinol.

10. The adhesive retainer according to claim 6, characterized in that: The cross section has an edge length of no more than 0.7 mm.

11. The adhesive retainer according to claim 10, characterized in that: The cross section has an edge length of no more than 0.5 mm.

12. The adhesive retainer according to claim 10, characterized in that: The cross section has an edge length of no more than 0.3 mm.

13. The adhesive retainer according to claim 1, characterized in that: The adhesive retainer is manufactured by 3D printing.

14. Adhesive retainer according to the preceding claim, characterized in that The adhesive-bonded holder is produced from a thermoplastic plastic.

15. The adhesive retainer according to claim 14, characterized in that: The adhesive-bonded retainer is made of polyetheretherketone.

16. The adhesive retainer according to claim 1, characterized in that: The holding portion is designed to be mushroom-shaped.

17. The adhesive retainer according to claim 1, characterized in that: The surface of the adhesive retainer is polished.

18. The adhesive retainer according to claim 17, characterized in that: The surface of the bonded holder is processed by electropolishing or plasma polishing.

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