Orthodontic appliance with non-sliding ligature wire

Abstract

An orthodontic appliance can include an archwire, a ligating wire, and a plurality of orthodontic brackets. The archwire can include a plurality of male fasteners and an interproximal loop. Each male fastener can be inserted into an orthodontic bracket and ligated in place. The male fastener cannot slide relative to the orthodontic bracket after it is ligated to the orthodontic bracket.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the application filed on April 18, 2017, with application number 201780033738.X, entitled "Orthodontic appliance with non-slip ligature archwire" (filed on May 24, 2021, with application number 202110563240.2).

[0002] Cross-references to related applications

[0003] This application claims the benefit of the non-provisional application filed April 18, 2016, under 35 U.S.SC §119(e), the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0004] This invention relates to some aspects of orthodontic appliances, including orthodontic brackets and archwires. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In some embodiments, this document discloses an archwire and multiple orthodontic brackets having a plurality of convex fasteners. Each orthodontic bracket can be oriented to engage with a tooth and can be attached to the convex fastener, for example, by sutures. Because the convex fasteners do not slide relative to the orthodontic brackets once secured in place, this orthodontic appliance is independent of sliding members. The convex fasteners can be unlocked by disengaging or otherwise detaching them from the orthodontic brackets.

[0006] In some embodiments, each convex fastener may include a convex ring or kink having a teardrop, U-shape, V-shape, rectangular shape, or other shape, which may or may not be a fundamental part of the archwire. In some embodiments, the convex fastener may also be a straight archwire with tubular attachments.

[0007] Adjacent structures, including loops or bends, can be used, for example, between convex loops on the archwire. In some embodiments, the adjacent structure (such as a loop) is present between each convex loop or bend. The adjacent loop or bend can be arranged in any orientation relative to the convex loop. In some embodiments, the adjacent loop is offset, for example, completely deviating from the curvature of the archwire.

[0008] In some embodiments, each orthodontic bracket may include a channel into which a convex fastener can be inserted. The walls of the channel may restrict lateral movement of the convex fastener after it has been secured in place. The top wall of the channel may aid in torque control around the mesial-distal axis of the archwire.

[0009] In some embodiments, each orthodontic bracket may have a slot in which archwire legs are disposed. The walls of the slot prevent the convex fasteners from moving in the occlusal-gingival direction after being secured in place.

[0010] In some embodiments, each orthodontic bracket may include ligatures on the occlusal side and ligatures on the gingival side of the bracket, the ligatures serving to hold the sutures in position. Each suture may be made of any material, such as metal or an elastic material (e.g., ligature wire), which holds the archwire in position. In some embodiments, each orthodontic bracket may include one, two, or more stop surfaces that prevent circumferential collapse of the convex fasteners. In some embodiments, each orthodontic bracket may include one, two, or more openings to provide more surface area for adhesion, thereby improving retention. In some embodiments, each orthodontic bracket may include a base to improve the holding force of the adhesive. The base may extend to the length of the ligature to prevent adhesive from being placed on the ligature.

[0011] In some embodiments, this document discloses an orthodontic bracket that may include an incisional side wing, the incisional side wing comprising a plurality of legs and wing surfaces extending from a base. In some embodiments, the bracket may also include a gingival side wing, the gingival side wing comprising a plurality of legs and wing surfaces extending from a base. The bracket may also include a channel configured to receive a portion of a convex fastener. The proximal and distal walls of the channel may be configured to surround the convex fastener and prevent lateral movement of the convex fastener relative to the orthodontic bracket. The legs of the incisional side wing and the legs of the gingival side wing may define a portion of the channel. The wing surfaces of the incisional side wing and the wing surfaces of the gingival side wing may extend in opposite directions to each other.

[0012] In some embodiments, an orthodontic appliance is disclosed, comprising an archwire, an orthodontic bracket, and ties. The archwire includes a plurality of convex fasteners and interproximal loops. The convex fasteners are configured to insert into the orthodontic bracket and be secured in place.

[0013] Each convex fastener must not slide relative to the orthodontic bracket and may include one or more loops or kinks of arbitrary shape and / or tubular attachments connected to the straight archwire. The adjacent loops may be of arbitrary shape and may be oriented in any direction relative to adjacent convex loops. Each orthodontic bracket may have a channel into which the convex fastener can be inserted, wherein the proximal and distal walls of the channel are configured to surround the convex fastener and prevent lateral movement of the convex fastener relative to the orthodontic bracket, and the top and bottom walls of the channel are configured to assist torque control. Each orthodontic bracket may include multiple cleats into which the cleats can be secured in place. Each orthodontic bracket may include openings configured to enhance retention force. Each orthodontic bracket may include a stop configured to prevent annular collapse of the convex fastener.

[0014] In some embodiments, an orthodontic bracket is disclosed having a base, an incisional side wing, a gingival side wing, and a channel. The incisional side wing may include a plurality of legs and wing surfaces extending from the base. The gingival side wing may also include a plurality of legs and wing surfaces extending from the base. The channel may be configured to receive a portion of a convex fastener, wherein the proximal and distal walls of the channel are configured to surround the convex fastener and prevent lateral movement of the convex fastener relative to the orthodontic bracket. The legs of the incisional side wing and the legs of the gingival side wing may define a portion of the channel. The wing surfaces of the incisional side wing and the wing surfaces of the gingival side wing may extend substantially in opposite directions to each other. The orthodontic bracket may further include ties configured to removably secure the convex fastener within the bracket. In some embodiments, ties are present to securely position the fastener, and the bracket does not include movable springs, snap-fit ​​mechanisms, or other elements configured to secure the fastener without ties.

[0015] In some embodiments, an orthodontic bracket having a base, an archwire groove, and a channel is disclosed. The base is configured to engage with a tooth surface. The archwire groove has a mesial portion and a distal portion and is configured to receive a portion of the archwire. The mesial portion includes a gingival lateral wall and an occlusal lateral wall, which are generally positioned opposite each other and configured to prevent movement of the mesial leg of the archwire in an occlusal or gingival direction. The distal portion includes a gingival lateral wall and an occlusal lateral wall, which are generally positioned opposite each other and configured to prevent movement of the distal leg of the archwire in an occlusal or gingival direction. The channel is located between the mesial and distal portions of the archwire groove and extends from the archwire groove in a direction generally perpendicular to the archwire groove. The channel has mesial and distal walls and is configured to receive convex fastener portions of the archwire extending from the mesial and distal legs of the archwire.

[0016] At least a portion of the channel may further include a bottom wall and a top wall, which are positioned substantially opposite each other and configured to receive a convex fastener portion of the archwire, such that the convex fastener portion cannot rotate freely about the axis of the mesial and / or distal legs of the archwire. The channel may have an open gingival or occlusal end configured to allow the convex fastener portion of the archwire to extend beyond the mesial and distal walls of the channel. The mesial and distal walls of the channel may be separated by a distance approximately equal to the width of the convex fastener along its widest portion, such that the convex fastener can hardly move in the mesial or distal direction when inserted into the channel. This distance may be less than about 5% smaller than the width of the convex fastener along its widest portion, such that the channel is configured to compress the convex fastener when it is inserted into the channel. This distance may be less than about 5% larger than the width of the convex fastener along its widest portion.

[0017] The orthodontic bracket may also include an opening in the bottom wall of the bracket, the opening being configured to receive at least a portion of a convex fastener. The opening is generally circular. The center of the opening may not be aligned with the center of the archwire groove in the gingival-occlusal direction. The center of the opening may be located beyond the gingival sidewall of the archwire groove in the gingival direction, or beyond the occlusal sidewall of the archwire groove in the occlusal direction. The opening may extend through the base of the bracket.

[0018] The channel can extend along both the gingival and occlusal directions. The orthodontic bracket may also include gingival and incisal lateral wings, positioned substantially opposite each other and each configured to secure a portion of the suture to the bracket. At least one of the lateral wings may have a notch forming at least a portion of the channel. Both lateral wings may have a notch forming at least a portion of the channel. The gingival lateral wing may form the gingival sidewalls of the mesial and distal portions of the archwire groove. The incisal lateral wing may form the occlusal sidewalls of the mesial and distal portions of the archwire groove.

[0019] The orthodontic bracket may also include a stop extending between the mesial and distal portions of the archwire groove. The stop may include a mesial wall and a distal wall. The stop may have a width between the mesial and distal walls that is smaller than the channel width between the mesial and distal walls of the channel. The stop may be configured to prevent significant compression of the convex fastener portion of the archwire within the channel. The stop may extend into the channel.

[0020] The orthodontic bracket may also include a convex fastener portion of the archwire located within the channel. The orthodontic bracket may also include a binding thread configured to removably secure the proximal and distal archwire legs within the archwire slot.

[0021] In some embodiments, an orthodontic appliance having an archwire and one or more orthodontic brackets is disclosed. The archwire is configured to engage one or more orthodontic brackets. The archwire includes a convex fastener configured to engage one of the one or more brackets. The convex fastener has a mesial leg, a distal leg, and a projection between the mesial and distal legs. The projection extends laterally away from the longitudinal axis of the archwire. Each of the one or more orthodontic brackets has a mesial groove, a distal groove, and a channel. The mesial groove is configured to removably secure the mesial leg of the convex fastener to the bracket and prevent movement of the mesial leg relative to the bracket in the occlusal and gingival directions. The distal groove is configured to removably secure the distal leg of the convex fastener to the bracket and prevent movement of the distal leg relative to the bracket in the occlusal and gingival directions. The channel is configured to receive at least a portion of the projection.

[0022] The convex fastener may be a tubular attachment bonded to the archwire. The convex fastener may be formed by bends in the archwire, and the protrusion may include a mesial protrusion extending from the mesial leg, a distal protrusion extending from the distal leg, and bends adjacent to the distal and mesial protrusions. The convex fastener may be teardrop-shaped, wherein the mesial and distal protrusions are dispersed away from each other as they extend from the mesial and distal legs to the adjacent bend. The convex fastener may be V-shaped, wherein the mesial and distal protrusions converge toward each other as they extend from the mesial and distal legs to the adjacent bend. The convex fastener may be U-shaped, wherein the mesial and distal protrusions extend substantially parallel to each other as they extend from the mesial and distal legs to the adjacent bend. The archwire bends forming the convex fastener are all formed in the same plane.

[0023] The convex fastener may be configured to removably engage with one or more brackets in a manner that prevents the archwire and bracket from sliding relative to each other. The convex fastener may be configured to apply torque to one or more brackets about the longitudinal axes of the mesial and distal legs of the archwire. The convex fastener may be configured to apply force to one or more brackets substantially in a mesial or distal direction. The convex fastener may be configured to apply torque to one or more brackets about an axis extending from the gingival to the occlusal direction. The convex fastener may be configured to apply torque to one or more brackets about an axis extending from the buccal to the lingual direction. The convex fastener may be configured to apply a translational force to one or more brackets in any of three orthogonal directions and is configured to apply torque to the bracket about any of the three orthogonal axes.

[0024] The channel may include a top wall and a bottom wall, wherein a portion of the convex fastener is configured to be received between the top wall and the bottom wall. The channel may include an opening located within the bottom wall of the channel, the opening being configured to removably retain adjacent bending of the convex fastener.

[0025] The archwire may have a generally circular cross-section. The archwire may include one or more convex fasteners. Each of one or more brackets may include binding wire configured to removably secure the proximal and distal legs of the convex fastener to the bracket. The archwire may have one or more inter-bracket loops configured to be placed adjacent to one of the one or more brackets to apply force to that bracket.

[0026] In some embodiments, a method of orthodontic tooth movement is disclosed, comprising providing a plurality of brackets and attaching the plurality of brackets to each tooth of a dental arch. Each bracket has a mesial groove, a distal groove, and a channel. The mesial groove is configured to removably secure a mesial leg of a convex fastener configured to be along the dental arch to the bracket and to prevent movement of the mesial leg relative to the bracket in the occlusal and gingival directions. The distal groove is configured to removably secure the distal leg of the convex fastener to the bracket and to prevent movement of the distal leg relative to the bracket in the occlusal and gingival directions. The channel is configured to receive at least a portion of a protrusion of the convex fastener between the mesial and distal legs. The method further comprises attaching a plurality of fasteners configured to be along the dental arch to the respective brackets. The archwire includes interproximal structures located between each of the plurality of fasteners. Each of the plurality of fasteners corresponds to a single bracket among the plurality of brackets. The method further comprises binding the archwire to the bracket to secure the archwire to the bracket. Once fixed, the archwire cannot slide relative to the bracket, causing the teeth to move only through the force generated by the movement of the archwire's interproximal structures between the brackets. The method also includes unwinding the archwire from the bracket. Attached Figure Description

[0027] These figures are illustrative embodiments, but do not represent all possible embodiments of this invention.

[0028] Figure 1A , Figure 1B and Figure 1C An embodiment of an orthodontic bracket with different convex fasteners in place is shown. Figure 1A An angled view of a teardrop-shaped convex fastener is shown. Figure 1B A top view of a V-shaped kink convex fastener is shown, while Figure 1C An angled view is shown of a straight bowwire with tubular attachments as a convex fastener.

[0029] Figure 2A and 2B Examples of orthodontic brackets with different configurations and different sizes are shown, along with a stop to prevent the annular collapse of the convex fastener. Figure 2A An angled view shows a U-shaped convex fastener secured in the correct position. Figure 2B A top view of the orthodontic bracket itself is shown.

[0030] Figure 3 An angled view of the orthodontic archwire is shown, in which the interproximal loops, which are strapped to three orthodontic brackets, are configured to insert from the gingival direction.

[0031] Figure 4An angled view of an embodiment of an orthodontic bracket is shown, which includes eyelets located within the incisal edge-side wing for anchoring sutures and supports to the tooth-facing surface of the base. Detailed Implementation

[0032] Orthodontic appliances are used to correct malocclusion. While various types of orthodontic appliances exist, each has its own potential drawbacks, such as long preparation and / or installation times, low tooth movement efficiency, or susceptibility to breakage. Orthodontic appliances typically consist of a bracket attached to an individual tooth and an archwire connecting adjacent brackets, used to apply forces between teeth to achieve proper alignment. In some embodiments, the connection between the archwire and each bracket allows control over the forces applied to the teeth in all three dimensions. For example, in some cases, the bracket is capable of applying translational forces to the teeth in the gingival-occlusal, mesial-distal, and / or buccal-lingual directions and / or applying torques around the teeth in the gingival-occlusal, mesial-distal, and / or buccal-lingual directions. The various embodiments disclosed in this invention address many of the shortcomings of conventional bracket and archwire appliances in effectively controlling movement in all three directions.

[0033] A square archwire appliance is an orthodontic bracket containing rectangular slots into which a rectangular archwire is inserted. The rectangular construction of the archwire and bracket slots allows the archwire to rotate about its longitudinal axis (typically aligned in a mesial-distal direction) to apply torque to the bracket, and thus also to the teeth coupled to the bracket. The applied torque can be used to facilitate the correction of malocclusion. A square archwire appliance is coupled to each tooth. Square archwire appliances may have, for example, the following disadvantages:

[0034] The square archwire appliance system relies on a sliding mechanism located between the orthodontic bracket and the archwire to align teeth. A drawback of this sliding mechanism is the friction generated between the bracket and the archwire, including friction between the archwire and the binding wire. The amount of frictional force that must be overcome is inconsistent between brackets, often resulting in overcorrection or undercorrection. This may necessitate monthly appointments to correct errors in tooth movement caused by friction.

[0035] • Due to differences in tooth position and size, square archwire braces often require custom-made archwires that bend along three axes, which can be time-consuming.

[0036] Pre-adjusted straight wire appliances are another type of orthodontic appliance. These appliances use nickel-titanium shape memory archwires, which transmit lighter forces than stainless steel archwires. The use of nickel-titanium archwires reduces the number of archwire bends, decreases tissue damage caused by heavier forces, reduces the number of archwires required for treatment, and minimizes the number of treatment visits. However, pre-adjusted straight wire appliances may have the following disadvantages, for example:

[0037] • This type of brace also requires the archwire to be secured to the bracket, which can be time-consuming in some cases, especially for lingual braces.

[0038] This type of braces also relies on a sliding mechanism to move the teeth, which generates a variable amount of friction that must be overcome. Monthly appointments are necessary to correct any misalignment of the teeth caused by this friction.

[0039] Self-ligating brackets are another type of orthodontic appliance that uses movable components in the form of doors or latches to hold the archwire in place. These doors or latches replace the need for tying the archwire and improve the ease of delivery and replacement. However, self-ligating brackets may have the following disadvantages, for example:

[0040] This type of braces also relies on a sliding mechanism, which generates an unpredictable amount of friction that must be overcome. Friction may be lower due to the metal-to-metal interface. Monthly checkups are still required to correct any errors in tooth movement caused by friction.

[0041] The moving parts on which this type of braces rely are prone to breakage due to biting forces or normal use in the mouth over time.

[0042] This type of appliance may be bulkier, which can lead to reduced interproximal spacing between brackets. Because it requires a more rigid archwire, it reduces control over tooth movement.

[0043] This type of orthodontic appliance can have a high orthodontic ramp between the slot and the archwire. This reduces the control over torque.

[0044] CAD / CAM technology can be used to generate customized archwires and / or orthodontic brackets based on optimal, predetermined orthodontic treatment goals. This can reduce the number of appointments and the number of customized archwire bends performed by the physician. However, CAD / CAM technology may have the following drawbacks, for example:

[0045] Custom-made braces may rely on sliding mechanisms, which generate unpredictable amounts of friction that must be overcome. Monthly appointments are still required to correct any errors in tooth movement caused by friction.

[0046] Custom-made braces may require the archwire to be attached to the orthodontic bracket, which is especially time-consuming for lingual braces.

[0047] Customized self-locking braces incorporate all the drawbacks of traditional self-locking brackets.

[0048] A pin-tube archwire is an orthodontic appliance that uses an archwire with protruding "pins" inserted into a recessed vertical "tube". The pins and tube are attached to the teeth and do not rely on a sliding mechanism. Interproximal loops are used to open and close the gaps. This pin-tube archwire may have the following disadvantages, for example:

[0049] This type of orthodontic appliance may require custom-made interproximal loops and archwire bending to fit the staples into the tube. This process is technically challenging, time-consuming, and cumbersome.

[0050] • Due to this locking mechanism, inserting or removing the bowwire can be a technical challenge, making the delivery or replacement of the bowwire a potentially time-consuming process.

[0051] The protruding pin can be soldered to the archwire at an angle. This pin may need to be desoldered and resoldered as the teeth move. This would be a time-consuming process, and the solder joint is a vulnerable area.

[0052] This type of orthodontic appliance may have difficulty allowing axial rotation of the teeth. For example, the post and / or tube may have a circular (e.g., cylindrical) construction, making it difficult for the post to effectively transmit torque around its axis to the tube and thus to the bracket. The post can rotate freely within the tube. Even with a non-circular geometry, the joint between the archwire and the post, especially since the post may be welded to the archwire, may be unsuitable for transmitting sufficient torque from the archwire through small-sized posts. Therefore, this orthodontic appliance may be severely limited in controlling movement in at least one direction.

[0053] Figure 1A , Figure 1B and Figure 1C A view of an embodiment of the orthodontic bracket 101 is shown. Figure 1A An oblique view is shown comprising a generally cylindrical archwire including a teardrop-shaped convex fastener 102 and an archwire leg 103. Each convex fastener 102 can be configured in any shape, such as, for example, teardrop, U-shaped, or rectangular. The convex fastener typically includes a protrusion formed by one or more bends (e.g., three bends) within the archwire, extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the archwire leg 103 to a lateral point away from the longitudinal axis of the archwire. This lateral point may be formed by one of the bends. The bends may have different curvatures (e.g., some are sharper than others and / or have different arc lengths). In some embodiments, the convex fastener 102 is substantially two-dimensional, such that the one or more bends forming the convex fastener are formed in the same plane, such as... Figure 1AAs shown, the convex fastener 102 and the archwire leg 103 are located in the same plane. In other embodiments, the convex fastener 102 is substantially three-dimensional. For example, the protrusion of the convex fastener 102 may bend out to the same plane as the archwire leg 103 as it extends toward a lateral point. The proximal and distal archwire protrusions of the convex fastener may remain parallel to each other or may be offset from each other as they extend toward a lateral point. In some embodiments, the proximal and distal halves of the convex fastener 102 may be as follows: Figures 1A-3 The diagram shows a symmetrical arrangement. In other embodiments, the proximal and distal halves may be asymmetrical. The teardrop-shaped convex fastener 102 may include a protrusion that widens as it extends toward an arcuate lateral point. The proximal and distal archwire legs 103 contact each other as the archwire bends outward to form the convex fastener 102. In some embodiments, the archwire legs 103 are pushed toward each other (e.g., contact each other) as the convex fastener 102 engages the bracket. The proximal and distal archwire protrusions may offset each other as they extend toward the lateral point.

[0054] The convex fastener 102 can be removably attached to the bracket 101, for example, by securing it with a ligature 104. The ligature 104 can comprise any material, such as metal or elastic material, capable of holding the convex fastener 102 to the orthodontic bracket 101. The ligature 104 can be held in position by a gingival wing 105 and an incisal wing 106, which can form the uppermost (highest or foremost) portion of the bracket 101 as shown and can subsequently be operatively connected to the base 111 of the bracket 101. In some embodiments, the wing 105, 106 can include multiple laterally spaced legs (incisal wing leg 139 and gingival wing leg 154), which extend from the base 111 of the bracket 101 as shown and are located away from the non-tooth-facing surface of the base 111 of the bracket 101. Multiple legs of each strap can be connected together (e.g., continuously connected in an uninterrupted section) and / or integrally formed with bridging segments of the legs of two straps. These bridging segments can be flange-shaped, as shown, and extend relative to the side legs of the respective straps in the gingival or tangential direction. The figures illustrate bridge 136 of the tangential-side strap 106 and bridge 152 of the gingival-side strap 105. In some embodiments, the bridging segments span between the lateral legs of the straps, but the strap legs are the only components that actually contact the base 111 of the bracket 101. In some embodiments, the bridging segments extend to or through (or include the tangential-side outermost perimeter 142 and / or the gingival-side outermost perimeter 150) the gingival-side outermost perimeter or the tangential-side outermost perimeter of the base 111 of the bracket 101. In some embodiments, the cutting edge side binding wing 106 (and / or the gingival side binding wing 105) may have relatively straight edges (but may have rounded corners 114 as shown or sharp corners in other embodiments) and also have relatively straight edges (e.g., the gingival side-facing edge 137) opposite the aforementioned relatively straight edges and located between the legs of the binding wing 106 (e.g., belonging to the bridging portion). Meanwhile, the gingival side binding wing 105 may have relatively curved peripheral edges 150 and a cutting edge-facing edge 155 as shown. As shown, the cutting edge-facing edge 155 may also be curved and opposite the relatively curved edge 150 closest to the gingival side, located between the legs 154 of the binding wing. The relatively straight edges of the cutting edge side binding wing 106 may be configured to cover the binding thread 104. Figure 1AAs shown, the relatively curved edges of the gingival side wing 105 may be configured to cover the lateral points of the binding thread 104 and / or the convex fastener 102. The notches of the gingival side wing 105 may be configured to facilitate the insertion of the convex fastener 102 into the orthodontic bracket 101. In some embodiments, the incisal side wing 106 and the gingival side wing 105 have the same or similar geometry to each other, only extending in different directions from the legs of the wing. However, as shown in some embodiments, the wings 105, 106 have significantly different shapes / constructions. In some embodiments, the length of the bridge of the wing may be approximately, or at least approximately, a multiple of 1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2, 2.25, 2.5, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, or greater than the width of the wing and / or the length, width, and / or height of the legs of the wing.

[0055] Archwire legs 103 are located in bracket slots 107, which may have raised slot bottom walls 108. In other embodiments, the slot bottom wall 108 may be continuous with the bottom wall of the orthodontic bracket 101, and may be formed by the front surface of the base 111. The ties 104 may be secured above the top of the archwire legs 103 to keep the legs 103 within the slots 107. The ties 104 and the bottom wall 108 of the orthodontic bracket 107 prevent movement of the archwire legs 103 in the buccal-lingual direction. The archwire can exert a forward translational movement on the bracket 101 and the underlying teeth by applying force to the ties 104. The archwire can exert a backward translational movement on the bracket 101 and the underlying teeth by applying force to the slot bottom wall 108 and / or the bracket bottom wall. When one of the mesial and distal archwire legs 103 applies a forward force to the binding wire 104 and the other applies a rearward force to the slot bottom wall 108, a torque about the gingival-occlusal axis can be applied to the bracket 101 and the underlying teeth. In some embodiments, the gingival-side end of a portion of the convex fastener 102, such as a reversing ring (e.g., a U-shaped or V-shaped convex fastener ring), may be exposed as shown and not covered by the bracket 101. In some embodiments, a portion of the bracket 101 or a portion of its wall, including the gingival-side binding wing 105 and / or the cutting edge binding wing 106, is fixed (immovable) and does not include movable structures such as pawls or shanks, the walls of which may define or help define the walls of the bracket channel 109 configured to contact the convex fastener 102. However, in some embodiments, some walls 109 of the bracket channel may be movable and may exert force, such as a radially inward force, on the convex fastener 102 when positioned in the bracket 101.

[0056] The wall of the bracket slot 107 prevents the convex fastener 102 from moving in the occlusal-gingival direction. Through the interaction between the archwire legs 103 and the wall of the slot 107, the archwire can apply force to the bracket 101 and the tooth along at least one directional plane. When both the mesial and distal archwire legs 103 are biased to apply force in the occlusal or gingival direction, the bracket 101 and the underlying tooth can be pushed in the same direction. When the archwire legs 103 are biased in opposite directions (i.e., one in the occlusal direction and one in the gingival direction), a torque can be applied about the buccal-lingual axis of the bracket, which can be transmitted to the underlying tooth. The direction of the torque will depend on which of the mesial and distal archwire legs 103 is biased in the occlusal direction and which is biased in the gingival direction. In various embodiments, the archwire is not biased only in the gingival or occlusal direction, but also in the mesial or distal direction. The non-slip member of the bracket 101 can thus help apply torque by stabilizing the archwire leg 103 in the bracket groove 107. The archwire convex ring can be removed and replaced by a stop, eyelet, recess, or any type of protrusion 1105 located on the mesial and distal phases of the orthodontic bracket 1101. These protrusions can serve as stops to prevent the archwire 1103 from slipping.

[0057] The archwire can be activated by deflecting it away from its original position and inserting it into the orthodontic bracket to engage with the tooth. When this elastic deflection occurs, the archwire applies a reactive force in the direction that returns it to its designed configuration, thereby transmitting force to the tooth and causing orthodontic tooth movement. This activation method allows for complete control over any movement of the tooth in three-dimensional space. For tooth movement in the mesiodistal direction, if there is a gap between adjacent teeth, fixing the archwire into the orthodontic bracket will cause the interproximal structures to open, which will activate the archwire and close the gap in the mesiodistal direction. However, if there is overlap between adjacent teeth, fixing the archwire into the orthodontic bracket will cause the interproximal structures to close, which will also activate the archwire, this time opening the gap in the mesiodistal direction. For tooth movement in the occlusal-gingival direction, if adjacent teeth are not at the same height, the archwire fitted into the orthodontic bracket will cause the connecting archwire legs and interproximal rings to deflect in an inclined manner, which will activate the archwire and result in correction of the tooth in the occlusal-gingival direction. For tooth movement in the buccal-lingual direction, the archwire fitted into the orthodontic bracket will cause the archwire to be pushed away from its original position, which will cause the archwire to be activated, resulting in the correction of the tooth in the buccal-lingual direction.

[0058] Archwire convex fastener teardrop-shaped ring 102 or other construction may be inserted into orthodontic bracket channel 109. This channel 109 may include a notch in the gingival side wing 105 and additionally extend from a notch located below the shallow surface of the gingival side wing 105. In some embodiments, such as Figure 1A As shown, the channel 109 extends through the gingival wing 105 (located between the legs of the wing 105) to open toward the gingival end of the bracket 101, so that the loop end or lateral point of the convex fastener 102 does not engage with the gingival surface of the bracket 101. The mesial and distal walls of the channel 109 and the orthodontic bracket wall 110 (which may form the mesial and distal walls of the channel 109) prevent lateral movement of the convex fastener 102 relative to the orthodontic bracket 101. Thus, the bracket 101 can be configured for use with orthodontic appliances that do not rely on a sliding mechanism. In some embodiments, as shown, the legs of the wings 105, 106 define a portion of the wall of the channel 109. Because there is no sliding mechanism in some embodiments, the archwire can apply mesial and / or distal translational forces to the bracket without a degree of friction between the archwire and the bracket 101 and the ties 104. In some embodiments, the force applied by the convex fastener 102 to the proximal or distal wall of the channel 109 can help apply torque to the bracket 101 about the buccal-lingual axis.

[0059] The top and bottom walls of channel 109 can be configured for auxiliary torque control. The top and bottom walls of channel 109 help secure the convex fastener 102 in bracket 101. The dimensions of channel 109 can be designed to accommodate the convex fastener. The width of channel 109 can be almost equal to the widest portion of the convex fastener 102, thus forming a substantial interference fit, or channel 109 can be only slightly wider, for example, less than about 20%, 15%, 10%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, or 1% wider than the convex fastener 102. The width of channel 109 can be slightly smaller than the width of the convex fastener 102, for example, less than about 20%, 15%, 10%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, or 1% or less of the width of the convex fastener 102, wherein the annular portion of the convex fastener 102 is configured to be compressed by the walls of channel 109. The top and bottom walls can be separated by a distance, such as... Figure 1AIn the substantially two-dimensional embodiment of the convex fastener 102 shown, the distance is substantially the same as the thickness of the archwire. The top and bottom walls of the channel 109 prevent the convex fastener 102 from moving relative to the bracket 101 in the buccal-lingual direction (front-rear direction of the bracket 101). The binding wire 104 and the bottom wall 108 of the slot prevent the archwire leg from moving relative to the bracket 101 in the buccal-lingual direction. Thus, the torque applied along the longitudinal axis of the archwire leg 103 (about the mesial-distal axis) can be transmitted to the bracket 101 through the interaction of the convex fastener 102 with the bottom or top wall of the channel 109. The interaction of the convex fastener 102 with the bottom or top wall will drive the bracket 101 and the lower teeth to rotate about the axis of the archwire leg 103. Embodiments where the convex fastener 102 and the archwire leg 103 (as well as the top and bottom walls of the bracket 101) lie in the same plane are particularly suitable for applying torque in this direction, as the surface area of ​​the convex fastener 102 pressed against the top or bottom wall under the applied torque can be maximized. In embodiments where the channel 109 allows for some gap between the convex fastener 102 and the top and / or bottom walls of the channel 109, the archwire leg 103 can rotate under the binding wire 104 under the applied archwire torque until the convex fastener 102 contacts the top or bottom wall, thereby transferring torque through that contact surface. Advantageously, in some embodiments, because torque is transmitted from the archwire to the bracket 101 via the convex fastener 102 rather than simply via the edge of the archwire leg 103 to the wall of the bracket groove 107, non-rectangular (e.g., circular) archwires can be used within the bracket 101. Using circular archwires reduces design constraints and the periodic adjustments required by conventional square archwire orthotics.

[0060] The orthodontic bracket base 111 may increase the surface area to improve the retention of the bracket 101 on the underlying teeth and may extend to the length of the ties 105, 106 to prevent adhesive from being placed on the ties 105, 106. In some embodiments, as shown, a portion of the ties 104 may extend rearward to the fastener loop 102 and the ties 105, 106 (below), while extending forward to the fastener leg 103 (above). In some embodiments, the ties 105, 106 include a plurality of legs and surfaces extending from their respective legs in substantially opposite directions.

[0061] Figure 1B A top view of an orthodontic bracket 101 is shown, which includes an archwire convex fastener with a generally V-shaped kink 112. The V-shaped kink 112 may include a mesial and distal projections that extend away from the archwire leg and toward each other until they intersect at a lateral point. The V-shaped kink 112 may be formed as a continuous bend within the archwire or a single kink. The V-shaped kink 112 may be as follows: Figure 1BThe arrangement can be symmetrical or asymmetrical. The V-shaped kink 112 may be substantially two-dimensional, formed in the same plane as the archwire leg. The extension length of the protrusion of the V-shaped kink 112 may be less than that of the protrusion of the teardrop-shaped convex fastener 102. The orthodontic bracket wall 110 may prevent lateral movement of the convex fastener, and the dimensions of the orthodontic bracket wall 110 may be equal to or only slightly larger than the outer diameter of the convex fastener. In some embodiments, this design does not engage the orthodontic bracket channel 109, thus it may lack torque control about the mesial-distal axis. The convex fastener 112 is located on the bottom wall 113 of the orthodontic bracket 101. An opening 114 may be provided within the bracket bottom wall 113 to assist in retaining the convex fastener 112.

[0062] The opening 114 may extend through the base of the bracket 101 or may form an end-closed channel extending into the base of the bracket 101. The opening 114 may be as follows: Figure 1B The opening 114 may be circular or any other suitable shape (e.g., square, rhombus, polygon, rectangle, etc.). The center of the opening 114 may be positioned further toward the gingival side of the bracket 101 (defined by the gingival side binding wing 105) than the center of the bracket slot 107. The center of the opening 114 may be positioned beyond the gingival sidewall of the bracket slot 109. The shape, size, and / or positioning of the opening 114 may be configured to allow retention of the convex fastener 112. For example, when the convex fastener 112 cuts through the plane of the opening 114, the opening 114 may securely retain the convex fastener 112, such that the outer width of the convex fastener 112 forms a chord through the plane of the opening 114. When the convex fastener 112 is inserted, the convex fastener 112 may be rotated about the axis of the archwire leg, such that the convex fastener 112 cuts through the opening 114 at a steeper angle and along a more engaged chord of the opening 114, allowing the convex fastener 112 to extend deeper into the opening 114. Convex fasteners with continuously decreasing outer width (e.g., in...) Figure 1BThe V-knot 112 shown is particularly suitable for retention within the opening 114 in some embodiments. As the V-knot 112 rotates about the axis of the bowstring leg 103, the width of the V-knot 112 increases along the plane of the cut-off opening 114, while the length of the chord decreases along the cut-off plane. Thus, the V-knot 112 can be rotated until its width nearly matches the length of the chord. In some embodiments, the V-knot 112 may be configured to have a degree of compressibility, allowing the convex fastener to be inserted deeper into the opening 114 than its width matches the chord width, which compresses the convex fastener to reduce its outer width. The elastic force exerted by the compressed convex fastener 112 on the sidewalls of the opening 14 helps to retain the convex fastener 112 within the opening 114. When secured within the opening 114, the convex fastener 112 is prevented from lateral movement in the proximal or distal direction. Similar to embodiments where the convex fastener 102 is secured in the bracket channel 109, the opening 114 allows the archwire to apply mesial or distal translational forces to the bracket 101 and the underlying teeth via a non-slip mechanism. The archwire can also be configured to apply torque in a first direction along the mesial-distal axis around the archwire leg by applying a rotational force to the convex fastener 112 further toward the gingiva after it has been secured within the opening 114. The convex fastener 112 can be inserted to its maximum depth into the opening 114, after which torque can be transmitted to the bracket 101 through the sidewalls of the opening 114. In some embodiments, the convex fastener 112 may be secured within the opening 114, requiring a threshold amount of force to remove the convex fastener 112 from the opening (e.g., by rotating the convex fastener 112 out of the opening 114). In this case, the convex fastener 112 can apply a certain amount of torque in a second direction along the mesial-distal axis around the archwire leg by means of force transmitted through the sidewalls of the opening 114.

[0063] Figure 1C An angled view of an orthodontic bracket 101 including a straight archwire convex fastener 115 has a central member, for example, an added tubular attachment 116, the diameter of which is larger than the diameter of the portion of the convex fastener 115 adjacent to the central member. The tubular attachment 116 can be attached to the straight archwire convex fastener 115 by any method (clamping, gluing, welding, fusion, etc.) and is located in a tubular attachment groove 117 formed within a cutting-edge side binding wing 106. This groove 117 prevents lateral movement of the convex fastener 115 relative to the orthodontic bracket 101. In some embodiments, the raised bottom wall 108 of the orthodontic bracket groove 107 can help prevent lateral movement of the convex fastener 115 relative to the orthodontic bracket 101 by forming a step with the bracket bottom wall 113, against which the tubular attachment 116 can abut. The sidewalls of the bracket channel 109 help prevent lateral movement of the convex fastener 115 relative to the orthodontic bracket 101. The tubular attachment 116 can be used as... Figure 1C The shape shown is cylindrical or can be any other suitable shape. For example, the tubular attachment 116 may have a polygonal (e.g., rectangular, pentagonal, octagonal, etc.) cross-section. In some embodiments, this convex fastener 115 does not engage with the orthodontic bracket channel 109, thus it may lack torque control around the mesial-distal axis of the archwire. In some embodiments, the shape of the tubular attachment 116 may be configured to correspond to the shape formed by the tubular attachment groove 117, so that the tubular attachment does not easily rotate around the mesial-distal axis when engaged with the tubular attachment groove 117. This configuration allows torque to be applied in one or both directions around the mesial-distal axis, similar to how conventional square archwire orthodontic appliances apply torque using rectangular archwires in rectangular bracket slots. In some embodiments, the bracket 101 disclosed herein can be used with non-circular archwires, such as rectangular archwires, in addition to circular archwires. When used with a non-circular archwire, the archwire can be configured to apply torque around the mesial-distal axis by pressing against the occlusal sidewall and gingival sidewall of the bracket slot 107.

[0064] Figure 2A An angled view of an orthodontic bracket 201 with different configurations according to some embodiments of the invention is shown. In this configuration, a U-shaped convex fastener 202 is shown. The convex fastener 202 can have any shape, such as U-shaped, teardrop-shaped, or, for example, rectangular. The bracket 202 may have similar features to the bracket 101 disclosed elsewhere herein. The archwire leg 203 and the U-shaped convex fastener 202 are secured in place with binding wire 204. This binding wire 204 is held in position by the gingival side binding wing 205 and the incisal side binding wing 206. The U-shaped convex fastener 202 may be disposed in a channel 207. The mesial and distal walls of the channel 207, as well as the orthodontic bracket wall 208, prevent lateral movement of the convex fastener relative to the orthodontic bracket 201. The top and bottom walls (or bottom) of the channel 207 facilitate torque control about the mesial-distal axis of the archwire leg 203. The bracket 202 may include a stop 209 configured to be positioned between the mesial archwire leg 203 and the distal archwire leg 203. The stop 209 may include a protrusion relatively centered and located between the legs of the tangential side wing 206, and extending from the tangential side wing 206 in a gingival direction. The stop 209 may be centered over the mesial-distal length of the bracket 201. The convex fastener 202 may have the same characteristics as the convex fasteners 102, 112 described elsewhere herein. The convex fastener 202 may be configured with sufficient space between the mesial and distal protrusions to accommodate the stop 209. For example, in Figure 2AThe U-shaped convex fastener 202 shown may include a proximal protrusion and a distal protrusion that extend substantially perpendicularly to the bow leg 203 beyond the length of the convex fastener 202, maintaining a substantially constant width or distance from each other until they bend and intersect at some lateral point.

[0065] The stop 209 helps prevent the ring from collapsing inward on the convex fastener. For example, when a proximal translational force is applied to the distal archetype leg 203, the distal wall of the stop 209 can abut against the distal archetype leg and / or distal projection of the convex fastener 202, preventing the distal half of the convex fastener 202 from sliding toward the proximal half, compressing the convex fastener 202, and causing the ring to collapse in shape or bend during the process. Similarly, when a proximal translational force is applied to the proximal archetype leg 203, the proximal wall of the stop 209 can abut against the proximal archetype leg 203 and / or proximal projection of the convex fastener 202, preventing the proximal half of the convex fastener 202 from sliding toward the distal half of the convex fastener 202.

[0066] Figure 2B A top view (opposite to the tooth side) of an orthodontic bracket 201 without the convex fastener 202 or the binding wire 204 is shown. Archwire legs 203 may be located within the orthodontic bracket slot 210. The convex fastener 202 is located on the bottom wall of the orthodontic bracket 211. The bracket bottom wall 211 may be continuous with the bottom wall of the bracket slot 210. The combined bottom wall space may form a basic U-shaped cavity configured to receive and secure the U-shaped convex fastener 202. The orthodontic bracket base 212 increases the surface area to improve the retention of the bracket 201 on the underlying teeth; this surface area may extend to the length of the binding wing to prevent adhesive from being placed on the binding wing.

[0067] Figure 3A three-tooth segment of an orthodontic appliance system 301 is shown. In some embodiments, the system 301 may include all the upper and / or lower teeth of the dental arch. The archwire includes interproximal structures such as a loop 302, archwire legs 303, and a convex fastener 304, shown as a U-shaped loop in this figure. Orthodontic appliances comprising multiple brackets may include brackets of the same or varied construction. Similarly, archwires for orthodontic appliances may include convex fasteners of the same or various configurations. In this view, the U-shaped interproximal loop 302 is shown pointing towards the gingival direction. The interproximal loop 302 may be constructed in any shape or bend, such as, for example, U-shaped, T-shaped, boot-shaped, rectangular, teardrop-shaped, or triangular, or a combination of the above shapes. The interproximal loop 302 may be oriented, for example, in the gingival or occlusal direction. The interproximal loop 302 may be configured to apply force to adjacent brackets 301, designed to correct tooth positioning. For example, the archwire may comprise a shape memory alloy, such as a nickel-titanium alloy, which is biased toward the correction configuration. The interproximal rings 302 of the shape memory alloy can be used to apply force to the mesial and distal archwire legs 303 of each bracket 301, independent of forces applied to the other side of the bracket or to other brackets in the orthodontic appliance. Because the bracket 301 can rely on a non-slip mechanism, forces on opposite sides of a single bracket 301 can be more easily constructed. The interproximal rings 302 can be configured to apply any number of mesial, distal, occlusal, gingival, buccal, and / or lingual forces, or combinations thereof, to each side (mesial and distal) of the bracket. As described elsewhere herein, in many embodiments, translational and / or torque forces can be applied to the bracket and underlying teeth by selectively adjusting the direction of the forces applied to each side of the bracket 301. Many embodiments disclosed herein allow for effective control of the application of translational forces or torques to the bracket in three dimensions.

[0068] Figure 4 Another example of an orthodontic bracket 400 is shown. The bracket 400 may include a base 414 having tooth-facing and non-tooth-facing sides; an incisional wing 402 having an edge 406 closest to the incisional side, an incisional-facing surface 424, and legs 408; a gingival wing 418 having an edge 416 closest to the gingival side, a gingival-facing surface 426, and legs 420; and an archwire groove 422. The bracket 400 may generally have the same or similar features as brackets described elsewhere herein. Figure 4As shown, the cutting edge side binding wing 402 includes an opening or eyelet 404. One or both of the binding wings 402, 418 may include the eyelet 404. The eyelet 404 may be positioned in the bridge of the binding wing 402. The eyelet 402 is generally circular or may have other shapes. The eyelet 402 may be configured to function as an anchor. The binding wing 402 may allow the binding wire to be anchored to the bracket through the eyelet 402. For example, the end of a discontinuous binding wire may be inserted through the eyelet 402 from the tooth-facing side of the base after being bound around the bracket 400 and bound to the archwire and bound to the non-tooth-facing side 414. The bracket disclosed herein may further optionally include a foot or protrusion 410 and a gap 412 around the foot 410 on the tooth-facing side or other type of textured surface of the base. The foot 410 may extend generally perpendicular to the tooth-facing surface and may include a generally flat end. The foot 410 may include any proportion of the surface area of ​​the tooth-facing surface (e.g., at least about, about, or no more than about 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, etc.). These feet 410 or textured surfaces can increase the surface area of ​​the tooth-facing side of the base, allowing for improved retention of the bonding adhesive and can be used to improve bonding with the tooth surface.

[0069] The archwire can be configured to insert the convex fastener 304 from either the gingival or occlusal direction. The embodiments described herein generally depict the disclosed bracket as accommodating the convex fastener 304 with the loop pointing towards the gingival direction. However, the bracket can be applied to the tooth in any orientation, such as with the loop of the convex fastener 304 pointing towards the occlusal direction. The gingival and incisal wings can also be interchanged. In some embodiments, the gingival and incisal wings can be designed to be similar or identical in shape to each other. In some embodiments, the bracket can be symmetrical, including a gingival half and an occlusal half, as well as a mesial and distal half. For example, both the gingival and incisal wings may include slots that allow insertion of the convex fastener, thereby giving the operator choice of insertion direction after the bracket has been attached to the tooth. Interproximal rings 302 may be present between adjacent convex fasteners 304, but this is not mandatory and can be substituted with a straight archwire. The interproximal ring 302 may be placed close to but not in contact with the gingival side, or in some embodiments may extend past the base of the tooth near the gingival side. Embodiments of the brackets disclosed herein may generally include a thin, anterior superior profile in some embodiments. Two-dimensional embodiments of the convex fastener, in which the archwire is bent in a single plane, allow for easy engagement of the convex fastener with the low-profile bracket configuration. For example, the thickness of the bracket may be substantially equal to the thickness of the base, the shallow surface of the archwire, and the gingival ligature bracket, or approximately, or at least approximately, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2, 2.5, 3, or greater than the thickness of the correspondingly engaged element in some embodiments. In some cases, some brackets may be particularly well-constructed to engage with lingual teeth and / or anterior teeth. The bracket may also be designed to have a larger profile. For example, a larger profile allows the archwire to bend more toward the teeth as it leaves the bracket and to apply force along the direction of the teeth (e.g., depending on which side of the tooth the bracket is attached to, whether lingual or buccal).

[0070] The convex fasteners disclosed herein can be inserted into the brackets disclosed herein in any applicable manner. In some embodiments, the archwire, including the convex fastener and / or archwire legs, can be inserted into the bracket using suitable orthodontic tools. In some embodiments, an orthodontist can, for example, manually insert the archwire, including the convex fastener and / or archwire legs, into the bracket using his or her fingers. In some embodiments, the convex fasteners can be configured to form a tight interference fit with the bracket slots and / or channels, in which case they can be snapped into place and remain in relative engagement with the bracket after engagement. In some embodiments, the convex fasteners and brackets can be configured to have some additional space to allow the convex fasteners to be freely inserted into or removed from the bracket without applying any significant force.

[0071] In various embodiments, a convex fastener engages a bracket channel. The convex fastener can be configured to slide into the channel without any compression of the ring portion of the fastener. In some embodiments, the ring may elastically or inelastically deform upon engagement with the channel, which facilitates a secure engagement with the bracket. The ring of the fastener can be compressed as it is pressed into the channel by the compressive reaction force of the channel walls. In some embodiments, as described herein, the channel walls may be substantially parallel to each other and / or substantially perpendicular to the archwire legs and / or bracket slots. In some embodiments, the channel walls may be angled. For example, the width between the mesial and distal channel walls may decrease toward the gingival end of the channel, which may provide increased compressive force as the convex fastener is inserted deeper into the channel. In some embodiments, the orthodontist may manually adjust the width of the ring using his or her fingers or tools before or during insertion of the convex fastener into the bracket. The convex fastener may be configured to slide into the channel at an angle relative to its fixed configuration. For example, an orthodontist may align the protrusion of the convex fastener substantially towards the base of the bracket and rotate the convex fastener (e.g., along the gingival side) as he or she slides it into the bracket channel. The notch in the gingival side bracket ligature may be configured to allow the convex fastener to tilt sufficiently when inserted into the channel. In some embodiments, the convex fastener may be elastically or inelastically bent out of plane while the archwire is secured during insertion. The convex fastener may naturally or manually return to its original configuration after insertion into the channel. The ligature may be applied to the bracket according to any applicable method after the convex fastener is inserted. The ligature may provide a certain amount of friction to the archwire legs, which helps to limit lateral movement or slippage of the archwire legs. The ligature may also limit rotation of the archwire and the convex fastener about the mesial-distal axis of the archwire. In various embodiments, the convex fastener may be easily removed from the bracket, for example, by reversing the process used for inserting the convex fastener.

[0072] Various other modifications, alterations, and substitutions to the design can, of course, be made in accordance with the teachings above. For example, features disclosed in U.S. Publication No. 2014 / 01204911 by Khoshnevis et al. may be utilized, modified, or used in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein. Therefore, it should be understood that the invention may be practiced differently than specifically described herein within the scope of the appended claims. Various combinations or sub-combinations of the specific features and aspects of the disclosed embodiments are contemplated, and such combinations still fall within one or more of the scope of the invention. Furthermore, any particular features, aspects, methods, performance, characteristics, qualities, properties, elements, etc., related to the embodiments disclosed herein may be used in all other embodiments presented herein. Accordingly, it should be understood that the various features and aspects of the disclosed embodiments may be combined with or substituted for each other to form variations of the invention disclosed herein. Therefore, it is expected that the scope of the invention disclosed herein should not be limited to the specific disclosed embodiments described above. Additionally, although the invention is readily adaptable to various modifications and substitutions, specific embodiments thereof have been shown in the accompanying drawings and are described in detail herein. However, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific forms or methods disclosed, but rather, the invention covers all modifications, equivalents, and substitutions falling within the spirit and scope of the various embodiments described and the appended claims. No method disclosed herein needs to be performed in the order of reference. The methods disclosed herein include certain actions performed by an operator, but they may also explicitly or implicitly include third-party instructions for these actions. For example, the action of “tying the sutures to the orthodontic bracket” includes “instructing the sutures to the orthodontic bracket.” The scope of this disclosure also includes any and all overlapping, sub-scopes, and combinations thereof. Languages ​​such as “reaching,” “at least,” “greater than,” “less than,” “between,” etc., include the referenced numbers. Numbers preceded by terms such as “close to,” “about,” and “substantially” as used herein include the referenced numerical value (e.g., about 10% = 10%) and also indicate values ​​close to the stated value that still perform the desired function or produce the desired result. For example, the terms “close to,” “about,” and “substantially” may indicate values ​​within the range of 10%, 5%, 1%, and 0.1% less than the stated value.

Claims

1. An orthodontic bracket configured to be attached to a patient's teeth, the orthodontic bracket comprising: The near-middle wall and the far-middle wall are connected by passageways; A stop member is disposed at one end of the orthodontic bracket, the stop member having a protrusion extending into the channel; as well as The mesial groove and the distal groove are provided, wherein the mesial groove is arranged on the occlusal side of the stop and the gingival side of the mesial wall, such that the mesial groove is located between the stop and the mesial wall in the occlusal-gingival direction; and the distal groove is arranged on the occlusal side of the stop and the gingival side of the distal wall, such that the distal groove is located between the stop and the distal wall in the occlusal-gingival direction. The channel is configured to receive a convex fastener of the archwire disposed between adjacent loops of the archwire, such that the protrusion is located within an opening of the archwire, such that a portion of the archwire defining the opening surrounds at least a portion of the protrusion, and the mesial and distal portions of the convex fastener are disposed within mesial and distal grooves of the orthodontic bracket, such that the mesial and distal portions of the convex fastener are respectively disposed in the occlusal-gingival direction between the stop and the mesial wall of the orthodontic bracket and between the stop and the distal wall of the orthodontic bracket, thereby preventing the mesial and distal portions of the convex fastener from moving in the occlusal-gingival direction.

2. The orthodontic bracket of claim 1, wherein the orthodontic bracket is configured to accommodate the convex fastener such that the convex fastener does not slide relative to the orthodontic bracket.

3. The orthodontic bracket according to claim 2, wherein the mesial and distal walls prevent mesial-distal movement of the convex fastener.

4. The orthodontic bracket according to claim 1, wherein the interproximal ring extends in the gingival direction.

5. The orthodontic bracket according to claim 1, wherein the stop is disposed on the gingival side of the orthodontic bracket.

6. The orthodontic bracket of claim 1, wherein the protrusion extends in the occlusal direction or the gingival direction.

7. The orthodontic bracket according to claim 1, wherein the channel is open in the occlusal direction.

8. The orthodontic bracket of claim 1, wherein the channel is configured to receive the convex fastener such that the convex fastener extends beyond the mesial and distal walls in the occlusal direction.

9. The orthodontic bracket according to claim 1, wherein the mesial portion of the archwire is a mesial leg, and the distal portion of the archwire is a distal leg.

10. An orthodontic bracket configured to be attached to a patient's teeth, the orthodontic bracket comprising: The near-middle wall and the far-middle wall are connected by passageways; A stop, disposed on the gingival side of the orthodontic bracket, the stop including a portion extending in the occlusal direction toward a channel disposed between the mesial and distal walls; as well as The mesial groove and the distal groove are provided, wherein the mesial groove is arranged on the occlusal side of the stop and the gingival side of the mesial wall, such that the mesial groove is located between the stop and the mesial wall in the occlusal-gingival direction; and the distal groove is arranged on the occlusal side of the stop and the gingival side of the distal wall, such that the distal groove is located between the stop and the distal wall in the occlusal-gingival direction. The channel is configured to receive a convex fastener of the archwire disposed between adjacent rings of the archwire, such that a portion of the stop extending in the occlusal direction is located in a recess of the convex fastener, such that the mesial and distal portions of the convex fastener are respectively disposed in the occlusal-gingival direction between the stop and the mesial wall of the orthodontic bracket and between the stop and the distal wall of the orthodontic bracket, thereby preventing the mesial and distal portions of the convex fastener from moving in the occlusal-gingival direction.

11. The orthodontic bracket of claim 10, wherein the orthodontic bracket is configured to receive the convex fastener such that the convex fastener does not slide relative to the orthodontic bracket.

12. The orthodontic bracket of claim 11, wherein the mesial and distal walls prevent mesial-distal movement of the convex fastener.

13. The orthodontic bracket of claim 10, wherein the orthodontic bracket is configured to receive the convex fastener such that the interproximal ring is open in the occlusal direction.

14. The orthodontic bracket of claim 10, wherein the channel is open in the occlusal direction.

15. The orthodontic bracket of claim 10, wherein the channel is configured to receive the convex fastener such that the convex fastener extends beyond the mesial and distal walls in the occlusal direction.

16. The orthodontic bracket of claim 10, wherein the mesial portion of the archwire is a mesial leg and the distal portion of the archwire is a distal leg.

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