Jaw pad, jaw pad assembly, and shell appliance

Abstract

This invention discloses a jaw pad, a jaw pad assembly, and a shell-shaped orthodontic device. The jaw pad includes an upper surface and a lower surface, which are respectively adapted to fit the upper and lower teeth portions. One of the upper and lower surfaces has a receiving groove for covering at least a portion of the side surface of the tooth in the height direction. Along the dentition direction, at least one sidewall of the receiving groove is detachably connected to the side surface of the upper or lower teeth portion. Using this solution, the jaw pad itself can provide sufficient strength, and the jaw pad can reliably connect to the upper or lower teeth portion, thereby achieving the desired orthodontic effect.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to dental orthodontic appliances, and more particularly to a jaw pad, jaw pad assembly, and shell-shaped orthodontic device. Background Technology

[0002] In orthodontics, jaw alignment is a crucial treatment step because it not only involves proper tooth alignment but also has close implications for occlusal function and facial aesthetics. Many orthodontic cases involve patients with malocclusions such as deep overbite, reverse overbite (underbite), and open bite. Jaw alignment can restore the normal vertical and lateral relationships between the upper and lower jaws, ensuring proper contact and improving chewing efficiency while reducing the risk of temporomandibular joint disorders. Jaw reconstruction techniques can also positively impact facial contours in some patients, such as improving protruding mouths and small chins, resulting in a more harmonious and aesthetically pleasing face. Incorrect jaw alignment can lead to problems like unclear speech, difficulty swallowing, and sleep apnea; jaw alignment helps prevent and resolve these issues.

[0003] Currently, invisible orthodontics is becoming increasingly popular. The combination of jaw pads and invisible aligners can maximize the effectiveness of both: correcting teeth while adjusting jaw position. However, currently, jaw pads made directly from clear aligners often do not achieve the required strength. Furthermore, jaw pads typically do not need frequent replacement during jaw position adjustments, while clear aligners are consumables that need to be replaced periodically. If jaw pads were replaced along with the invisible aligners, it would lead to waste and increased costs. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to overcome the deficiency of insufficient strength of the existing braces with occlusal pads, and to provide an occlusal pad, an occlusal pad assembly and a shell-shaped orthodontic device.

[0005] The present invention solves the above-mentioned technical problems through the following technical solution:

[0006] A jaw pad, in the buccal-lingual direction, has a width greater than the width of the upper or lower tooth portion to which it is connected, and the surface of the jaw pad connected to the upper or lower tooth portion has a receiving groove for covering a portion of the tooth corresponding to the upper or lower tooth portion.

[0007] Along the dentition direction of the teeth, at least one sidewall of the receiving slot is detachably connected to the side of the upper tooth portion or the side of the lower tooth portion.

[0008] In this design, the receiving groove covers at least part of the side surface of the tooth, increasing the contact area between the occlusal pad and the tooth. This not only allows for a more stable connection with the tooth but also provides a location for a detachable structure. This enables the occlusal pad to form a detachable connection with the tooth from the side, further improving connection performance and avoiding impact on the upper and lower surfaces that provide orthodontic treatment. By employing the structure in this design, the occlusal pad itself provides sufficient strength, and the pad can reliably connect to the upper or lower teeth, thereby achieving the desired orthodontic effect.

[0009] Preferably, the jaw pad includes an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface and the lower surface being adapted to fit the upper tooth portion and the lower tooth portion, respectively.

[0010] Preferably, the ratio of the width of the jaw pad to the width of the tooth is in the range of 1.1-1.8.

[0011] Preferably, the occlusal pad covers at least two teeth along the dentition direction of the teeth.

[0012] In this approach, the occlusal pad covers at least two teeth. On the one hand, the occlusal pad can come into contact with more teeth, improving the orthodontic effect. On the other hand, the increased contact area with the upper or lower teeth also makes it more stable.

[0013] Preferably, with the bottom surface of the upper tooth portion or the top surface of the lower tooth portion as a reference, the height of the occlusal pad ranges from 1 mm to 8 mm along the height direction of the tooth.

[0014] Preferably, the receiving groove encloses the upper tooth portion or the lower tooth portion.

[0015] In this design, the receiving groove is connected to the upper or lower tooth portion in a wrapping manner. That is, the inner surface of the receiving groove can fit against the outer surface of the upper or lower tooth portion and apply a certain wrapping force, thereby improving the connection performance between the occlusal pad and the upper or lower tooth portion.

[0016] Preferably, the sidewall of the receiving groove is detachably connected to the side of the upper tooth portion or the side of the lower tooth portion via a locking structure.

[0017] In this solution, a snap-fit ​​structure is used as a detachable connection method, which facilitates assembly and disassembly.

[0018] Preferably, the sidewall of the receiving groove has a slot or a first protrusion.

[0019] Wherein, when the sidewall has a groove, the groove is recessed into the surface of the sidewall or penetrates the sidewall along the cheek tongue direction;

[0020] When the sidewall has a first protrusion, the first protrusion extends along the cheek-tongue direction on the sidewall.

[0021] In this design, the sidewall of the receiving groove is provided with a slot, which can be connected to the corresponding first protrusion of the upper or lower tooth portion; the sidewall of the receiving groove is provided with a first protrusion, which can be connected to the corresponding slot of the upper or lower tooth portion. The slot or the first protrusion can extend along the buccal-lingual direction, facilitating the connection between the occlusal pad and the upper or lower tooth portion, while simultaneously restricting movement along the dentition direction.

[0022] Preferably, when the sidewall has a slot, the slot is an arc-shaped structure, and the edge of the sidewall has a snap-fit ​​opening, the size of which is smaller than the diameter of the arc-shaped slot.

[0023] In this solution, by adopting the above structural form, the movement of the occlusal pad in the tooth height direction can be restricted.

[0024] Preferably, when the sidewall has a first protrusion, the first protrusion is a frustum, and the small-diameter end face of the frustum is arranged close to the tooth.

[0025] Preferably, both sidewalls of the receiving groove are detachably connected to the upper tooth portion or the lower tooth portion; each sidewall of the receiving groove is provided with at least one detachable connection.

[0026] In this solution, by adopting the above structural form, the occlusal pad can be detachably connected to the upper or lower teeth on both sides in the dentition direction, thereby improving the stability of the connection between the two.

[0027] Preferably, the positions of the detachable connections of the two sidewalls are offset in the dentition direction of the teeth.

[0028] In this design, when the jaw pad is attached to the dental brace, the positions of the detachable connections on the dental brace are also staggered accordingly, so that the inserts on the dental brace can also be arranged in an alternating manner, which facilitates demolding.

[0029] Preferably, the positions of the detachable connections of the two sidewalls are offset by a distance greater than 1 mm in the dentition direction of the teeth.

[0030] Preferably, the outer side wall of the receiving groove has two detachable connections, and the inner side wall of the receiving groove has one detachable connection.

[0031] A jaw pad assembly includes two jaw pads as described above, namely a first jaw pad and a second jaw pad, wherein the first jaw pad and the second jaw pad are respectively connected to the left and right sides of the upper tooth portion or the lower tooth portion.

[0032] In this approach, occlusal pads can be placed on either the left or right sides of the upper or lower teeth to improve the overall jaw alignment treatment effect.

[0033] Preferably, the jaw pad assembly further includes a connector, the two ends of which are respectively connected to the first jaw pad and the second jaw pad, and extend between the left and right sides of the upper or lower tooth portion.

[0034] In this solution, the two jaw pads are connected by connectors, which helps maintain the overall structure of the jaw pad assembly in the orthodontic state and also prevents the jaw pads from falling off.

[0035] Preferably, the connector is a connecting piece, the end of the connecting piece is provided with a connecting opening, the inner wall of the jaw pad is connected with a stud, the end of the stud is provided with a gap between it and the surface of the inner wall of the jaw pad, and the connecting opening is connected to the gap.

[0036] In this design, the connector is a sheet-like structure. By providing a connection opening at its end, it can be inserted into the gap and snapped in place to achieve the connection between the two jaw pads.

[0037] Preferably, the connector is a steel wire rope, and the inner wall of the jaw pad is provided with a perforation, through which the end of the steel wire rope passes.

[0038] In this design, the connector is a wire rope-like structure that can pass through the solid part of the jaw pad to form a more reliable connection.

[0039] Preferably, the perforation extends from the end face of the inner wall of the jaw pad, along the height direction of the jaw pad, a predetermined distance, and then extends to and penetrates the surface of the inner wall of the jaw pad.

[0040] A shell-shaped orthodontic device, the shell-shaped orthodontic device comprising a jaw pad as described above, or a jaw pad assembly as described above.

[0041] The shell-shaped orthodontic device further includes at least one shell-shaped appliance, and the jaw pad or the jaw pad assembly is detachably connected to the shell-shaped appliance.

[0042] In this solution, the shell-shaped appliance can be a conventional orthodontic device, and the occlusal pad can be detachably connected to the shell-shaped appliance. Thus, while the shell-shaped appliance plays a role in orthodontic treatment, the occlusal pad can also be used to adjust jaw position.

[0043] Preferably, the shell-shaped orthodontic device includes multiple shell-shaped appliances used in different orthodontic stages, and the jaw pad or jaw pad assembly can be detachably connected to the multiple shell-shaped appliances.

[0044] In this approach, multiple shell-shaped appliances are typically used during the treatment process to gradually adjust and achieve the final corrective position. The chin pad can be detachably connected to multiple shell-shaped appliances, allowing for reuse and avoiding the need for replacement of shell-shaped appliances, thus reducing costs.

[0045] Preferably, the sidewall of the receiving groove is detachably connected to the side of the upper tooth portion or the side of the lower tooth portion via a locking structure.

[0046] The locking structure includes a slot and a second protrusion, which are adapted to each other. One of the slot and the second protrusion is disposed in the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance, and the other is disposed in the jaw pad.

[0047] In this solution, a snap-fit ​​structure is used as a detachable connection method, which facilitates assembly and disassembly.

[0048] Preferably, the number of the second protrusions is not greater than the number of the slots.

[0049] Preferably, the jaw pad is provided with the slot, which is recessed into the surface of the sidewall or extends through the sidewall along the buccal-lingual direction;

[0050] The second protrusion is embedded in the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance and extends along the buccal-lingual direction.

[0051] In this design, the second protrusion on the shell-shaped appliance can be accommodated in the slot of the occlusal pad, thereby achieving the connection between the two. Furthermore, through the aforementioned structural form, the movement of the occlusal pad relative to the shell-shaped appliance along the dentition direction can be restricted.

[0052] Preferably, the slot has an arc-shaped structure; the second protrusion is a frustum, with the small-diameter end face of the frustum facing the cavity of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance.

[0053] In this design, the slot has an arc-shaped structure, which allows it to connect to the lower half-circle of the frustum, preventing them from falling off. The second protrusion is also a frustum, with its small-diameter end facing the cavity of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance, thus preventing the second protrusion from detaching from the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance.

[0054] Preferably, the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance has the second protrusion on both the lingual and buccal sides, and the second protrusion is offset in the dentition direction of the teeth;

[0055] And / or, the second protrusion has a slot in the cheek-tongue direction.

[0056] The positive and progressive effects of this invention are as follows: the receiving groove can cover at least part of the side surface of the tooth, resulting in a larger contact area between the occlusal pad and the tooth. This not only allows for a more stable connection with the tooth, but the sidewall of the receiving groove can also serve as a location for setting up a corresponding detachable structure, enabling the occlusal pad to form a detachable connection with the tooth on the side of the tooth. This further improves the connection performance and avoids affecting the upper and lower surfaces that play a corrective role. By adopting the structure in this solution, the occlusal pad itself can provide sufficient strength, and the occlusal pad can reliably connect with the upper or lower teeth, thereby achieving the desired corrective effect. Attached Figure Description

[0057] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a jaw pad installed on a tooth according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0058] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of a tooth after the removal of the occlusal pad;

[0059] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a jaw pad mounted on a shell-shaped orthodontic appliance according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0060] Figure 4 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance after the removal of the chin pad;

[0061] Figure 5 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a jaw pad provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0062] Figure 6 for Figure 5 A three-dimensional diagram of the midjaw pad from another perspective;

[0063] Figure 7 for Figure 5 A lateral view of the midjaw pad;

[0064] Figure 8 for Figure 5 A top view of the upper surface of the midjaw pad;

[0065] Figure 9 for Figure 5 A bottom view of the lower surface of the midjaw pad;

[0066] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a jaw pad assembly provided in this embodiment;

[0067] Figure 11 for Figure 10 A partial schematic diagram of the connection point between the connecting piece and the jaw pad assembly;

[0068] Figure 12This is a schematic diagram of another jaw pad assembly provided in this embodiment;

[0069] Figure 13 for Figure 12 Cross-sectional view of the mid-jaw pad assembly at the connection point between the wire rope and the jaw pad;

[0070] Figure 14 This is a perspective view of the second protrusion connected to the carrier in this embodiment;

[0071] Figure 15 This is a partial schematic diagram of the connection between the card slot and the second protrusion provided in this embodiment.

[0072] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0073] Jaw pad 100, upper surface 110, lower surface 120, receiving groove 121, buccal sidewall 130, lingual sidewall 140, slot 150, snap-fit ​​opening 151, first jaw pad 101, second jaw pad 102, shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 300, jaw pad assembly 10, connecting piece 410, connecting opening 411, wire rope 420, perforation 421, shell-shaped orthodontic device 20, tooth 30, second protrusion 500, carrier 600, buccal-lingual direction BL, dentition direction D, tooth height direction H. Detailed Implementation

[0074] The present invention will be further illustrated by way of embodiments below, but the present invention is not limited to the scope of the embodiments described herein.

[0075] Example 1

[0076] This embodiment provides a jaw pad 100, such as Figures 1-9 As shown, the jaw pad 100 includes an upper surface 110 and a lower surface 120, which are adapted to fit the upper tooth portion and the lower tooth portion, respectively. One of the upper surface 110 and the lower surface 120 has a receiving groove 121 for covering at least a portion of the side surface of the tooth in the height direction of the tooth 30. Along the dentition direction D of the tooth, at least one sidewall of the receiving groove 121 is detachably connected to the side surface of the upper tooth portion or the side surface of the lower tooth portion.

[0077] The receiving groove 121 covers at least part of the side surface of the tooth, increasing the contact area between the occlusal pad 100 and the tooth. This not only allows for a more stable connection with the tooth, but the sidewalls of the receiving groove 121 can also serve as locations for detachable structures, enabling the occlusal pad 100 to form a detachable connection with the tooth on its side. This further improves the connection performance and avoids affecting the upper and lower surfaces 120 that provide orthodontic treatment. By adopting the structure in this solution, the occlusal pad 100 itself provides sufficient strength, and the occlusal pad 100 can reliably connect with the upper or lower portion of the teeth, thereby achieving the desired orthodontic effect.

[0078] In actual use, the occlusal pad 100 is typically positioned roughly horizontally between the upper and lower teeth. In use, the surface supporting the upper teeth is the upper surface 110, and the surface supporting the lower teeth is the lower surface 120. The upper tooth portion can be either the upper teeth themselves or a shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 300 fitted over the upper teeth; the lower tooth portion can be either the lower teeth themselves or a shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 300 fitted over the lower teeth. In this embodiment, the occlusal pad 100 can be used in conjunction with the teeth 30 or the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 300, depending on the situation. Taking the lower teeth portion as an example... Figure 1 As shown, the lower surface 120 of the occlusal pad 100 is detachably connected to the lower teeth, and the upper surface 110 of the occlusal pad 100 is used to contact the upper teeth portion, which may be specifically the upper teeth or a shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 300 fitted onto the upper teeth, depending on the situation; such as Figure 3 As shown, the lower surface 120 of the occlusal pad 100 is detachably connected to the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 300 fitted onto the lower teeth, and the upper surface 110 of the occlusal pad 100 is used to contact the upper teeth portion, which may be the upper teeth or the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 300 fitted onto the upper teeth, depending on the situation. Typically, the occlusal pad 100 is placed on the posterior teeth portion, and can be placed on the posterior teeth portion on both sides of the oral cavity.

[0079] like Figure 5 , Figure 6 and Figure 7 , Figure 8As shown, the upper surface 110 and lower surface 120 of the occlusal pad 100 have a concave-convex structure and each can be provided with an orthodontic groove. This orthodontic groove corresponds to the expected orthodontic position of the jaw and is used to accommodate the upper or lower teeth. The aforementioned accommodating groove 121 can be based on the orthodontic groove of the upper surface 110 or the lower surface 120 (the lower surface 120 is shown in the figure), extending a longer length on at least one side of the buccal or lingual side in the dentition direction D, and covering at least a portion of the lateral surface of the tooth. Accordingly, the portion of the accommodating groove 121 other than the orthodontic groove is preferably adapted to the shape of the tooth. Wherein, the occlusal pad 100 covering the lateral surface of the tooth refers to the positional relationship between it and the tooth. Based on the above, depending on the actual situation, the occlusal pad 100 can directly contact the tooth 30 or contact the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 300 fitted on the tooth. Therefore, a detachable structure is provided between the sidewall of the receiving groove 121 and the side of the upper or lower tooth portion to detachably connect the jaw pad 100 to the upper or lower tooth portion.

[0080] As a preferred implementation method, such as Figures 1-4 As shown, in the buccal-lingual direction BL, the width of the occlusal pad 100 is greater than the width of the upper or lower tooth portion connected to the occlusal pad 100. This provides a larger occlusal area for more stable occlusion and also allows for greater tooth coverage, enabling a more stable connection between the occlusal pad 100 and the tooth. Preferably, the ratio of the width of the occlusal pad 100 to the width of the tooth 30 is in the range of 1.1-1.8.

[0081] On the BL direction from the cheek to the tongue, such as Figure 1 As shown, the width of the occlusal pad 100 is greater than the width of the tooth 30, as... Figure 3 As shown, the width of the occlusal pad 100 is greater than the width of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 300. Preferably, the occlusal pad 100 extends beyond both the buccal and lingual sides of the tooth 30, thus providing sidewalls on both sides of the tooth 30 in the dentition direction D. In other embodiments, the occlusal pad 100 may extend beyond only one side of the tooth 30, which side may be either the buccal or lingual side.

[0082] As a preferred implementation method, such as Figures 1-4 As shown, along the dentition direction D of teeth 30, the occlusal pad 100 covers at least two teeth 30. On the one hand, the occlusal pad 100 can contact more teeth 30, improving the effect of jaw correction; on the other hand, the increased contact area with the upper or lower teeth also makes it more stable.

[0083] like Figure 1 and Figure 3As shown, the occlusal pad 100 covers the posterior portion of the teeth 30 and the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 300. On the lower surface 120 of the occlusal pad 100, it covers three posterior teeth 30. On the upper surface 110 of the occlusal pad 100, it can accommodate two complete teeth 30 and a portion of another tooth 30. In actual implementation, the coverage areas of the upper surface 110 and the lower surface 120 can be configured separately according to requirements.

[0084] In a preferred embodiment, with the bottom surface of the upper tooth portion or the top surface of the lower tooth portion as a reference, the height of the occlusal pad 100 ranges from 1 mm to 8 mm along the height direction H of the tooth 30. The bottom surface of the upper tooth portion can be either the bottom surface of the tooth 30 or the bottom surface of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 300; the top surface of the lower tooth portion can be either the top surface of the tooth 30 or the top surface of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 300.

[0085] The buccal sidewall 130 and lingual sidewall 140 of the receiving groove 121 can have the same or different heights; and, in the dentition direction D, the buccal sidewall 130 or the lingual sidewall 140 can have a uniform height or a varying height. Figure 5 , Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, the buccal lateral wall 130 has a varying height, with the height of the buccal lateral wall 130 in the anterior part being less than that in the posterior part; the lingual lateral wall 140 has a substantially uniform height; the height of the lingual lateral wall 140 is approximately the same as the height of the buccal lateral wall 130 in the anterior part.

[0086] In a preferred embodiment, the receiving groove 121 wraps around the upper or lower tooth portion. The receiving groove 121 is connected to the upper or lower tooth portion in a wrapping manner, that is, the inner surface of the receiving groove 121 can conform to the outer surface of the upper or lower tooth portion and apply a certain wrapping force, thereby improving the connection performance between the occlusal pad 100 and the upper or lower tooth portion.

[0087] As a combination of the above implementation methods, such as Figures 1-9 As shown, the jaw pad 100 has a generally rectangular parallelepiped structure, but some surfaces have irregularly shaped portions that can be adapted to the outer contour of the tooth 30 or the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 300. Figures 1-4 As shown, in the buccal direction, the occlusal pad 100 is wider than the tooth 30, and extends beyond the tooth 30 on both sides in the dentition direction D. This not only provides a larger occlusal area for more stable occlusion, but also allows the lower surface 120 to have a larger coverage area, more stably enclosing the tooth 30 or the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 300. Figures 5-9As shown, the upper surface 110 of the occlusal pad 100, which is substantially horizontal, has a recessed orthodontic groove to adapt to a partial contour of the tooth. The lower surface 120 of the occlusal pad 100 has a substantially horizontal surface and forms an inwardly recessed receiving groove 121. The receiving groove 121 has buccal sidewalls 130 and lingual sidewalls 140, which respectively wrap around the buccal and lingual sides of the tooth 30 or the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 300, so as to obtain a larger tooth-wrapping area on the lower surface 120 of the occlusal pad 100, so that the occlusal pad 100 can more stably wrap around the tooth or the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 300.

[0088] The sidewall of the receiving groove 121 can be detachably connected to the upper or lower tooth portion through various detachable structural forms. Generally, one part of the detachable structure is located on the sidewall of the receiving groove 121, and the other part is located on the upper or lower tooth portion.

[0089] In a preferred embodiment, the sidewall of the receiving groove 121 is detachably connected to the side of the upper tooth portion or the side of the lower tooth portion via a locking structure. Using a locking structure as a detachable connection facilitates assembly and disassembly. The locking structure refers to a method of fixing the receiving groove 121 to the tooth portion through a snap-fit ​​connection.

[0090] In other embodiments, detachable connections can be achieved in other ways, such as threaded connections, pin connections, etc. In this embodiment, a locking structure is used as an example for specific explanation. The locking structure may specifically include a slot 150 and a second protrusion, one of which is disposed on the side wall of the receiving groove 121, and the other is disposed on the upper tooth portion or the lower tooth portion.

[0091] Specifically, when the sidewall has a slot 150, the slot 150 is recessed in or penetrates the surface of the sidewall along the buccal-lingual direction BL. The sidewall of the receiving groove 121 is provided with a slot 150, which can connect with a corresponding second protrusion in the upper or lower tooth portion. For example... Figure 6 As shown, the structure of the slot 150 when it penetrates the sidewall is illustrated. In other embodiments, the slot 150 may not penetrate the sidewall and may be recessed from the inner surface of the sidewall to the outer surface, thereby forming a consistent profile on the outer surface of the sidewall and preventing foreign objects from entering the space between the slot 150 and the second protrusion on the tooth portion.

[0092] Alternatively, when the sidewall has a first protrusion (not shown in the figure), the first protrusion extends along the buccal-lingual direction BL on the sidewall. The sidewall of the receiving groove 121, provided with the first protrusion, can then be connected to the corresponding slot 150 of the upper or lower tooth portion.

[0093] The slot 150 or the first protrusion can extend along the buccal-lingual direction BL to facilitate the connection of the occlusal pad 100 with the upper or lower tooth portion, while restricting movement along the dentition direction D.

[0094] Furthermore, when the sidewall has a slot 150, the slot 150 has a superior arc-shaped structure, and has a snap-fit ​​opening 151 at the edge of the sidewall. The size of the snap-fit ​​opening 151 is smaller than the diameter of the superior arc-shaped slot 150. This can restrict the movement of the occlusal pad 100 in the height direction H of the tooth 30. Figure 7 As shown, the central angle of the slot 150 exceeds 180°. When the slot 150 is connected to the second protrusion on the tooth portion, the slot 150 can engage with the lower semicircle of the second protrusion, thus providing a height-directing limit. Furthermore, the second protrusion is preferably frustum-shaped, and the slot 150 has an inner contour that matches the frustum-shaped second protrusion.

[0095] Alternatively, when the sidewall has a first protrusion (not shown in the figure), the first protrusion is a frustum, and the minor diameter end face of the frustum is arranged close to the tooth 30.

[0096] In specific implementation, one or both of the two sidewalls of the receiving groove 121 may be provided with the aforementioned locking structure. Preferably, both sidewalls of the receiving groove 121 are detachably connected to the upper or lower tooth portion; each sidewall of the receiving groove 121 has at least one detachable connection. The occlusal pad 100 can be detachably connected to the upper or lower tooth portion on both sides in the dentition direction D, thereby improving the stability of the connection between the two. Figure 6 As shown, slots 150 are provided on both the buccal sidewall 130 and the lingual sidewall 140. Alternatively, slots 150 may be provided only on the buccal sidewall 130 or only on the lingual sidewall 140.

[0097] Furthermore, the detachable connections of the two sidewalls are offset in the dentition direction D of tooth 30. When the occlusal pad 100 is attached to the dental crown, the detachable connections on the dental crown are also offset accordingly, thus allowing the inserts on the dental crown to be arranged in an alternating manner for easy demolding. Figure 6 and Figure 9 As shown, the outer side wall of the receiving groove 121 has two detachable connections, and the inner side wall of the receiving groove 121 has one detachable connection. The two slots 150 on the cheek side wall 130 are both offset from the slots 150 on the tongue side wall 140.

[0098] Preferably, the positions of the detachable connections of the two sidewalls are offset by a distance greater than 1 mm in the dentition direction D of the teeth. Specifically, either of the two slots 150 on the buccal sidewall 130 is offset by more than 1 mm from the slot 150 on the lingual sidewall 140.

[0099] Furthermore, different slots 150 on the same sidewall can have the same height (relative to tooth 30) or different height positions; slots 150 on different sidewalls can also have the same or different height positions. For example... Figures 5-7 As shown, the cheek sidewall 130 has a varying height, and two slots 150 disposed thereon have different height positions.

[0100] Example 2

[0101] This embodiment provides a jaw pad assembly 10, which includes a jaw pad 100 as described in Embodiment 1 above. Figures 1-4 As shown, there are two occlusal pads 100, namely a first occlusal pad 101 and a second occlusal pad 102. The first occlusal pad 101 and the second occlusal pad 102 are connected to the left and right sides of the upper or lower teeth portion, respectively. Occlusal pads 100 can be placed on both sides of the upper or lower teeth portion to improve the overall jaw alignment treatment effect. Figure 1 and Figure 3 As shown, the first occlusal pad 101 and the second occlusal pad 102 are positioned roughly the same on the two posterior teeth of the tooth 30 or the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 300.

[0102] like Figures 10-13 As shown, the jaw pad assembly 10 also includes a connector, the two ends of which are connected to the first jaw pad 101 and the second jaw pad 102 respectively, and extend between the left and right sides of the upper or lower tooth portion. Connecting the two jaw pads 100 with the connector helps maintain the overall structure of the jaw pad assembly 10 in the orthodontic state and also prevents the jaw pads 100 from falling off. Specifically, since the jaw pads 100 are detachable from the teeth, they are prone to falling off in the mouth, potentially causing injury. Connecting the two jaw pads 100 together with the connector reduces the risk of falling off. In specific implementations, when a connector is provided between the first jaw pad 101 and the second jaw pad 102, the first jaw pad 101 and the second jaw pad 102 are preferably connected to the upper tooth portion, and the connector may have a curve adapted to the upper jaw.

[0103] As a preferred implementation method, such as Figure 10 and Figure 11 As shown, the connector is a connecting piece 410, with a connecting opening 411 at its end. A stud is connected to the inner wall of the jaw pad 100, and a gap is provided between the end of the stud and the surface of the inner wall of the jaw pad 100. The connecting opening 411 connects to the gap. The connector has a sheet-like structure, and by providing a connecting opening 411 at its end, it can be inserted into the gap and snapped in place, thus achieving the connection between the two jaw pads 100.

[0104] like Figure 10 and Figure 11As shown, the lingual sidewalls 140 of the first occlusal pad 101 and the second occlusal pad 102 are provided with post pins. The end of the post pin has a larger dimension than the post body, and a gap can be formed between the end of the post pin and the surface of the lingual sidewall 140. The connecting opening 411 of the connecting piece 410 can be engaged into this gap and can be restricted to movement in the dentition direction D.

[0105] As another preferred implementation, such as Figure 12 and Figure 13 As shown, the connector is a steel wire rope 420, and the inner wall of the jaw pad 100 has a through hole 421 through which the end of the steel wire rope 420 passes. The connector, with its steel wire rope 420-shaped structure, can pass through the solid part of the jaw pad 100, forming a more reliable connection.

[0106] like Figure 13 As shown, the perforation 421 extends from the end face of the inner wall of the jaw pad 100, along the height direction of the jaw pad 100, a predetermined distance, and then extends towards and penetrates the surface of the inner wall of the jaw pad 100. Specifically, perforations 421 are provided on the lingual sidewalls 140 of the first jaw pad 101 and the second jaw pad 102, and the perforations 421 penetrate the end face and the inner surface of the lingual sidewall 140. The wire rope 420 can enter from the end face of the lingual sidewall 140, extend along the trajectory of the perforation 421, and extend from the inner surface of the lingual sidewall 140. The extended end of the wire rope 420 can be bent to prevent the wire rope 420 from exiting from the perforation 421.

[0107] Example 3

[0108] This embodiment provides a shell-shaped orthodontic device 20, which includes a jaw pad 100 as described in Embodiment 1 above, or a jaw pad assembly 10 as described in Embodiment 2 above. The shell-shaped orthodontic device 20 also includes at least one shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 300. The jaw pad 100 or the jaw pad assembly 10 is detachably connected to the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 300. The shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 300 can be a conventional orthodontic device. The jaw pad 100 can be detachably connected to the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 300, so that while the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 300 performs its orthodontic function, the jaw position can also be adjusted through the jaw pad 100.

[0109] Furthermore, the shell-shaped orthodontic device includes multiple shell-shaped appliances 300 used at different stages of treatment. The chin pad 100 or chin pad assembly 10 is detachably connected to each of the multiple shell-shaped appliances 300. During treatment, multiple shell-shaped appliances 300 are typically used to gradually adjust and achieve the final corrective position. The chin pad 100 can be detachably connected to each of the multiple shell-shaped appliances 300, allowing the chin pad 100 to be reused and avoiding the need for replacement of shell-shaped appliances 300, thus reducing costs.

[0110] like Figure 3 and Figure 4 The diagram shows a jaw pad 100 connected to a single shell appliance 300, where the shell appliance 300 can perform its own orthodontic function and the jaw pad 100 can adjust the jaw position.

[0111] As in Embodiment 1, the sidewall of the receiving groove 121 is detachably connected to the side of the upper tooth portion or the side of the lower tooth portion through a locking structure, or it can be connected through other detachable structures.

[0112] like Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the locking structure includes a slot 150 and a second protrusion 500, which are mutually adapted. One of the slot 150 and the second protrusion 500 is disposed in the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 300, and the other is disposed in the jaw pad 100. The number of second protrusions 500 is no greater than the number of slots 150.

[0113] Specifically, the occlusal pad 100 has a slot 150 extending along the buccal-lingual direction BL. The slot 150 is recessed on the surface of the sidewall or extends through the sidewall. The second protrusion 500 is fitted into the shell-shaped appliance 300 and extends along the buccal-lingual direction BL. The second protrusion 500 on the shell-shaped appliance 300 can be accommodated in the slot 150 of the occlusal pad 100, thereby achieving the connection between the two. Through the above-described structural form, the movement of the occlusal pad 100 relative to the shell-shaped appliance 300 along the dentition direction D can be restricted.

[0114] In practical implementation, the second protrusion 500 is disposed in the posterior tooth region of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 300, and the number of the second protrusions 500 is less than or equal to the number of the clasps 150, preferably equal to the number of the clasps 150. For example... Figure 4 As shown, a second protrusion 500 is provided on both sides of the posterior teeth of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 300, and a second protrusion 500 is provided on both the lingual and buccal sides of the posterior teeth on one side of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 300. The second protrusions 500 on the lingual and buccal sides are staggered, and the staggered distance is preferably greater than 1 mm, so that the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 300 can be demolded during processing.

[0115] Preferably, the slot 150 has an arc-shaped structure; the second protrusion 500 is a frustum, with the small-diameter end face of the frustum facing the cavity of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 300. The slot 150 has an arc-shaped structure, which allows it to connect to the lower half-circle of the frustum, preventing them from falling off; the second protrusion 500 is a frustum, and with its small-diameter end face facing the cavity of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 300, it prevents the second protrusion 500 from detaching from the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 300.

[0116] In practical implementation, the second protrusion 500 can be integrated with the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 300 as an insert. For example... Figure 14 and Figure 15As shown, a tooth model can be manufactured first, and a carrier 600 can be set on the tooth model. The second protrusion 500 has a groove in the buccal-lingual direction BL, through which the second protrusion 500 can be pre-installed on the tooth model. The shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 300 can be covered onto the tooth model by a film to form the desired structure. When the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 300 is removed from the tooth model after molding, the second protrusion 500 will be embedded in the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 300 and removed from the tooth model together. This improves its strength and makes it easier for the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 300 to be molded to have a surface morphology at least partially the same as the second protrusion 500, so as to facilitate connection with the occlusal pad 100. In other embodiments, a cavity can also be reserved in the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 300 for the installation of the second protrusion 500. And, the occlusal pad 100 can be formed by 3D printing, machining or molding. When in use, press the jaw pad 100 directly onto the target position. The jaw pad 100 engages with the second protrusion 500 on the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 300 through the slot 150 on the jaw pad 100, thus securing it onto the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 300.

[0117] In other implementations, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the occlusal pad 100 can be directly connected to the tooth 30. In this embodiment, a second protrusion 500 can be bonded to the tooth 30. Furthermore, a component similar to a support member 600 can be provided in the area between the second protrusion 500 and the gingiva to enhance the load-bearing capacity of the occlusal pad 100 when the second protrusion 500 is connected to the tooth 30.

[0118] While specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above, those skilled in the art should understand that these are merely illustrative examples, and the scope of protection of the present invention is defined by the appended claims. Those skilled in the art can make various changes or modifications to these embodiments without departing from the principles and essence of the present invention, but all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A jaw pad characterized by, In the buccal-lingual direction, the width of the occlusal pad is greater than the width of the upper or lower tooth portion connected to the occlusal pad, and the surface of the occlusal pad connected to the upper or lower tooth portion has a receiving groove for covering part of the corresponding upper or lower tooth portion. Along the dentition direction of the teeth, at least one sidewall of the receiving slot is detachably connected to the side of the upper tooth portion or the side of the lower tooth portion.

2. The jaw pad of claim 1, wherein, The jaw pad includes an upper surface and a lower surface, which are respectively adapted to fit the upper tooth portion and the lower tooth portion; And / or, the ratio of the width of the jaw pad to the width of the tooth is in the range of 1.1-1.

8.

3. The jaw pad of claim 1, wherein, Along the dentition direction of the teeth, the occlusal pad covers at least two teeth; And / or, with the bottom surface of the upper tooth portion or the top surface of the lower tooth portion as a reference, along the height direction of the tooth, the height of the occlusal pad ranges from 1 mm to 8 mm; And / or, the receiving groove encloses the upper tooth portion or the lower tooth portion.

4. The jaw pad of claim 1, wherein, The sidewall of the receiving groove is detachably connected to the side of the upper tooth portion or the side of the lower tooth portion via a locking structure.

5. The jaw pad of claim 4, wherein, The sidewall of the receiving groove has a slot or a first protrusion. Wherein, when the sidewall has a groove, the groove is recessed into the surface of the sidewall or penetrates the sidewall along the cheek tongue direction; When the sidewall has a first protrusion, the first protrusion extends along the cheek tongue direction on the sidewall; Preferably, when the sidewall has a slot, the slot is an arc-shaped structure, and the edge of the sidewall has a snap-fit ​​opening, the size of which is smaller than the diameter of the arc-shaped slot; Alternatively, when the sidewall has a first protrusion, the first protrusion is a frustum, and the small-diameter end face of the frustum is arranged close to the tooth.

6. The jaw pad of any one of claims 1-5, wherein, Both sidewalls of the receiving groove are detachably connected to the upper tooth portion or the lower tooth portion; each sidewall of the receiving groove has at least one detachable connection.

7. The jaw pad of claim 6, wherein The positions of the detachable connections of the two sidewalls are offset in the dentition direction of the teeth; Preferably, the positions of the detachable connections of the two sidewalls are offset by a distance greater than 1 mm in the dentition direction of the teeth; More preferably, the outer side wall of the receiving groove has two detachable connections, and the inner side wall of the receiving groove has one detachable connection.

8. A jaw pad assembly characterized by, The jaw pad assembly includes a jaw pad as described in any one of claims 1-7, and the number of jaw pads is two, namely a first jaw pad and a second jaw pad, wherein the first jaw pad and the second jaw pad are respectively connected to the left and right sides of the upper tooth portion or the lower tooth portion.

9. The jaw pad assembly of claim 8, wherein, The jaw pad assembly further includes a connector, the two ends of which are respectively connected to the first jaw pad and the second jaw pad, and extend between the left and right sides of the upper or lower tooth portion.

10. The jaw pad assembly of claim 9, wherein, The connector is a connecting piece, the end of the connecting piece is provided with a connecting opening, the inner wall of the jaw pad is connected with a stud, the end of the stud is provided with a gap between the end of the stud and the surface of the inner wall of the jaw pad, and the connecting opening is connected to the gap. Alternatively, the connector is a steel wire rope, and the inner wall of the jaw pad has a perforation, through which the end of the steel wire rope passes; Preferably, the perforation extends from the end face of the inner wall of the jaw pad, along the height direction of the jaw pad, for a predetermined distance, and then extends to and penetrates the surface of the inner wall of the jaw pad.

11. A shell-like orthodontic device, characterized by The shell-shaped orthodontic device includes a jaw pad as described in any one of claims 1-7, or a jaw pad assembly as described in any one of claims 8-10. The shell-shaped orthodontic device further includes at least one shell-shaped appliance, and the jaw pad or the jaw pad assembly is detachably connected to the shell-shaped appliance.

12. The shell-like orthodontic device of claim 11, wherein, The shell-shaped orthodontic device includes multiple shell-shaped appliances used in different orthodontic stages, and the jaw pad or jaw pad assembly can be detachably connected to the multiple shell-shaped appliances.

13. The shell-like orthodontic device of claim 11, wherein, The sidewall of the receiving groove is detachably connected to the side of the upper tooth portion or the side of the lower tooth portion via a locking structure. The locking structure includes a slot and a second protrusion, which are adapted to each other. One of the slot and the second protrusion is disposed in the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance, and the other is disposed in the jaw pad. Preferably, the number of the second protrusions is not greater than the number of the slots.

14. The shell-like orthodontic device of claim 13, wherein, The jaw pad is provided with the slot, which is recessed into the surface of the sidewall or extends through the sidewall along the cheek-tongue direction; The second protrusion is embedded in the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance and extends along the buccal-lingual direction; Preferably, the slot has an arc-shaped structure; the second protrusion is a frustum, with the small-diameter end face of the frustum facing the cavity of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance; And / or, the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance is provided with the second protrusion on both the lingual and buccal sides, and the second protrusion is offset in the dentition direction of the teeth; And / or, the second protrusion has a slot in the cheek-tongue direction.

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