Orthodontic bracket

Abstract

The utility model provides an orthodontic bracket which comprises a bottom plate, a fixing block is arranged on the bottom plate, the fixing block comprises an upper wing and a lower wing, an arch wire groove is formed in a gap between the upper wing and the lower wing, a sliding groove is formed in the top face of the upper wing in a penetrating mode, a lock cover is connected in the sliding groove in a sliding mode, and a first groove is formed in the sliding groove. The first groove is formed in the sliding groove and close to the vertical inner wall of the side of the bottom plate, a through hole is formed in the position, corresponding to the first groove, of the lock cover, a shaft wire is arranged in the through hole, one end of the shaft wire is located in the first groove, and a fixing plate is arranged in the first groove and composed of two arc-shaped plates. The positions of the shaft wires are adjusted in the symmetrical placement grooves of the fixing plate, and the shaft wires and the arc-shaped plates are made of deformable materials, so that the lock cover is clamped and limited through the shaft wires when being opened and closed, stress concentration under dynamic loads such as chewing and arch wire traction force is avoided, and the lock cover is prevented from being damaged. And the lock cover is fundamentally prevented from accidentally falling off.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of dental bracket technology, specifically to an orthodontic bracket. Background Technology

[0002] Brackets are an important component of fixed orthodontic technology. They are directly bonded to the surface of the tooth crown with adhesive. The archwire applies various types of orthodontic forces to the teeth through the brackets. Brackets are made of stainless steel, bioceramics, or composite resin. Their main function is to fix the archwire, so that the archwire can play a better role in transmitting orthodontic forces, thereby controlling the three-dimensional movement of the teeth and achieving the purpose of orthodontic treatment.

[0003] In existing technologies, self-ligating brackets use sliding locking covers instead of traditional ligation (using rubber rings or ligature wires), which significantly reduces the frictional resistance between the archwire and the bracket, achieving light-force orthodontic treatment and improving patient comfort.

[0004] However, current self-ligating bracket lock covers generally adopt a simple slide rail locking structure. This design has significant drawbacks when subjected to dynamic loads generated by chewing forces over a long period of time: the alternating shear force generated during chewing will form stress concentration along the slide rail contact surface. When the stress exceeds the critical value of the locking structure (i.e., the lock cover will move up and down due to frequent friction during chewing), the lock cover is prone to accidental dislodgement. If the lock cover dislodges, it will not only lead to the interruption of orthodontic force transmission and prolong the treatment process, but in severe cases, it may even cause tooth displacement and relapse due to loss of continuous control, affecting the stability of the orthodontic effect. Utility Model Content

[0005] In view of this, the present invention provides an orthodontic bracket, which can adjust the position by placing grooves symmetrically on the fixing plate with a shaft wire. Combined with the deformable material of both, the locking cover is locked by engaging with the arc plate through the shaft wire when opening and closing, avoiding stress concentration under dynamic loads such as chewing and archwire traction, and fundamentally preventing the locking cover from accidentally falling off.

[0006] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this utility model provides an orthodontic bracket, including a base plate, a fixing block provided on the base plate, the fixing block including an upper wing and a lower wing, the gap between the upper wing and the lower wing forming an archwire groove, a sliding groove is provided through the top surface of the upper wing, the sliding groove is connected to the vertical surface of the side of the upper wing away from the base plate, a locking cover is slidably connected in the sliding groove, and the cross-section of both the sliding groove and the locking cover is set as a T-shaped structure.

[0007] The slide has a first groove, which is located inside the slide and on the vertical inner wall near the bottom plate. The upper part of the first groove is a rectangular groove, and the lower part of the first groove is two inclined relief grooves connected to the rectangular groove. The first groove and the fixing block are integrally formed by casting with a mold during manufacturing.

[0008] The lock cover has a through hole corresponding to the first groove, and a shaft thread is installed in the through hole. The shaft thread passes through the through hole and the through hole is located at the axis of the lock cover. The first groove is also located in the middle of the vertical inner wall on one side of the first groove, so that the shaft thread can be evenly stressed during sliding, avoiding tilting or jamming due to eccentric stress. The central positioning makes the fit between the shaft thread and the sliding grooves on both sides more balanced. One end of the shaft thread is located in the first groove, so that the shaft thread can be adjusted in the up and down position within the first groove.

[0009] The shaft wire is designed as a cylindrical structure, which allows the load to be distributed through the arc surface of the shaft wire, avoiding the accidental dislodgement of the locking cap due to local breakage of the shaft wire, and ensuring the stable locking state of the locking cap and the slide groove during the orthodontic process.

[0010] A fixing plate is provided in the first groove. The fixing plate consists of two arc-shaped plates. The gap between the two arc-shaped plates forms two symmetrical placement slots for storing one end of the shaft wire, so that the shaft wire can be adjusted in position within the two placement slots. The fixing plate also includes a connecting frame. The connecting frame is designed as a U-shaped structure. Both ends of the connecting frame are connected to the upper end of the arc-shaped plate to prevent the arc-shaped plate from being excessively deformed or shifted in position due to force during the adjustment of the shaft wire.

[0011] Both the fixing plate and the shaft are made of deformable material, so that the shaft can deform under the action of external force to adjust its position within the fixing plate, and further so that the lock cover can be limited after the position is adjusted.

[0012] Both the shaft wire and the fixing plate are made of nickel-titanium alloy, which makes it easy for them to return to their original shape under the influence of oral cavity temperature after deformation.

[0013] A second groove is provided on the top surface of the lower wing near the edge of the lock cover. The second groove and the lock cover form an operating groove, which is used to place a lock-picking tool to open the lock cover, so that the lock cover can be opened quickly.

[0014] A first protrusion is provided on the vertical surface of one end of the lock cover near the lower wing, and a second protrusion is provided on the vertical surface of the lower wing. The first protrusion and the second protrusion form a force fulcrum, which improves the stability and safety of the unlocking operation and prevents the lock cover from deforming due to improper force.

[0015] The beneficial effects of the above-mentioned technical solution of this utility model are as follows:

[0016] 1. Improve the locking stability of the cover and prevent accidental disengagement: By adjusting the position of the shaft screw in the symmetrical slots of the fixed plate, and with the deformable material of the shaft screw and the fixed plate, the cover can be reliably limited when sliding to the open or closed state through the mutual engagement of the shaft screw and the arc plate. This avoids stress concentration caused by dynamic loads such as chewing force and bow wire traction force, and fundamentally avoids the risk of the cover accidentally disengaging.

[0017] 2. Cylindrical Wire for Uniform Load Dispersion: The Wire adopts a cylindrical structure, which evenly distributes the external load through the arc surface, avoiding excessive local stress that could cause the Wire to break. This further ensures the stability of the locking state of the locking cap and sliding cap, guarantees the continuous transmission of orthodontic force, and prevents tooth displacement and relapse.

[0018] 3. Utilizing the properties of shape memory alloys to enhance self-adaptability: Both the shaft wire and the fixing plate are made of nickel-titanium alloy. At room temperature, the position of the lock cover can be adjusted by external force deformation (by prying or pressing with a lock-opening tool). After being implanted in the oral cavity, it returns to its original shape under the action of body temperature, automatically maintaining the shaft wire in the limited position in the placement groove without the need for additional auxiliary fixation, thus enhancing the structural reliability and convenience.

[0019] 4. Optimize the unlocking structure to improve operational safety and efficiency: The first protrusion on one side of the lock cover and the second protrusion on the lower wing side form symmetrical force fulcrums, so that the load is evenly distributed during unlocking, avoiding deformation or breakage of the lock cover caused by single-point force application, improving the stability and safety of the doctor's operation, and reducing operation time costs.

[0020] 5. Improve patient comfort: The deformable properties of the shaft wire and fixing plate can absorb the impact energy of external forces such as chewing, reduce the rigid friction and stress transmission between the bracket and the archwire, reduce the pain and discomfort of patients when wearing it, and at the same time avoid damage to components due to frequent stress, thus extending the service life of the bracket.

[0021] 6. Simplify the archwire installation process and improve treatment efficiency: By switching the archwire between the upper and lower placement slots (the archwire slides into the upper placement slot when unlocking and into the lower placement slot when closing), the archwire slots can be opened and closed quickly without the need for traditional ligation steps, simplifying the clinical operation process, ensuring accurate archwire positioning, and improving the accuracy and efficiency of orthodontic force application. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of this utility model;

[0023] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the partial parts of the lock cover of this utility model.

[0024] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a partial component structure of this utility model;

[0025] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the locking cover structure of this utility model;

[0026] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the fixing plate structure of this utility model.

[0027] In the diagram: 101, base plate; 102, fixing block; 103, upper wing; 104, lower wing; 105, bow wire groove; 106, sliding groove; 107, lock cover; 108, first groove; 109, through hole; 110, shaft wire; 111, fixing plate; 112, arc plate; 113, connecting frame;

[0028] 201. Second groove;

[0029] 301, First bump; 302, Second bump;

[0030] 401. Rectangular groove; 402. Leaving groove. Detailed Implementation

[0031] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this utility model clearer, the following will be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of this utility model. Figure 1-5 The technical solutions of the embodiments of this utility model are clearly and completely described herein. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of this utility model. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the described embodiments of this utility model are within the protection scope of this utility model.

[0032] A type of orthodontic bracket, such as Figure 1 , 2 As shown in Figure 3: It includes a base plate 101, on which a fixing block 102 is provided. The fixing block 102 includes an upper wing 103 and a lower wing 104. The gap between the upper wing 103 and the lower wing 104 forms an archwire groove 105, which is used to place the archwire in the archwire groove 105 to limit the archwire and ensure that the archwire maintains a stable position during the orthodontic treatment and avoids displacement. A sliding groove 106 is opened through the top surface of the upper wing 103. The sliding groove 106 is connected to the vertical surface of the side of the upper wing 103 away from the base plate 101. A locking cover 107 is slidably connected in the sliding groove 106. The sliding groove 106 provides a channel for the locking cover 107 to slide in from the outside, which is convenient for installation and later maintenance. The cross-section of the sliding groove 106 and the locking cover 107 are both set as T-shaped structures to form an anti-dislodgement structure, so that the locking cover 107 can slide smoothly along the sliding groove 106 and can be firmly fastened to lock the archwire.

[0033] A first groove 108 is provided in the slide 106. The first groove 108 is located in the slide 106 and on the vertical inner wall near the bottom plate 101. The upper part of the first groove 108 is a rectangular groove 401, and the lower part of the first groove 108 is two inclined relief grooves 402. The two relief grooves 402 are connected to the rectangular groove 401. The first groove 108 and the fixing plate 111 are integrally formed by casting with a mold during manufacturing, which can improve the manufacturing efficiency during mass production.

[0034] like Figure 2 ,4 As shown in Figure 5: The lock cover 107 has a through hole 109 at the position corresponding to the first groove 108. A shaft wire 110 is provided in the through hole 109. The shaft wire 110 passes through the through hole 109. After one end of the shaft wire 110 is inserted into the through hole 109, the connection between the shaft wire 110 and the outer plane of the lock cover 107 is welded using a spot welding machine, so that the shaft wire 110 is fixed on the lock cover 107. One end of the shaft wire 110 is located in the first groove 108, so that the shaft wire 110 can be adjusted in the up and down position within the first groove 108.

[0035] The through hole 109 is set at the axis of the lock cover 107. The first groove 108 is also set at the middle of the vertical inner wall on the side where the first groove 108 is located. This allows the shaft wire 110 to be evenly stressed during sliding, avoiding tilting or jamming due to eccentric stress. Furthermore, the central positioning makes the fit between the shaft wire 110 and the sliding grooves 106 on both sides more balanced, increasing the stability of the anti-disengagement structure of the T-shaped sliding groove 106 and the lock cover 107, and reducing the risk of the lock cover accidentally disengaging due to uneven stress.

[0036] The shaft wire 110 is designed as a cylindrical structure, so that the load is diffused through the arc surface of the shaft wire 110 (that is, the chewing force, archwire traction force and other loads borne during the orthodontic process are evenly distributed through the arc surface), which avoids the lock cover 107 from accidentally coming off due to local breakage of the shaft wire 110, and ensures that the locking state between the lock cover 107 and the slide groove 106 is stable during the orthodontic process.

[0037] like Figure 1 , 2 As shown in Figure 5: A fixing plate 111 is provided in the first groove 108. The fixing plate 111 is used to limit one end of the shaft wire 110. The fixing plate 111 is composed of two arc-shaped plates 112. The gap between the two arc-shaped plates 112 forms two symmetrical placement grooves, so that one end of the shaft wire 110 is inserted between the two arc-shaped plates 112. When the lock cover 107 needs to be opened, the lock cover 107 is pushed up. At this time, the shaft wire 110 will move upward and slide into the uppermost placement groove.

[0038] Conversely, when the locking cover 107 needs to be closed, it is slid down, and the shaft screw 110 will move downwards accordingly, allowing it to slide into the lowest placement slot. The arc surfaces of the two arc plates 112 need to be set facing each other, so that the two facing arc surfaces of the two arc plates 112 form a contraction structure, which ensures that the shaft screw 110 can be limited in either placement slot (that is, when the shaft screw 110 is in the upper placement slot, the contraction structure formed by the two facing arc surfaces can prevent the shaft screw 110 from sliding down, and the principle is the same in the opposite case).

[0039] The two placement slots can store one end of the shaft wire 110, allowing the position of the shaft wire 110 to be adjusted within the two placement slots. After the position of the locking cover 107 is adjusted, it can be limited. By adjusting the shaft wire 110 within two different placement slots and being limited, the locking cover 107 can be prevented from falling out due to the load and stress caused by chewing or archwire traction, thus further improving the fixation effect of the orthodontic bracket.

[0040] like Figure 2 , 3 As shown in Figure 5, the fixed plate 111 also includes a connecting frame 113. The connecting frame 113 is configured as a U-shaped structure. Both ends of the connecting frame 113 are connected to the upper end of the arc plate 112. The connecting frame 113 can connect the two arc plates 112, preventing the two arc plates 112 from being excessively deformed or shifted in position due to force during the adjustment of the shaft wire 110, and ensuring that the adjustment trajectory of the shaft wire 110 is aligned in the slots on both sides (i.e., when the shaft wire 110 is adjusted up and down, the shaft wire 110 moves in the vertical direction), thus avoiding the shaft wire 110 from getting stuck or failing to limit due to misalignment of the arc plate 112.

[0041] Both the fixing plate 111 and the archwire 110 are made of deformable material, allowing the archwire 110 to deform under external force and adjust its position within the fixing plate 111. This further allows the locking cover 107 to be limited after position adjustment. That is, when the locking cover 107 needs to be opened, it slides upward. At this time, the two arc-shaped plates 112 on the fixing plate 111 will deform due to the upward movement of the archwire 110, and the archwire 110 itself will also deform. This can further enhance adaptability (the position of the locking cover 107 can be quickly adjusted through deformation, so that the locking cover 107 can accurately limit the archwire and improve the orthodontic effect) and improve the flexibility of operation (when the locking cover 107 needs to limit and fix the archwire, the archwire 110 and the two arc-shaped plates 112 on the fixing plate 111 deform simultaneously, which can make the operation smoother, reduce the difficulty of operation caused by the rigidity of the components, and reduce the difficulty and time cost of operation for doctors).

[0042] During the deformation process, the two curved plates 112 will deform within the rectangular groove 401 on the upper part of the first groove 108 due to the deformation on both sides, and will be blocked by the rectangular groove 401 to prevent the curved plates 112 from deforming excessively. Furthermore, the lower end of the two curved plates 112 will move into the two relief grooves 402, effectively preventing the lower end of the curved plates 112 from hitting the bottom of the first groove 108 and bending, further improving the stability of the two curved plates 112 during use.

[0043] When subjected to external impact (such as chewing force), the fixing plate 111 and the shaft wire 110 can absorb some of the energy through deformation, thereby reducing the risk of damage or detachment of the locking cover 107, extending its service life, and providing patients with a more comfortable wearing experience, reducing the pain and discomfort caused by the pull of the bracket and the archwire.

[0044] It is worth mentioning that both the axial wire 110 and the fixing plate 111 are made of nickel-titanium alloy, which makes it easy for them to recover their original shape under the influence of oral temperature after deformation. Because nickel-titanium alloy is a shape memory alloy, when an external force is applied to the axial wire 110 and the fixing plate 111 at room temperature (around 25°C) to deform them (such as when the doctor prys up or presses down the locking cap 107 with a tool), both the axial wire 110 and the fixing plate 111 can deform (at this time, the axial wire 110 and the fixing plate 111 are in the martensitic state, the temperature is lower than the phase transition temperature, and the deformation resistance is small).

[0045] When the bracket is implanted in the oral cavity, the body temperature (36℃-37℃) causes the temperature of the shaft wire 110 and the fixing plate 111 to rise (at this time, the shaft wire 110 and the fixing plate 111 are in the austenitic state, that is, the temperature is higher than the phase transition temperature). The shaft wire 110 and the fixing plate 111 can return to their initial shape, preventing the shaft wire 110 from falling off from the corresponding placement slot.

[0046] like Figure 3 , 4 As shown: A second groove 201 is provided on the top surface of the lower wing 104 near the edge of the lock cover 107. The second groove 201 and the lock cover 107 form an operating groove. The operating groove is used to place a lock-picking tool to open the lock cover 107, so that the lock cover 107 can be opened quickly. When it is necessary to close the lock cover 107, the lock cover 107 is closed by pressing the top of the lock cover 107 downward with the lock-picking tool.

[0047] A first protrusion 301 is provided on the vertical surface of one end of the lock cover 107 near the lower wing 104, and a second protrusion 302 is provided on the vertical surface of the lower wing 104. The first protrusion 301 and the second protrusion 302 form a force-bearing point, which improves the stability and safety during the unlocking operation and prevents the lock cover 107 from deforming due to improper force application. That is, the first protrusion 301 and the second protrusion 302 form symmetrical force-bearing points, so that the load (push force, pull force, etc.) during unlocking is evenly distributed through the two protrusions, avoiding local stress concentration caused by excessive force on a single point. The two protrusions can increase the material thickness of the connection area between the lock cover 107 and the lower wing 104, and improve the ability to resist deformation (even if the force is large, the load can be distributed through the structural strength to prevent the lock cover 107 from breaking or deforming due to local overload).

[0048] During assembly, first embed the fixing plate 111 into the first groove 108, then press the lock cover 107 into the sliding groove 106. When the bottom of the lock cover 107 touches the upper surface of the second groove 201, it indicates that the lock cover 107 is pressed in place. Then, thread the shaft 110 through the through hole 109 of the lock cover 107. When you feel the insertion end of the shaft 110 pressing against the first groove 108 and parallel to the inner wall of one side of the base plate 101, the other end of the shaft 110 is just flush with the outer surface of the lock cover 107. Use a spot welding machine to weld the connection between the shaft 110 and the outer plane of the lock cover 107 to fix the shaft 110 on the lock cover 107.

[0049] Next, place the unlocking tool in the second groove 201 and pry it upwards with a little force. The lock cover 107 moves upwards along the slide groove 106 on both sides. The insertion end of the axial wire 110 also moves upwards from the fixed plate 111. The insertion end of the axial wire 110 squeezes through the contraction structure formed by the two arc plates 112 on the fixed plate 111 and enters the uppermost placement groove. The middle part of the fixed plate 111 returns to its original state, supporting the axial wire 110 so that it does not fall downwards. At the same time, the axial wire 110 will not fall out of the uppermost placement groove (i.e., the lock cover 107 will not fall out of the slide groove 106). At this time, the bottom of the lock cover 107 just reaches the lower surface of the upper wing 103 and is flush with it. The lock cover 107 is in the unlocked state, and the bow wire can be inserted into the bow wire groove 105.

[0050] Using a lock-picking tool, press down gently against the top of the lock cover 107. The lock cover 107 will slide down, and the bore wire 110 will fall into the bottom placement groove. At this time, the bottom of the lock cover 107 is in contact with the upper surface of the lower wing 104, and the lock cover 107 is in the closed state, thereby realizing the opening and closing of the bow wire groove.

[0051] Furthermore, it should be noted that, in the description of this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "joining" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model according to the specific circumstances.

[0052] The above description is the preferred embodiment of this utility model. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, several improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the principle of this utility model, and these improvements and modifications should also be considered within the protection scope of this utility model.

Claims

1. An orthodontic bracket, comprising a base plate (101), a fixing block (102) disposed on the base plate (101), the fixing block (102) comprising an upper wing (103) and a lower wing (104), the gap between the upper wing (103) and the lower wing (104) forming an archwire groove (105), a sliding groove (106) penetratingly formed on the top surface of the upper wing (103), the sliding groove (106) being connected to the vertical surface of the upper wing (103) away from the base plate (101), a locking cover (107) being slidably connected in the sliding groove (106), the cross-section of the sliding groove (106) and the locking cover (107) both being configured as a T-shaped structure, characterized in that: The slide groove (106) is provided with a first groove (108), which is located in the slide groove (106) and on the vertical inner wall of the side close to the bottom plate (101). The lock cover (107) has a through hole (109) at the position corresponding to the first groove (108), and a shaft wire (110) is provided in the through hole (109), with one end of the shaft wire (110) located in the first groove (108); A fixing plate (111) is provided in the first groove (108). The fixing plate (111) is composed of two arc-shaped plates (112). The gap between the two arc-shaped plates (112) forms two symmetrical placement grooves for storing one end of the shaft wire (110). At least one of the fixing plate (111) and the shaft wire (110) is made of a deformable material.

2. The orthodontic bracket as described in claim 1, characterized in that: Both the shaft wire (110) and the fixing plate (111) are made of deformable material, so that the shaft wire (110) can deform under the action of external force and adjust its position within the fixing plate (111).

3. The orthodontic bracket as described in claim 2, characterized in that: The axial wire (110) and / or fixing plate (111) are made of nickel-titanium alloy, which makes it easy for the original shape to be restored under the action of oral cavity temperature after deformation.

4. The orthodontic bracket as described in claim 3, characterized in that: The shaft wire (110) is configured as a cylindrical structure, so that the load is diffused through the arc surface of the shaft wire (110), avoiding the lock cover (107) from accidentally coming off due to local breakage of the shaft wire (110).

5. The orthodontic bracket as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The fixing plate (111) also includes a connecting frame (113), which is configured as a U-shaped structure. The two ends of the connecting frame (113) are connected to the upper ends of the two arc-shaped plates (112).

6. The orthodontic bracket as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The upper part of the first groove (108) is a rectangular groove (401), and the lower part of the first groove (108) is two inclined relief grooves (402), which are connected to the rectangular groove (401).

7. The orthodontic bracket as described in claim 1, characterized in that: A second groove (201) is provided on the top surface of the lower wing (104) near the edge of the lock cover (107), which is used to form an operating groove between the second groove (201) and the lock cover (107). The operating groove is used to place a lock-picking tool to open the lock cover (107).

8. The orthodontic bracket as described in claim 7, characterized in that: A first protrusion (301) is provided on one vertical surface of the lock cover (107) and near the lower wing (104), and a second protrusion (302) is provided on one vertical surface of the lower wing (104). The first protrusion (301) and the second protrusion (302) form a force fulcrum, which improves the stability and safety of the unlocking operation.

Images