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, a sliding groove is formed in the top surface of the upper wing in a penetrating mode, a lock cover is connected in the sliding groove in a sliding mode, a first groove is formed in the sliding groove, and the first groove is formed in the vertical inner wall of the side, close to the bottom plate, in the sliding groove. 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, a limiting protruding block is arranged on the vertical inner wall of one side of the first groove and divides the first groove into two symmetrical containing grooves, and the shaft wire is made of deformable materials. The first groove with the limiting bump in the sliding chute is matched with the deformable shaft wire, so that the shaft wire is adjusted between the two placing grooves and is blocked and fixed by the limiting bump when the lock cover is opened and closed, stress concentration of a traditional sliding rail is avoided, the risk that the lock cover falls off is reduced, and stable transmission and effect of correction force are guaranteed.

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 that can cooperate with a deformable shaft wire through a first groove with a limiting protrusion in the sliding groove. When the locking cover is opened and closed, the shaft wire is adjusted between the two placement grooves and blocked and fixed by the limiting protrusion, avoiding stress concentration in traditional sliding rails, reducing the risk of the locking cover falling out, and ensuring stable transmission of orthodontic force and effect.

[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] A first groove is provided on the slide. The first groove is located on the vertical inner wall of the slide, near the bottom plate. The cross-section of the first groove is a rectangular structure.

[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 with a cylindrical structure, which allows the load to be distributed through the arc surface of the shaft wire, making it easier to adjust and reducing the resistance when the doctor pushes the locking cap.

[0010] The shaft wire is made of a deformable material, which allows the shaft wire to deform under the action of external force, so that its position can be adjusted in the two placement slots in the first groove.

[0011] The shaft wire is made of nickel-titanium alloy, which makes it easy for it to recover its original shape under the influence of oral cavity temperature after deformation, further improving the limiting effect of the shaft wire.

[0012] A limiting protrusion is provided on one side of the vertical inner wall of the first groove. The limiting protrusion divides the first groove into two symmetrical placement slots. The two placement slots are respectively set on both sides of the limiting protrusion, so that the position of the shaft wire can be adjusted in the two placement slots as the locking cover is adjusted. The cross-section of the limiting protrusion is set as a rectangular structure, which is convenient to cooperate with the outer wall of the shaft wire to achieve the limiting effect of the shaft wire.

[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. Dual locking structure enhances lock cover stability: By setting a first groove with a limiting protrusion in the slide, and setting the shaft wire as a deformable structure that can be adjusted in the two placement grooves, the shaft wire can be fixed in the corresponding placement groove by the blocking effect of the limiting protrusion when the lock cover is open or closed. This effectively avoids the stress concentration problem caused by the alternating shear force generated by chewing force in traditional slide rail lock covers, significantly reduces the risk of accidental lock cover dislodgement, ensures continuous and stable transmission of orthodontic force, avoids tooth displacement and relapse, and improves the stability of orthodontic effect.

[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: The shaft wire is made of nickel-titanium alloy, which can adjust the position of the lock cover by external force deformation at room temperature (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 second groove on the lower wing edge forms an operating groove with the lock cover, providing a precise force application position for the unlocking tool. Together with the first and second protrusions of the lock cover and the lower wing, they form symmetrical force support points, ensuring even load distribution during unlocking and avoiding local stress concentration caused by excessive force at a single point. This structural design not only simplifies the opening / closing operation of the lock cover but also enhances structural strength to prevent deformation or breakage of the lock cover due to improper force application, thereby improving the safety and stability of clinical operations.

[0020] 5. Simplify the archwire installation process and improve treatment efficiency: By switching the archwire in the upper and lower placement slots (when unlocking, the archwire slides into the placement slot above the limiting protrusion, and when closing, it slides into the placement slot below the limiting protrusion), the archwire groove 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.

[0021] 6. Rectangular Groove and Limiting Protrusion Reinforced Shaft Cable Positioning: The rectangular cross-section design of the first groove and the limiting protrusion achieves precise positioning of the cylindrical shaft cable through planar contact. Combined with the isosceles trapezoidal transition structure at the end of the limiting protrusion, this design ensures smooth shaft cable sliding while using rigid blocking to fix the shaft cable position. This structural design satisfies the flexibility of shaft cable deformation adjustment and improves the locking accuracy after the lock cover position is adjusted through geometric limiting principles, ensuring that the bracket maintains stable mechanical performance during long-term use. 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 lock cover and its components of this utility model.

[0026] In the diagram: 101, base plate; 102, fixing block; 103, upper wing; 104, lower wing; 105, sliding groove; 106, first groove; 107, lock cover; 108, through hole; 109, shaft thread; 110, limiting protrusion; 111, bow wire groove;

[0027] 201. Second groove;

[0028] 301, First bump; 302, Second bump. Detailed Implementation

[0029] 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 1-4 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.

[0030] A type of orthodontic bracket, such as Figure 1 , 2 As shown: 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 111, which is used to place the archwire in the archwire groove 111 to limit the archwire and ensure that the archwire maintains a stable position during the orthodontic treatment and avoids displacement. A sliding groove 105 is opened through the top surface of the upper wing 103. The sliding groove 105 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 105. The sliding groove 105 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 105 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 105 and can be firmly fastened to lock the archwire.

[0031] A first groove 106 is provided in the slide 105. The first groove 106 is located in the slide 105 and on the vertical inner wall near the bottom plate 101. The cross-section of the first groove 106 is a rectangular structure.

[0032] like Figure 1 , 2As shown in Figure 4: The lock cover 107 has a through hole 108 at the position corresponding to the first groove 106. A shaft wire 109 is provided in the through hole 108. The shaft wire 109 passes through the through hole 108. After one end of the shaft wire 109 is inserted into the through hole 108, the connection between the shaft wire 109 and the outer plane of the lock cover 107 is welded using a spot welding machine, so that the shaft wire 109 is fixed on the lock cover 107. One end of the shaft wire 109 is located in the first groove 106, so that the shaft wire 109 can be adjusted in the up and down position within the first groove 106.

[0033] The through hole 108 is located at the axis of the lock cover 107. The first groove 106 is also located at the middle of the vertical inner wall on one side of the first groove 106. This allows the shaft wire 109 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 109 and the sliding grooves 105 on both sides more balanced, increasing the stability of the anti-disengagement structure of the T-shaped sliding groove 105 and the lock cover 107, and reducing the risk of the lock cover 107 accidentally disengaging due to uneven stress.

[0034] The shaft wire 109 is designed as a cylindrical structure, which allows the load to be diffused through the arc surface of the shaft wire 109 (i.e., the chewing force, archwire traction force and other loads borne during the orthodontic process are evenly distributed through the arc surface), avoiding the accidental dislodgement of the locking cover 107 due to local breakage of the shaft wire 109, ensuring the stable locking state between the locking cover 107 and the slide groove 105 during the orthodontic process, and making it easier to adjust smoothly, reducing the resistance when the doctor pushes the locking cover 107.

[0035] The shaft wire 109 is made of a deformable material, so that the shaft wire 109 deforms under the action of external force, and its position can be adjusted in the two placement slots in the first groove 106.

[0036] like Figure 1 , 2 As shown: A limiting protrusion 110 is provided on the vertical inner wall of one side of the first groove 106. The limiting protrusion 110 divides the first groove 106 into two symmetrical placement slots. The two placement slots are respectively set on both sides of the limiting protrusion 110, so that the shaft 109 can be adjusted in the two placement slots as the lock cover 107 is adjusted. When the lock cover 107 needs to be opened, the lock cover 107 is slid upward. At this time, the shaft 109 will move upward accordingly. The shaft 109 is made of deformable material. When the shaft 109 comes into contact with the limiting protrusion 110, it deforms. After deformation, the shaft 109 moves upward with the lock cover 107 to the uppermost placement slot.

[0037] Conversely, when the lock cover 107 needs to be closed, the lock cover 107 is slid down, and the shaft screw 109 will move downwards accordingly, allowing the shaft screw 109 to slide into the lowest placement groove. The limiting protrusion 110 will block the shaft screw 109, so that the shaft screw 109 can be limited no matter which placement groove it is in (that is, when the shaft screw 109 returns to its original shape in the upper placement groove, since no external force is applied, the limiting protrusion 110 can prevent the shaft screw 109 from sliding down, and the principle is the same in reverse).

[0038] Both placement slots can store one end of the shaft wire 109, keeping the locking cover 107 open or closed. This allows the position of one end of the shaft wire 109 to be adjusted within the two placement slots, and the locking cover 107 can be limited after position adjustment. By adjusting the shaft wire 109 within two different placement slots and limiting its position, the locking cover 107 can be prevented from falling out due to the load and stress generated by chewing or archwire traction, further improving the fixation effect of the orthodontic bracket.

[0039] like Figure 2 , 3 As shown: The cross-section of the limiting protrusion 110 is set as a rectangular structure, which is convenient to cooperate with the outer wall of the shaft wire 109 to achieve the limiting effect of the shaft wire 109. Furthermore, the shaft wire 109 can be deformed by one end of the limiting protrusion 110 abutting against the shaft wire 109, so that the shaft wire 109 can be moved from one placement slot to another placement slot.

[0040] Furthermore, the end of the limiting protrusion 110 that is not connected to the inner wall of the first groove 106 (i.e. the end that deforms against the shaft wire 109) can be set as an isosceles trapezoidal structure, so that the shaft wire 109 slides up and down with the lock cover 107 more smoothly, avoids the sharp corners of the limiting protrusion 110 from causing jamming on the shaft wire 109, and does not affect the limiting effect on the shaft wire 109.

[0041] It is worth mentioning that the shaft wire 109 is made of nickel-titanium alloy, which makes it easy to restore its 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 shaft wire 109 at room temperature (around 25°C) to deform it (such as when a doctor uses a tool to pry up or press down the locking cap 107), the shaft wire 109 can deform (at this time, the shaft wire 109 is in the martensitic state, the temperature is lower than the phase transition temperature, and the deformation resistance is small).

[0042] When the bracket is implanted in the oral cavity, the body temperature (36℃-37℃) causes the temperature of the shaft wire 109 to rise (at this time, the shaft wire 109 is in the austenitic state, that is, the temperature is higher than the phase transition temperature). The shaft wire 109 can return to its initial shape, preventing the shaft wire 109 from falling off from the corresponding placement slot.

[0043] like Figure 1 , 4As 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.

[0044] 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).

[0045] During assembly, press the lock cover 107 into the slide groove 105. 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, insert the shaft thread 109 through the through hole 108 of the lock cover 107. When you feel the insertion end of the shaft thread 109 pressing against the inner wall of the first groove 106 parallel to one side of the base plate 101, the other end of the shaft thread 109 is just flush with the outer surface of the lock cover 107. Use a spot welding machine to weld the connection between the shaft thread 109 and the outer plane of the lock cover 107 to fix the shaft thread 109 on the lock cover 107.

[0046] 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 105 on both sides, and the insertion end of the bow wire 109 also moves upwards in the first groove 106. The outer wall of one end of the bow wire 109 deforms due to the influence of the limiting protrusion 110. After deformation, the bow wire 109 can move along the side wall of the limiting protrusion 110 to the upper placement groove. After moving to the uppermost placement groove, wait a few seconds and then release. The bow wire 109 will return to its original shape due to the temperature (to prevent the lock cover 107 from slipping off because the bow wire 109 has not returned to its original shape). Without external force, the bow wire 109 will be blocked by the limiting protrusion 110 and will not fall out of the uppermost placement groove. 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 111.

[0047] Using a lock-picking tool, press down gently against the top of the lock cover 107. The lock cover 107 will then move downwards, and the bow wire 109 will fall into the lowest placement groove. At this time, the bottom of the lock cover 107 will just be in contact with the upper surface of the lower wing 104, and the lock cover 107 will be in the closed state, thereby realizing the opening and closing of the bow wire groove.

[0048] 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.

[0049] 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 (111), a sliding groove (105) penetratingly formed on the top surface of the upper wing (103), the sliding groove (105) 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 (105), the cross-section of the sliding groove (105) and the locking cover (107) being both configured as a T-shaped structure, characterized in that: The slide groove (105) is provided with a first groove (106), which is located in the slide groove (105) and on the vertical inner wall of the side close to the bottom plate (101). The lock cover (107) has a through hole (108) at the position corresponding to the first groove (106), and a shaft wire (109) is provided in the through hole (108), with one end of the shaft wire (109) located in the first groove (106); The first groove (106) has a polygonal cross-section. A limiting protrusion (110) is provided on the vertical inner wall of one side of the first groove (106). The limiting protrusion (110) divides the first groove (106) into two symmetrical placement slots. The shaft wire (109) is made of a deformable material, so that the shaft wire (109) can be deformed under the action of external force so that its position can be adjusted in the two placement slots in the first groove (106).

2. The orthodontic bracket as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The shaft wire (109) is made of nickel-titanium alloy, which makes it easy to restore its original shape under the action of oral cavity temperature after deformation.

3. The orthodontic bracket as described in claim 2, characterized in that: The shaft wire (109) is designed with a cylindrical structure, which makes it easier to adjust and reduces the resistance when the doctor pushes the locking cap (107).

4. The orthodontic bracket as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The first groove (106) has a rectangular cross-section, and the limiting protrusion (110) also has a rectangular cross-section, which facilitates the use of the outer wall of the shaft wire (109) to achieve the limiting effect on the shaft wire (109).

5. 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).

6. The orthodontic bracket as described in claim 5, 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.

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