Extraoral bow, dental appliance and dental treatment system

Abstract

The utility model relates to the field of medical apparatus and instruments, and the utility model provides an extraoral bow for detachably installing on a shell-shaped tooth appliance to exert a correction force, and the appliance is provided with a guide portion on the buccal side of the left and right posterior tooth area. The extraoral bow comprises an inner bow and an outer bow, and comprises detachable connecting pieces symmetrically arranged on the left and right sides of the inner bow, the connecting pieces on the two sides are consistent in structure, and the connecting pieces at least comprise a first connecting piece and a second connecting piece; the outer contour size of the insertion portion of the first connecting piece matches the initial inner contour size of the guide portion; the outer contour size of the insertion portion of the second connecting piece matches the inner contour size of the guide portion after a predetermined number of insertion and extraction abrasions, the cooperation failure problem caused by the abrasion of the guide portion is solved by replacing the low-cost connecting pieces, the service life of the appliance is prolonged, and the correction stability is maintained. The utility model further comprises a dental appliance and a dental correction system.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of medical devices, more specifically to the field of orthodontic appliances, and particularly to an extraoral bow, dental instruments and orthodontic system. Background Technology

[0002] Extraoral orthodontic appliances use the extraoral structures of the head, neck, occiput, cervical region, forehead, and chin as a resistive base. They apply orthodontic forces to the teeth and jawbone to regulate jawbone growth and development, altering the direction of bone growth to correct dentofacial deformities. Commonly used extraoral orthodontic appliances include headgear-extraoral arches, J-hooks, maxillary anterior traction appliances, and headgear-chin braces. The headgear-extraoral arch is a device that connects the inside and outside of the oral cavity, transmitting extraoral forces to the intraoral space. It consists of an inner arch and an outer arch. The inner arch is connected by inserting an intraoral orthodontic appliance, and the outer arch is connected to the headgear or neck strap via wire hooks to generate orthodontic force. The extraoral arch strengthens anchorage (preventing mesial movement of molars), pushes molars distally, intrudes molars, and expands or narrows the dental arch. Its greatest advantage is that it uses the support of the extraoral skull to exert forces on the intraoral teeth, without exerting forces on non-active teeth.

[0003] Currently, the extraoral bow can be used alone, directly installed on the buccal side of the posterior teeth. It can also be used in combination with the increasingly popular shell-shaped orthodontic appliances, installed on the buccal side of the posterior teeth of the shell-shaped appliances. This allows the combined shell-shaped appliances to precisely control and align the teeth while also improving jawbone growth. In current technologies, when wearing and installing an extraoral bow device, the two free ends of the inner bow of the extraoral bow need to be installed on the buccal side of the posterior teeth. For example, patent CN215130498U (invisible braces, the matching extraoral bow and the invisible orthodontic extraoral bow system) combines the extraoral bow with a shell-shaped orthodontic appliance. The treatment cycle is generally 15 days. During the treatment cycle, the patient needs to repeatedly remove and put on the extraoral bow, which causes repeated insertion and removal of the extraoral bow and the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance. This causes wear on the part of the extraoral bow inserted into the appliance or the part of the appliance that is inserted into it, causing the force direction of the extraoral bow on the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance to deviate from the preset force direction, resulting in unstable force and easy application of incorrect orthodontic force to the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The technical problem solved by this utility model is to overcome the defects of the prior art and provide an extraoral bow. By setting multiple replaceable connectors with different outer contour sizes at the free end of the inner bow of the extraoral bow in the insertion direction, the force direction of the inner bow of the extraoral bow on the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance is maintained in a preset force direction when the extraoral bow is connected and used. This utility model also discloses a dental instrument and a dental orthodontic system.

[0005] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this utility model provides an extraoral bow for mounting on a shell-shaped orthodontic appliance to apply orthodontic force during use. The shell-shaped orthodontic appliance has guide portions protruding from the buccal surfaces of the posterior teeth on both sides to guide the connection between the extraoral bow and the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance. The extraoral bow specifically includes an inner bow and an outer bow. The inner bow includes connectors respectively disposed on the left and right sides at their free insertion ends. The connectors on both sides have identical structures. The left or right connector includes at least a first connector and a second connector. The inner bow is connected via the first connector or... The second connector is detachably connected to the guide portion. The first connector or the second connector is fixedly connected to the inner bow in a detachable manner. The first connector includes a first insertion portion, and the second connector includes a second insertion portion. The outer contour dimension of the first insertion portion matches the initial inner contour dimension of the guide portion, and the outer contour dimension of the second insertion portion matches the second inner contour dimension of the guide portion. The second inner contour dimension of the guide portion is the inner contour dimension of the guide portion obtained after the first insertion portion and the initial inner contour of the guide portion have undergone a predetermined number of insertion and removal wear operations.

[0006] Compared with existing technologies, this invention replaces the second connector with one whose outer contour size is adapted to the inner contour size of the guide section after wear, thus ensuring a stable connection between the extraoral arch and the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance. This avoids the problem of extraoral arch wobbling due to wear and ensures that the orthodontic force can be applied stably. Furthermore, the detachable connection allows users to easily replace the connector based on wear during treatment, without needing to replace the entire extraoral arch or shell-shaped orthodontic appliance, thereby reducing operating costs.

[0007] Optionally, the inner bow includes an inner bow body and the connecting member; the first connecting member further includes a first connecting portion adjacent to the first insertion portion, and the inner bow body has a mounting portion corresponding to the first connecting portion. The first connecting member is detachably fixed to the inner bow body through the cooperation of the first connecting portion and the mounting portion, forming a first inner bow after the first connecting member and the inner bow body are connected; the second connecting member further includes a second connecting portion adjacent to the second insertion portion, and the inner bow body has the mounting portion corresponding to the second connecting portion. The second connecting member is detachably fixed to the inner bow body through the cooperation of the second connecting portion and the mounting portion, forming a second inner bow after the second connecting member and the inner bow body are connected. The inner bow body and the connecting member are separate, and quick assembly is achieved through the mounting portion and the connecting portion on the connecting member, facilitating clinical operation.

[0008] Optionally, the first connecting part is connected to the mounting part by a threaded connection, a snap-fit ​​connection, or a screw connection, and the second connecting part is connected to the mounting part by a threaded connection, a snap-fit ​​connection, or a screw connection. The threaded / snap-fit / screw connection method ensures that the connecting part is tightly fixed to the inner bow body, thereby preventing loosening during orthodontic treatment.

[0009] Optionally, the first insertion part is fitted onto the insertion section located on the free end side of the inner arch to form a first connector; after the first insertion part and the initial inner contour of the guide part undergo a predetermined number of insertion and removal wear cycles, the first insertion part is replaced with the second insertion part to form a second connector, or the second insertion part is fitted onto the first insertion part to form a second connector. Only the insertion part is replaced after wear, rather than the entire connector, further saving costs.

[0010] Optionally, both the first insertion part and the second insertion part are sleeves. When the insertion segment is inserted into the sleeve, the sleeve undergoes elastic deformation and presses tightly against the insertion segment. No additional locking structure is required, simplifying the assembly process.

[0011] Optionally, both the first insertion portion and the second insertion portion are cannula structures, including a cannula body and a locking structure. The inner contour of the cannula body is adapted to the outer contour of the insertion segment, and the locking structure fixes the cannula body to the insertion segment of the inner arch. The independent locking structure can strengthen the fixation between the cannula and the insertion segment, thereby facilitating the provision of high corrective force.

[0012] Optionally, the material of the connector has lower wear resistance than the material of the guide portion, so that when the external oral arch and the guide portion of the orthodontic appliance wear down, the connector also wears down. The lower wear resistance of the connector compared to the guide portion causes it to wear down preferentially, preventing damage to the orthodontic appliance body and extending its overall lifespan.

[0013] Optionally, when the guide is made of PETG, the connector is made of TPU. TPU has lower abrasion resistance than PETG, thus providing better protection for orthodontic appliances made of PETG.

[0014] Optionally, when the guide portion is made of TPU, the connector can be made of TPU, ceramic, or stainless steel. Highly wear-resistant connectors can reduce the frequency of replacement.

[0015] Optionally, the connector further includes N connectors, which have a preset order of use within a predetermined treatment cycle. Each treatment cycle includes multiple sub-cycles, wherein the outer contour dimension of the insertion portion of the connector used in a later sub-cycle matches the inner contour dimension of the guide portion worn after the previous sub-cycle, where N is greater than 2. By using N-level connectors (N>2) to adapt to the guide portion after multiple wear cycles, a longer treatment cycle can be covered.

[0016] This invention also provides a dental instrument, including a shell-shaped orthodontic appliance and any of the aforementioned extraoral arches, wherein the extraoral arch is detachably fixed to the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance. Combining the extraoral arch with the shell-shaped appliance forms a detachable unit, simplifying the clinical procedure.

[0017] This invention also provides a dental orthodontic system, comprising multiple dental instruments used sequentially. At least one of these instruments is a first dental instrument suitable for a predetermined treatment cycle. The first dental instrument is the aforementioned dental instrument. In a first sub-cycle within the predetermined treatment cycle, the extraoral bow is detachably mounted on the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance via a first connector. In a second sub-cycle within the predetermined treatment cycle, the extraoral bow is detachably mounted on the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance via a second connector. The second sub-cycle is a subsequent treatment cycle following the first sub-cycle within the predetermined treatment cycle. The first connector is used in the first sub-cycle, and in subsequent sub-cycles, a wear-adaptive connector is switched to precisely apply force throughout the entire cycle. Attached Figure Description

[0018] One or more embodiments are illustrated by way of example with reference numerals in the accompanying drawings. These illustrations do not constitute a limitation on the embodiments. Elements with the same reference numerals in the drawings are denoted as similar elements. Unless otherwise stated, the figures in the drawings are not to be limited by scale.

[0019] Figure 1 This is a top view of the external bow in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the extraoral bow and shell-shaped orthodontic appliance in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 3a This is a cross-sectional view of the guide portion in the cheek-tongue direction according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 3b This is a cross-sectional view of the guide portion in the cheek-tongue direction according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of the guide portion and the first insertion portion in the near-far direction in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view of the guide portion and the second insertion portion in the near-far direction in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 6This is a schematic diagram of the installation of the first connecting part and the inner bow body in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the installation of the second connecting part and the inner bow body in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the connecting part structure in Embodiment 2 of this utility model;

[0028] Figure 9 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the first connecting part structure in the near-far-center direction in Embodiment 2 of this utility model;

[0029] Figure 10 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the second connecting part structure in the near-far-center direction in Embodiment 2 of this utility model;

[0030] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the near and far mid-sections of the connecting part structure in some other embodiments of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the near and far mid-sections of the connecting part structure in some other embodiments of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 13 This is an enlarged view of region a in the connecting structure of some other embodiments of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 14 This is a top view schematic diagram of the dental instrument in Embodiment 3 of this utility model;

[0034] Figure 15 This is a schematic diagram of the dental orthodontic system in Embodiment 4 of this utility model;

[0035] Figure 16 This is a top view of the external bow in Embodiment 5 of this utility model;

[0036] Figure 17 This is a top view schematic diagram of the extraoral arch and shell-shaped orthodontic appliance in Embodiment 5 of this utility model;

[0037] Figure 18 This is a schematic diagram of the near and far mid-sections of the connecting part structure in some other embodiments of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 19 This is a top view of the connector and the external bow in some other embodiments of the present invention; Detailed Implementation

[0039] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this utility model clearer, the various embodiments of this utility model will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, those skilled in the art will understand that many technical details have been provided in the various embodiments of this utility model to facilitate a better understanding of the invention. However, the technical solutions claimed by this utility model can be implemented even without these technical details and with various variations and modifications based on the following embodiments. The division of the various embodiments below is for ease of description and should not constitute any limitation on the specific implementation of this application. The various embodiments can be combined with and referenced by each other without contradiction.

[0040] In this embodiment of the invention, the terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "front," "rear," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "middle," "vertical," "horizontal," "lateral," and "longitudinal" indicate orientation or positional relationships based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. These terms are primarily for the purpose of better describing this invention and its embodiments, and are not intended to limit the indicated device, element, or component to having a specific orientation, or to require it to be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Furthermore, some of the aforementioned terms may be used to indicate other meanings besides orientation or positional relationships; for example, the term "upper" may in some cases indicate a dependency or connection relationship. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of these terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0041] Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," etc., are primarily used to distinguish different devices, elements, or components (which may be the same or different in specific type and construction), and are not intended to indicate or imply the relative importance or quantity of the indicated devices, elements, or components. Unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0042] The inventors of this invention discovered that in the prior art, the extraoral bow undergoes multiple insertions and removals from the orthodontic appliance during treatment, causing wear and tear on both the extraoral bow and the appliance, resulting in the extraoral bow wobbling. Therefore, an extraoral bow is proposed, wherein the inner bow of the extraoral bow includes connectors respectively disposed on the left and right sides of the inner bow extending along the insertion direction. By replacing the connectors, the extraoral bow maintains a stable connection with the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance, thereby ensuring the stability of the applied orthodontic force.

[0043] The following is a detailed description of the implementation details of the external oral bow of this utility model. The following content is only for the convenience of understanding and is not necessary for implementing this solution.

[0044] Implementation Method 1

[0045] For details, please refer to the following: Figures 1-7As shown, this embodiment provides an extraoral bow 1, which is mounted on a shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 2 to apply orthodontic force during use. Guide portions 21 protrude from the buccal surfaces of the posterior teeth on both sides of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 2 to guide the connection between the extraoral bow 1 and the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 2. In this embodiment, the guide portions 21 and the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 2 are made of PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol). The initial inner diameter N0 of the guide portion 21 is 2.00 mm. The inner arch 10 of the aforementioned extraoral arch 1 includes connectors 11 disposed at the free ends of the inner arch 10 in the insertion direction on both the left and right sides. The connectors 11 disposed on the left and right sides of the inner arch 10 have the same structure. Each connector 11 in the left and right sides includes at least a first connector 112 and a second connector 113 used at different stages. Similarly, each connector 11 in the right and right sides of the inner arch 10 also includes at least a first connector 112 and a second connector 113 used at different stages. The connectors 11 in the left and right sides of the inner arch 10 are replaced synchronously during different stages of use. The inner arch 10 is detachably connected to the guide portion 21 of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 2 via the connectors 11 on both sides. Both the first connector 112 and the second connector 113 are fixedly connected to the inner arch 10 in a detachable manner. The first connector 112 includes a first insertion portion 1121, the outer contour dimension D1 of which matches the initial inner contour dimension N0 of the guide portion 21. In this embodiment, the outer contour dimension D1 of the first insertion portion 1121 is also 2.0 mm. The second connector 113 includes a second insertion portion 1131, the outer contour dimension D2 of which matches the second inner contour dimension N2 of the guide portion 21. The second inner contour dimension N2 of the guide portion 21 is the inner contour dimension of the guide portion 21 obtained after a predetermined number of insertion and removal wear cycles between the first insertion portion 1121 and the initial inner contour N0 of the guide portion 21. After extensive research and experimental verification, the inventors of this application have determined the formula for calculating the second inner contour dimension of the guide portion 21 as: N... a =N0+k·n, where N aLet N0 be the initial inner contour dimension of the guide portion 21 after n insertion and extraction wear cycles, n be the predetermined number of insertion and extraction cycles, and k be the wear coefficient, which is related to the material properties, surface lubrication, and insertion / extraction force of the guide portion and the connector. As shown in Table 1, in this embodiment, the guide portion 21 is made of PETG material. After inserting and extracting the guide portion 21 with a moderate insertion / extraction force using a steel wire for different numbers of cycles, the wear coefficient k can be obtained as approximately 0.00327 mm / cycle. Other calculation formulas can also be used, such as: V = K * (F_N * S) / H, where V is the wear volume, k is the wear coefficient, F_N is the insertion / extraction force, S is the sliding distance, and H is the material hardness. In practical applications, the initial aperture of the guide portion is determined by the specific external bow model.

[0046]

[0047] Table 1

[0048] In this embodiment, both the first connector 112 and the second connector 113 are made of steel wire. After 35 insertions and removals between the first connector 112 and the guide portion 21, the inner contour of the guide portion 21 is worn down, denoted as the second inner contour N2, with an inner diameter N2 of approximately 2.11445 mm. The second connector 113 includes a second insertion portion 1131, the outer contour dimension D2 of which matches the second inner contour dimension N2 of the guide portion 21, and the inner diameter D2 of the outer contour of the second insertion portion 1131 is also approximately 2.11445 mm. It is understood that the first connector 112 and the guide portion 21 can also undergo other numbers of insertions and removals, the specific number mainly determined by the patient's personal habits and treatment cycle, and could be 56 times, 25 times, 40 times, etc.

[0049] In this embodiment, the inner bow 110 includes a connector 11 and an inner bow body 12. The first connector 112 includes a first connecting portion 1122, and the inner bow body 12 includes a mounting portion 121. Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, the first connector 112 is detachably mounted on the inner bow body 12 via a threaded connection between the first connecting portion 1122 and the mounting portion 121. The second connector 113 includes a second connecting portion 1132, which is detachably mounted on the inner bow body 12 via a threaded connection with the mounting portion 121.

[0050] In some embodiments, the connection between the first connecting part 1122 and the mounting part 121 can also be achieved by a snap fastener or screw. Similarly, the connection between the second connecting part 1132 and the mounting part 121 can also be achieved by a snap fastener or screw.

[0051] In some embodiments, the guide part 21 of the orthodontic appliance can also be made of TPU. In practical applications, the material of the guide part 21 is mainly determined by the material of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 2, and the material of the connector can be TPU, ceramic, or stainless steel, etc.

[0052] In some embodiments, connector 11 further includes two or more connectors, which have a preset order of use within a predetermined treatment cycle. Each treatment cycle includes multiple sub-cycles, wherein the outer contour dimension of the insertion portion of the connector used in a later sub-cycle matches the inner contour dimension of the guide portion worn after the previous sub-cycle ends. In practical applications, given a fixed material, wear coefficient, and insertion / extraction force, the number of connectors 11 is determined by the predetermined treatment cycle, and will not be elaborated further here.

[0053] In some embodiments, the wear resistance of the material of the connector 11 is lower than that of the material of the guide 21. For example, when the guide is PETG, the material of the connector can be TPU, so as to better protect the guide. In practical applications, the guide and the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance are generally integrally molded. The low wear resistance of the connector can avoid the guide from being severely worn and needing to replace the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance, thus avoiding increasing the patient's time and money costs.

[0054] It is understood that although the connector 11 is part of the inner bow 1, the material of the connector 11 may be different from that of the inner bow body 12, which will not be elaborated here.

[0055] In summary, by using connectors of different sizes to match the guide portion during the treatment cycle, specifically, the insertion part of the first connector is used to connect with the inner contour of the guide portion during sub-cycles within a predetermined treatment cycle. After the sub-cycle, the inner contour dimension of the guide portion after wear is obtained. A second connector is selected from multiple connectors, and the outer contour dimension of the second connector matches the inner contour dimension of the worn guide portion. This solves the problem of unstable applied orthodontic force caused by the movement of the extraoral arch due to wear. By replacing the connector, the wear of the guide portion is compensated, thereby optimizing costs. Costs are saved by replacing the connector with a low-cost one instead of the entire appliance or extraoral arch. The connector and the extraoral arch are fixedly connected in a detachable manner, making clinical operation convenient, and the materials can be flexibly combined to support personalized adaptation. The lower wear resistance of the connector material compared to the guide material allows the connector to wear out first during repeated insertions and removals of the connector and guide. This reduces wear on the guide of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance, which is typically integrally molded with the shell-shaped appliance. This avoids premature replacement of the shell-shaped appliance due to premature damage to the guide, thus reducing maintenance costs.

[0056] Implementation Method 2

[0057] The second embodiment of this application relates to an external bow 1. The second embodiment is largely the same as the first embodiment, with the main difference being that in the first embodiment, the connector 11 is part of the inner bow 10, and the connector 11 and the inner bow body 12 together form the inner bow 10, while in the second embodiment of this application, the connector 22 is sleeved on the free end of the inner bow 10.

[0058] See details Figures 8 to 10 As shown, connector 22 is a sleeve structure. The insertion part 2211 of the first connector 221 is a sleeve. The two first connectors 221 are respectively sleeved on the left and right insertion sections 101 of the free end of the inner bow 10. After sleeved, the sleeve undergoes elastic deformation and is pressed tightly onto the insertion section 101. The inner contour dimension of the first connector 221 matches the outer contour of the steel wire of the insertion section 101 of the inner bow 10. In this embodiment, the material of connector 22 is TPU, and the material of guide part 21 is PETG. After the first connector 221 and guide part 21 are inserted and removed 35 times, the inner contour of guide part 21 is worn, which is referred to as the second inner contour. The inner diameter of the second inner contour is approximately 2.11445 mm. The outer contour of the insertion portion 2221 of the second connector 222 matches the second inner contour of the guide portion 21, and the inner contour of the second connector 222 matches the steel wire of the inner bow 10. The first connector 221 is pulled out from the worn guide portion 21, and then removed from the insertion section 101 of the inner bow 10. The insertion section 101 of the inner bow 10 is wiped clean. Then, the second connector 222, whose outer contour matches the inner contour of the worn guide portion 21, is taken out. The two second connectors 222 are respectively fitted onto the insertion sections 101 at the left and right free ends of the inner bow 10. In practical applications, the connectors can also be made of other materials, such as medical-grade silicone or medical-grade latex, which will not be elaborated further here.

[0059]

[0060] Table 2

[0061] In some embodiments, such as Figure 11 As shown, the inner contour dimension of the second connector 222 matches the outer contour dimension of the first connector 221, so that the second connector 222 is directly fitted onto the first connector 221, and after fitting, the inner surface of the second connector 222 is pressed tightly against the outer surface of the first connector 221.

[0062] In some embodiments, the connector 22 is a sleeve structure 30, which includes a locking structure 31 and a sleeve body 32. The inner contour of the sleeve body 32 is adapted to the outer contour of the insertion section 101, and the locking structure 31 fixes the sleeve body 32 to the insertion section 101 of the inner arch 10. Figure 12 and Figure 13As shown, the locking structure 31 is a threaded tightening structure. In practical applications, the fixing of the sleeve can also be increased by means of thread tightening, elastic buckle, etc., to prevent the connector from falling off.

[0063] In summary, the connector is designed as a sleeve structure, which increases the ease of connector replacement and improves clinical efficiency. The elastic deformation of the sleeve itself tightly compresses the external arch insertion section, and a locking structure can be added as needed to improve the connector's anti-dislodgement reliability. Furthermore, the sleeve structure can be stacked, allowing the second connector to be directly fitted onto the first connector, avoiding damage to the internal arch during disassembly.

[0064] Implementation Method 3

[0065] Embodiment 3 provides a dental instrument comprising a shell-shaped orthodontic appliance and the extraoral arch described in Embodiment 1 or 2 above. The shell-shaped orthodontic appliance is made of transparent polymer material using a thermoforming or 3D printing process, and can closely conform to the patient's dentition. Figure 14 As shown, the dental instrument 3 in this embodiment includes a shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 31 and an extraoral arch 1. Guide portions 311 protrude buccally from the buccal surfaces of the left and right posterior tooth regions of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 31. The guide portions 311 are integrally formed with the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 31. A channel is provided inside the guide portion 311, and the initial contour dimensions of the channel are precisely calculated to guide and accurately match the insertion of the extraoral arch 1.

[0066] The external bow 1 includes an inner bow 12 and an outer bow. The inner bow 12 has detachable connectors 11 at both ends. These connectors 11 can be selected according to different stages of treatment: in the early stages of treatment, a first connector 112 is used, whose outer contour of the first insertion portion 1121 closely matches the initial inner contour of the guide portion 21; after a certain period of use causing wear of the guide portion, a second connector 113 can be used, whose outer contour dimension of the second insertion portion 1131 matches the inner contour dimension of the worn guide portion.

[0067] The connector 11 is connected to the guide 21 via a plug-in method. During installation, the insertion part of the connector 11 is inserted into the guide 21 along the insertion direction X1, and a tight connection is achieved through the interference fit between the two. This connection method ensures the stability of the orthodontic force transmission and makes it easy for the patient to remove and put on the device independently.

[0068] To ensure reliable connection, the guide portion 21 can be made of a material with high wear resistance, such as PETG or TPU, while the connector can be made of a material with relatively low wear resistance, such as TPU. This design aims to ensure that wear primarily occurs on the replaceable connector 1, thereby protecting the guide portion 21 of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance and extending the appliance's lifespan.

[0069] In practical use, the dental instrument 3 operates as follows: The patient first places the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 2 in place, and then inserts both ends of the inner arch 12 of the extraoral arch 1 into the guide portions 21 on both sides of the appliance. The outer arch extends outward and connects to external devices such as a headband or neck strap, thus establishing a complete extraoral orthodontic force system. The orthodontic force is transmitted through the extraoral arch 1 to the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 2, and then distributed throughout the entire dentition through the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance to achieve the desired orthodontic effect.

[0070] In summary, by using a replaceable connector design, the insertion part of the first connector is inserted and removed from the guide part of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance during sub-cycles within a predetermined treatment period. After each sub-cycle, the inner contour dimension of the worn guide part is obtained. A second connector is selected from multiple connectors, and its outer contour dimension matches the inner contour dimension of the worn guide part. This solves the problem of unstable applied orthodontic force caused by extraoral arch movement due to wear. The wear of the guide part is compensated by replacing the connector, thus optimizing costs by using a low-cost connector instead of the entire appliance or extraoral arch. The connector and extraoral arch are detachably fixed, facilitating clinical operation. Flexible material combinations support personalized adaptation, effectively solving the problem of wear on the connection points caused by repeated removal and wearing. This maintains the accuracy and stability of orthodontic force transmission during treatment, extending the lifespan of individual appliances, reducing treatment costs, and facilitating patient self-operation, thus improving treatment convenience and compliance.

[0071] Implementation Method 4

[0072] Embodiment four provides a dental orthodontic system 200, comprising a plurality of dental instruments used sequentially, as detailed below. Figure 15 As shown, at least one of the multiple dental instruments is a first dental instrument suitable for a predetermined treatment cycle. The first dental instrument is the dental instrument 3 described in Embodiment 3 above, such as... Figure 14As shown, guide portions 21 protrude buccally on the buccal surfaces of the posterior teeth on the left and right sides of the orthodontic appliance. The initial inner diameter of the guide portion 21 is 2.00 mm. The extraoral arch 1 is detachably mounted to the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 2 via a connector 11 and the guide portion 21. The shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 2 has multiple tooth-accommodating cavities, the number of which can correspond to the number of teeth in the user's maxilla or mandible. In this embodiment, the dental orthodontic system includes other dental instruments used in the orthodontic process, such as dental instrument 200-1 or dental instrument 200-n, in addition to the first dental instrument.

[0073] In this embodiment, the predetermined treatment cycle includes multiple sub-cycles. During the first sub-cycle of the predetermined treatment cycle, the extraoral bow is detachably mounted on the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance via a first connector. During the second sub-cycle of the predetermined treatment cycle, the extraoral bow is detachably mounted on the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance via a second connector. The second sub-cycle is the subsequent treatment cycle following the first sub-cycle within the predetermined treatment cycle. In this embodiment, the predetermined treatment cycle is 15 days, and the first sub-cycle is 7 days. The first connector is used during these seven days. After the first sub-cycle, the first connector is replaced with the second connector based on wear. In practical applications, the predetermined treatment cycle can be 20 days, 30 days, etc., and will not be listed here. The number of days in a sub-cycle can be 7 days, 5 days, etc., and the sub-cycle is determined based on the patient's personal habits and the overall treatment cycle.

[0074] In some embodiments, the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance is designed to apply orthodontic force to the teeth it encloses.

[0075] In some embodiments, the wear resistance of the connecting material is lower than that of the guide material of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance.

[0076] In summary, the dental orthodontic system of embodiment four includes multiple dental instruments, at least one of which is a first dental instrument. This first dental instrument combines an extraoral arch with a shell-shaped orthodontic appliance. The extraoral arch compensates for wear between itself and the guide by replacing connectors, ensuring precise force transmission of the appliance over a longer period and avoiding replacement due to wear of the guide. When the wear resistance of the connector material is lower than that of the guide material, wear on the guide itself is reduced, preventing cracks and breakage caused by excessive wear of the guide, thus avoiding replacement of the appliance.

[0077] Implementation Method 5

[0078] Embodiment 5 provides an external bow, comprising an inner bow and an outer bow. The free ends of the inner bow in the insertion direction on both sides are provided with connectors made of TPU material. The connectors are fixedly connected to the inner bow, such as by bonding or welding. See details. Figure 16 and Figure 17 As shown, the external bow 4 in this embodiment includes an inner bow 41 and an outer bow. A connector 411 made of TPU material is provided at the free ends of the inner bow 41 on both sides in the insertion direction. The inner contour of the outer surface of the connector 411 matches the inner contour of the guide portion. The shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 5 is made of TPU material, and the initial aperture of the guide portion 51 is 2.00 mm. Under these conditions, the inventors conducted numerous experiments to obtain the wear characteristics of the TPU guide portion 51 and the TPU connector 411, as shown in Table 3.

[0079]

[0080] Table 3

[0081] It can be seen that the wear is minimal when the TPU guide 51 contacts the TPU connector 411. Furthermore, the inventors found that in repeated insertion and removal experiments, the wear on the TPU connector 411 was also minimal, with a total decrease of only 0.01 mm after 80 insertions and removals. The inventors discovered that the alternating arrangement of hard and soft segments in the TPU molecular structure effectively disperses friction. The changes in the guide 51 and connector 411 are plastic deformations of the TPU material, meaning the TPU material undergoes irreversible deformation to better conform to the other component, rather than mechanical wear. In other words, the TPU connector 411 can be used throughout the entire treatment cycle without the need for additional connector replacement. In practical applications, the initial aperture of the guide 51 can also be any value between 1.6 and 3 mm, such as 2.1 mm, 1.9 mm, etc.

[0082] In some embodiments, such as Figure 18 As shown, the TPU connector 411 can be a buffer layer formed by spraying TPU material onto the inner bow steel wire. Specifically, the inner bow steel wire needs to be pre-treated on the surface and then mounted on a fixture. The TPU is then dissolved or emulsified and sprayed onto the steel wire using a spray gun to form a buffer layer. The thickness of the buffer layer ranges from 30μm to 1mm, and in this embodiment, the thickness is 0.25mm. This can both reduce the wear of the outer bow steel wire on the guide part and save material. In practical applications, impregnation coating, extrusion coating, etc. can also be used, which will not be elaborated further here.

[0083] In some embodiments, such as Figure 19 As shown, the TPU connector 411 can be detachably fixed to the inner bow 41. For example, the TPU connector 411 is a sleeve structure, and its inner contour size matches the outer contour size of the steel wire. The outer contour size of the TPU connector 411 matches the inner contour size of the guide part 51. After the connector 411 is fitted into the free end of the inner bow 41, the connector undergoes elastic deformation and is pressed tightly against the free end.

[0084] In some embodiments, the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 5 can also be made of other polymer materials, such as PETG. In practical applications, the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 5 and the guide portion 51 are generally integrally formed, and the material of the guide portion 51 is the same as that of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 5.

[0085] In summary, using TPU to make connectors can extend the lifespan of the guide unit, avoiding the need to replace the entire shell-shaped orthodontic appliance if the guide unit is not damaged. Furthermore, by using only one connector, the direction of the force applied to the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance by the extraoral arch during the treatment cycle can be kept in the preset direction, avoiding the application of incorrect orthodontic force to the patient due to the force applied by the extraoral arch deviating from the preset direction, and further saving costs.

[0086] It should be noted that the above embodiments can be freely combined as needed to form different new implementation schemes without causing contradictions. All implementation schemes formed by such combinations are within the protection scope of this application. In order to save space in the application text, they will not be described in detail here.

[0087] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of this application. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, several improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the inventive principle of this invention, and these improvements and modifications should also be considered within the scope of protection of this application.

[0088] Similarly, the above descriptions are merely specific embodiments of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An extraoral bow for mounting on a shell-shaped orthodontic appliance to apply orthodontic force during use, wherein the buccal surfaces of the left and right sides of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance in the posterior tooth region are provided with guide portions for guiding the extraoral bow to connect with the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance, characterized in that, The device includes an inner bow and an outer bow. The inner bow includes connectors respectively disposed on the left and right sides of the free end of the insertion direction. The connectors on the left and right sides have the same structure. The left or right connector includes at least a first connector and a second connector. The inner bow is detachably connected to the guide portion through the first connector or the second connector. The first connector or the second connector is fixedly connected to the inner bow in a detachable manner. The first connector includes a first insertion portion, and the second connector includes a second insertion portion. The outer contour dimension of the first insertion portion matches the initial inner contour dimension of the guide portion, and the outer contour dimension of the second insertion portion matches the second inner contour dimension of the guide portion. The second inner contour dimension of the guide portion is the inner contour dimension of the guide portion obtained after the first insertion portion and the initial inner contour of the guide portion have undergone a predetermined number of insertion and removal wear cycles.

2. The extraoral bow according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inner bow includes an inner bow body and the connecting member; the first connecting member further includes a first connecting portion disposed adjacent to the first insertion portion, and the inner bow body is provided with an installation portion corresponding to the first connecting portion. The first connecting member is fixedly connected to the inner bow body in a detachable manner through the cooperation of the first connecting portion and the installation portion. After the first connecting member is connected to the inner bow body, a first inner bow is formed. The second connector further includes a second connecting portion adjacent to the second insertion portion. The inner bow body is provided with the mounting portion corresponding to the second connecting portion. The second connector is fixedly connected to the inner bow body in a detachable manner through the cooperation of the second connecting portion and the mounting portion. After the second connector is connected to the inner bow body, a second inner bow is formed.

3. The extraoral bow according to claim 2, characterized in that: The first connecting part is connected to the mounting part by a threaded connection, a snap-fit ​​connection, or a screw connection, and the second connecting part is connected to the mounting part by a threaded connection, a snap-fit ​​connection, or a screw connection.

4. The extraoral bow according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first insertion part is sleeved on the insertion section with the inner bow set on the free end side to form a first connector; after the first insertion part and the initial inner contour of the guide part are worn by a predetermined number of insertion and extraction cycles, the first insertion part is replaced by the second insertion part to form a second connector, or the second insertion part is sleeved on the first insertion part to form a second connector.

5. The extraoral bow according to claim 4, characterized in that: Both the first insertion part and the second insertion part are sleeves. When the insertion segment is inserted into the sleeve, the sleeve undergoes elastic deformation and presses tightly against the insertion segment.

6. The extraoral bow according to claim 4, characterized in that: Both the first insertion part and the second insertion part are sleeve structures, including a sleeve body and a locking structure. The inner contour of the sleeve body is adapted to the outer contour of the insertion section, and the locking structure fixes the sleeve body to the inner arch insertion section.

7. The external bow according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that: The wear resistance of the material of the connector is lower than that of the material of the guide.

8. The external mouth bow according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that: When the guide part is made of PETG, the connector is made of TPU.

9. The external bow according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that: When the guide part is made of TPU, the connector is made of TPU, ceramic, or stainless steel.

10. The extraoral bow according to claim 1, characterized in that: The connector also includes N connectors, which have a preset order of use within a predetermined treatment cycle. Each treatment cycle includes multiple sub-cycles, wherein the outer contour dimension of the insertion part of the connector used in the later sub-cycle matches the inner contour dimension of the guide part that is worn after the previous sub-cycle ends, and N is greater than 2.

11. A dental instrument, characterized in that, The invention includes a shell-shaped orthodontic appliance and an extraoral bow as described in any one of claims 1-10, wherein the extraoral bow is detachably fixed to the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance.

12. A dental orthodontic system comprising a plurality of dental instruments used sequentially, characterized in that, The dental instrument includes at least one first dental instrument suitable for a predetermined treatment cycle, the first dental instrument being the dental instrument of claim 11. In a first treatment sub-cycle within the predetermined treatment cycle, the extraoral bow is detachably mounted on the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance via the first connector. In a second treatment sub-cycle within the predetermined treatment cycle, the extraoral bow is detachably mounted on the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance via the second connector. The second treatment sub-cycle is a subsequent treatment cycle following the first treatment sub-cycle within the predetermined treatment cycle.

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