Orthodontic appliances

Abstract

To provide an orthodontic appliance capable of ensuring the accuracy of the tooth retention position using a mouthpiece. [Solution] The orthodontic appliance includes a mouthpiece having a dental mold for correcting the patient's teeth, and an anchor device that is fixed to the bone tissue in the patient's oral cavity, the anchor device having an engaging portion, and the mouthpiece having an engaging portion that is detachably engaged with the engaging portion of the anchor device.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an orthodontic appliance using a mouthpiece and an orthodontic method using the same. [Background technology]

[0002] Orthodontic treatment is a treatment method for moving and repositioning teeth that are causing problems with alignment or bite to their correct positions. Conventionally, retainers that fix and maintain the alignment of teeth in orthodontic treatment methods have typically been those that use steel wires and mouthpieces.

[0003] Orthodontic treatment using wires is a treatment method in which brackets are attached to the surfaces of the teeth and a wire that is engaged in the grooves of the brackets is tightened and fixed in place, thereby applying stress to the teeth and gradually moving them to a predetermined position (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In conventional methods, both ends of the wire are fixed to the back teeth (molars). However, the tension of the wire can cause the back teeth to tilt forward, and to prevent this, orthodontic devices that use dedicated anchor screws to fix the wire to the jawbone are available on the market (see, for example, i-station (registered trademark) provided by Okada Medical Materials Co., Ltd.; Patent Document 2).

[0004] In conventional orthodontic treatment using wires, only a specialized orthodontist can attach and remove the wires, making them cumbersome to handle. Furthermore, when the wires are exposed on the front teeth, they can also cause problems with aesthetic appearance.

[0005] Orthodontic mouthpieces, another form of retainer, are manufactured by taking impressions of the patient's teeth according to their shape, size, inclination, etc. In recent years, with the development of information processing technologies such as three-dimensional scanning and modeling, and the widespread use of high-speed, high-precision three-dimensional printers, mouthpieces for step-displacement orthodontics, which gradually move the teeth to the target position, have been put into practical use (for example, INVISALIGN (registered trademark) provided by Align Technology, Inc.; see Patent Document 3). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-314456 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-200430 [Patent Document 3] International Publication No. 2000-032132 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] These orthodontic mouthpieces are made of transparent plastic material and are manufactured to mimic the shape of natural teeth, which allows them to have a certain level of aesthetic appeal, but they also require convenience, such as being easy to attach and remove depending on the situation or circumstances of daily life.

[0008] Conventional orthodontic mouthpieces rely on the back teeth as the fulcrum (anchorage) that exerts the retention force on the teeth. In other words, the tooth mold of the mouthpiece is formed relative to healthy, relatively rigid molars (back teeth) as the reference point. However, while the mouthpiece exerts a posterior stress on the front teeth (e.g., the anterior teeth) that require correction, it also exerts a constant forward counterforce on the back teeth that serve as the fulcrum. Therefore, especially in patients with missing teeth, there is a risk that the back teeth that are fitted with the mouthpiece may tilt forward. Even a slight tilt or movement of the back teeth that serve as the anchorage can cause the entire mouthpiece to move slightly forward, resulting in errors in the retention position of the teeth (e.g., the anterior teeth) that require correction and a weakening of the retention force acting on the teeth.

[0009] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an orthodontic appliance that can ensure the accuracy of tooth retention position using a mouthpiece. Another object of the present invention is to provide an orthodontic mouthpiece that is easy to handle and highly convenient. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following configuration.

[0011] (Configuration 1) An orthodontic device comprising: a mouthpiece having a dental impression for correcting a patient's teeth; and an anchor device fixed to bone tissue in the patient's oral cavity, wherein the anchor device has a fitting portion, and the mouthpiece has a fitted portion that is detachably fitted into the fitting portion of the anchor device.

[0012] (Configuration 2) In addition, it is preferable that the orthodontic appliance has a fitting portion of the anchor device that is convex and a fitted portion of the mouthpiece that is concave.

[0013] (Configuration 3) In addition, in the orthodontic appliance, it is preferable that the anchor device includes a screw, and the fitting portion is formed on the head of the screw.

[0014] (Configuration 4) Furthermore, the orthodontic appliance is preferably configured such that the anchor device includes a screw, and the screw has an attachment that forms the fitting portion attached to its head.

[0015] (Configuration 5) Furthermore, it is preferable that the orthodontic appliance has an anchor device including at least two screws and a plate member fixed via the at least two screws, and the plate member has a certain thickness to form the fitting portion.

[0016] (Configuration 6) In addition, in the orthodontic appliance, it is preferable that the plate member has a shape that is long in the front-to-rear direction, and has a tapered portion, a chamfered portion and / or a rounded edge portion at the front end of the plate member.

[0017] (Configuration 7) In the orthodontic appliance, it is preferable that the plate member has a shape that is long in the front-rear direction and has a vertical edge portion at the rear end of the plate member that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

[0018] (Configuration 8) Furthermore, in the orthodontic appliance, it is preferable that the anchor device has one or more screws and an attachment attached to the head of the screw, and that the fitting portions are formed on both ends of the attachment.

[0019] (Configuration 9) It is also preferable that the orthodontic device includes a plurality of mouthpieces for gradually moving the teeth toward the target position, and the position of the tooth impression of each mouthpiece is determined based on the position of the fitting portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0020] According to the present invention, it is possible to ensure the accuracy of the positioning of teeth by a mouthpiece, and also to facilitate the handling of the mouthpiece when attaching it to the teeth. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of an orthodontic appliance according to an embodiment of the present invention, viewed obliquely from below. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view schematically showing the mouthpiece. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a system for manufacturing a mouthpiece. [Figure 4A] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a current dentition model. [Figure 4B]FIG. 10 illustrates a target set-up dentition model. [Figure 5] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating a method for vacuum compression molding a mouthpiece. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view schematically showing a mouthpiece manufactured by a step displacement method. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 illustrates another embodiment of a system for manufacturing a mouthpiece. [Figure 8] 1 is a side view of an anchoring device according to a first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a side view of an anchoring device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 10A] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing an anchoring device according to a third embodiment. [Figure 10B] FIG. 10 is a side view, partially in cross section, of an anchoring device according to a third embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing an anchoring device according to a fourth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments are forms for embodying the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. In this specification, an example of an orthodontic device using a mouthpiece worn on the upper jaw to correct the alignment of the upper teeth will be described, but the orthodontic device may also include a mouthpiece worn on the lower jaw. Furthermore, the orthodontic device may include a pair of mouthpieces for the upper and lower jaws to improve the occlusion of the upper and lower teeth.

[0023] <Orthodontic appliance 1> As shown in Fig. 1, an orthodontic appliance 1 according to the present invention includes an orthodontic mouthpiece (simply referred to as "mouthpiece" in this specification) 10 having a dental mold 13 for correcting the patient's dentition T, T, ..., and an anchor device 20 that is fixed to bone tissue in the patient's oral cavity. The mouthpiece 10 shown in Fig. 1 is one form of an orthodontic retainer. The mouthpiece 10 has a fitted portion 11 that can be easily and detachably fitted into a fitting portion 21 of the anchor device 20.

[0024] According to the orthodontic apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the anchor device 20 is fixed to a predetermined site in the patient's oral cavity. In the example of Fig. 1, the anchor device 20 is fixed near the inside of the alveolar bone that forms the gums of the upper jaw. By fixing the anchor device 20 to the bone tissue (e.g., the jawbone) in the patient's oral cavity in this way, an orthodontic force based on the elastic stress of the mouthpiece 10 can be applied to each tooth T using the anchor device 20 as a fixing source.

[0025] The anchor device 20, details of which will be described later, may include an anchor screw 23, as shown in, for example, Figures 8-10. The anchor screw 23 can be screwed into bone tissue to firmly fix it thereto. The mouthpiece 10 has, for example, a concave fitting portion 11. For example, the mouthpiece 10 is attached to the dentition T, T, ... by fitting the concave fitting portion 11 into the convex fitting portion 21 of the anchor device 20. Because the anchor device 20 is firmly fixed to the bone tissue as described above, its position is not affected by external forces and does not move. As a result, the mouthpiece 10 according to this embodiment is attached to the dentition T, T, ... using the stable anchor device 20 as a fixation source, so that errors in the retention position of the tooth T to be corrected can be prevented.

[0026] <<Mouthpiece>> First, an orthodontic mouthpiece 10 will be described. Fig. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a mouthpiece 10 for the upper jaw. The mouthpiece 10 has a roughly U-shaped main body sheet 12 that extends along the patient's upper jaw, and dental impressions 13, 13, ... that protrude in pocket-like shapes from the main body sheet 12. Furthermore, the mouthpiece 10 has a fitted portion 11 formed on the main body sheet 12 that is detachably fitted into a fitting portion 21 of an anchor device 20.

[0027] 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view schematically showing the mouthpiece 10. Each tooth impression 13 is formed to fit the shape, size, posture, etc. of the corresponding tooth T. The geometric arrangement of each tooth impression 13 is determined based on the position of the engagement portion 11 formed on the main body 12 (the origin of the XYZ Cartesian coordinate system). Here, the position of the engagement portion 11 means the position of the anchor device 20 that engages with it, or more strictly, the position of the engagement portion 21.

[0028] <<<First embodiment of mouthpiece manufacturing>>> 3 is a diagram showing a first embodiment of a system for manufacturing the mouthpiece 10. With reference to this figure, an example of a method for manufacturing the mouthpiece 10 according to this embodiment will be described.

[0029] Step S11: First, dental diagnostic information of the patient's oral cavity is obtained using the dental diagnostic device 101. The dental diagnostic device 101 includes, for example, an X-ray device and a 3D (three-dimensional) scanner. The dental diagnostic information can include X-ray photograph data of the dentition T and image data (scan data) obtained using the 3D scanner.

[0030] The dental diagnosis information (X-ray data, scan data) acquired by the dental diagnosis device 101 is input to an orthodontic information processing system 110. The orthodontic information processing system 110 is a computer system including an arithmetic processing device, a storage device, an input / output device, a human interface, etc. The orthodontic information processing system 110 of this embodiment includes a dentition model generator 111 and an orthodontic simulator 112. These processing means 111, 112 function by executing arithmetic processing by a general-purpose or dedicated processor constituting the orthodontic information processing system 110, but the functions of some of these processing means may be provided by a dedicated server on a network.

[0031] Step S12: The dentition model generator 111 analyzes the scan data and identifies the positions of feature points that appear on the surface of the patient's dentition, gums, etc. The dentition model generator 111 then places these in a three-dimensional model coordinate system in virtual space to generate a dentition model 31 that is a three-dimensional digital replica of the patient's current dentition (FIG. 4A).

[0032] Step S13: The orthodontic simulator 112 analyzes the current dentition model 31 and simulates the amount of tooth movement, rotation angle, and other parameters until the target dentition is reached. The dentition model generator 111 then generates a setup dentition model 32 that models the target dentition based on the defined parameters (FIG. 4B). In other words, the setup dentition model 32 refers to a dentition shape model that reflects the position and posture of the teeth to be repositioned after orthodontic treatment using a mouthpiece.

[0033] Step S14: The orthodontic simulator 112 can simulate the movement of the tooth root based on the X-ray photograph as well as the movement of the tooth crown. The position for fixing the anchor device 20 (the fitting portion 21) is determined to be a position on the jawbone that does not interfere with such movement of the tooth root.

[0034] Step S15: The dentition model generator 111 adds the geometric information (position and shape) of the anchor device 20, whose fixing position has been determined, to the dentition model 31 and the setup dentition model 32. At this time, the dentition model generator 111 performs coordinate transformation on the dentition model 31 and the setup dentition model 32 so that the position of the anchor device 20 (fitting portion 21) is placed at the origin of the three-dimensional model coordinate system. As a result, the displacement of the teeth from the dentition model 31 to the setup dentition model 32 is determined based on the position of the fitting portion 21 of the anchor device 20.

[0035] Alternatively, the anchor device 20 may be fixed to the jawbone position determined in step S14, and then a 3D scanner may be used to acquire images of the patient's oral cavity from multiple angles. In this case, the dentition model generator 111 can generate a dentition model 31 based on scan data including geometric information of the anchor device 20. The dentition model generator 111 can also generate a setup dentition model 32 based on the dentition model 31.

[0036] Step S16: The orthodontic information processing system 110 transfers data of the set-up dentition model 32 to the 3D printer 102. Then, the 3D printer 102 uses, for example, a photocurable resin to form a dentition mold 33 having a shape corresponding to the set-up dentition model 32.

[0037] Step S17: As shown in Fig. 5, the shaped dental mold 33 is placed in a vacuum forming device 103. Then, a transparent synthetic resin sheet 14, which is the material for the mouthpiece 10, is heated and softened, and the sheet is placed over the dental mold 33 and vacuum-pressed to produce a mouthpiece 10 having a shape corresponding to the dental mold 33.

[0038] By using the manufacturing system of this embodiment, it is possible to efficiently manufacture a plurality of mouthpieces for the step displacement correction method described below. Therefore, specifically, the above-mentioned steps S15 to S17 can further include the following steps.

[0039] Step 15-1: The orthodontic simulator 112 calculates the amount of movement, rotation angle, and other parameters for stepwise moving the teeth from the dentition model 31 (current dentition) to the setup dentition model 32 (target dentition) according to an algorithm based on the step-displacement orthodontic method. Then, the orthodontic simulator 112 generates a number of step-up dentition models 341, 342, ... defined by parameters such as the amount of tooth movement in each step.

[0040] In the three-dimensional model coordinate system, the positions of the fitting portions 21 of the anchor devices 20 attached to the teeth model 31, the step-up teeth models 341, 342, ..., and the setup teeth model 32 are all at the origin of the model coordinate system. This means that the step displacement of the teeth from the teeth model 31 to the setup teeth model 32 is determined based on the position of the fitting portions 21 of the anchor devices 20.

[0041] Step S16-1: The orthodontic information processing system 110 transfers data of the set-up dentition model 32 and the plurality of step-up dentition models 341, 342, ... to the 3D printer 102. Then, the 3D printer 102 uses, for example, a light-curing resin to print physical dentition molds 331, 332, ..., 333 having shapes corresponding to the step-up dentition models 341, 342, ... and the set-up dentition model 32. G Create a shape.

[0042] Step S17-1: Using the vacuum forming device 103, each of the dental arch molds 331, 332, ..., 33 G Step-up mouthpieces 101, 102, ..., 10 G are manufactured respectively.

[0043] As described above, the positions of the fitting portions 21 (anchor devices 20) of the step-up dentition models 341, 342, ... and the set-up dentition model 32 coincide with each other at the origin of the coordinate system of the three-dimensional model. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, the step-up mouthpieces 101, 102, ..., 103 manufactured based on these three-dimensional models are G The position of each tooth profile is determined based on the position of the fitted portion 11 (the origin in the real XYZ coordinate system) that is common to each tooth profile.

[0044] <<<Second embodiment of mouthpiece manufacturing>>> Next, a second embodiment will be described regarding the manufacture of the mouthpiece 10. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of a system for manufacturing the mouthpiece 10.

[0045] Step S21: First, dental diagnostic information of the patient's oral cavity is obtained using the dental diagnostic device 121. The dental diagnostic device 121 includes, for example, an X-ray device and a 3D (three-dimensional) scanner. The dental diagnostic information can include X-ray photograph data of the dentition T and image data (scan data) obtained using the 3D scanner.

[0046] The dental diagnosis information (X-ray data, scan data) acquired by the dental diagnosis device 121 is input to an orthodontic information processing system 130. The orthodontic information processing system 130 is a computer system including an arithmetic processing device, a storage device, an input / output device, a human interface, etc. The orthodontic information processing system 130 of this embodiment includes a dentition model generator 131, an orthodontic simulator 132, and a mouthpiece model generator 133. These processing means 131, 132, 133 function by executing arithmetic processing by a general-purpose or dedicated processor constituting the orthodontic information processing system 130, but the functions of some of these processing means may be provided by a dedicated server on a network.

[0047] Step S22: The dentition model generator 131 analyzes the scan data and identifies the positions of feature points that appear on the surface of the patient's dentition, gums, etc. The dentition model generator 131 then places these in a three-dimensional model coordinate system in virtual space to generate a dentition model 31 that is a three-dimensional digital replica of the patient's current dentition (FIG. 4A).

[0048] Step S23: The orthodontic simulator 132 analyzes the current dentition model 31 and simulates the amount of tooth movement, rotation angle, and other parameters until the target dentition is reached. The dentition model generator 131 then generates a setup dentition model 32 that models the target dentition based on the defined parameters (FIG. 4B). In other words, the setup dentition model 32 refers to a dentition shape model that reflects the position and posture of the teeth to be repositioned after orthodontic treatment using a mouthpiece.

[0049] Step S24: The orthodontic simulator 132 can simulate root movement based on X-ray images in addition to crown movement. The position for fixing the anchor device 20 (fitting portion 21) is determined to be a position on the jawbone that does not interfere with such root movement.

[0050] Step S25: The dentition model generator 131 adds the geometric information (position and shape) of the anchor device 20, whose fixing position has been determined, to the dentition model 31 and the setup dentition model 32. At this time, the dentition model generator 111 performs coordinate transformation on the dentition model 31 and the setup dentition model 32 so that the position of the anchor device 20 (fitting portion 21) is placed at the origin of the three-dimensional model coordinate system. As a result, the displacement of the teeth from the dentition model 31 to the setup dentition model 32 is determined based on the position of the fitting portion 21 of the anchor device 20.

[0051] Alternatively, the anchor device 20 may be fixed to the jawbone position determined in step S24, and then a 3D scanner may be used to acquire images of the patient's oral cavity from multiple angles. In this case, the dentition model generator 131 can generate a dentition model 31 based on scan data including geometric information of the anchor device 20. The dentition model generator 131 can also generate a setup dentition model 32 based on the dentition model 31.

[0052] Step S26: The mouthpiece model generator 133 sets thickness parameters for the tooth surfaces of the set-up dentition model 32 to generate a mouthpiece digital model 35 based on the dentition model 32.

[0053] Step S27: The orthodontic information processing system 130 transfers data of the generated mouthpiece digital model 35 to the 3D printer 122. Then, the mouthpiece 10 can be manufactured by the 3D printer 122 based on the mouthpiece digital model 35. The modeling method using the 3D printer 122 is not particularly limited, but for example, a liquid vat photopolymerization method using a photocurable resin as the material can be used.

[0054] By using the manufacturing system of this embodiment, it is possible to efficiently manufacture a plurality of mouthpieces for the step displacement correction method described below. Therefore, specifically, the above-mentioned steps S25 to S27 can further include the following steps.

[0055] Step 25-1: The orthodontic simulator 132 calculates the amount of movement, rotation angle, and other parameters for stepwise moving the teeth from the dentition model 31 (current dentition) to the setup dentition model 32 (target dentition) according to an algorithm based on the step-displacement orthodontic method. Then, the orthodontic simulator 132 generates a number of step-up dentition models 341, 342, ... defined by parameters such as the amount of tooth movement in each step.

[0056] In the three-dimensional model coordinate system, the positions of the fitting portions 21 of the anchor devices 20 attached to the teeth model 31, the step-up teeth models 341, 342, ..., and the setup teeth model 32 are all at the origin of the model coordinate system. This means that the step displacement of the teeth from the teeth model 31 to the setup teeth model 32 is determined based on the position of the fitting portions 21 of the anchor devices 20.

[0057] Step S26-1: The mouthpiece model generator 133 sets thickness parameters on the tooth surfaces of the step-up dentition models 341, 342, ... and the setup dentition model 32, respectively, to generate a plurality of mouthpiece digital models 351, 352, ..., 353. G Generate.

[0058] Step S27-1: The orthodontic information processing system 130 generates a plurality of mouthpiece digital models 351, 352, ..., 35 G The data is transferred to the 3D printer 122. Then, the 3D printer 122 prints each of the mouthpiece digital models 351, 352, ..., 35 G Based on the above, multiple step-up mouthpieces 101, 102, ..., 10 G are manufactured respectively.

[0059] As described above, the positions of the fitting portions 21 (anchor devices 20) of the step-up dentition models 341, 342, ... and the set-up dentition model 32 coincide with each other at the origin of the coordinate system of the three-dimensional model. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, the step-up mouthpieces 101, 102, ..., 103 manufactured based on these three-dimensional models are G The position of each tooth profile is determined based on the position of the fitted portion 11 (the origin in the real XYZ coordinate system) that is common to each tooth profile.

[0060] <<Anchor Device>> As shown in Fig. 1, the orthodontic appliance 1 according to this embodiment includes an anchor device 20 that is fixed to bone tissue in the patient's oral cavity, preferably the jawbone. The anchor device 20 is a device that serves as a fixing source for a mouthpiece 10 that is attached to the patient's dentition T, T, .... By using the anchor device 20 as a fixing source for the mouthpiece 10, it is possible to ensure the accuracy of the retained position of the teeth. Furthermore, the mouthpiece 10 can be easily attached and detached, providing greater convenience than conventional devices.

[0061] As shown in FIG. 8 , the anchor device 20 has a fixing portion 22 and a fitting portion 21. The fixing portion 22 preferably includes one or more orthodontic anchor screws 23. The anchor screws 23 can be made of, for example, titanium or a titanium alloy. The length of the anchor screw 23 is preferably 5 to 12 mm, more preferably 6 to 10 mm. The diameter of the anchor screw 23 is preferably 1 to 2 mm, more preferably 1.4 to 1.6 mm. Such an anchor screw 23 can be firmly fixed to bone tissue, preferably cortical bone with a sufficient thickness, by being screwed into the bone tissue. The head of the anchor screw 23 is formed with a fitting portion 21. Here, the head of the anchor screw 23 refers to the portion exposed from the oral cavity epithelium when the anchor device 20 is fixed to the jawbone.

[0062] It is preferable that the shape of the fitting portion 21 of the anchor device 20 is convex. When the shape of the fitting portion 21 is convex, the shape of the fitted portion 11 of the mouthpiece 10, which is detachably fitted into the fitting portion 21, is in contrast concave.

[0063] <<<First Embodiment of Anchor Device>>> Fig. 8 is a side view of anchor device 210 according to the first embodiment. Anchor device 210 according to this embodiment has a screw 212 as fixing portion 22 and an engaging portion 211 which is a head 212A of screw 212. Screw 212 is screwed into the jawbone and fixed. In Fig. 8, engaging portion 211 utilizes a hexagonal head for screwing screw 212 into bone tissue. Although not shown, engaging portion 211 may be substituted with a screw head having a hexagonal socket.

[0064] The height of the screw head (convex portion) 212A used as the fitting portion 211 is preferably 0.8 to 2 mm.

[0065] Such anchor devices 210 are fixed at two locations, one on each side, in the patient's oral cavity, but the number may be increased or decreased depending on the case or to more stably support and fix the mouthpiece 10.

[0066] <<<Second Embodiment of Anchor Device>>> 9 is a side view of an anchor device 220 according to a second embodiment. The anchor device 220 according to this embodiment has a screw 222 as a fixing portion 22, and an attachment fitting portion 221 attached to a head 222A of the screw 222. The screw 222 is screwed into the jawbone and fixed. The attachment fitting portion 221 is replaceable with a screw, for example, for the head of the screw 222. The height of the convex attachment fitting portion 221 is preferably 0.8 to 2 mm.

[0067] 9, the attachment fitting portion 221 has a circular dome shape. However, there are no limitations on the shape of the attachment fitting portion 221 as long as it is convex. By making the attachment fitting portion 221 replaceable, it becomes possible to select a fitting portion with a variety of shapes depending on the case.

[0068] In the anchor device 220 of this embodiment, the fixing positions and number of the screws 222 can also be set appropriately depending on the case, such as the degree of correction.

[0069] <<<Third Embodiment of Anchor Device>>> Fig. 10A is a plan view of anchor device 230 according to a third embodiment, and Fig. 10B is a side view showing a portion of the same in cross section. Anchor device 230 according to this embodiment has two screws 232 as fixing portions 22, and a plate member 233 that is suspended between the two screws 232. The two screws 232 are screwed into the jawbone and fixed. Plate member 233 is fixed onto the epidermis of the oral cavity via the two screws 232. In this embodiment, fitting portion 231 is configured to include heads 232A of the two screws 232 and plate member 233. That is, plate member 233 has a predetermined thickness, thereby forming fitting portion 231.

[0070] The thickness of plate member 233 is preferably 0.8 to 2 mm. The height of the surface of plate member 233 is preferably the same as or lower than the height of head 232A of screw 232. By having head 232A of screw 232 protruding from the surface of plate member 233, the fit with fitted portion 11 of mouthpiece 10 can be further improved.

[0071] The plate member 233 has a shape that is long in the front-rear direction. The length of the plate member 233 is preferably 6 to 10 mm. A tapered portion is formed at the front end 233F of the plate member 233, the thickness of which gradually decreases toward the front. In addition, a chamfered portion or a rounded edge portion is formed on the inner surface of the front end 233F of the plate member 233. Since the front end 233F of the plate member 233 has such a tapered portion, chamfered portion, and / or rounded edge portion, attachment and detachment to and from the fitted portion 11 of the mouthpiece 10 can be performed easily and smoothly.

[0072] Furthermore, rear end 233R of plate member 233 forms a vertical edge that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the plate member 233. By providing rear end 233R of plate member 233 with such a vertical edge, the plate member 233 can reliably receive the stress of mouthpiece 10.

[0073] <<<Fourth Embodiment of Anchor Device>>> 11 is a plan view of an anchor device 240 according to a fourth embodiment. The anchor device 240 according to this embodiment has one or more screws 242 and a bridge-type attachment 243 that is replaceably attached to the head of the screw 242. In this embodiment, the central portion of the attachment 243 is fixed to the jawbone with two screws 242, 242. Furthermore, fitting portions 241, 241 are formed at the respective tip portions of both wings (or arm portions) of the attachment 243. The anchor device 240 having such a configuration is fixed so that the attachment 243 is bridged across the left and right portions of the mouthpiece 10.

[0074] According to the orthodontic device 1 of the embodiment described above, the anchor device 20 that fits into the mouthpiece 10 is fixed to, for example, the jawbone inside the patient's oral cavity. The anchor device 20, which serves as a fulcrum for the stress of the mouthpiece 10, is firmly fixed to the jawbone, which does not interfere with the movement of the tooth roots, thereby ensuring sufficient accuracy in the retention position of, for example, front teeth that require correction, and maintaining the specified holding force.

[0075] Furthermore, according to the orthodontic device 1 of this embodiment, the mouthpiece 10 has a fitted portion 11 that is detachably fitted into the fitting portion 21 of the anchor device 20. This makes it easy to accurately attach and remove the mouthpiece 10 from a predetermined position. Therefore, it is possible to provide an orthodontic mouthpiece 10 that is easy to handle and highly convenient.

[0076] <Orthodontic treatment using a mouthpiece> Next, an orthodontic treatment method using the above-described mouthpiece 10 and anchor device 20 will be described.

[0077] The orthodontic treatment method includes the following steps: Obtaining patient dental diagnostic information, especially 3D scan images of the dentition; preparing a mouthpiece 10 based on said dental diagnostic information; determining a fixation location of the anchor device 20, particularly in the jawbone, based on said dental diagnostic information; Fixing the anchor device 20 at the determined location; fitting the fitting portion 11 of the mouthpiece 10 into the fitting portion 21 of the anchor device 20, and attaching the mouthpiece 10 to the patient's dentition; The attached mouthpiece 10 is kept in the oral cavity for a predetermined period of time. Includes.

[0078] The orthodontic treatment method may further include the following steps: Based on the dental diagnosis information, a plurality of step-up mouthpieces 101, 102, ..., 103 are provided for stepwise movement of teeth from the current dentition to the target dentition. G To prepare; placing a first step-up mouthpiece 101 on the patient's dentition; After the attached step-up mouthpiece 101 is held in the oral cavity for a predetermined period of time, the mouthpiece 101 is removed from the dentition and replaced with the next step-up mouthpiece 102; The above steps for fitting, holding, and replacing the Step-Up Mouthpiece are repeated until the final Step-Up Mouthpiece 10 is reached. G Repeat until It may also include.

[0079] The principle behind orthodontic treatment using the mouthpiece 10 described above to move teeth is as follows: When stress is applied to the teeth by the mouthpiece 10, stress is also applied to the periodontal ligament tissue, which retracts and fixes the tooth roots. At this time, alveolar bone grows in the part of the ligament that is retracted, and osteoclasts absorb alveolar bone in the part of the periodontal ligament tissue that is loosened. As a result, the teeth that have moved under stress are fixed in a new alveolus by the periodontal ligament tissue with balanced tension, and other tissues can then gradually follow suit.

[0080] According to the orthodontic treatment method using the mouthpiece 10 described above, the anchor device 20 that fits into the mouthpiece 10 is firmly fixed to the bone tissue in the patient's oral cavity, thereby ensuring the accuracy of the retention position of, for example, front teeth that require correction, and maintaining a specified retention force. Therefore, the effect of orthodontic treatment that reliably moves teeth toward the target position can be achieved. [Explanation of symbols]

[0081] 1. Orthodontic appliances 10 mouthpiece 11. Engaged part 12 Main sheet 13 Dental marks and rows 20 Anchor Device 21 Fitting part 22 Fixed part 23 Anchor screw 31 Dental arch shape model 32 Dental Arch Setup Model 33 Dental arch mold 34 Step-up dentition model 35 mouthpiece digital model 101 Dental diagnostic equipment 102 3D printer 103 Vacuum forming equipment 110 Orthodontic Information Processing System 111 Dental Arch Model Generator 112 Orthodontic Simulator 121 Dental diagnostic equipment 122 3D printers 130 Orthodontic Information Processing System 131 Dental Arch Model Generator 132 Orthodontic Simulator 133 Mouthpiece Model Generator 210 Anchor Device (First Embodiment) 211 Fitting part 212 Screw 220 Anchor Device (Second Embodiment) 221 Attachment fitting part 222 Screw 230 Anchor Device (Third Embodiment) 231 Fitting part 232 Screw 233 Plate member 240 Anchor Device (Fourth Embodiment) 241 Fitting part 242 Screw 243 Bridge-type attachment T teeth, dentition

Claims

1. An orthodontic appliance, a mouthpiece having a dental impression for correcting the patient's teeth; an anchor device secured to bone tissue in the patient's oral cavity; the anchoring device has a fitting portion; The orthodontic appliance, wherein the mouthpiece has a fitting portion that is detachably fitted to a fitting portion of the anchor device.

2. The orthodontic appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the engaging portion of the anchor device is convex and the engaged portion of the mouthpiece is concave.

3. The orthodontic appliance of claim 1 , wherein the anchor device includes a screw, the fitting portion being formed on a head of the screw.

4. The orthodontic appliance of claim 1 , wherein the anchor device includes a screw configured to receive an attachment that forms the fitting at a head of the screw.

5. 2. The orthodontic appliance of claim 1, wherein the anchor device includes at least two screws and a plate member fixed via the at least two screws, the plate member having a certain thickness to form the fitting portion.

6. 6. The orthodontic appliance according to claim 5, wherein the plate member has a shape that is long in the front-to-rear direction, and has a tapered portion, a chamfered portion, and / or a rounded edge portion at a front end of the plate member.

7. 6. The orthodontic appliance according to claim 5, wherein the plate member has a shape that is long in the front-to-rear direction and has a vertical edge portion at a rear end of the plate member that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

8. The orthodontic appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the anchor device comprises one or more screws and an attachment attached to the head of the screw, the fitting portions being formed on both ends of the attachment.

9. The orthodontic device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, comprising a plurality of mouthpieces for gradually moving teeth toward a target position, and the position of the tooth impression of each of the mouthpieces is determined based on the position of the fitting portion.

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