Transfer device including a channel extending towards the gingiva

Abstract

A method for manufacturing a transfer device includes preparing a physical mockup having a shape corresponding to a positive shape of a patient's dental arch and a positive shape of one or more appliance analogs, the positive shape including ramps extending generally gingivally from the analogs. A transfer tray can be formed over the physical mockup, the transfer tray representing a negative replica of at least a portion of the mockup. Accordingly, one or more receptacles and associated channels are formed in the tray, each receptacle approximating at least a portion of the shape of an appliance analog and each channel approximating at least a portion of the shape of a ramp. An appliance associated with one appliance analog can be placed in one of the one or more receptacles, and the appliance can be bonded to a tooth surface of the patient's dental arch.

Claims

1. An orthodontic transfer device for positioning an orthodontic appliance on the dental arch, The orthodontic transfer device comprises a main body, the main body including an inner surface substantially conforming to the contour of at least one tooth of the dental arch, a device receiving portion, and a channel fluidly communicating with the receiving portion and extending from the receiving portion toward the gingiva, wherein the channel connects the gingival margin of the main body to the receiving portion, and the channel includes a first channel portion closer to the receiving portion and a second channel portion closer to the gingival margin. The depth of the first channel portion is tapered as it approaches the gingival edge of the main body, such that the depth of the channel adjacent to the receiving portion is greater than the depth of the channel at the gingival edge of the main body. An orthodontic transfer device in which the first channel portion has a longitudinal axis oriented at an acute angle with respect to a vertical axis perpendicular to the occlusal plane of the dental arch, and the second channel portion has a longitudinal axis oriented parallel to the vertical axis.

2. The orthodontic transfer device according to claim 1, wherein at least one appliance receiving portion includes one or more recessed regions corresponding to a positive feature portion on the body of the orthodontic appliance, and the feature portion includes at least one of a tie wing, a hook, and an archwire slot.

3. The orthodontic transfer device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the orthodontic transfer device is a curved tray designed to seat on a plurality of teeth of the dental arch, and the tray includes a plurality of appliance receiving portions, each receiving portion being in fluid communication with a channel extending gingivally to the edge of the body of the tray.

4. The orthodontic transfer device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least one receiving portion has a mesial-distal width, and the channel has a width less than or equal to the mesial-distal width of the receiving portion.

5. The orthodontic transfer device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the channel includes a facial side wall and an opposing side wall, and the facial side wall is spaced apart from the inner surface of the main body in the buccal-lip direction.

6. The orthodontic transfer device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the channel has a rectangular or arc-shaped cross-section in a cross-section taken along a plane parallel to the archwire slot.

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