Jaw position correction device with dentition adjustment function and facial appearance improvement function

Abstract

Studies were conducted with the purpose of establishing a more essential and effective method of orthodontic treatment by a multi-stage approach, and of providing a correction device used for the orthodontic treatment. As a result, it was conceived that, as a first step in the orthodontic treatment, it is preferable to correct the jaw position to reset the position of a lower jaw to an original, natural position thereof, and the following jaw position correction device was created:　a jaw position correction device having a single or a set configuration, the device comprising a mechanism (1) that, when the device is worn, acts to laterally expand a maxillary dental arch in a region from right and left canines to second premolars of a wearer, and a mechanism (2) that, when the device is worn, moves an orientation of a tooth crown toward the buccal side, either for both of the wearer's right and left maxillary molars or for one thereof selected to be acted upon by the mechanism (2), to thereby generate premature contact involving cusp interference among mandibular molars and one or both of the maxillary molars, and not comprising a mechanism (3) for anteriorly expanding a region of the wearer's right and left maxillary central incisors and the lateral incisors on the same sides, wherein the mechanisms (1) and (2) may be independent of each other or may partially or entirely share components. The jaw position correction device has a function for achieving relaxation of temporomandibular joints and improving facial appearance at a skeletal level.

Description

A jaw position correction device with functions to adjust teeth alignment and improve facial appearance

[0001] The present invention relates to a jaw position correction device used in orthodontic treatment.

[0002] The three major dental diseases are dental caries (tooth decay), periodontal disease, and malocclusion. Orthodontic treatment aims to treat malocclusion. Malocclusion is when the teeth are misaligned or the bite is poor. Orthodontic treatment aims to correct the alignment of the teeth and bite by slowly moving the teeth using orthodontic devices and applying force to the cervical or coronal areas of the teeth.

[0003] Current orthodontic treatments that do not presuppose surgery are generally as follows: 1. Initial examination and counseling: The alignment of the teeth and bite are evaluated, and the necessity and method of treatment are discussed. 2. Detailed examination: Dental impressions and X-rays are taken to examine the specific condition of the teeth and jaw in detail. This provides information for formulating a treatment plan. 3. Planning a treatment: Based on the results of examination 2, a plan is drawn up for how to proceed with orthodontics. Decisions are made regarding the goals and duration of treatment, the devices to be used, and whether or not tooth extraction is necessary. 4. Consideration and fitting of devices: Devices (brackets, wires, clear mouthpieces, etc.) are selected and designed, and then fitted to the patient. This gradually moves the teeth (start of dynamic treatment). 5. Periodic adjustments: Devices are adjusted at regular intervals. Tooth movement is promoted by replacing wires and adjusting brackets. 6. Daily care: Patients are instructed on brushing and flossing during orthodontic treatment, and the oral cavity and devices are kept clean. 7. Completion of dynamic treatment and retention: When the goal is reached and the teeth are aligned, dynamic treatment is completed. After that, a retainer is used to stabilize the position of the teeth, and occlusion is monitored and managed along with regular oral hygiene care.

[0004] Currently, the Japanese Orthodontic Society, a public interest incorporated association, has published "Guidelines for Standard Treatment in Orthodontic Treatment" online (Non-Patent Document 1), and has also published guidelines on "maxillary protrusion," which is particularly relevant to the present invention, online (Non-Patent Document 2).

[0005] In the maxillary dentition, the dynamic treatment period (4-6) generally involves (1) leveling, (2) distalization of canines, (3) retraction of incisors, and (4) finishing procedures, followed by the long-term retention treatment (7).

[0006] The orthodontic device of Patent Document 1 is an orthodontic device including a first extension wire and a second extension wire that contact the proximal portion and the distal portion, and a palatal arch wire that contacts the palate, and is an orthodontic device for correcting the external shape of the palate of the patient (wearee) by applying orthodontic forces to the buccal, labial, and lateral directions to the dentoalveolar complex (DAC) of the patient (wearee), i.e., a force that expands the entire dental arch from the inside out, and is an orthodontic device used in the leveling stage of the above treatment procedure (1). The differences between the orthodontic device of Patent Document 1 and the present invention will be described later.

[0007] Special Publication No. 2014-526340 (WO2013 / 040144)

[0008] Japanese Society of Orthodontic Dentistry, Clinical Practice Guidelines Development Committee, "Guidelines for Standard Treatment in Orthodontic Treatment," [online], September 12, 2022, Japanese Society of Orthodontics, [accessed August 31, 2023], Internet <URL: https: / / www.jos.gr.jp / asset / public2022_0912.pdf> Japanese Society of Orthodontic Dentistry, Clinical Practice Guidelines Development Committee, "Guidelines for Orthodontic Treatment: Maxillary Protrusion," [online], April 2014, Japanese Society of Orthodontics, [accessed August 31, 2023], Internet <URL: https: / / www.jos.gr.jp / asset / guideline_maxillary_protrusion.pdf>

[0009] In the first section of Non-Patent Document 1, "1. Orthodontic treatment and the orthodontists who provide it," (a), the following statement is found regarding "comprehensive orthodontic treatment."

[0010] That is, Non-Patent Document 1 states that "In comprehensive orthodontic treatment involving tooth movement throughout the entire mouth, orthodontic forces affect not only tooth arrangement but also the occlusion, jaw relationship, and even maxillofacial morphology, and in some cases may cause unexpected changes in occlusion and have an impact on the maxillofacial morphology. Therefore, dentists providing orthodontic treatment must appropriately diagnose the condition of the teeth and bones that are causing malocclusion, and for patients in the growth stage, they must also pay attention to maxillofacial development and respond to unexpected changes in occlusion. Furthermore, depending on the severity of the condition, they must refer patients to more specialized medical institutions." This statement indicates that in "comprehensive orthodontic treatment" in which the orthodontic device of the present invention is used, it is recognized as a standard of treatment that orthodontic forces have a significant impact not only on tooth arrangement but also on the occlusion, jaw relationship, and even facial appearance.

[0011] On the other hand, Non-Patent Document 1, in its opening "Introduction," states, "Treatment in accordance with the guidelines does not determine the success or failure of treatment, nor does it limit the dentist's discretion. However, when deviations from standard orthodontic treatment occur, dentists are required to recognize this and fully explain it to the patient." Furthermore, Non-Patent Document 2, in its opening "1. Overview of Guideline Development," states, "Currently, clinical practice guidelines supported by evidence based on randomized controlled trials are recommended. However, there are concerns that this will eliminate the accumulated knowledge of orthodontic clinical practice based on extensive clinical experience. In fact, there has been much discussion about whether it would be difficult to create guidelines due to the lack of evidence." These statements indicate that there are no truly established standards in orthodontic clinical practice, and that technical and theoretical developments are still underway. These statements are also consistent with the statement in the standards for orthodontic treatment in column 1 (a) of the above-mentioned non-patent document 1, which states that "Comprehensive orthodontic treatment has a significant impact not only on the arrangement of teeth but also on the occlusion, jaw relationship, and even facial appearance, and dentists should respond flexibly according to the progress of the condition."

[0012] In the current state of orthodontic treatment, the present inventor, who is a dentist, has observed and heard about general orthodontic treatment for many years and has recognized the following three fundamental problems.

[0013] First, the current approach to orthodontic treatment is too simplistic and linear.

[0014] For example, in the case of "maxillary protrusion" where the overjet (the distance between the upper and lower incisors) is large, the mainstream treatment is generally to use an appliance that simply and linearly reduces the overjet, but the inventor has been in charge of re-treatment of a number of patients who have had problems with the prognosis after treatment with such a simple and direct approach, and he feels that the situation has not improved even now.

[0015] The second point is that orthodontic treatment, which is mainly performed in orthodontics, and treatment, which is mainly performed in oral surgery, are not integrated.

[0016] As mentioned above, when undergoing orthodontic treatment, patients undergo counseling, during which they are checked for temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ). In many cases, TMJ disorders are handled by oral surgeons. If TMJ treatment is necessary, patients undergo the prescribed treatments for TMJ disorders, such as splinting, manual therapy, and surgical procedures. Orthodontic treatment is typically initiated after these treatments are completed. These TMJ disorder treatments are limited to those with specific symptoms characteristic of TMJ disorders, such as jaw clicking, trismus (inability to open the mouth or jaw misalignment when opening), and TMJ pain. The primary goal of oral surgeons is to alleviate the painful symptoms of TMJ disorder, with subsequent orthodontic treatment being a low priority. Furthermore, treatments other than surgical treatments are symptomatic, and even splinting using a mouthpiece often results in recurrence of TMJ disorder. Even if orthodontic treatment is performed after such treatment for temporomandibular joint disorders (excluding surgery), if the jaw position is not fundamentally improved, relapse of the orthodontic teeth is likely to occur during the long orthodontic treatment period, including the retention period. Furthermore, treatment for jaw position is essentially limited to patients with symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorders, and orthodontic treatment is performed without addressing potential jaw position imbalances, which is also thought to be one of the causes of orthodontic relapse. This situation is thought to arise from the lack of integration of oral surgery treatment with subsequent orthodontic treatment. Furthermore, insufficient correction of jaw position leads to the problem of simple linearity in orthodontic treatment (Problem 1). Attempting orthodontic treatment without sufficient correction of jaw position leads to a rushed treatment approach that simply aims to achieve the desired dental alignment in a linear manner and satisfy the patient. This simple linear orthodontic treatment not only frequently results in direct failure of orthodontic teeth alignment, but also increases the probability of relapse of the teeth once corrected.

[0017] Third, the lack of consideration for cosmetic improvement of facial appearance is also a cause of low patient satisfaction with orthodontic treatment.

[0018] In orthodontics, it is important not only to improve the position of the teeth and the bite, but also to consider the harmony of the entire face. However, current orthodontic treatment lacks consideration for the cosmetic aspect, and when orthodontic treatment is carried out without an integrated perspective with cosmetic surgery, it can lead to a discrepancy with the patient's expectations. In reality, there are quite a few patients who place primary importance on facial beauty, and if such patients are not given appropriate explanations and treatment is not carried out based on that explanation, the goals of treatment will not match the patient's wishes, which can lead to dissatisfaction.

[0019] Therefore, orthodontic treatment should also include an integrated approach that takes into account the aesthetic aspects of facial appearance and the field of cosmetic surgery.

[0020] In other words, by creating a treatment plan that takes into account not only the alignment of the teeth but also the jaw position and the aesthetics of the entire face, and by carrying out treatment based on that plan, it should be possible to greatly improve patient satisfaction, but there are currently issues in this regard.

[0021] The object of the present invention is to establish a more essential and effective orthodontic treatment technique that is based on the relationship between the correction of the patient's jaw position and the beauty of the face, using a so-called nonlinear approach rather than the simple linear approach described above, and to provide an orthodontic device to be used in this orthodontic treatment.

[0022] The present inventor has been conducting research for many years to determine whether temporomandibular joint disorders, especially mild ones, can be reliably treated through orthodontic treatment.

[0023] Current orthodontic treatment is limited to a simple linear approach that focuses only on correcting the alignment of the teeth, as described above. As for the malocclusion that is the underlying cause of temporomandibular joint disorder, treatment is generally the responsibility of oral surgeons.

[0024] The present inventor discovered that significant treatment results can be obtained by introducing a new step (also referred to as the jaw position / facial appearance improvement step) of "improving jaw position and facial appearance" using a jaw position correction device (in this specification, in principle, referred to as the "orthodontic device of the present invention") that plays a central role in the above-mentioned "improving jaw position and facial appearance" as a prerequisite for orthodontic treatment, in other words, before starting the dynamic treatments (1) to (4) above, as part of orthodontic treatment, and thus completed the present invention.

[0025] In this specification, "jaw position correction device" and "the correction device of the present invention" include both a jaw position correction device that has a mounting and fixing mechanism for fixing the jaw position correction device to the teeth, and a jaw position correction device that does not have such a mechanism. A jaw position correction device that does not have such a mechanism may be individually referred to as "a part of the jaw position correction device," "a part of the correction device of the present invention," or "the jaw position correction device main body."

[0026] 1. Improvement of Jaw Position The first goal of orthodontic treatment using the orthodontic device of the present invention is "improvement of jaw position." In other words, "improvement of jaw position" means aligning the "centric position (CR)" and the "centric occlusion position (CO)." After achieving this first goal, the second goal is to achieve reliable occlusal function and beautiful dental alignment by applying orthodontic measures appropriate to the dental alignment of each individual patient. This is the main principle of orthodontic treatment performed by the present inventor. Improvement of facial appearance is an additional effect observed in achieving the first goal.

[0027] The first goal mentioned above, "improvement of jaw position," is the essence of the treatment steps using the orthodontic device of the present invention, so we will explain this below.

[0028] Even if it is simply described as "improving jaw position," the content is not simple.

[0029] First, let's examine the jaw position of modern people. Based on the present inventor's clinical experience, many of the people who come to him for orthodontic treatment counseling, as well as those who actually undergo orthodontic treatment (patients), have maxillary protrusion (Non-Patent Document 2). Because the movement of the mandible during mastication involves rotation around the temporomandibular joint, a mechanical vector in the direction of protrusion is always acting on the teeth. In addition, modern people often adopt a forward-leaning posture. It is generally said that for every 2.5 centimeters (cm) that the head protrudes forward from its correct position, the load on the muscles from the head to the neck and shoulders increases by 4 kilograms (kg). It is said that many desk workers and programmers have their heads protrude forward from their correct position by an average of 5-6 centimeters, and many programmers by 6-9 centimeters. This is also true for children. In addition to the inherent "mechanism of chewing," modern society, where people often adopt a "forward-leaning posture," often leads to "maxillary protrusion" without even realizing it.

[0030] Next, "maxillary prognathism" does not necessarily mean that the overjet will be large. Human biting force (occlusal force) is very strong; even during everyday eating, it can reach 60 kg for adult men and 40 kg for adult women. As the upper jaw gradually protrudes forward, the lower jaw follows as the bite closes. The lower jaw weighs approximately 1 kg, but it is suspended by the muscles in the temporal region. If the lower jaw is misaligned, it will place asymmetrical stress on the temporomandibular joint and the first cervical vertebra. Naturally, this can cause temporomandibular joint disorder and lead to general ailments. In this way, the lower jaw acts as a balancer for the human center of gravity.

[0031] Considering the strong tendency for "maxillary protrusion" in modern society and the inherent physical role of the mandible, the first step in "improving jaw position" in orthodontic treatment is to "reset the mandible to its original position." Finding the correct occlusion for the reset mandible leads to "matching CR and CO," or "radical improvement of jaw position." The "resetting the mandible to its original position" is achieved by actively creating premature contact with cusp interference between the maxillary and mandibular molars, which control occlusion, and creating a state in which the patient's original maxillary and mandibular occlusion is temporarily dislocated. The orthodontic device of the present invention is a jaw position correction device that efficiently and effectively achieves this from a bird's-eye view of orthodontic treatment as a whole.

[0032] The idea of ​​using an orthodontic device to "perform radical correction of jaw position by resetting the mandible to its original position, improve facial appearance at the skeletal level, and at the same time adjust the dental alignment by improving the arrangement of the maxillary dentition through changes in the position and form of the maxillary alveolar region and maxilla, thereby improving the jaw position and facial appearance improvement step" as a preliminary step to the dynamic treatment step in orthodontic treatment, and in direct association with the dynamic treatment, is novel as far as the inventor knows, and neither Patent Document 1 nor Non-Patent Documents 1 and 2 contain any such idea or active suggestion. The orthodontic device of the present invention, which was created to achieve this, is also novel.

[0033] 2. Human Upper Jaw and Teeth The orthodontic device of the present invention is an orthodontic device to be attached to the upper jaw. Although it is within the scope of common general technical knowledge, the human upper jaw and upper jaw dentition will first be explained using drawings.

[0034] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic of the oral cavity proper of an adult human (the area visible when the mouth is open, which is the space where the tongue, teeth, periodontal tissue, etc. are present). In FIG. 1, 1 represents the nose, 2 represents the upper lip, 3 represents the lower lip, and 4 represents the mandible. The oral cavity proper 10 is broadly divided into an upper jaw portion 11 and a lower jaw portion 12. The upper jaw portion 11 includes an oral vestibule 111, a maxillary alveolar process 112, an upper dental arch 113, a hard palate 114, and a soft palate 115. The lower jaw portion 12 includes a mandibular alveolar portion 121, a tongue 122, and a lower dental arch 123. The orthodontic device of the present invention is attached to the hard palate 114 side of the upper dental arch 113 (see FIG. 11).

[0035] 2 is a schematic diagram showing a front view of the palate surface including the hard palate 114 and soft palate 115 of the upper jaw 11. The upper dental arch 113 is basically made up of eight teeth on each side in adults unless there are missing teeth due to extractions or the like. "Right and left" refers to the right and left sides of the wearer (patient) (see FIG. 3). Specifically, the upper dental arch 113 is composed of the central incisors (right 1131, left 1131'), lateral incisors (right 1132, left 1132'), canines (right 1133, left 1133'), first premolars (right 1134, left 1134'), second premolars (right 1135, left 1135'), first molars (right 1136, left 1136'), second molars (right 1137, left 1137'), and third molars (right 1138, left 1138'). However, the third molars (right 1138, left 1138') are so-called "wisdom teeth" that will eventually be extracted or remain embedded in the gums for the rest of their lives. Therefore, the present invention will be described, in principle, excluding the third molars and considering the central incisors through the second molars. The incisive papilla 117 is located directly below the palate side of the central incisors (right 1131, left 1131'), and the transverse palatine folds 116 are located in a nearly symmetrical manner on the palate side of the lateral incisors (right 1132, left 1132'), canines (right 1133, left 1133'), first premolars (right 1134, left 1134'), and second premolars (right 1135, left 1135'), and a midline (palatine raphe) 118 extends from the incisive papilla 117 toward the posterior palatine pit 119. Unless otherwise specified, the term "midline (palatine raphe)" will be used as "midline."

[0036] Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating directional terms for the maxillary side. The mouth side is "anterior," the throat side is "posterior," the direction toward the midline of the upper dental arch is "mesial," and the direction away from it is "distal," the inside of the upper dental arch is "palatal," the outside of the central incisor and canine is "labial," and the outside of the first premolar and second premolar is "buccal." As noted in the explanation of Figure 2 and illustrated here, "right and left" refer to the right and left of the wearer (patient). These directional terms are applied throughout this specification.

[0037] 3. Orthodontic Device of the Present Invention The orthodontic device of the present invention is an orthodontic device worn on the maxilla, configured singly or as a set, and is equipped with the following mechanisms (1) and (2) when worn, but excluding the mechanism (3) below. That is, the orthodontic device of the present invention is equipped with: (1) a mechanism (mechanism (1)) that acts to laterally expand the maxillary dentition in the region from the right and left canines to the second premolars of the wearer (patient), and (2) a mechanism (mechanism (2)) that acts to generate premature contact with cusp interference between both or one of the maxillary molars and the mandibular molars by moving the crown orientation of both the right and left maxillary molars of the wearer (one maxillary molar) or one selected to be affected by mechanism (2) toward the buccal side. Mechanisms (1) and (2) may be independent of each other, or may be partially or completely combined. However, (3) there is no mechanism for expanding the area of ​​the wearer's right and left maxillary central incisors and ipsilateral incisors forward (exclusion of mechanism (3)).

[0038] As described above, the orthodontic device of the present invention has the function of "radical correction of jaw position by resetting the mandible to its original position, improving facial appearance at the skeletal level, and simultaneously adjusting the maxillary dentition, such as improving the arrangement of the maxillary dentition, by changing the position and morphology of the maxillary alveolar region and maxilla." In other words, the orthodontic device of the present invention has the primary function of radical correction of jaw position, as well as the cosmetic function of improving facial appearance at the skeletal level and the dentition adjustment function of supporting orthodontic treatment. The above-mentioned improvement of the arrangement of the maxillary dentition is an improvement that lays the foundation for dynamic treatment and is different from subsequent orthodontic treatment such as tooth axis adjustment (mainly performed during the leveling process) and posterior movement of the maxillary incisors. Based on this background, we have focused on the primary function of the orthodontic device of the present invention and defined it as a "jaw position correction device." Therefore, this terminology is intended to simplify the description and is not intended to limit the above-mentioned function of the orthodontic device of the present invention.

[0039] The wearer of the orthodontic device of the present invention is the "person who is fitted" by the dentist who is the wearer (the person who fits the device), or in other words, the "patient for whom orthodontic treatment is being performed." Where necessary, the wearer (dentist) and the wearer (patient) are indicated, but even when such indication is not made, the wearer and wearee of the orthodontic device of the present invention are used in the above sense.

[0040] In mechanism (1), the "maxillary dentition in the region from the canine to the second premolar" refers to three teeth on each side of the jaw for a patient who has all of the teeth in the region (canine, first premolar, second premolar). However, for patients who do not have all of these teeth due to tooth extraction, artificial root insertion, etc., the term refers to the teeth currently present in the region or teeth that can be laterally expanded. Orthodontic treatment such as lateral expansion is contraindicated for artificial roots.

[0041] In Mechanism (2), "both maxillary molars, one on each side, or one selected for the action of Mechanism (2)" is a requirement that takes into account the individual circumstances of the teeth of the wearer (patient), similar to the provision of "the maxillary dentition in the region from the canine to the second premolar" in Mechanism (1) above.

[0042] In other words, if a patient has all of their maxillary molars (meaning the first and second molars on both the right and left sides; the third molar (wisdom tooth) is an exception and is generally excluded), it is possible to select the second molar, but it is preferable to select the first molar. If either or both of the right and left first molars are missing due to extraction or have artificial roots, the second molar can be selected. The effects of the present invention are not affected even if the selected molars are different between the right and left sides. Furthermore, for a patient whose third molar is not embedded in the gums, if both the first and second molars are missing due to extraction or have artificial roots, the third molar can be selected. In this case, it is also acceptable for the right and left molars to be different. This is what is meant by "one maxillary molar on each side" above.

[0043] Furthermore, in the case of right and left maxillary molars, it is possible that one of the left or right molars does not have a first or second molar, or has an artificial tooth root (assuming that there is no third molar). Even if a molar is present, it may not be suitable for applying strong orthodontic loads due to certain factors. In such cases, it is permissible to not apply Mechanism (2) to the "side with the absent or unsuitable maxillary molar," and to apply Mechanism (2) only to the other side where the maxillary molar remains. This is what is meant by "the side selected to apply the action of Mechanism (2)."

[0044] In the following explanation, we will assume that, as a general rule, both the first and second molars on both the right and left sides are healthy and aligned.

[0045] <About Mechanism (1)> Mechanism (1) is a mechanism for adjusting the arrangement of the maxillary dentition of a wearer (patient) through lateral expansion. This adjustment of the arrangement of the maxillary dentition forms the basis of orthodontic treatment by changing the position and shape of the maxillary alveolar region and maxilla, including the alleviation of maxillary protrusion. Mechanism (1) can utilize the principles of existing devices intended for the lateral expansion of the maxillary dentition. It is possible to use the principles of slow expansion devices that utilize the bending repulsive force of a "wire-shaped member bent to the extent that it retains its repulsive force against elastic deformation" (hereinafter also referred to as "elastic wire"), such as a quad helix, a palatal arch wire device, or Otica's The Farrell Bent Wire System. While it is also possible to use the principles of a rapid expansion device using an expansion screw, a bionator with an expansion screw, or a pendulum with an expansion screw, the present invention is preferably based on the principles of a slow expansion device using an elastic wire.

[0046] The term "elastic wire" is used in dentistry to mean "a wire for moving teeth." In other words, it refers to a linear element that is bent to the extent that it retains its repulsive force against elastic deformation, and when it is brought into contact with a tooth or its surrounding tissue, the repulsive force against the bend serves as a force source for moving a specific tooth. The material of the elastic wire is not particularly limited, as long as it can fulfill the above-mentioned role of an elastic wire, such as metal or plastic. In practice, however, metal wires, white wires, gold wires, stainless steel wires, Elgiloy wires, and other wires commonly used in orthodontic treatments are suitable. The thickness of the orthodontic wire can be selected depending on the material, the strength of the repulsive force against elastic deformation, the gender and age of the wearer (patient), and other factors. Currently, the thickness of orthodontic wires used as elastic wires is 0.6-1.0 mm (wires of 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, and 1.0 mm are commercially available in Japan). The wire thickness can be freely selected as needed, but 0.8-0.9 mm is preferable.

[0047] Here, a preferred embodiment of mechanism (1) will be illustrated.

[0048] An example of a preferred embodiment of mechanism (1) is (a) a mechanism that is located near the midline of the wearer's hard palate, and has structures with approximately the same shape on both sides of the midline, including as its main region an area immediately below the hard palate anterior to the palatal pits, on both the right and left cheek sides across the midline, and that applies sustained pressure to the right and left cheek sides.

[0049] The palate forms the upper wall of the oral cavity and is a strongly convex part that curves upward (towards the top of the head). The hard palate is an immobile part of hard tissue that occupies roughly the anterior two-thirds of the palate, is hard to the touch, and has a bone base. In contrast, the soft palate is a mobile part of soft tissue that occupies roughly the posterior one-third of the palate, is soft to the touch, and has a muscle base. The palatine pits are the boundary between the hard and soft palates.

[0050] Regarding the "mechanism for applying sustained compressive force to the right and left cheek sides" in aspect (a) of Mechanism (1), the range of teeth affected by the sustained compressive force is the "range of the maxillary right and left canines, first premolars, second premolars, and molars," and includes the "areas of the maxillary right and left canines, first premolars, and second premolars" that are the target of lateral expansion of Mechanism (1). The force component acting on the first molars functions as one of the resultant forces of Mechanism (2), which will be described later. That is, the sustained compressive force of Mechanism (1) aspect (a) acts on the "areas of the maxillary right and left canines, first premolars, and second premolars," while the force component acting on the right and left molars functions as one of the compressive forces to the cheek sides recognized in Mechanism (2), which will be described later.

[0051] Furthermore, the shape of the elastic wire, which serves as the source of the sustained compressive force, is not limited as long as it achieves the desired effect and function of the mechanism (1) in aspect (a), i.e., "applying sustained compressive force to the right and left cheeks." The sustained compressive force, in other words, is a "spring force." For example, an example is one in which the sustained compressive force is the repulsive force that returns to the opposite side from a state bent to the limit at which the repulsive force against elastic limit deformation is maintained. For example, a repulsive force caused by bending the elastic wire into a circular shape on the rear side, approximately symmetrical with respect to the midline. The circular shape is not limited as long as it encloses all or part of the elastic wire. Shapes without corners, such as loops and arcs, are preferred because they are safer for the human body. Among these, loops are particularly suitable due to their ease of fabrication. When the device is worn on a patient with the base of the loop or arc fastened, the repulsive force that expands in response to this tightening serves as the source of the sustained compressive force.

[0052] The regions of approximately the same shape on either side of the midline, for example, the surrounding-shaped region, which constitute the limit of the sustained pressure, are preferably adjustable to a position as close as possible to the hard palate when worn, as a mechanism within the orthodontic device of the present invention should be designed with sufficient intraoral tongue space in mind. This is because, if the maxillary dentition moves as a result of lateral expansion movement by the orthodontic device of the present invention, it is possible that the elastic line of the orthodontic device of the present invention may move too far away from the hard palate, resulting in the impediment to securing the tongue space. Therefore, although the orthodontic device of the present invention should not have an abutment region for the hard palate, it should have the above-mentioned "regions of approximately the same shape on either side of the midline" so as to be as close as possible to the hard palate and occasionally come into contact with it.

[0053] Furthermore, a second example of a preferred embodiment of mechanism (1) is (b), a mechanism capable of applying a compressive force in the buccal direction, including an upward component, from one maxillary molar on each side of the wearer (patient) to the right and left teeth closest to the jaw position correction device. This mechanism (b) is preferably provided as mechanism (1) of the orthodontic device of the present invention, along with the above-mentioned embodiment (a). The "upward" in the above-mentioned upper component refers to the direction from the crown (lower side) to the root (upper side) of the maxillary dentition. While this is defined in the usual sense of "upward" (head up, feet down), since it refers to the maxillary side, it is the opposite of the usual sense. The direction of the sustained compressive force applied by embodiment (b) means that a simple buccal force component is combined with an upward force component. In short, it is "diagonally upward." The force component of mode (b) is preferably the result of an elastic force generated by a resilient wire abutting the palate side of the "tooth that is the target of the force component load." For example, the force is generated by the repulsive force of a linear member that is bent approximately symmetrically about an axis along the midline of the hard palate, to the extent that the repulsive force against elastic deformation is maintained. The "resilient wire," including its material and thickness, are as described above. The material and thickness of the resilient wire selected in mode (b) may be the same or different from those of the other parts, but it is usually the same material and thickness.

[0054] In the aspect (b) of the mechanism (1), if the above-mentioned "molar that controls the bite" is the "first molar" as a rule (it may also be the second molar), then the targets to which the compressive force is applied are, in order from the first molar to the mesial side, the second premolar, the first premolar, and the canine.

[0055] Although modes (a) and (b) may be provided as separate mechanisms in the orthodontic device of the present invention, it is preferable that mode (a) be included in mode (b). That is, it is preferable that the repulsive force acting in an obliquely upward direction toward the cheek side of the linear member bent approximately symmetrically with respect to an axis along the midline of the hard palate includes a force component toward the cheek side (laterally) of mode (a). It is preferable that the balance between the lateral force component and the upward force component can be adjusted by the bending direction and bending strength.

[0056] Furthermore, mechanisms (1) and (2) may be independent of each other, or may be partially or completely integrated. For example, in this example, a force component is applied to the first molar toward the buccal side by mode (c) (described later), which is a mechanism directly related to mechanism (2). This force component includes the force component applied to the first molar by mechanism (1). The resultant force of these force components is the force component due to mechanism (2).

[0057] <About mechanism (2)> As described above, mechanism (2) is a mechanism that "works to generate early contact with cusp interference between the upper and lower molars on the right and left sides of the patient by moving the orientation of the crowns of the upper molars on the right and left sides of the patient toward the buccal side."

[0058] "Moving the orientation of the crown of the maxillary molar toward the buccal side" means tilting or rotating the axis of the maxillary molar, or moving the maxillary molar itself, thereby moving all or part of the crown of the maxillary molar toward the buccal side from its previous state. This is not limited to this, but it is preferable that the resultant force be a resultant force of multiple forces in different directions. Here, the bite force of the wearer (patient) is excluded. The examples illustrate the resultant forces of modes (a), (b), and (c). The resultant force generated by adjusting the balance of the strengths of the individual forces in different directions can be applied to the maxillary molar so as to include a rotational moment. In particular, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention (in which the device can be attached and removed by the wearer), the wearer (dentist) can check the effectiveness of the mechanism (2) of the orthodontic device of the present invention on the maxillary molars of the wearer (patient) from time to time, remove the device from the wearer's maxilla, readjust the balance of the strengths and weaknesses of the forces in different directions, and then reattach it to the wearer's maxilla. This allows the wearer to move the crowns of the maxillary molars in the direction desired by the wearer while optimizing the rotational moment. The direction in which the wearer moves the crowns of the maxillary molars is preferably the direction that minimizes the contact area of ​​the premature contact between the maxillary molars and the mandibular molars. The movement of the crowns is also promoted and influenced by the wearer's daily occlusal force.

[0059] Thus, early contact between the mandibular cusps and the maxillary molars by moving the crowns of the maxillary molars toward the buccal side is achieved by the application of force from the palate to the buccal side by the orthodontic device of the present invention and the daily biting force of the wearer (patient).

[0060] The cusp interference contact caused by moving the crowns of the maxillary molars toward the buccal side creates a state as if the maxilla and mandible are out of occlusion. In other words, in the present invention, the state in which the upper and lower molars are in contact with each other but the contact area is smaller than in the normal occlusion state described above, and premature contact with cusp interference occurs between the right and left maxillary and mandibular molars is defined as a "misocclusion state."

[0061] By shifting the orientation of the crowns of the maxillary molars toward the buccal side, point-contact cusp interference is induced, with the posterior cusp of the maxillary molar, which is the functional cusp, serving as the cusp interference contact point. Inducing point-contact cusp interference is suitable as a means of creating the aforementioned "off-occlusion state." That is, this point-contact cusp interference can more efficiently concentrate the occlusal forces of the masseter and temporalis muscles than cusp interference based on surface contact. In particular, when the cusp interference contact point is located on the functional cusp, the contact between the crowns of the upper and lower molars at the cusp slopes suppresses the sliding of the crown surfaces during occlusion, preventing stress dispersion. This allows the stress of the upper and lower molars to be efficiently transmitted to the point of application.

[0062] The stress point of the functional cusp behind the maxillary molar is located behind the base of the zygomatic process, i.e., behind the maxillary molar. This stress point plays an important structural role in generating appropriate pressure on the posterior edge of the maxilla and efficiently moving the maxilla.

[0063] Therefore, it is extremely important from the standpoint of stress concentration and transmission efficiency that the direction in which the crowns of the maxillary molars are moved is toward the buccal side, thereby realizing a mechanism in which occlusal force acts stably on the maxilla via the functional cusp.

[0064] As a result, the position of the mandible in the state where cusp interference contact occurs moves closer to the original centric position, allowing the dentist to correctly determine the centric position of the mandible and facilitate the transition to subsequent dynamic orthodontic treatment. At the same time, the facial appearance of the patient can be improved at the skeletal level.

[0065] Figure 4 is an explanatory diagram that abstractly illustrates the "misaligned occlusion" created by the orthodontic device of the present invention as the occlusion of the upper and lower left first molars (the same applies to the second molars) (also referred to simply as "occlusion" in the explanation of Figure 4). The right side of the upper and lower left first molars shown in Figure 4 is the palatal side (upper jaw) and the lingual side (lower jaw), while the left side is the buccal side. While the upper and lower right first molars are not shown, they are symmetrical to the upper and lower left first molars described below. By using the orthodontic device of the present invention, the right and left first molars are synchronized and parallel to each other. The following explanation of Figure 4 applies to both the right and left, with the left representing the right.

[0066] Fig. 4(a) shows the normal occlusion state before using the orthodontic device of the present invention, and Fig. 4(b) shows the "off-occlusion state" created by using the orthodontic device of the present invention. Fig. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the maxilla (left side) 40 from the outside.

[0067] 4(a), a maxillary right first molar 20 (corresponding to 1136 described above), roughly composed of a root 21 and a crown 22, is in an occlusal relationship with a mandibular right first molar 30, similarly composed of a root 31 and a crown 32. Arrow 23 indicates the direction of occlusal pressure on the maxilla, and arrow 33 indicates the direction of occlusal pressure on the mandibular first molar. The maxillary first molar 20 and the mandibular first molar 30 have their respective functional cusps 221 and 321 in contact on their cusp slopes. Furthermore, the functional cusp 221 of the maxillary first molar 20 is in contact with a non-functioning cusp 322 of the mandibular first molar 30 on its cusp slope, and the functional cusp 321 of the mandibular first molar 30 is in contact with the maxillary non-functioning cusp 222 on its cusp slope. In this way, the maxillary first molar and mandibular first molar usually occlude in such a way that their concave and convex surfaces engage with each other. Chewing is a rolling movement based on this occlusion. This is the normal state of occlusion.

[0068] The "misaligned state" is created by the mechanism (2) of the orthodontic device of the present invention, which, in response to the bite force of the wearer (patient) as well as the pressing force of the mechanism itself, "moves the orientation of the crowns of the maxillary molars, one on each side, toward the buccal side." Figure 4(b) shows the state in which the force component in the direction of arrow A causes the orientation of the crown of maxillary first molar 20 to move toward the buccal side (moving the position diagonally upward), becoming maxillary first molar 20'. In this state, the only contact surface between maxillary first molar 20' and mandibular first molar 30 is between functional cusp 221 of maxillary first molar 20' and functional cusp 321 of mandibular first molar 30. The contact area between the upper and lower first molars is reduced compared to the normal state shown in Figure 4(a), and functional cusp 221 is elevated and closer to mandibular molar 30 than the other portions of the maxillary first molar crown. This creates early contact with cusp interference between the right and left upper and lower molars, achieving a "misaligned bite."

[0069] The use of appliances to move the orientation of molar crowns has also been used in conventional treatments, known as "anchorage preparation." However, anchorage preparation is a measure to prevent anchor loss (the mesial movement of the anchorage molar during distal movement of the canine and incisor teeth) during dynamic orthodontic treatment by applying a torsional moment opposite to the torsional moment applied to the molar prior to the dynamic treatment. This is performed while the maxillary and mandibular molars remain in occlusion. In contrast, the orthodontic device of the present invention actively generates a "state of disengagement between the maxillary and mandibular molars" toward the cheeks by the resultant force (mechanism (2)) generated by the appliance's operation and the transmission of the wearer's (patient's) occlusal force to the appliance, while synchronizing with the lateral expansion of the maxillary canine-first molar region by mechanism (1). Therefore, the present invention and anchorage preparation have completely opposite purposes, and are completely different from each other.

[0070] As already mentioned, the effect of creating the "cuspal interference contact" is to temporarily release the constraint of the mandibular jaw on the maxilla, allowing the mandibular position to naturally move (retroposition) to its proper position. By performing dentition formation with the mandibular position returned to its proper position, function (1) adjusts the arrangement of the maxillary dentition. This also creates a state where undue stress is not placed on the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), resetting the mandibular position and restoring the mandibular body and condyle to their proper positions. This achieves the initial goal of a relaxed state of the temporomandibular joint, leading to the improvement of temporomandibular joint disorders. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 4(b), the maxillary first molar 20', which has moved buccally, reduces the contact area with the mandibular first molar 30, creating premature contact with cuspal interference between the right and left maxillary and mandibular molars. This causes the stress of the wearer's (patient's) daily occlusal force (arrows 23 and 33) to concentrate at the reduced contact points. This stress is transmitted to the maxillary body 41 via the maxillary alveolar process 201 while the maxillary first molar 20 is moving to 20' and when it has moved. The bite force, which has increased due to the concentration of stress, is then transmitted as a rotational moment to the frontal process 43, with the zygomatic process 42 as its axis, and the force, which is further increased by the principle of leverage, becomes a force (protrusion force: arrow) 44 that protrudes the frontal process 43 forward. The posterior edge of the maxilla forms a pterygopalatine fossa several millimeters wide between it and the lateral plate of the sphenoid bone, and the protrusion force 44 causes rotational movement of the maxilla.

[0071] The above-mentioned rotational movement of the maxilla can improve the facial features of the wearer (patient) at the skeletal level. However, the specific improvement in the facial features of the wearer depends on the state of the wearer's jaw position before treatment, the wearer's natural facial structure, etc. The following is merely an example based on the inventor's actual clinical experience. This example is additive, and wearers have been observed to experience one or more improvements in facial features selected from the following (a) and (b):

[0072] (a) By using the orthodontic device of the present invention, the nasal bridge between the wearer's (patient's) eyebrows rises by several millimeters, the tip of the nose drops, and, combined with the action of the orthodontic device of the present invention on the alveolar bone due to pressure from the dental arch and periodontal tissue, a beautiful ACR (alar columnar relationship) is formed. The ACR is an index used to determine the positional relationship between the nasal ala and nasal bridge, comparing the height of the ala and the base of the nasal bridge to determine which is higher or lower, and what constitutes beauty. It is generally said that a beautiful face is one in which the middle nasal bridge forms a triangle with a slightly downward convex shape. If the nasal bridge is higher or at the same height as the ala, improving the ACR will result in an "elegant facial appearance."

[0073] (b) One or more of the following changes have been observed in patients using the orthodontic device of the present invention: shortening of the philtrum (the groove between the nose and mouth); thickening of the upper lip to form a C-curl (a C-shaped curve from the bridge of the nose to the bottom of the nose when viewed from the side); reduction of gummy smiles (a smiling face with the neck of the teeth exposed); reduction of facial width; reduction of elevation of the lower eyelid; lifting of the corners of the mouth when the zygomatic major muscle is contracted; reduction of the midface; improvement of the sense of longness of the face; reduction of asymmetry between the right and left facial lines; improvement of jaw deviation; improvement of deviation of the bridge of the nose; formation of a rounded forehead due to forward movement of the frontal prominence; reduction of the jaw angle; improvement of the balance between the upper and lower lips due to upper lip eversion; improvement of the profile of the profile (improvement of the so-called E-line); and increased elasticity of the skin in the lower face and improvement of wrinkles have been observed.

[0074] Such cosmetically pleasing results are achieved through the use of the correction device of the present invention.

[0075] It is preferable that mechanism (2) be a mechanism that transmits a continuous pressing force from the palatal side to the buccal side to both or one of the maxillary molars, one each for the right and left, of the wearer (patient), due to the resultant force of the force components (in the above example, modes (a) and (b)) applied by mechanism (1) to both or one of the maxillary molars attempting to generate premature contact accompanied by cusp interference, and (c) the force component generated by the abutment structure (mode (c)) against the palatal cervical portion of both or one of the maxillary molars, via an "attachment and fixation mechanism" that fixes the orthodontic device to both or one of the maxillary molars, one each for the right and left. It is known that during dynamic treatment of the dentition, the direct pressing force of the device on some of the dentition applies an indirect force, such as torque (rotational force), via the alveolar bone to distant teeth that are not involved in the pressing force. In this way, mechanism (2) is preferably a mechanism that acts on both or one of the maxillary molars by a resultant force resulting from a combination of the force component transmitted to the molars by lateral expansion by mechanism (1) and the force component by mode (c).

[0076] As described above, the mechanism (1) of this example includes the mode (a) or the mode (b), as well as a combination of both the modes (a) and (b).

[0077] Furthermore, the pressing force of the contact structure of embodiment (c) is preferably a pressing force produced by the contact of a linear member (elastic wire) bent to the extent that it maintains a repulsive force against elastic deformation on both the right and left maxillary molars or on the palatal cervical region of one of the maxillary molars that is intended to generate premature contact with cusp interference. As described above, the sustained pressing force is, in other words, a "spring force." For example, "a mode in which the repulsive force of a member bent away from the contact surface, attempting to return to its original state, is used as a sustained pressing force" is one example. The shape of the repulsive wire is not limited as long as it contributes to the action and effect of mechanism (2), i.e., "moving the orientation of the crown of the maxillary molar toward the buccal side." An example of the former "mode in which the repulsive force of a member bent away from the contact surface, attempting to return to its original state, is used as a sustained pressing force" is the contact of a repulsive wire on the palatal cervical region.

[0078] However, if the pressure applied by the elastic wire to the palatal cervical region is excessively high on the oral mucosa, the patient may experience pain. To address this issue, it is preferable to provide an excess-shaped region near the pressure area of ​​the elastic wire, which is positioned close to the gingiva from the palatal cervical region toward the root when the orthodontic device of the present invention is fitted. That is, after fitting the orthodontic device of the present invention, the dentist or other professional can bend the excess-shaped region to freely move the contact area of ​​the elastic wire with the cervical region of the maxillary first molar away from or into the oral mucosa, thereby adjusting the strength of the pressure. This improves the comfort of the patient wearing the orthodontic device of the present invention and facilitates maintaining appropriate physiological conditions in the oral cavity. The shape and size of the excess-shaped region can be freely selected by the dentist or other professional as long as it does not excessively interfere with the patient's oral movements. Specifically, the above-mentioned shape is preferably a surrounding shape made of a continuous elastic line. Furthermore, from the viewpoint of safety for the human body, it is particularly preferable that the surrounding shape is a shape without corners, such as a loop or an arc. The above-mentioned width is preferably set at an upper limit so that the excess shape area stops on the gums while contacting the upper palate side.

[0079] In mechanism (2), a force component in the direction of arrow A is generated by combining the resultant force of the force components generated by mechanism (1) and mode (c) with a force component generated by the wearer's (patient's) daily occlusion. As a result, the crown of the maxillary first molar (or second molar) 20 moves buccally (its position moves diagonally upward), resulting in the maxillary first molar 20', i.e., a state of misalignment due to cuspal interference contact. Arrow A' indicates the direction of movement of the maxillary first molar 20 due to standard lateral expansion. If standard orthodontic measures for lateral expansion were applied alone to the maxillary first molar 20, only the molar's position would shift, since the rotational moment generated by the resultant force of forces in multiple different directions would not be involved. Therefore, it would be difficult to achieve the above-described movement of the maxillary first molar 20. Therefore, even if molar movement is performed using only such conventional orthodontic means for lateral expansion, it is difficult to reliably and efficiently create the desired cusp interference contact.

[0080] The resultant force of the force components generated by the above mechanism (1) and mode (c) is transmitted to the maxillary molars via a "mounting and fixing mechanism" that fixes the orthodontic appliance to both the right and left maxillary molars, or to one of the maxillary molars that is intended to generate premature contact with cusp interference. The above mounting and fixing mechanisms are collectively referred to as "bands," especially when combined with modes in which the orthodontic appliance of the present invention is configured with a linear member. A band is a "strip-like mechanism that is primarily fitted onto molars to mount and fix the orthodontic appliance," but the mounting and fixing mechanism is not limited to a "band" as long as it is a mechanism that mounts and fixes the orthodontic appliance of the present invention in a predetermined manner. Thus, the mounting and fixing mechanism plays an important role as a medium that transmits the resultant force of the force components generated by the above mechanism (1) and mode (c) to the maxillary molars mounted and fixed by the mechanism, thereby applying a movement force to the molars and providing a translation moment and a rotation moment due to the resultant force to generate premature contact with cusp interference. The molar for which the attachment and fixation mechanism is used is usually the first molar. However, as mentioned above, there are cases where tooth extraction or the like causes the tooth to become a second molar, or even a third molar in some cases. Furthermore, when "creation of premature contact accompanied by cusp interference due to function (2)" in either the right or left molar is to be avoided, lateral expansion is performed in the canine-second premolar region on the avoided side due to function (1), and the attachment and fixation mechanism is used on the first or second premolar in this case.

[0081] The "elastic wire" used in Mechanism (2) is as described in Mechanism (1) above. As with Mechanism (1), the material and thickness of the elastic wire are not particularly limited as long as it can fulfill the above-mentioned role as an elastic wire, such as metal or plastic. In practice, metal wires, white wires, gold wires, stainless steel wires, Elgiloy wires, and other wires commonly used in orthodontic treatments can be suitably used. The thickness of the orthodontic wire can be selected depending on the material, the strength of the resilience to elastic deformation, the gender and age of the patient, and other factors. Currently, the thickness of orthodontic wires used as elastic wires is 0.6-1.0 mm (wires of 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, and 1.0 mm are commercially available in Japan). While wires of these thicknesses can be freely selected as needed, 0.8-0.9 mm is preferred.

[0082] The material and thickness of the wire selected for mechanism (2) may be the same as or different from mechanism (1), but typically it is the same material and thickness.

[0083] <Regarding Exclusion of Mechanism (3)> Exclusion of mechanism (3) is a requirement for clarifying that the orthodontic device of the present invention is a different invention from the orthodontic device of Patent Document 1.

[0084] The orthodontic device of Patent Document 1 is an orthodontic device that includes a first extension wire and a second extension wire that contact the proximal and distal portions, and a palatal arch wire that contacts the palate.The orthodontic device is used to correct the external shape of the patient's (user's) palate by applying orthodontic forces to the buccal, labial, and lateral directions to the patient's (user's) dentoalveolar complex (DAC), i.e., a force that expands the entire dental arch from the inside to the outside, and is mainly used in the leveling stage (described below) of dynamic treatment.

[0085] In contrast, the orthodontic device of the present invention has as its basic goal "improving jaw position," and by actively inducing premature contact with cuspal interference and releasing the occlusal relationship, it temporarily releases the position of the mandible that is restricted by the arch of the maxilla, and at the same time, by utilizing daily occlusal force as a means of moving the crowns of the maxillary molars toward the buccal side, it non-invasively moves the maxilla to an appropriate position, thereby improving facial features at a skeletal level. Moreover, the orthodontic device of the present invention is primarily intended for use in the jaw position and facial feature improvement step, which is a new treatment step before starting active orthodontic treatment.

[0086] In other words, the orthodontic device of the present invention is equipped with the above-mentioned mechanisms (1) and (2) to achieve the primary purpose of correcting jaw position and also to improve facial features at the skeletal level, and does not need to be equipped with a mechanism for anteriorly expanding the areas of the right and left maxillary central incisors and ipsilateral incisors of the wearer (patient), as in the orthodontic device of Patent Document 1. However, this elimination of anterior expansion does not exclude the application of other types of force to the areas of the right and left maxillary central incisors and ipsilateral incisors of the wearer. For example, if the orthodontic device of the present invention laterally expands the parabolic alveolar arch, resulting in a posterior movement of the apex of the alveolar arch and thus a posterior movement of the maxillary incisors, measures such as applying a force to posteriorly move the areas of the right and left maxillary central incisors and ipsilateral incisors are permitted for other orthodontic needs, regardless of the use of the orthodontic device of the present invention.

[0087] <Adjusting, Attaching, and Removing the Device> For the orthodontic device of the present invention, which is basically composed of linear members, the wearer (dentist) or the like can adjust the direction and strength of the pressing force on the maxillary dentition to achieve an optimal state by appropriately adjusting the bending of the orthodontic device of the present invention according to the condition of the maxillary dentition of the wearer (patient). As mentioned above, this bending adjustment of the linear members that make up the device by the dentist or the like is a standard technique in orthodontics.

[0088] Regardless of whether the orthodontic device of the present invention is basically composed of a linear member, it is preferable that the orthodontic device of the present invention be attachable and detachable by the wearer (dentist). By making the orthodontic device of the present invention attachable and detachable by the dentist, the dentist can examine the progress of the actual jaw position correction and facial improvement during the jaw position and facial appearance improvement step for the wearer (patient), remove the attached orthodontic device as needed, adjust the strength and balance of the pressure force on the wearer's maxillary dentition, and then reattach the adjusted orthodontic device to the wearer, thereby appropriately carrying out the jaw position correction process. This process of attachment and detachment and pressure force adjustment can be carried out multiple times to perform jaw position correction using the orthodontic device of the present invention. Meanwhile, in order to carry out the jaw position correction process while adjusting it based on the dentist's calculations as described above, it is preferable that the orthodontic device of the present invention be difficult for the wearer (patient) to attach and detach. As mentioned above, a suitable aspect of the orthodontic device of the present invention for carrying out this "process of attachment / detachment and pressure force adjustment" multiple times with flexibility is the aspect in which "when the orthodontic device is attached, the portion located on the palate side, excluding the attachment / fixation mechanism, is composed of a single continuous linear member." This aspect of the orthodontic device of the present invention is firmly fixed to the maxillary dentition with an attachment / fixation device, typified by a band, and although it is difficult for the wearer (patient) to remove it themselves, it is easy for a dentist, including the wearer, to remove it using specialized techniques.

[0089] The orthodontic device of the present invention is a device configured independently or as a set. That is, the orthodontic device of the present invention may be configured as a single unit (single mode), or as a "set" in which each mechanism is appropriately combined. In particular, a "band," which is a representative embodiment of the attachment and fixation mechanism, is a commercially available product widely used in orthodontics, and attachment and fixation mechanisms represented by bands are usually separate from other parts of the orthodontic device of the present invention. Mechanisms (1) and (2) constitute the main parts of the orthodontic device of the present invention, but these main parts may be configured as a single unit (single mode) or as a set, together with the attachment and fixation mechanism or separately from the attachment and fixation mechanism, as a set that can be assembled when used.

[0090] <Positioning as an orthodontic device> Existing orthodontic devices can be broadly divided into mechanical orthodontic devices and functional orthodontic devices.

[0091] Mechanical orthodontic devices are devices that use mechanical force, that is, force other than muscle force, as the orthodontic force. Examples include labial orthodontic devices, lingual orthodontic devices, lingual arch wire devices, anchor screw devices, and aligner orthodontic devices.

[0092] A functional corrective device is a device that uses muscle strength as a corrective force, and examples include trainers, activators, bionators, and Frenkel devices.

[0093] In contrast to these, the orthodontic device of the present invention is a jaw position correction device that mechanically and functionally incorporates a mechanism (2) that generates premature contact with cuspal interference between the maxillary and mandibular molars, while the lateral expansion by mechanism (1) provides the orthodontic force. In other words, the function of the orthodontic device of the present invention is achieved by combining the mechanical force of the device with the transmission of the occlusal force of the wearer (patient) to the device. This makes it possible to move the maxilla in the rotational direction simply by wearing the orthodontic device of the present invention in the oral cavity, which was previously impossible without surgery or an extraoral device such as a maxillary protraction device, thereby achieving improvements in the wearer's (patient's) facial appearance at the skeletal level.

[0094] In terms of application, the orthodontic device of the present invention is a comprehensive intraoral orthodontic device whose primary purpose is to correct the jaw position of the wearer (patient), and is different from existing orthodontic devices. At the same time, it is possible to perform radical correction of jaw position without surgery, and it surpasses the performance of mouthpieces used in splint treatment.

[0095] As such, the orthodontic device of the present invention is an innovative orthodontic device that combines a mechanical orthodontic device and a functional orthodontic device and cannot be classified as any of the existing intraoral orthodontic devices.

[0096] 4. Orthodontic Treatment Using the Orthodontic Device of the Present Invention <Details of Orthodontic Treatment Using the Orthodontic Device of the Present Invention> Conventional orthodontic treatment involves a diagnosis of whether or not to extract teeth. If the diagnosis indicates that extraction is necessary, the teeth are extracted, and if not, the orthodontic treatment process begins immediately with the fitting of an orthodontic device. In other words, a treatment plan is created based on the initial position of the maxillary molars, and orthodontic treatment is then carried out based on this plan. For example, in aligner orthodontic treatment, the end state of orthodontic treatment is determined based on an initial diagnosis assuming the initial position of the maxillary molars. Dozens of orthodontic devices are then created and fitted to the patient sequentially from start to finish. Aligner orthodontic treatment is a method of linearly moving the patient's teeth to the desired end state. However, while this method may seem rational at first glance, numerous failures have been reported. Ideally, the orthodontic treatment process should be flexible and adaptable to nonlinear changes in the oral cavity, such as changes in the arrangement of teeth, that occur with treatment. Subsequent treatment plans should be carefully determined based on the patient's progress as they progress.

[0097] In the first stage of treatment using the orthodontic device of the present invention, the unnatural movement of the mandible caused by the deviation of the maxillary molars from the position that would be expected under normal jaw movement, which can be identified from abnormalities in the patient's initial jaw movement, is reset using the device, and a step (jaw position / facial appearance improvement step) is then performed to improve the facial appearance at a skeletal level. In the second stage, based on the favorable jaw position obtained in the first jaw position / facial appearance improvement step, the position of the maxilla is reset, and occlusion is restored and orthodontic treatment is performed as needed. As described above, the treatment in this first jaw position / facial appearance improvement step is innovative, and the framework of this first jaw position / facial appearance improvement step and the second orthodontic treatment based on it, themselves, are in line with the ideal of detailed and flexible orthodontic treatment tailored to the patient's pre-treatment jaw position and facial appearance. Furthermore, subsequent orthodontic treatment based on the state achieved through the first stage of treatment for improving jaw position and facial appearance is also considered to be meticulous and flexible orthodontic treatment. In the second stage of orthodontic treatment, treatment should also be progressed while making fine adjustments according to the techniques and devices used.

[0098] The orthodontic device of the present invention is also useful in the second stage of dynamic treatment. That is, the orthodontic device of the present invention is used by connecting it to the right and left maxillary molars, and thereby the positional relationship between the right and left maxillary molars can be continuously adjusted even in the second stage of dynamic treatment. Alternatively, the pressing force on the lateral teeth obtained by the orthodontic device of the present invention contacting the inner edge of the maxillary dentition can be continuously utilized in the second stage of dynamic treatment.

[0099] Another extremely advantageous feature of the orthodontic device of the present invention is that the effects of improving jaw position, dental alignment, and facial appearance provided by the use of the orthodontic device of the present invention are "sustained or stable."

[0100] As described above, the "correct mandibular position" achieved by the wearer (patient) using the orthodontic device of the present invention is, in other words, a return to the "correct mandibular position" that the wearer originally possessed. Therefore, the "state in which distorted jaw movement is normalized and facial features are beautiful" achieved by the wearer after the first stage of treatment using the orthodontic device of the present invention is completed can be used as the "foundation for orthodontic treatment" to begin the second stage of orthodontic treatment. This means that by undergoing the first stage of treatment using the orthodontic device of the present invention, the wearer can achieve a sustained, stable, and beautiful alignment of teeth without "relapse or irregular tooth alignment" (hereinafter referred to as "relapse, etc."), while maintaining the "state in which distorted jaw movement is normalized and facial features are beautiful."

[0101] "Relapse" literally refers to the phenomenon in which the teeth return to their pre-orthodontic state after orthodontic treatment, and "disarray of the teeth" can also occur after orthodontic treatment. To prevent this, the standard orthodontic treatment involves a retention period using a retainer after the completion of a series of orthodontic treatments.

[0102] The cause of relapse is not only the non-use of retainers, but also the fact that dynamic treatment is completed without correcting the deviation in jaw position, which causes uneven stress to be constantly applied to each tooth.

[0103] In other words, relapse and other problems can occur even with a retention period. Relapse and other problems are generally believed to be caused by the alveolar bone supporting the dentition not having solidified immediately after a series of orthodontic treatments and the removal of the orthodontic appliance. However, in conventional orthodontic treatments, the typical orthodontic process (dynamic treatment) is performed without the "pre-resetting of the mandible to the correct position," i.e., "improvement of jaw movement by correcting jaw position," as achieved by the orthodontic appliance of the present invention. In this case, even after the completion of dynamic treatment and the start of the retention period, the pre-operating jaw movement remains unchanged. If the pre-operating jaw movement is distorted, the distorted jaw movement will cause distortion of the dentition due to the biased bite force. This is the primary cause of relapse and other problems. One of the reasons why relapse and other problems occur even when a retention appliance is used is that the jaw position, which is the foundation of orthodontic treatment, is not corrected.

[0104] In contrast, by using the orthodontic device of the present invention in the first stage of orthodontic treatment, which is the jaw position and facial appearance improvement step, the jaw position of the patient is corrected, which serves as the foundation for subsequent orthodontic treatment, thereby preventing the above-mentioned relapse.

[0105] <Orthodontic Treatment After the Jaw Position / Facial Appearance Improvement Step> As described above, the second stage of dynamic treatment in orthodontic treatment using the orthodontic device of the present invention consists of (a) restoring the "occlusion" obtained by establishing the correct position of the upper jaw from the "misaligned occlusion" caused in the first stage of the jaw position / facial appearance improvement step, and (b) implementing orthodontic measures according to the state of the dentition of each individual patient, as necessary. (a) is essential, and (b) is optional.

[0106] (a) Regarding the restoration of occlusion, the basic principle is to remove the orthodontic appliance of the present invention and allow the upper jaw to naturally align with the lower jaw while maintaining the correct position through daily occlusal movements corrected by treatment in the first stage of jaw position and facial appearance improvement. To assist this, intermaxillary elastics, external wire orthodontic appliances, etc. can be used as needed to restore occlusion while adjusting the arch form according to standard methods. This occlusion restoration process, performed as part of the leveling described below, is also suitable when moving on to the dynamic treatment in (b).

[0107] The dynamic treatment (b) can be basically performed after (a) as needed. Specific examples include correcting the direction of growth of individual teeth and further treatment of overjet (protruding teeth), and specific techniques can be performed according to standard orthodontic techniques.

[0108] As mentioned above, the standard orthodontic procedure (dynamic treatment) consists of (1) leveling, (2) distalization of canines, (3) posterior movement of incisors, and (4) final finishing. This is followed by long-term retention treatment. Each step will now be briefly explained, including (5) retention. Standard orthodontic appliances and retention devices are selected and used for each of these steps.

[0109] (1) Leveling The first step of orthodontic treatment is the initial orthodontic treatment step to generally correctly arrange teeth that are displaced or inclined vertically, labially (buccolingually), and mesiodistally, or that are rotated, and align them as closely as possible to the occlusal plane. Mainly during this stage, the orthodontic device of the present invention is worn and maintained, which can support the implementation of leveling.

[0110] (2) Distal movement of canines (only in cases of tooth extraction) The second step of orthodontic treatment is aimed at moving the canines backward (distal) by the amount of space required for the alignment and retraction of the incisors, assuming the existence of a space where a tooth is missing due to tooth extraction, etc.

[0111] (3) Retraction of the Incisors The third step in orthodontic treatment aims to move the incisors collectively backward a predetermined distance while maintaining their proper arcuate arrangement.

[0112] (4) Final Finish The fourth step in orthodontic treatment is to create the optimal dental alignment and occlusion for each individual case. The goal is to achieve the ideal arch form by carefully checking the root placement direction and the intercuspal contact of the opposing upper and lower teeth, and by carrying out delicate treatments.

[0113] In this fourth step, the dynamic orthodontic treatment ends, and the next step is the retention stage (5) described below.

[0114] (5) Retention The new dentition created by the dynamic treatments (1)-(4) above must be replaced with a new environment, including the tongue, cheeks, and lips. It takes a considerable amount of time for the periodontal tissues, tooth placement, dentition, and occlusion to become accustomed to this new environment, and if nothing is done after dynamic treatment is completed, the dentition will revert to its original state. To prevent this, it is necessary to wear a post-operative device (retention device) to maintain the current state for many years.

[0115] Even when orthodontic treatment is performed using the orthodontic device of the present invention, a subsequent retention process using various retention devices is necessary. This is because, even if the biased occlusal force, which is the main cause of relapse, is improved by using the orthodontic device of the present invention, it is still necessary to prevent the original positional relationship between adjacent teeth from being disrupted (broken contact) due to irregular pressure on the teeth caused by the patient's daily diet and habits, as well as the elastic force of the periodontal ligament. However, as mentioned above, the biased occlusal force itself, which is the main cause of relapse, is improved by correcting the jaw position in the jaw position and facial appearance improvement step, and tooth mobility, which interferes with alveolar bone calcification, is minimized, so the retention period can be shorter than before, and relapse is less likely to occur.

[0116] <Part of the orthodontic device of the present invention (main body of the jaw position correction device) or its precursor> As described above, it is a preferred embodiment that the orthodontic device of the present invention is equipped with an attachment and fixing mechanism, but a "part of the jaw position correction device or its precursor" from which such an attachment and fixing mechanism has been removed can also be sold independently and is therefore subject to the implementation of the present invention.

[0117] That is, the present invention provides a part or a precursor thereof, excluding the mounting and fixing mechanism, of a jaw position correction device configured singly or as a set and mounted on the maxilla, wherein the said correction device, when mounted, is provided with: (1) a mechanism (mechanism (1)) that acts to laterally expand the right and left maxillary dentition of the wearer (patient); (2) a mechanism (mechanism (2)) that acts to generate early contact accompanied by cuspal interference between both or one of the maxillary molars and the mandibular molars by moving the orientation of the crowns of both the right and left maxillary molars of the wearer, or one of the maxillary molars selected to be affected by mechanism (2), toward the buccal side; and (3) no mechanism is provided for forwardly expanding the areas of the right and left maxillary central incisors and ipsilateral incisors of the wearer; a jaw position correction device, wherein the said mechanisms (1) and (2) may be independent of each other, or may be partly or wholly integrated together, or a part or precursor thereof. The precursor of a part of a jaw position correcting device is preferably provided as a standard product for distribution, and is an item that can be easily adjusted to the shape of a part of an orthodontic device when used.

[0118] A preferred example of the part of the orthodontic device of the present invention is "(1) a structure is provided which, when worn as a jaw position correcting device, comes into contact with or is close to the palatal side of at least one tooth selected from the palatal side of the second premolar, the palatal side of the first premolar, and the palatal side of the canine on each of the right and left, (2) the most mesial part of each of the right and left contacting or close-together structures is located in the vicinity of just below the midline of the hard palate of the wearer, and is connected to a structure of approximately the same shape on both the right and left cheek sides across the midline, the main area of ​​which is an area just below the hard palate anterior to the palatal fossa, (3) the bending is performed approximately symmetrically on the right and left sides with respect to the axis along the midline of the hard palate, to the extent that a repulsive force against elastic deformation is maintained, (4) In the contact or proximity structures of the right and left teeth, the most distal region of either the right or left teeth or one of them is a region where premature contact with cusp interference is to be generated, and includes an abutment structure for the palatal cervical portion of either the right or left molar or one of them, and is equipped with a mechanism that applies a sustained pressing force from the palatal side to the cervical portion, which acts to apply a force component that moves the direction of the crown of the molar toward the buccal side, and the mechanism is equipped with an attachment and fixing mechanism that fixes the jaw position corrective device to the molar where premature contact with cusp interference is to be generated; an example is a part of the "jaw position corrective device" where the mechanism of (4) above does not have an attachment and fixing mechanism that fixes the jaw position corrective device to the molar where premature contact with cusp interference is to be generated.

[0119] A suitable example of a precursor of the above part is a precursor of a suitable example of a part of the above orthodontic device that has not yet been three-dimensionalized to be worn as a jaw position correction device according to the shape of the wearer's upper jaw.

[0120] Examples of a state in which three-dimensionalization is not complete include a form in which the structures (1) to (4) above exist on approximately the same plane (planar precursor), and a form in which preliminary three-dimensionalization has been performed for the convenience of final three-dimensionalization (three-dimensional precursor).

[0121] Further specific examples will be described later.

[0122] <Restrictions on Use of the Orthodontic Device of the Present Invention> Although the orthodontic device of the present invention is highly versatile, there are also situations in which its use should be restricted. These are listed below. (1) In situations such as a functional crossbite, where lingual movement of the maxillary dentition is undesirable, the use of the orthodontic device of the present invention is contraindicated, as it may complicate treatment. (2) If abnormal bone resorption is observed in the periodontal tissue of the maxillary molar in contact with the orthodontic device of the present invention through radiographic diagnosis, the use of the orthodontic device of the present invention is contraindicated. (3) If pain, such as percussion pain, is present in the tooth in contact with the orthodontic device of the present invention, its use is contraindicated. (4) It is contraindicated if the tooth in contact with the orthodontic device of the present invention has an artificial root. (5) If the tongue chamber is extremely narrow or the tongue is extremely large, caution is required when using the orthodontic device of the present invention. (6) If wearing the orthodontic device of the present invention complicates general dental treatment required before orthodontic treatment, its use should be avoided. (7) If the effect on speech is unacceptable for professional reasons, etc., the orthodontic device of the present invention is not suitable for use. (8) If there is an allergic reaction to the material (especially the metal) of the orthodontic device of the present invention, its use should be avoided. (9) If jaw movement is normal and the molar relationship is Class I (so-called Class I crowding), the use of the orthodontic device of the present invention is not necessary for purposes other than improving facial appearance.

[0123] The present invention provides a maxillary position correction device for use on the maxilla, equipped with a mechanism for lateral expansion of the right and left maxillary dental arches (the area from the canine to the second premolar) and for generating premature contact with cusp interference between the maxillary and mandibular molars, as well as a portion thereof excluding the attachment and fixation mechanism or a precursor thereof. The mechanism for generating premature contact with cusp interference in this maxillary position correction device simulates a state of misalignment between the maxillary and mandibular molars. This resets the mandibular position to the original position of the wearer (patient). At the same time, the lateral expansion mechanism of the above-mentioned maxillary position correction device alleviates maxillary protrusion. Based on this reset state of the mandibular position, orthodontic treatment as needed can be performed to improve temporomandibular joint disorders and achieve beautiful dental alignment in the wearer. Furthermore, due to premature contact accompanied by cuspal interference, the maxilla rotates around the zygomatic process as an axis, causing the bridge of the nose between the wearer's eyebrows to rise by several millimeters, the tip of the nose to drop, creating a beautiful ACR, and shortening the philtrum (the groove between the nose and mouth), creating a cosmetically desirable state at the skeletal level. Another feature of the present invention is that the state of the teeth, etc. corrected using the orthodontic device of the present invention is sustainable.

[0124] 1 is a diagram showing an outline of the oral cavity proper of a human adult. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the palatal surface of the maxilla as viewed from the front. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the palatal surface as viewed from the front, in terms of directional terms on the maxillary side. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the movement of the direction of the crown of the maxillary molar by the orthodontic device of the present invention, as the occlusion of the first molars of the maxilla and mandible. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the maxilla (left side) from the outside. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a state (jaw position correction device main body) from which the attachment and fixing mechanism of one embodiment of the orthodontic device of the present invention has been removed. FIG. 6 is a front view of one embodiment of the jaw position correction device main body. FIG. 7 is a plan view of one embodiment of the jaw position correction device main body. FIG. 8 is a left side view of one embodiment of the jaw position correction device main body. FIG. 9 is a plan view of one embodiment of the orthodontic device of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the direction and orientation of one embodiment of the orthodontic device of the present invention when attached to a wearer (patient). FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a front view of the palatal surface of one embodiment of the orthodontic device of the present invention, attached to the maxillary side of a wearer (patient). 1 is a drawing showing, as viewed from the front of the palatal surface, the movement of the maxillary dentition when one embodiment of a jaw position correction device is continuously attached to a wearer (patient). 2 is a drawing showing, as viewed from the front of the palatal surface, the form of one embodiment of a jaw position correction device when worn, which has both distal ends that act on only one of the maxillary molars, one on each side, via an attachment and fixing mechanism. 3 is a drawing showing an example of the product form of the jaw position correction device main body. 4 is a perspective view of a planar precursor of a jaw position correction device in another embodiment of the correction device of the present invention, with the attachment and fixing mechanism removed. 5 is a perspective view of a planar precursor of a jaw position correction device main body in another embodiment of the correction device of the present invention, with the attachment and fixing mechanism removed. 6 is a drawing showing, as viewed from the front of the palatal surface, the state in which the device is attached to the maxillary side of a wearer (patient) in another embodiment of the correction device of the present invention.

[0125] 1. Disclosure of Exemplary Embodiments (1) Here, examples of the correction device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The orthodontic device disclosed in this embodiment is a jaw position correction device having both distal ends for fixing the device to both or one of the upper molars, one on each side, via a fixing mechanism, and when attached, (1) the device is provided with a structure that comes into contact with or is close to the palate side of at least one tooth selected from the palate side of the second premolar, the palate side of the first premolar, and the palate side of the canine on each side, (2) the most mesial parts of the contacting or close-together structures on each side are located near the midline of the hard palate of the wearer, and are connected to structures of approximately the same shape on both the right and left cheek sides across the midline, the main area of ​​which is the area immediately below the hard palate, anterior to the palatal fossa, (3) the device is bent approximately symmetrically on the right and left sides with respect to an axis along the midline of the hard palate, to the extent that a repulsive force against elastic deformation is maintained, (4) The most distal region of each of the right and left or one of the right and left contact or proximity structures is a region where premature contact with cusp interference is intended to be generated, and includes an abutment structure for the palatal cervical portion of each of the right and left or one of the molars, and is equipped with a mechanism for applying a sustained compressive force from the palatal side to the cervical portion, which acts to apply a force component that moves the orientation of the crown of the molar toward the buccal side, and the mechanism is equipped with an attachment and fixing mechanism for fixing the jaw position correcting device to the molar where premature contact with cusp interference is intended to be generated; jaw position correcting device. The disclosure of this embodiment is not intended to limit the present invention.

[0126] Figures 6-13 disclose one embodiment of the orthodontic device of the present invention, showing its basic structure and the state of attachment to the maxilla of a wearer (patient). Right and left refer to right and left from the wearer's perspective. Up and down also refer to up and down from the wearer's perspective. Figure 6 is a perspective view of a jaw position correction device 50, an orthodontic device of the present invention, in a state 57 (hereinafter referred to as the jaw position correction device main body 57) with the attachment and fixing mechanism removed. Figure 7 is a front view of the jaw position correction device main body 57 as viewed in the direction of arrow B, Figure 8 is a plan view as viewed in the direction of arrow C (top), and Figure 9 is a left side view as viewed in the direction of arrow D. Figure 10 is a plan view of the jaw position correction device 50 with bands, which serve as attachment and fixing mechanisms, attached to both distal ends. Figure 11 shows the direction and orientation of the jaw position correction device 50 when attached to a wearer. Figure 12 shows the jaw position correction device 50 attached to the maxilla of a wearer. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the tendency of movement of the maxillary dentition when the jaw position correcting device 50 is continuously worn by a wearer.

[0127] While the jaw position correction device main body 57 shown in Figures 6-9 is composed of a single continuous linear member, the correction device of the present invention is not limited to this form. Furthermore, by making portions of the linear member connectable via a detachable mechanism such as an adapter, it is possible to realize an embodiment in which components can be combined and assembled, or components can be replaced. Typically, a wire commonly used in orthodontic treatment is used as the linear member, with a thickness (diameter) of 0.6-1.0 mm, with 0.8-0.9 mm being preferred. In particular, a wire with a thickness (diameter) of 0.9 mm is most suitable for use in this jaw position correction device. The cross-sectional shape of the wire is not limited, but a circular shape is preferred, which is practical as it matches the cross-sectional shape of commercially available wires.

[0128] As shown in Figures 6 to 9, the jaw position correcting device main body 57 has a shape that is approximately line-symmetrical with respect to an axis I-I along the midline of the hard palate, and has a loop shape at the center and three locations on the right and left sides (a central loop 511, a right loop 512, and a left loop 513). The central loop 511 is approximately line-symmetrical with respect to the axis I-I along the midline of the hard palate, and includes a central continuation point 503 between the right side 501 and the left side 502. The right loop 512 is provided on the distal side near the right distal end 5011, and the left loop 513 is provided on the distal side near the left distal end 5012. Guide line regions, preferably with gently curved portions, are provided from the mesial end 5121 of the right loop 512 and the mesial end 5131 of the left loop 513 toward the right major bend 531 and the left major bend 532, respectively (a right side guide portion 521 and a left side guide portion 522). Guide line regions (right central guide portion 541 and left central guide portion 542) are provided from one end of the right major bend portion 531 and one end of the left major bend portion 532 to both ends of the central loop 511 (right end portion 5111 of the central loop and left end portion 5112 of the central loop), and the central loop 511 is formed by including both ends. The loop shapes (511, 512, 513) are one of the preferred embodiments of a surrounding shape formed by a linear member. Of these, as mentioned above, it is preferred that the central loop 511 be as close as possible to the hard palate so that the jaw position corrective device 50 can be worn on the wearer (patient).

[0129] The overall shape of the jaw position correction device main body 57 is preferably such that it follows the shape of the maxillary dental arch to the palate of the wearer when the jaw position correction device 50 is attached to the wearer (patient). In addition, the jaw position correction device 50 is attached to the wearer in a state where it is bent approximately symmetrically on the right and left sides about the axis I-I along the midline of the hard palate. The repulsive force against this bending becomes the source of a pressing force, including an upward component toward the cheek side (lateral side), on the right and left maxillary dental arches.

[0130] The bending angles Θ (531Θ, 532Θ, respectively) of the right and left major bending portions 531, 532 are bent in an R-shape, including a horizontal angle component θ1 formed between the right and left side guide portions 521, 522, which form a line (preferably a gentle curve) that approximates the direction of the dental row including the maxillary second premolar and the canine (distal to mesial direction) in the mouth, so that when worn, the right and left central guide portions 541, 542 form a central loop 511 from the neck of the maxillary canine toward the mesial side of the hard palate, and an up-down angle component θ2 (the above-mentioned upper component) that forms a curve that approximates the curve of the hard palate from the neck of the maxillary canine toward the posterior mesial side of the mouth, thereby forming the right and left central guide portions 541, 542 up to both end portions 5111, 5112 of the central loop 511, and the central loop 511 that includes these both end portions is formed. The above 531Θ refers to the bending angle Θ at the right major bending portion 531, and 532Θ refers to the bending angle Θ at the left major bending portion 532. In the drawing symbols, 531, 532, and Θ are separate. 531Θ and 532Θ should be delicately adjusted according to the condition of the wearer (patient), and cannot be said to be strictly equal, but for the purpose of explanation, they will be treated as approximately equal. The same applies to the horizontal angle component θ1 (531θ1, 532θ1) and the vertical angle component θ2 (531θ2, 532θ2). The right loop 512 and the left loop 513, located on the right and left distal sides of the jaw position correcting device main body 57, respectively form R-shaped loops with bending angles Φ (5121Φ, 5131Φ) (horizontal direction 5121Φ1, 5131Φ1; vertical direction 5121Φ2 (not shown), 5131Φ2) along the curve from the cervical to the palate of the second premolar to the first molar. 5121Φ above refers to the bending angle Φ at the mesial end 5121 of the right loop 513, and 513Φ refers to the bending angle Φ at the mesial end 5131 of the left loop 513. In the drawing symbols, 5121, 5131, and Φ are separate. 5121Φ and 5131Φ should be delicately adjusted according to the condition of the wearer, as with the above Θ, and cannot be said to be strictly equal, but for the purpose of explanation, they will be treated as approximately equal. The same applies to the horizontal angle component φ1 (5121φ1, 5131φ1) and the vertical angle component φ2 (5121φ2 (not shown), 5131φ2).

[0131] Furthermore, the central loop 511 is formed to have an angle component θ3 (522θ3) that is gentler when viewed from the horizontal direction than the vertical angle component θ2 formed by the right and left side guide portions 521 and 522. θ3 is only shown in the left side view of FIG. 9 . This θ3 is the vertical angle component 522θ3 formed by the left side guide portion 522. Although not shown, on the right symmetrical side of the central loop 511 to the right of this 522θ3, there is the vertical angle component 521θ3 formed by the right side guide portion 521. 522θ3 and 521θ3 (not shown) should also be delicately adjusted depending on the condition of the wearer (patient), and although they cannot be said to be strictly equal, for the purposes of this description, they will be treated as approximately equal.

[0132] As shown in Figure 10, the jaw position correction device 50 has bands (right band 55, left band 56) that serve as attachment and fixing mechanisms attached to the outer edge of the jaw position correction device main body 57 at the right and left distal ends (right distal end 5011, left distal end 5012) of the jaw position correction device main body 57 so that they can fit around the maxillary right and left first molars of the wearer (patient) when worn (right band attachment portion 551, left band attachment portion 561). The attachment means is not limited, and in addition to welding such as waxing as shown in the figure, attachment using a fine adapter, for example, can be selected. Currently, a fine adapter called a lingual sheath is available that can be attached to the side of the band to fit and fix a linear member in place, and an embodiment using this is also preferred.

[0133] 11 shows the direction (arrow E) and orientation of the jaw position correction device 50 when it is attached to the oral cavity 10 of a wearer (patient). The wearer is a dentist. The jaw position correction device 50 is attached to the upper dental arch of the wearer from the hard palate side. Each element of the jaw position correction device 50 is attached to a predetermined position on the maxillary dentition, with the right band 55 being fitted and fixed to the maxillary right first molar and the left band 56 being fitted and fixed to the maxillary left first molar.

[0134] 12 shows the shape of the jaw position correcting device 50 attached to the maxillary palate side in the direction shown in Fig. 11, as viewed from the front of the palate. The teeth constituting the maxillary dentition in Fig. 12 are shown in accordance with the illustrations in Fig. 2.

[0135] The right side guide portion 521 and the left side guide portion 522 are in contact with or close to the palatal side of the second premolars (1135, 1135'), the palatal side of the first premolars (1134, 1134'), and the palatal side of the canines (1133, 1133'), respectively, and correspond to the above-mentioned "(1) structure in contact with or close to the palatal side of at least one tooth selected from the palatal side of the second premolars, the palatal side of the first premolars, and the palatal side of the canines, respectively, on the right and left." As will be described later in the explanation of Figure 13, when the right side surface guide portion 521 and the left side surface guide portion 522 are attached to the palate side of the jaw position correction device 50, a pressing force is applied to expand the bending angle (shown by the horizontal angle component θ1: 531θ1, 532θ1) of the right and left major bending portions 531 and 532, i.e., a pressing force is applied by the linear member, which has been bent to the extent that it maintains its repulsive force against elastic deformation, abutting against the palate side of the maxillary dentition, thereby achieving lateral expansion of the dentition of the maxillary canines (right 1133, left 1133'), first premolars (right 1134, left 1134'), and second premolars (right 1135, left 1135'). Therefore, the area from the right and left major bending portions 531 and 532 to the right and left side guide portions 521 and 522 corresponds to "a mechanism that can apply a pressing force from the palate side toward the cheek side to one maxillary molar on each side of the wearer (patient), and to the right and left teeth that are closest to the jaw position correction device and that contact the jaw position correction device."

[0136] In this "(1) structure in contact with or close to the palatal side of at least one tooth selected from the palatal side of the second premolar, the palatal side of the first premolar, and the palatal side of the canine," the right and left most mesial portions, "right major bend 531" and "left major bend 532," are connected via "right central guide 541" and "left central guide 542," respectively, to both ends (central loop right end 5111 and central loop left end 5112) of a central loop 511, which is "a structure located near the midline of the hard palate of the wearer (patient) and including as its main region the area immediately below the hard palate anterior to the palatal fossa on both the right and left cheek sides of the midline, and which has substantially the same shape on either side of the midline." The central loop 511 does not abut against the wearer's hard palate, and its tip, a central continuation point 503, reaches near the posterior edge of the hard palate. In this way, the "'right major bend portion 531 and left major bend portion 532' - 'right central guide portion 541 and left central guide portion 542' - central loop 511" corresponds to the above-mentioned "(2) in the above-mentioned right and left contact or proximity structures, the most mesial portions of the right and left contact portions are located in the vicinity of the midline of the wearer's hard palate, and the structures have substantially the same shape on either side of the midline, including as their main region the region immediately below the hard palate anterior to the palatal pits on both the right and left cheek sides of the midline." The central loop 511 is a mechanism that applies a lateral (cheek-side) pressing force due to the repulsive force of a surrounding-shaped linear member that is bent to the extent that it maintains a repulsive force against elastic deformation, and it is preferable that it can be positioned as close to the hard palate as possible, as described above.

[0137] The right loop distal end 5121-right distal end 5011 and the left loop distal end 5131-left distal end 5012, which are "abutment structures against the palatal cervical portions of the molars," and the right and left bands (right band 55, left band 56) connected to these as attachment and fixing mechanisms, have the function of applying a force component that moves the orientation of the crowns of the molars restrained by the bands in conjunction with the daily occlusal force of the wearer (patient), as will be described later in connection with Figure 13, and correspond to the above-mentioned "(3) region that attempts to generate premature contact with cusp interference." The right and left loops (right loop 512, left loop 513) are excess-shaped regions that easily relieve the pressing force of the "abutment structures against the palatal cervical portions of the molars" to relieve pain felt in the oral mucosa of the wearer (patient).

[0138] Figure 13 shows, in a front view of the palate, the state in which, when the jaw position corrective device 50 shown in Figure 12 is attached to the palate side, first, the repulsive force of the elastic line by the central loop 511 and the bending angle Θ of the right and left major bending portions 531 and 532 (shown as the horizontal angle component θ1 in Figure 12: 531θ1, 532θ1) are attached, the bending angle Θ includes an upward component and the repulsive force tends to expand outward, causing lateral expansion forces F and F' to act on the dentition of the maxillary canines (right 1133, left 1133'), first premolars (right 1134, left 1134'), and second premolars (right 1135, left 1135'), and as the horizontal angle component expands from θ1 to θ1' (531θ1 → 531θ1'; 532θ1 → 532θ1'), the above-mentioned dentition also expands laterally.

[0139] Secondly, Figure 13 illustrates a simulated state in which the above-mentioned lateral expansion force (including an upward force component) is also applied to the right and left maxillary first molars (right 1136 and left 1136'), and to this is added a force component exerted by the contact and pressure of the right and left resilient wires (right loop distal end 5121-right distal end 5011 and left loop distal end 5131-left distal end 5012) against the palatal cervical regions of the right and left maxillary first molars. The resultant force of these force components exerts a continuous pressure force from the palate to the buccal side, which is transmitted to the right and left maxillary first molars via the right and left bands (right 55 and left 56). Furthermore, the daily intercuspation force of the wearer (patient) causes the orientation of the crowns to move, resulting in premature contact with cusp interference, as shown in Figure 4(b). This second state corresponds to mechanism (2). As mentioned above, the right and left loops (512, 513) are mechanisms for adjusting the strength of the force applied to the right and left bands.

[0140] This lateral expansion of the canine-second premolar tooth row in the maxillary dentition and the creation of premature contact with cusp interference at the molars alleviates the maxillary protrusion of the wearer (patient). At the same time, the pseudo-occlusion between the maxillary and mandibular molars is reset to the wearer's original position. This also allows for the improvement of temporomandibular joint disorders and the adjustment of the dental alignment in the wearer. Even more surprisingly, as mentioned above, the premature contact with cusp interference causes the maxilla to rotate around the zygomatic process, improving the wearer's facial appearance at a skeletal level.

[0141] 14 shows a front view of the palate of a special jaw position corrective device 60 attached to the maxillary palate, in which the action of the orthodontic device of the present invention, "lateral expansion of the canine-second premolar tooth row and creation of early contact with cusp interference at the first molar," is applied only to the right side of the maxillary dentition, while "only lateral expansion of the canine-second premolar tooth row" is applied to the left side. The right half of the jaw position corrective device 60 is similar to the jaw position corrective device 50 described above, but the configuration of the left half is different from that of the jaw position corrective device 50.

[0142] The left half of the jaw position correction device 60 differs from the left half of the jaw position correction device 50 in that the left band 56 of the jaw position correction device 50 is fitted around the maxillary left first molar 1136', whereas the left band 66 of the jaw position correction device 60 is fitted around the maxillary left first premolar 1134'. By fitting the band 66 of the jaw position correction device around the maxillary left first premolar 1134', the pushing force from the central loop 611 and the repulsive force from the left major bend portion 632 are concentrated in the vicinity of the maxillary left canine-second premolar, with the maxillary left first premolar 1134' as the center, and are weak against the maxillary left first molar 1136', which is only in gentle contact with the redundant linear members, including the left loop 613. Therefore, the left half of the jaw position correction device 60 only has the effect of laterally expanding the maxillary left canine-second premolar of the wearer (patient), and does not substantially affect the orientation of the crown of the maxillary left first molar. On the other hand, the right half of the jaw position correction device 60, like the jaw position correction device 50, generates premature contact with cusp interference by both laterally expanding the maxillary right canine-second premolar and also by affecting the orientation of the crown of the maxillary right first molar. An unbalanced configuration such as the jaw position correction device 60 can be applied when, for example, due to the wearer's health, it is not possible to generate premature contact with cusp interference on the molars in the maxillary left dentition. Even when using a jaw position correction device 60 with such an unbalanced configuration, the effects of the present invention are not impaired.

[0143] The jaw position correcting device 60 is one embodiment of a jaw position correcting device having both distal ends fixed to one of the upper molars, one on each side, via an attachment and fixing mechanism.

[0144] 2. Diversity of the Above-mentioned Embodiment (1) <Diversity from the Viewpoint of the Jaw Position Corrective Device> When a wearer (dentist) intends to have a wearer (patient) wear the jaw position corrective device 50 shown in Figures 6 to 13, he or she first counsels the wearer to determine the orthodontic treatment policy, then creates a plaster cast of the wearer's maxillary dentition, and temporarily fits the jaw position corrective device 50 to it. The front view of the temporarily fitted state is similar to that shown in Figure 12. In the temporarily fitted state, adjustments are made to the right and left balance, the contact strength with the maxillary dentition and the elastic line of the dental cervical region, the repulsive force that causes the bending angles Θ (531Θ, 532Θ) to expand outward (including an upward force component), and the fit of the right and left bands (55, 56) to the maxillary molars to achieve the most appropriate state for the wearer's maxillary dentition, taking into account the content of the counseling. After the adjustment, the jaw position correction device 50 is removed from the plaster cast and reattached to the maxillary dentition of the wearer so that it matches the state shown in Figure 12, completing the attachment of the jaw position correction device 50 to the wearer. Depending on the health condition of the wearer's maxillary dentition, the dentist may choose an unbalanced configuration like the jaw position correction device 60 or a method such as fitting bands to molars other than the first molar. Furthermore, the subtle curvature of the linear members constituting the jaw position correction device 50 is also finely adjusted according to the specific condition of the wearer's maxillary dentition. Furthermore, as described above, the condition of the wearer's maxillary dentition is observed over time from the initial attachment. When appropriate, the jaw position correction device 50 is temporarily removed from the maxillary dentition, and each time, readjusted according to the initial adjustment, and then reattached to the wearer. Such reattachment is usually performed multiple times depending on the chronological movement of the wearer's dentition, and it is preferable to appropriately manage the progress of the dentition movement each time. Because of the need for continuous management of dental alignment, it is preferable that the jaw position correction devices 50 and 60 be easily attached and detached by dentists, but also difficult for the wearer to attach and detach. This embodiment, which uses a band and a linear member (wire), meets this requirement.

[0145] Thus, even if we limit ourselves to a "form using linear members (wires) and bands" such as the jaw position correction device 50, there are a variety of specific forms.

[0146] <Diversity from the Viewpoint of the Jaw Position Corrective Device Main Body> As described above, the jaw position corrective device 50 is usually first temporarily fitted to a plaster cast of the maxillary dentition of the wearer (patient). Prior to this temporary fitting, a dentist or dental technician attaches bands to both ends of the jaw position corrective device main body 57 (corresponding to the jaw position corrective device part) to complete the jaw position corrective device 50 for use.

[0147] The jaw position correction device main body 57 can be produced (fabricated) by bending a linear member (wire), and can be fabricated by a dentist or dental technician himself.

[0148] At the same time, it is also possible to mass-produce the standardized jaw position correction device main body 57 or its precursor and distribute it as a product. The precursor provided as a standardized product is shaped into the shape of the jaw position correction device main body 57 by a dentist or dental technician when used, and is used as the jaw position correction device 57 for a wearer (patient) through the process described above.

[0149] An embodiment example of the jaw position correcting device main body 57 and its precursor is shown in FIG.

[0150] 15 shows in (1) a perspective view of a planar precursor 571 of the jaw position correction device main body 57, in (2) a perspective view of a three-dimensional precursor 572 of the same, and in (3) a perspective view of the jaw position correction device main body 57 (from a different angle from the perspective view in FIG. 6). In each figure, a central loop 511, a right loop 512, a left loop 513, and right and left large bends 531 and 532 are illustrated.

[0151] The planar precursor 571 has a shape in which the vertical angle components θ2 and θ3 (see FIG. 9) of the right and left major bending portions 531 and 532 of the jaw position correction device main body 57 are approximately 0. The three-dimensional precursor 572 has a shape in which the corresponding angle of the vertical angle component θ2 is greater than 0 but smaller than that of the jaw position correction device main body 57, and the corresponding angle θ3 is the same as or smaller than θ3 (but greater than or equal to 0). The bending angles Φ (531Φ, 532Φ) of the right and left major bending portions 531 and 532 are approximately equal to the horizontal angle component φ1 (531φ1, 532φ).

[0152] As described above, the jaw position corrective device main body 57, which is a finished product, can be produced by a dentist, dental technician, or the like appropriately folding or otherwise making indentations in the planar precursor 571 or the three-dimensional precursor 572. Typically, the jaw position corrective device main body 57 can be produced from the planar precursor 571 through the three-dimensional precursor 572.

[0153] The planar precursor 571, the three-dimensional precursor 572, and the jaw position correction device main body 57 not only show examples of the stages of the manufacturing process described above, but also each can be the subject of manufacture, sale, and distribution as a standardized product. The planar precursor 571, which has a planar shape, but is less three-dimensional than the jaw position correction device main body 57, which is a finished product, such as the three-dimensional precursor 572, is more suitable as a product to be distributed.

[0154] As described above, the orthodontic device of the present invention has versatility in terms of its manufacturing process and distribution targets.

[0155] 3. Disclosure of Exemplary Embodiment (2) Figures 16, 17, and 18 are drawings relating to a jaw position correction device 70, which is another embodiment of the jaw position correction device 50. The jaw position correction device 70 is more suitable for mass production.

[0156] Fig. 16 shows a perspective view of a planar precursor 771 of the jaw position correction device main body 77, and Fig. 17 shows a perspective view of the jaw position correction device main body 77. Fig. 18 is a drawing showing the jaw position correction device 70 attached to the maxillary side of a wearer (patient) as viewed from the front of the palate.

[0157] The planar precursor 771 becomes the jaw position correction device main body 77, which can be worn by the wearer (dentist) or the like by folding or otherwise adjusting the planar precursor 771. The jaw position correction device 70, with the bands 725 and 735 attached to the planar precursor 771, is then worn on the maxillary side of the wearer. The planar precursor 771 is a combination of three linear members 71, 72, and 73. The linear members 72 and 73 are connected to both ends of the linear member 71 so that their side faces are line-symmetrical to each other (connecting portions 722 and 732). While brazing is shown as an example of the method for connecting the linear members at these connecting portions, this is not limited to this. Any method that allows connection, such as welding, adhesive bonding, or fitting, can be used. This overall shape of the planar precursor 771 has loops 711, 721, and 731 at three locations: the center and the left and right. The distance between the linear members 72 and 73 is wider on the distal side (723, 733) and narrower on the mesial side (724, 734) to match the shape of the maxillary dentition to which it will be attached. To adjust the jaw position corrective device main body 77 to a shape that can be worn by a wearer, the linear member 71 must be dome-shaped by forming folds (G, G') on the surface formed between the linear members 72, 73 to match the shape of the maxillary palate to which it will be attached. The right and left loops 721, 731 must each have inwardly angled folds (H, J) that match the cervical portions of the maxillary first molars. The mesial sides 724, 734 of the linear members 72, 73 preferably have curved folds (K, L) that match the shape of the palate of the maxillary mesial dentition. Then, bands 725, 735 for fixing the jaw position corrective device main body 77 to the maxillary first molars are separately attached to the outer sides of the distal sides 723, 733 of the linear members 72, 73 to form the jaw position corrective device 70. The bands can be attached by waxing, using attachments (commercially available), or the like. Fig. 18 shows a state in which the jaw position corrective device 70 is fixed to the right and left maxillary first molars of a wearer by the bands 725, 735, the right and left distal sides 723, 733 of the linear members are in contact with the vicinity of the cervical parts of the right and left first molars, and the central loop 711 is positioned directly below the hard palate.

[0158] 4. Advanced Concept of the Invention Figures 6-18 disclose examples of the orthodontic device of the present invention [including the main body (excluding the band) and precursor]. These examples are preferred examples of the orthodontic device of the present invention. However, the essence of the present invention is to provide a "jaw position correction device" that not only improves temporomandibular joint disorders, but also provides patients with cosmetic benefits such as improved facial appearance at the skeletal level by incorporating a step of resetting the position of the mandible relative to the maxilla into the overall orthodontic process by "using a jaw position correction device that generates premature contact with cusp interference at the first molar while simultaneously expanding the maxillary canine-second premolar." This was something that had never existed in conventional orthodontic thinking, and the orthodontic device of the present invention brings about this; "A jaw position correcting device configured singly or as a set to be attached to the maxilla, which, when attached, (1) is equipped with a mechanism that acts to laterally expand the maxillary dentition in the region from the right and left canines to the second premolars of the wearer (patient), (2) is equipped with a mechanism that acts to generate premature contact accompanied by cuspal interference between both or one of the maxillary molars and the mandibular molars by moving the orientation of the crowns of both the right and left maxillary molars of the wearer, or one of the maxillary molars that has been selected to have the effect of mechanism (2) act buccally, and (3) is not equipped with a mechanism that forwardly expands the region of the right and left maxillary central incisors and ipsilateral incisors of the wearer; a jaw position correcting device, in which mechanisms (1) and (2) may be independent of each other, or part or all of them may be used together." This is a truly pioneering invention that provides the world of orthodontics with a new treatment concept: "correction of jaw position before orthodontic treatment."

[0159] Therefore, the orthodontic device of the present invention is fully worthy of being patented in the broad concept defined in the above " ".

[0160] 5. Implementation of the Invention in Clinical Orthodontics The inventor is an orthodontist, and has used the orthodontic device of the present invention in actual clinical settings, achieving the expected results. Use of the orthodontic device of the present invention not only contributes to jaw position correction, such as curing patients' temporomandibular joint disorders, but also contributes to orthodontic treatment, such as eliminating overjet, and has a significant cosmetic effect on the patient's facial appearance. This is because use of the orthodontic device of the present invention not only corrects the patient's jaw position, but also causes the skull to rotate forward around the jawbone as an axis.

[0161] The inventors can disclose, if necessary, the clinical results of the correction device of the present invention, particularly the actual visual improvement of facial appearance.

[0162] 6. Methods for Using the Corrective Device of the Present Invention The following methods for using the corrective device of the present invention are provided.

[0163] First, a method for correcting jaw position includes the following steps (1) to (4): (1) attaching the orthodontic device of the present invention to the maxillary dentition of a wearer (patient), (2) shifting the crowns of the maxillary right and left molars toward the buccal side to induce malocclusion between the maxillary and mandibular molars and create a state of misalignment between the maxillary and mandibular molars, (3) resetting the mandible to the correct position and aligning the maxillary jaw with this to match the centric position and the centric occlusion position, and (4) correcting the jaw position of the wearer.

[0164] Second, a facial appearance improvement method including the following steps (1) to (4): (1) attaching the orthodontic device of the present invention to the maxillary dentition of a wearer (patient), (2) shifting the crowns of the maxillary right and left molars toward the buccal side to induce malocclusion between the maxillary and mandibular molars, and simultaneously shifting the maxilla in a forward rotational direction during the process of creating a state in which the maxilla and mandibular occlusion are misaligned, (3) resetting the mandible to the correct position and aligning the maxilla with this to align the centric position with the centric occlusion position, and the forward rotational shift of the maxilla, (4) improving the facial appearance of the wearer.

[0165] 1: Nose 2: Upper lip 3: Lower lip 4: Lower jaw 10: Oral cavity proper 11: Maxillary region 111: Oral vestibule 112: Maxillary alveolar process 113: Upper dental arch 1131: Right central incisor 1131': Left central incisor 1132: Right incisor 1132': Left incisor 1133: Right canine 1133': Left canine 1134: Right first premolar 1134': Left first premolar 1135: Right second premolar 1135': Left second premolar 1136, 20, 20': Right first molar 1136': Left first molar 1137: Right second molar 1137': Left second molar 1138: Right third molar (wisdom tooth) 1138': Left third molar (wisdom tooth) 114: Hard palate 115: Soft palate 116: Lateral palatine fold 117: Incisive papilla 118: Midline (palatine raphe) 119: Palatal pit 12: Mandibular region 121: Mandibular alveolar region 122: Tongue 123: Lower dental arch 201: Maxillary alveolar process 21: Root (maxillary right molar) 22: Crown (maxillary right molar) 221: Functional cusp (maxillary right molar) 222: Non-functional cusp (maxillary right molar) 30: Mandibular right first molar 31: Root (mandibular right molar) 32: Crown (mandibular right molar) 321: Functional cusp (mandibular right molar) 322: Non-functional cusp (mandibular right molar) 40: Maxilla (left side) 41: Body of maxilla 42: Zygomatic process 43: Frontal process 50, 60, 70: Jaw position correction device 501: Right side of jaw position correction device 5011: Right distal end 502: Left side of jaw position correction device 5012: Left distal end 503: Central continuity point 511, 611: Central loop 5111: Right end of central loop 5112: Left end of central loop 512: Right loop 5121: Mesial end of right loop 5121Φ: Bending angle at mesial end of right loop 5121φ1: Horizontal component of bending angle at mesial end of right loop 5122: Distal end of right loop 513,613: Left loop 5131: Proximal end of left loop 5131Φ: Bending angle at the proximal end of the left loop 5131φ1: Horizontal component of the bending angle at the proximal end of the left loop 5131φ2: Vertical component of the bending angle at the proximal end of the left loop 5132: Distal end of left loop 521: Right side guide portion 522: Left side guide portion 522θ3: Vertical angle component formed by the left side guide portion 531: Right major bending portion 531Θ: Bending angle at the right major bending portion 531θ1, 531θ1': Horizontal component of the bending angle at the right major bending portion 531θ2: Vertical component of the bending angle at the right major bending portion 532, 632: Left major bending portion 532Θ: Bending angle at the left major bending portion 532θ1: Horizontal component of the bending angle at the left major bending portion 532θ2: Vertical component of the bending angle at the left major bending portion 541: Right central guide part 542: Left central guide part 55: Right band 551: Right band attachment part 56, 66: Left band 561: Left band attachment part 57, 77: Jaw position correction device main body 571, 771: Planar precursor of jaw position correction device main body 572: Three-dimensional precursor of jaw position correction device main body 71, 72, 73: Linear member 711: Central loop 721: Right loop 722: Right connecting part 723: Distal side of right linear member 724: Mesial side of right linear member 725: Right band 731: Left loop 732: Left connecting part 733: Distal side of left linear member 734: Mesial side of left linear member 735: Left band 23, 33, 44, A, A', B, C, D, E, F, F': Arrows G, G', H, J, K, L: folds I-I: axis along the midline of the hard palate,

Claims

1. A jaw position correction device that is worn on the upper jaw, either alone or as a set, which, when worn, (1) has a mechanism that acts to laterally expand the maxillary dentition in the area from the right and left canines to the second premolars of the wearer, (2) has a mechanism that acts to generate early contact with cuspal interference between both or one of the maxillary molars and the mandibular molars by moving the orientation of the crowns of both the right and left maxillary molars of the wearer, or the one that has been selected to have the effect of mechanism (2) applied, toward the buccal side, and (3) does not have a mechanism for forwardly expanding the area of ​​the right and left maxillary central incisors and ipsilateral incisors of the wearer; a jaw position correction device, in which mechanisms (1) and (2) may be independent of each other or may be combined in part or in whole.

2. A jaw position correction device as described in claim 1, which is provided with a mechanism for generating a resultant force of multiple forces in different directions by attaching the device to the upper jaw of a wearer, as a force for moving the direction of the crown of the maxillary molar (2) toward the cheek.

3. The jaw position correction device according to claim 1, wherein the mechanism (1) (a) is located immediately below the midline of the hard palate of the wearer, and has structures of approximately the same shape on both sides of the midline, including as its main area an area immediately below the hard palate anterior to the palatal pits, on both the right and left cheek sides on either side of the midline, and the structures apply continuous pressure to the right and left cheek sides.

4. A jaw position correction device as described in claim 3, wherein the pressing force of the mechanism (a) is a repulsive force exerted by a linear member that has been bent to the extent that it maintains a repulsive force against elastic deformation.

5. A jaw position correction device as described in claim 4, wherein the pressing force by the linear member is a repulsive force against the bending of the linear member having a surrounding shape on the rear side that is approximately symmetrical with respect to the midline.

6. A jaw position correction device as described in claim 3, further comprising, as the mechanism (1), (b) a mechanism capable of applying a compressive force in the buccal direction, including an upward component, from one maxillary molar on each of the right and left of the wearer to the right and left teeth on the most proximal side against which the jaw position correction device abuts.

7. A jaw position correction device as described in claim 6, wherein the pressing force specified in (b) is the repulsive force of a linear member that is bent approximately symmetrically to the right and left with respect to an axis along the midline of the hard palate, to the extent that a repulsive force against elastic deformation is maintained.

8. The jaw position correction device according to claim 1, wherein the mechanism (2) is a mechanism for transmitting a continuous pressing force from the palate side to the cheek side to both or one of the maxillary molars, via an attachment and fixing mechanism for fixing the jaw position correction device to both or one of the maxillary molars, by the resultant force of (c) the force component applied by the mechanism (1) to both or one of the maxillary molars attempting to generate early contact accompanied by cuspal interference, and (b) the force component generated by the abutment structure against the palate side cervical portion of both or one of the maxillary molars.

9. A jaw position correction device as described in claim 8, wherein the compressive force applied to the palatal cervical portion of one or both of the upper molars (c) on the right and left is a compressive force applied by a linear member bent to the extent that a repulsive force against elastic deformation is maintained on the palatal cervical portion of the molar.

10. A jaw position correction device as described in claim 9, wherein the jaw position correction device is provided with an excess-shaped area extending from the palatal cervical portion of both or one of the maxillary molars (one on each side of the right and left) in the direction from the palatal cervical portion to the tooth root portion, capable of adjusting the strength of the pressing force exerted by the contact of a linear member that has been bent to the extent that a repulsive force against elastic deformation is maintained.

11. A jaw position correction device as described in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein when the jaw position correction device is attached, the portion located on the palate side excluding the attachment and fixing mechanism is composed of a single continuous linear member.

12. A jaw position correction device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, which is removable by the wearer and difficult for the wearer to remove.

13. A jaw position correction device as described in claim 12, wherein when the jaw position correction device is attached, the portion located on the palate side excluding the attachment and fixing mechanism is composed of a single continuous linear member.

14. The jaw position correction device has both distal ends that are fixed to one or both of the right and left maxillary molars via an attachment and fixing mechanism, and when worn, (1) the device is provided with a structure that contacts or is close to the palate side of at least one tooth selected from the palate side of the second premolar, the palate side of the first premolar, and the palate side of the canine on each of the right and left, (2) the most proximal side of each of the right and left contacting or close structures is located near the midline of the hard palate of the wearer, and is connected to structures of approximately the same shape on both the right and left cheek sides across the midline, the main area of ​​which is the area directly below the hard palate anterior to the palatal fossa, (3) the device is bent approximately symmetrically on the right and left sides with respect to the axis along the midline of the hard palate to the extent that a repulsive force against elastic deformation is maintained, and (4) The most distal region of each of the right and left or one of the right and left contact or proximity structures is a region where early contact with cusp interference is intended to be generated, and includes an abutment structure for the palatal cervical portion of each of the right and left or one of the molars, and is equipped with a mechanism for applying a sustained compressive force from the palatal side to the cervical portion, acting to apply a force component that moves the direction of the crown of the molar toward the buccal side, and the mechanism is equipped with an attachment and fixing mechanism for fixing the jaw position correction device to the molar where early contact with cusp interference is intended to be generated; A jaw position correction device as described in any one of claims 1 to 10.

15. A jaw position correction device as described in claim 14, wherein when the jaw position correction device is attached, the portion located on the palate side excluding the attachment and fixing mechanism is composed of a single continuous linear member.

16. The jaw position correction device according to claim 14, which is removable by the wearer and difficult for the wearer to remove.

17. A jaw position correction device as described in claim 16, wherein when the jaw position correction device is attached, the portion located on the palate side excluding the attachment and fixing mechanism is composed of a single continuous linear member.

18. A part, excluding the mounting and fixing mechanism, of a jaw position correction device which is configured alone or as a set and is to be worn on the upper jaw, which, when worn, (1) is equipped with a mechanism which acts to laterally expand the right and left maxillary dentition of the wearer, (2) is equipped with a mechanism which acts to generate early contact accompanied by cuspal interference between both or one of the maxillary molars and the mandibular molars by moving the orientation of the crowns of both the right and left maxillary molars of the wearer, or of the one which has been selected to be affected by the action of mechanism (2), toward the buccal side, and (3) is not equipped with a mechanism for forwardly expanding the areas of the right and left maxillary central incisors and ipsilateral incisors of the wearer; a part of a jaw position correction device in which the mechanisms (1) and (2) may be independent of each other or may be partly or wholly together.

19. A part of the jaw position correction device according to claim 14, wherein the mechanism (4) does not include an attachment and fixing mechanism for fixing the jaw position correction device to the molar tooth that is intended to generate the premature contact with the cusp interference.

20. A precursor of a part of the jaw position correction device described in claim 19, which is a precursor of the part of the jaw position correction device in a state in which the three-dimensional shape of the part of the jaw position correction device has not been completed so that it can be worn as a jaw position correction device according to the shape of the wearer's upper jaw.

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