Positioner for orthodontic aligner

Abstract

The present invention relates to a positioner for an orthodontic aligner. The positioner comprises a body (120) having a three-dimensional shape, provided with an adhesive surface (126), and having a through-hole (129) formed on one side and passing through in a transverse direction, and is fixed to teeth by attaching the adhesive surface (126) to the teeth. On the basis of teeth arrangement data obtained by scanning in a state in which the body (120) is fixed to the teeth, the positioner can guide the positions for mounting the body (120) attached to the teeth to be corrected and orthodontic means formed to correspond to each of the teeth. Furthermore, by hanging a wire on the through-hole (129) and pushing or pulling the teeth, preliminary correction can be performed prior to correcting the teeth using the orthodontic means.

Description

positioner for orthodontic appliances

[0001] The present invention relates to a dental orthodontic device, and more particularly to a positioner that guides the mounting of an orthodontic means used to correct teeth in an accurate position and enables preliminary correction if necessary.

[0002] Orthodontic devices may be used for the purpose of correcting or treating crooked teeth or teeth with malocclusion. Additionally, orthodontic devices may be used for cosmetic purposes to create a balanced contour through orthodontic correction. Such orthodontic devices may include orthodontic means. Representative examples of orthodontic means include brackets formed to be attached to the teeth to allow for the installation of wires, or clear aligners that can be attached to the teeth like mouthpieces, which correct the teeth by artificially moving them through the application of force to the teeth over a long period of time.

[0003] Conventional orthodontic devices correct teeth by pushing or pulling them with orthodontic means. To this end, the orthodontic means must be properly fitted to the teeth to be corrected. Accordingly, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a means for fitting the orthodontic means in an optimized state to the teeth to be corrected. Furthermore, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a means for performing preliminary correction using the orthodontic means prior to performing the main correction.

[0004] The present invention achieves the above objective by proposing a positioner for a dental orthodontic device that includes a body having a three-dimensional shape and an adhesive surface, and a through hole formed to penetrate transversely on one side, wherein the adhesive surface is attached to the tooth and thus fixed to the tooth, and based on dental alignment data obtained by scanning while the body is fixed to the tooth, guides the position for attaching the body attached to the teeth to be corrected and the orthodontic means formed to correspond to each tooth, and enables preliminary correction before correcting the tooth with the orthodontic means by hooking a wire through the through hole and pushing or pulling the tooth.

[0005] According to the present invention, an orthodontic means formed in a shape optimized for the teeth to be corrected according to the condition of the dentition can be manufactured and mounted in an accurate position for use. Furthermore, preliminary orthodontics can be performed using the orthodontic means prior to performing the main orthodontics. As a result, the dentition can be corrected by selecting an optimized method according to the condition of the dentition.

[0006] FIGS. 1 and FIGS. 2 are exemplary diagrams of a positioner according to the present invention.

[0007] FIG. 3 is a front view of a positioner according to the present invention,

[0008] FIG. 4 is an exemplary diagram showing a structure in which a positioner according to the present invention is configured in a set form.

[0009] FIG. 5 is an exemplary diagram of a positioner according to another embodiment of the present invention,

[0010] FIG. 6 is a front view of a positioner according to another embodiment of the present invention,

[0011] FIG. 7 is an exemplary diagram showing the state of performing preliminary calibration with a positioner according to the present invention.

[0012] FIG. 8 is an example diagram showing the state of performing orthodontic treatment with a positioner and a custom bracket according to the present invention.

[0013] The present invention proposes a positioner for a dental orthodontic device comprising a body having a three-dimensional shape and an adhesive surface, and having a through hole formed to penetrate transversely on one side, wherein the adhesive surface is attached to the tooth and thus fixed to the tooth, and based on dental data obtained by scanning while the body is fixed to the tooth, a position is provided for attaching the body attached to the teeth to be corrected and an orthodontic means formed to correspond to each tooth, and a wire is hooked through the through hole to push or pull the tooth, thereby enabling preliminary correction before correcting the tooth with the orthodontic means.

[0014] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings, FIGS. 1 to 8, with reference to preferred embodiments.

[0015] FIGS. 1 and FIGS. 2 are exemplary diagrams of a positioner according to the present invention, FIG. 3 is a front view of a positioner according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 is an exemplary diagram showing a structure in which a positioner according to the present invention is configured in a set form.

[0016] The positioner (100) according to the present invention includes a body (120) formed in a three-dimensional shape. The body (120) is formed to have a predetermined area and thickness and is formed to a size that can be attached to a tooth.

[0017] An adhesive surface (126) is formed on the body (120). The adhesive surface (126) is a surface that is attached to the tooth. By pressing the adhesive surface (126) against the tooth while the adhesive is applied, the positioner (100) is attached to the tooth, and the position is fixed accordingly.

[0018] An adhesive groove (127) is formed in the adhesive surface (126). The adhesive groove (127) is formed concavely, and a plurality of them can be formed in a predetermined pattern. These adhesive grooves (127) receive a portion of the adhesive applied to the adhesive surface (126).

[0019] The adhesive contained in the adhesive groove (127) increases the adhesive area. And as it hardens during the process of the positioner (100) being bonded to the tooth, it acts as a friction protrusion that allows the positioner (100) to be firmly fixed to the tooth.

[0020] A through hole (129) is formed in the body (120). The through hole (129) is a hole that penetrates the body (120) in the transverse direction, and a tooth correction wire can be passed through and hung through this through hole (129).

[0021] The body (120) may be formed to include a positioning part (122) and a wire mounting part (124). The positioning part (122) and the wire mounting part (124) are formed connected to each other. In this configuration, the wire mounting part (124) is formed thicker than the positioning part (122). And a through hole (129) is formed in the wire mounting part (124).

[0022] The upper surfaces of the positioning part (122) and the wire mounting part (124) can be formed to be connected to each other and form a curved surface. At this time, the upper surface of the wire mounting part (124) can be formed to be convex upward with an arc shape. Accordingly, the upper surface of the body (120) forms a curved surface overall, thereby preventing injury to the skin inside the oral cavity even if it comes into contact with the upper surface of the positioner (100).

[0023] The positioner (100) according to the present invention, formed as described above, can be formed in a set by arranging a plurality of them along a base (200) formed in a rod shape. The body (120) is formed to be connected to the base (200). By forming them into a set in this way, the positioners (100) can be stored or transported while preventing contact between each other. Meanwhile, when using the positioner (100) according to the present invention formed as a set as described above during the process of orthodontic treatment, they are detached one by one from the base (200) for use.

[0024] FIG. 5 is an exemplary diagram of a positioner according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a front view of a positioner according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] In another embodiment of the present invention, an opening (129a) that is open toward the upper surface of the body (120) may be formed in the through hole (129). Through the opening (129a) formed in this way, foreign substances remaining inside the through hole (129) can be easily removed. That is, the positioner (100) according to the present invention can be manufactured using a 3D printer, and foreign substances may remain inside the through hole (129) during the manufacturing process using a 3D printer, and such foreign substances can be easily removed through the opening (129a).

[0026] In the configuration in which an opening (129a) is formed in the through hole (129) as described above, the body (120) may be formed to include a positioning part (122) and a wire mounting part (124). The through hole (124) is formed in the wire mounting part (124). The positioning part (122) and the wire mounting part (124) are formed connected to each other, and the wire mounting part (124) may be formed thicker than the positioning part (122).

[0027] Hereinafter, the usage state of the positioner for a dental orthodontic device according to the present invention is described.

[0028] The positioner (100) according to the present invention can be used in the process of correcting teeth using an orthodontic means. The orthodontic means may be a custom bracket mounted on individual teeth. Below, an example of the positioner (100) according to the present invention being used in the process of correcting teeth using a custom bracket will be described, including the process of performing preliminary correction.

[0029] FIG. 7 is an exemplary diagram showing a state of preliminary correction using a positioner according to the present invention, and FIG. 8 is an exemplary diagram showing a state of main correction using a positioner and a custom bracket according to the present invention.

[0030] When a tooth to be corrected is selected, a positioner (100) according to the present invention is attached to the surface of the tooth. At this time, the surface of the tooth may be etched before the positioner (100) is attached to the tooth. Etching is performed over a predetermined area at the location where the positioner (100) is to be attached, and the etching area is set to a minimum while taking into account the area of ​​the adhesive surface (126) to minimize damage to the tooth.

[0031] Once etching is complete, a bonding agent is applied to the etched tooth surface and a photocuring process is performed. Then, an adhesive is applied to the bonding surface (126), and the bonding surface (126) is placed against the point where the bonding agent was applied and pressed to attach it. Afterward, a photocuring process is performed to firmly fix the positioner (100) to the tooth surface.

[0032] When the positioner (100) is fixed to the surface of the teeth to be corrected through the process described above, preliminary correction is performed. A wire is passed through the through hole (129) formed in the body (120) and secured, and preliminary correction is performed by pushing or pulling the teeth by adjusting the tension of the wire installed in this way. During preliminary correction, leveling and alignment work is performed for each tooth. During this process, the tension of the wire is adjusted periodically while monitoring the movement of the teeth. This process may take approximately several months.

[0033] Once preliminary correction is complete, the wire is removed from the body (120). Then, data on the overall dentition is obtained by scanning. The dentition is obtained as 3D modeling data while the positioner (100) is fixed to the teeth.

[0034] After data on the teeth after preliminary correction is completed is obtained, a custom bracket (300) required for the main correction is manufactured based on that data. The custom bracket (300) is manufactured with a body (120) attached to the teeth to be corrected and a shape and structure corresponding to each tooth. As a result, a custom bracket (300) is prepared with a shape and structure optimized for each tooth. The custom bracket (300) can be manufactured using a 3D printer, but is not limited thereto.

[0035] Here, the term "shape and structure optimized for each tooth" implies that it is manufactured based on the scanned dentition correctly aligned in a 3D model, that is, the set-up dentition.

[0036] The custom bracket (300) that has been manufactured is mounted on each tooth based on the positioner (100) attached to the tooth. The custom bracket (300) can be mounted by attaching it to the tooth. During this process, the custom bracket (300) is mounted while contacting one side of the body (120) or covering a part of the body (120).

[0037] Meanwhile, the position where the custom bracket (300) is mounted on each tooth is calculated and provided in advance based on scanned dental data. Data regarding the dental condition while the positioner (100) is attached to the tooth is secured, and since the custom bracket (300) is manufactured with a structure optimized for each tooth according to the secured dental data, the mounting position of the custom bracket (300) can be determined in advance based on the positioner (100) according to the dental condition. As a result, the positioner (100) guides the mounting position of the custom bracket (300), allowing the custom bracket (300) to be mounted in the correct position on each tooth.

[0038] When a custom bracket (300) is mounted on a tooth while covering part or all of the body (120), the custom bracket (300) is mounted while covering part or all of the positioning portion (122). To this end, a space capable of covering part or all of the positioning portion (122) may be pre-formed in the custom bracket (300).

[0039] After attaching custom brackets (300) to the teeth to be corrected, an orthodontic wire is attached to the custom brackets (300) to perform the main correction. The process of performing the main correction is no different from the process of orthodontic treatment using a general orthodontic device, and it may take several months to several years.

[0040] Meanwhile, in the process of correcting teeth using the positioner (100) according to the present invention, the preliminary correction process described above may not be performed. Depending on the condition of the teeth, the main correction can be performed by attaching a custom bracket (300) to the teeth without preliminary correction.

[0041] The positioner (100) according to the present invention as described above can be used together with a transparent orthodontic device, which is an orthodontic means that accommodates a plurality of teeth and is mounted like a mouthpiece.

[0042] When the positioner (100) according to the present invention is used together with a clear orthodontic device, the clear orthodontic device is formed in a structure corresponding to the teeth to be corrected based on dental data, i.e., 3D modeling data, obtained by scanning while the positioner (100) is fixed to all or part of the teeth to be corrected. Subsequently, the clear orthodontic device, which has been manufactured, is mounted on the teeth based on the positioner (100) attached to the teeth to perform the main correction. In this process, the positioner (100) guides the clear orthodontic device and also performs the role of an attachment, that is, a means to enable the clear orthodontic device to apply a force to push or pull the teeth.

[0043] As explained above, the positioner (100) according to the present invention helps to enable the application of various types of orthodontic methods depending on the alignment and condition of the teeth.

[0044]

[0045] [Explanation of the symbol]

[0046] 100 : Positioner, 120 : Body,

[0047] 122 : Positioning part, 124 : Wire mounting part,

[0048] 126 : Adhesive surface, 127 : Adhesive groove,

[0049] 129 : through, 129a : opening,

[0050] 200: Base, 300: Custom Bracket.

Claims

1. A body (120) having a three-dimensional shape and an adhesive surface (126), and having a through hole (129) formed to penetrate in the transverse direction on one side, wherein the adhesive surface (126) is attached to the tooth and thus fixed to the tooth, Based on dental data obtained by scanning while the above body (120) is fixed to the teeth, the position for attaching the body (120) attached to the teeth to be corrected and the correction means formed to correspond to each tooth is guided, and A positioner for a tooth correction device that allows for preliminary correction before the tooth correction with the correction means by hooking a wire through the above-mentioned through hole (129) to push or pull the tooth.

2. In Paragraph 1, A positioner for a dental orthodontic device, comprising a body (120) having a positioning part (122) and a wire mounting part (124) connected to the positioning part (122) and formed thicker than the positioning part (122) to form the through hole (129).

3. In Paragraph 2, A positioner for a dental orthodontic device in which the upper surfaces of the positioning part (122) and the wire mounting part (124) are connected to each other and formed as a curved surface.

4. In Paragraph 1, A positioner for a correction device in which an opening (129a) is formed in the through hole (129) in the direction of the upper surface of the body (120).

5. In Paragraph 1, A positioner for a dental orthodontic device in which an adhesive groove (127) is formed concavely on the adhesive surface (126).

6. In Paragraph 1, The above-mentioned body (120) is a positioner for an orthodontic device that can be used by separating and using one by one, by arranging multiple bodies along a rod-shaped base (200) to form a set.

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