Orthodontic system for closing interdental spaces
Patent Information
- Application Number
- PCT/CN2026/075836
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2025-02-26
- Filing Date
- 2026-01-29
- Publication Date
- 2026-09-03
Smart Images
Figure CN2026075836_03092026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
Orthodontic system to close gaps between teeth Cross-reference of related applications
[0001] This application is based on and claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202520319565.X, filed on February 26, 2025, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field
[0002] This application relates to the field of orthodontic technology, and in particular to a correction system for closing gaps between teeth. Background Technology
[0003] In invisible orthodontic treatment, controlling the anchorage of posterior teeth during anterior tooth movement to close gaps in cases requiring tooth extraction (symmetrical extraction of 4 teeth) is a key aspect of the treatment. Invisible orthodontic treatment for extraction cases typically takes a long time, approximately 2-3 years. This is because moving teeth using a single-layer aligner requires controlling the amount of tooth movement per step, as well as the position of teeth moved simultaneously. Since the principle of invisible orthodontic treatment is to apply orthodontic force to teeth through the elastic deformation of the material, current invisible orthodontic aligners cannot apply the corrective force required to move multiple anterior teeth as a whole in a single step. To achieve overall retraction of the anterior teeth, invisible orthodontic treatment often involves a step-by-step retraction of canines and incisors, using multiple aligners to gradually achieve the effect of anterior tooth retraction. However, for these cases requiring extraction to close gaps, a relatively large number of total movement steps (at least around 60 steps) are usually needed. During orthodontic treatment, due to the cumulative error of each set of clear aligners, problems may arise such as the aligners not fitting properly to the teeth and failing to apply force effectively. Furthermore, the force applied by clear aligners is not continuous. When the force of the clear aligners decreases, the tooth roots may not have moved into place, resulting in a "roller coaster" phenomenon and subsequent treatment failure. In such cases, more time needs to be spent to straighten the tooth axis and close the gaps, making secondary orthodontic treatment even more difficult.
[0004] Therefore, it is of great significance to enhance anchorage and improve the efficiency of anterior tooth retraction during the process of closing the gap in tooth extraction cases. Summary of the Invention
[0005] The purpose of this application is to provide an orthodontic system that effectively solves the above-mentioned problems by closing the gaps between teeth. This system can enhance anchorage during the retraction of teeth in the anterior region, thereby achieving overall retraction of teeth in the anterior region and effectively improving orthodontic efficiency.
[0006] To achieve the above objectives, embodiments of this application provide an orthodontic system for closing interdental spaces, worn on the maxillary dentition where gaps have formed after tooth extraction. The system is characterized by comprising a first tooth-receiving portion for enclosing teeth in the anterior region and a second tooth-receiving portion for enclosing teeth in the posterior region. The second tooth-receiving portion includes a first shell-shaped body corresponding to enclosing the left portion of the posterior teeth and a second shell-shaped body corresponding to enclosing the right portion of the posterior teeth, as well as a palatal connecting portion connected to the lingual edges of the first and second shell-shaped bodies. The palatal connecting portion has a fixing portion on its lingual surface for suspending an elastic element. A traction portion is provided on the lingual surface of the first tooth-receiving portion or on the lingual surface of the corresponding tooth. During wear, the distal left end of the first tooth-receiving portion and the mesial end of the first shell-shaped body are located on either side of the left interdental space, and the distal right end of the first tooth-receiving portion and the mesial end of the second shell-shaped body are located on either side of the right interdental space. When the two ends of the elastic element are suspended on the traction portion and the fixing portion respectively, the teeth enclosed by the first tooth-receiving portion move towards the direction of the second tooth-receiving cavity.
[0007] This application provides an orthodontic system for closing interdental spaces, which, compared to related technologies, offers the following advantages:
[0008] The orthodontic system for closing interdental spaces in this application comprises two separate first and second tooth receptacle units. The left and right shell-like bodies of the second tooth receptacle unit respectively enclose the teeth on both sides of the posterior region. Its mesial end and the distal end of the first tooth receptacle unit are located on either side of the extraction space. The second tooth receptacle unit, through a palatal connector, can bind all the posterior teeth together, providing strong anchorage during anterior tooth retraction and avoiding the problem of posterior tooth displacement due to insufficient anchorage during anterior tooth traction. Furthermore, the traction unit in this orthodontic system is located on the lingual side of the anterior region, making the point of force application closer to the center of resistance of the teeth. During anterior tooth retraction, this facilitates overall tooth movement, avoiding or reducing the need for subsequent orthodontic axis straightening, thereby improving treatment efficiency. Attached Figure Description
[0009] One or more embodiments are illustrated by way of example with reference numerals in the accompanying drawings. These illustrations do not constitute a limitation on the embodiments. Elements with the same reference numerals in the drawings are denoted as similar elements. Unless otherwise stated, the figures in the drawings are not to be limited by scale.
[0010] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the correction system in Embodiment 1 of this application;
[0011] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the orthodontic system and elastic component in Figure 1 after assembly;
[0012] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the installation platform in Embodiment 1 of this application;
[0013] Figure 4 is a structural schematic diagram of a first tooth receiving part in Embodiment 1 of this application;
[0014] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of another first tooth receiving part in Embodiment 1 of this application;
[0015] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a correction system according to Embodiment 1 of this application;
[0016] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of another orthodontic system in Embodiment 1 of this application;
[0017] Figure 8 is a rear view schematic diagram of a second tooth receiving part in Embodiment 1 of this application;
[0018] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of another orthodontic system in Embodiment 1 of this application;
[0019] Figure 10 is a structural schematic diagram of a correction system according to Embodiment 2 of this application;
[0020] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of another correction system in Embodiment 2 of this application. Detailed Implementation
[0021] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the various embodiments of this application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, those skilled in the art will understand that many technical details have been provided in the various embodiments of this application to help readers better understand this application. However, the technical solutions claimed in this application can be implemented even without these technical details and various changes and modifications based on the following embodiments. The division of the various embodiments below is for the convenience of description and should not constitute any limitation on the specific implementation of this application. The various embodiments can be combined with and referenced by each other without contradiction.
[0022] The term "posterior teeth region" mentioned in the various embodiments of this application is defined according to the classification of teeth in the 2nd edition of *Introduction to Stomatology* published by Peking University Medical Press, pages 36-38. It includes premolars and molars, teeth marked as 4-8 using the FDI (Fédéra tion Dentaire Internationale, World Dental Federation) notation, and teeth marked as 1-3 using the FDI notation for the anterior teeth region. Teeth in the anterior teeth region include central incisors, lateral incisors, and canines. Furthermore, regarding teeth in the deciduous dentition stage, the term "posterior teeth region" is defined according to the classification of deciduous teeth in the 2nd edition of *Introduction to Stomatology* published by Peking University Medical Press, pages 40-41. It includes three categories: deciduous incisors, deciduous canines, and deciduous molars. Deciduous incisors include deciduous central incisors and deciduous lateral incisors, and deciduous molars include first and second deciduous molars.
[0023] The shell-like body contains several cavities to accommodate multiple teeth and is divided into lingual and labial surfaces, as well as mesial and distal surfaces. The term "lingual surface" is based on the nomenclature of the crown surfaces in the 2nd edition of *Introduction to Stomatology*, published by Peking University Medical Press, on pages 35-36. The labial and buccal surfaces are the surfaces of the crowns of anterior teeth that are closest to the lips, called the labial surface; the buccal surfaces are the surfaces of the crowns of posterior teeth that are closest to the buccal surface. The lingual surface is the surface of the crowns of both anterior and posterior teeth that is closest to the tongue. The mesial and distal surfaces are the two surfaces of the crown that meet adjacent teeth, collectively called the proximal surfaces. The end closer to the facial midline is called the mesial end, and the end farther from the facial midline is called the distal end.
[0024] One of the technical solutions protected in this application is an orthodontic system for closing interdental spaces, used to be worn on the maxillary dentition after tooth extraction when a gap has formed. It includes a first tooth-receiving part for wrapping the anterior teeth and a second tooth-receiving part for wrapping the posterior teeth. The second tooth-receiving part includes a first shell-shaped body corresponding to the left portion of the posterior teeth and a second shell-shaped body corresponding to the right portion of the posterior teeth, as well as a palatal connecting part connecting to the lingual edges of the first and second shell-shaped bodies. The lingual surface of the palatal connecting part is provided with a fixing part for suspending an elastic element. A traction part is provided on the first tooth-receiving part or on the tooth surface of the corresponding tooth. When worn, the distal left end of the first tooth-receiving part and the mesial end of the first shell-shaped body are located on either side of the left interdental space, and the distal right end of the first tooth-receiving part and the mesial end of the second shell-shaped body are located on either side of the right interdental space. When the two ends of the elastic element are suspended on the traction part and the fixing part respectively, the teeth wrapped by the first tooth-receiving part move towards the direction of the second tooth-receiving cavity. The technical solution in this application primarily addresses the issue of multiple teeth in the anterior region. The protected technical solution utilizes a shell-like body to uniformly bind the teeth requiring retraction in the anterior region, while simultaneously binding the posterior teeth through a second tooth-receiving component, thus providing overall anchorage during the anterior tooth retraction process. This effectively enhances the anchorage force and avoids problems in related technologies, such as discontinuous force application, insufficient anchorage, low treatment efficiency, and a high risk of treatment failure. In addition to the comfort and aesthetic benefits of invisible orthodontics, the technical solution in this application also enables uniform binding of all teeth requiring retraction in the anterior region through the first tooth-receiving component, continuously and stably applying traction force, thereby improving treatment efficiency.
[0025] The embodiments of this application will now be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
[0026] Example 1
[0027] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the orthodontic system protected in this embodiment is worn on the maxillary dentition where gaps have formed after tooth extraction. It includes a first tooth-receiving portion 11 for wrapping the anterior teeth and a second tooth-receiving portion for wrapping the posterior teeth. The first tooth-receiving portion 11 primarily wraps all the anterior teeth requiring retraction in the treatment plan, and these teeth are arranged consecutively. For example, if the extracted teeth are the fourth teeth on both sides of the maxilla, then the teeth requiring retraction in the treatment plan are teeth 3-3. The first tooth-receiving portion 11 needs to wrap these six consecutively arranged teeth, allowing them to be bound together and moved as a whole during the movement. Alternatively, if the extracted teeth are the third teeth on both sides of the maxilla, similarly, the teeth requiring retraction in the treatment plan are teeth 2-2, and the first tooth-receiving portion 11 completely wraps them. The second tooth receiving portion includes a first shell-shaped body 21 that covers the left portion of the teeth in the posterior region, a second shell-shaped body 22 that covers the right portion of the teeth in the posterior region, and a palatal connection portion 23 that connects to the lingual edge of the first shell-shaped body 21 and the lingual edge of the second shell-shaped body 22. In order to improve the stable support force, the first shell-shaped body 21 and the second shell-shaped body 22 respectively cover all the erupted teeth on the left and right sides of the posterior region. Optionally, without compressing the gingiva, the buccal side of the first shell-shaped body 21 and the second shell-shaped body 22 can extend to cover part of the gingiva. When worn, it is located between the gingiva and the membrane through saliva, forming a certain sealing effect, which enhances the retention force between the second tooth receiving portion and the teeth, thereby making the support force provided by the second tooth receiving cavity as a whole for binding the teeth in the posterior region more sufficient. The palatal connecting part 23 has a fixing part 231 on its lingual side for suspending the elastic member 3. The first tooth receiving part 11 has a pulling part 111. When worn, the left distal end of the first tooth receiving part 11 and the mesial end of the first shell-shaped body 21 are located on both sides of the left gap, and the right distal end of the first tooth receiving part 11 and the mesial end of the second shell-shaped body 22 are located on both sides of the right gap. When the two ends of the elastic member 3 are suspended on the pulling part 111 and the fixing part 231 respectively, the tooth wrapped by the first tooth receiving part 11 moves towards the direction of the second tooth receiving cavity.
[0028] In some embodiments, the first tooth receiving portion 11 is provided with a traction portion 111, which may be integrally formed with the first tooth receiving portion 11 and formed by a portion of the surface of the first tooth receiving portion 11 protruding distally. Specifically, referring to Figure 3, the first tooth receiving portion 11 is provided with a mounting platform 121 corresponding to the traction portion 111, and the mounting platform 121 is formed by the surface of the first tooth receiving portion 11 protruding distally. Since the tooth receiving cavity in the first tooth receiving portion 11 basically fits the patient's teeth after being worn, the design of the mounting platform 121 can effectively avoid the influence of the traction portion 111 on the teeth after installation. Furthermore, the direction of the traction portion 111 after installation can be changed by setting different orientations of the mounting platform 121, avoiding inaccuracies caused by manually bonding different orientations of the traction portion 111 during clinical operation.
[0029] In some embodiments, the traction portion 111 is a solid structure, which prevents deformation during traction and allows for stable application of traction force. This first tooth receptacle portion 11 with a solid traction portion 111 can be directly manufactured using 3D printing technology. Alternatively, the traction portion 111 and the first tooth receptacle portion 11 can be designed separately. When needed, the dentist can bond the traction portion 111, made of metal, ceramic, or PC material, to the surface of the first tooth receptacle portion 11, or the traction portion 111 can be fixed to the mounting platform 121 via a snap-fit mechanism. In some cases, to achieve better traction, the length of the traction portion is between 1cm and 3cm.
[0030] In some embodiments, when the anterior teeth need to be retracted inwards towards the posterior teeth and moved buccally to increase the width of the anterior dental arch, the two distal ends of the first tooth receiving portion 11 do not cover the distal surface of the corresponding teeth, so as to reduce the resistance of the first tooth receiving portion 11 to the lateral movement of the corresponding teeth during orthodontic treatment. Referring to FIG4, in one embodiment, the first tooth receiving portion 11 has multiple tooth receiving cavities, wherein the tooth receiving cavities 112 corresponding to the two distal ends of the first tooth receiving portion 11 do not have distal end surfaces, that is, the distal ends of the tooth receiving cavities 112 corresponding to the two distal ends of the first tooth receiving portion 11 are hollowed out 11a. Alternatively, referring to Figure 5, in another embodiment, the distal end surface 11b of the tooth storage cavity 112 corresponding to the two distal ends of the first tooth storage part 11 is set at a distance from the distal surface of the corresponding tooth. That is, when worn, the distal end surface 11b of the tooth storage cavity 112 corresponding to the two distal ends of the first tooth storage part 11 does not contact the distal surface of the corresponding tooth and has a certain gap. At the same time, in order to allow the tooth more room to move, part of the buccal surface of the tooth storage cavity corresponding to the two distal ends of the first tooth storage part 11 can also be set at a distance from the buccal surface of the corresponding tooth.
[0031] In some embodiments, referring to FIG1, the traction portion 111 is disposed on the lingual side. Specifically, in one embodiment, the mounting platform 121 is located on the lingual side of the first tooth receiving portion 11. Furthermore, in order to provide traction force that makes it easier for the tooth root to move as a whole, the mounting platform 121 is disposed closer to the gum. This design allows the point of application of the traction force to be closer to the resistance center of the tooth.
[0032] In a further preferred embodiment, referring to Figure 6, the lingual side of the first tooth receiving portion 11 can extend to cover part of the lingual gingiva, and the traction portion 111 is provided at the gingiva, thereby further bringing the point of application of the traction force closer to the resistance center of the tooth. During the traction process, the tooth can move as a whole without excessive lingual problems.
[0033] In some embodiments, the number of traction portions 111 is 2, 4, or 6. Referring to Figure 7, 6 traction portions are provided, and the traction portions 111 are correspondingly arranged in the tooth receiving cavities of the same number teeth on the left and right sides. For example, when there are 2 traction portions 111, the traction portions 111 can be located in the tooth receiving cavities of the third tooth on the left and right sides of the first tooth receiving portion 11. Alternatively, multiple traction portions 111 can be symmetrically arranged about the tooth midline. The advantage of this arrangement is that the force applied to the teeth on both sides is uniform during the retraction process, and the teeth will not shift due to excessive force on one side during the movement. Preferably, in order to enable the teeth in the anterior region to move more effectively and quickly, the traction portions 111 can be provided for all the teeth that need to be moved.
[0034] In some embodiments, referring to FIG8, the palatal connector 23 is an arched structure that matches the shape of the hard palate, and when worn, the palatal connector 23 conforms to the shape of the hard palate. The advantage of this design is that the arched palatal connector 23 can reduce pressure on the tongue and improve comfort during the orthodontic process.
[0035] In some embodiments, the number of fixing parts 231 is even, and the fixing parts 231 are symmetrically arranged along the dental midline. The lingual surface of the palatal connector 23 is provided with 2-6 fixing parts 231, the number of which can correspond to the number of traction parts 111. The fixing parts 231 and traction parts 111 are symmetrically distributed on both sides of the dental midline to ensure balanced traction force on both sides. More preferably, one or more traction parts 111 on one side of the dental midline are suspended from the fixing parts 231 on the same side by elastic members 3. This arrangement ensures that the elastic members 3 do not cross, and that the angle between the direction of the traction force and the direction of the dental midline is small, ensuring that the traction force can more effectively act in the direction in which the tooth needs to move. In a preferred embodiment, referring to Figure 9, for the six teeth in the anterior region that need to be moved, traction parts 111 are provided on the lingual surfaces of the six teeth, and the number is also six. There are two fixing parts 231. The two fixing parts 231 are symmetrically arranged about the tooth midline P-P'. The three traction parts on one side of the tooth midline P-P' are connected to the fixing parts 231 on the same side through three elastic members 3. The two symmetrically arranged fixing parts 231 can not only ensure the balance of traction force on both sides, but also the six traction parts 111 can make all six teeth receive effective traction force, which can improve the efficiency of tooth movement.
[0036] In some embodiments, a traction portion can also be provided on the buccal side of the first tooth receiving portion. After wearing, the traction portion on the buccal side cooperates with the buccal anchorage screw in the patient's mouth to provide buccal traction force. This design allows traction force to be applied simultaneously on the lingual and buccal sides, thereby improving the movement efficiency of the teeth wrapped by the first tooth receiving portion.
[0037] Example 2
[0038] Referring to Figures 10 and 11, the main difference between this embodiment and Embodiment 1 is that the traction part 111 is disposed on the tooth surface in this embodiment. This arrangement allows for more direct force application to the tooth, resulting in higher efficiency of the traction force. Specifically, the traction part 111 is disposed on the lingual surface of the tooth at least partially covered by the first tooth receiving part 11. If a more effective traction force is required, the traction part 111 can be disposed on the lingual surface of all teeth that need to be retracted. The traction part 111 can be a lingual clip or a metal bracket commonly used in orthodontics, and is fixed to the tooth surface by adhesive bonding.
[0039] In some embodiments, referring to FIG10, the lingual side of the first tooth receiving portion 11 covers the incisal third of the tooth. The traction portion 111 is located on the lingual side of the tooth in the area close to the gingiva (approximately two-thirds of the way down), and during wear, the traction portion 111 does not contact the first tooth receiving portion 11. In other embodiments, referring to FIG11, compared to the above embodiments, to improve the coverage of the tooth by the first tooth receiving portion 11, an opening structure 111a is provided on the lingual side of the first tooth receiving portion 11 at the position corresponding to the traction portion 111. During wear, the traction portion 111 passes through the opening structure and does not contact the opening structure 111a. Further preferably, continuing to refer to FIG11, to facilitate wearing the first tooth receiving portion 11, the opening structure 111a is a channel adjacent to the gingival side, so that the traction portion 111 bonded to the tooth surface during wear is less likely to damage the structure of the first tooth receiving portion 11.
[0040] It should be noted that the above embodiments can be freely combined as needed to form different new implementation schemes without causing contradictions. All implementation schemes formed by such combinations are within the protection scope of this application. In order to save space in the application text, they will not be described in detail here.
[0041] The above are merely preferred embodiments of this application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various improvements and modifications without departing from the principles of this application, and these improvements and modifications should also be considered within the scope of protection of this application.
[0042] Similarly, the above are merely specific embodiments of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.
Claims
1. An orthodontic system for closing interdental spaces, worn on the maxillary dentition after tooth extraction to create spaces, comprising a first tooth-receiving portion for enclosing teeth in the anterior region and a second tooth-receiving portion for enclosing teeth in the posterior region, the second tooth-receiving portion comprising a first shell-shaped body corresponding to enclosing the left portion of the posterior teeth and a second shell-shaped body corresponding to enclosing the right portion of the posterior teeth, and a palatal connecting portion connected to the lingual edge of the first shell-shaped body and the lingual edge of the second shell-shaped body, wherein the lingual surface of the palatal connecting portion is provided with a fixing portion for suspending an elastic element, and the lingual surface of the first tooth-receiving portion or the lingual surface of the tooth corresponding to the first tooth-receiving portion is provided with a traction portion, wherein... When worn, the distal left end of the first tooth receiving part and the mesial end of the first shell-shaped body are located on both sides of the left gap, and the distal right end of the first tooth receiving part and the mesial end of the second shell-shaped body are located on both sides of the right gap. When the two ends of the elastic element are suspended on the pulling part and the fixing part respectively, the tooth wrapped by the first tooth receiving part moves towards the direction of the second tooth receiving cavity.
2. The orthodontic system according to claim 1, wherein, The two distal ends of the first tooth receiving portion do not cover the distal surface of the corresponding tooth.
3. The corrective system according to claim 2, wherein, The first tooth receiving portion has multiple tooth receiving cavities, wherein the tooth receiving cavities corresponding to the two distal ends of the first tooth receiving portion do not have distal end surfaces, or the distal end surfaces of the tooth receiving cavities corresponding to the two distal ends of the first tooth receiving portion are spaced apart from the distal surface of the corresponding tooth.
4. The orthodontic system according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein, When the traction part is placed on the tooth surface, the lingual side of the first tooth receiving part covers one-third of the incisal portion of the tooth.
5. The orthodontic system according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein, When the traction part is placed on the tooth surface, the lingual side of the first tooth receiving part has an opening structure corresponding to the position of the traction part.
6. The orthodontic system according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein, When the traction part is disposed on the first tooth receiving part, the first tooth receiving part is provided with a mounting platform for the traction part, and the mounting platform is formed by protruding from the surface of the first tooth receiving part toward the distal tooth.
7. The orthodontic system according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, The palatal connector is an arched structure that matches the shape of the hard palate.
8. The orthodontic system according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, The number of the traction parts is 2, 4 or 6, wherein multiple traction parts are set to the same tooth number, or multiple traction parts are set symmetrically about the tooth midline.
9. The orthodontic system according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, The number of the fixing parts is even, and the fixing parts are symmetrically arranged along the midlines of the associated teeth.
10. The orthodontic system according to claim 9, characterized in that, One or more of the traction portions on one side of the dental midline are respectively suspended from the fixing portion on the same side by the elastic element.