399 results about "Orthodontic archwire" patented technology

Interactive, computer based orthodontist treatment planning, appliance design and appliance manufacturing is described. A scanner is described which acquires images of the dentition which are converted to three-dimensional frames of data. The data from the several frames are registered to each other to provide a complete three-dimensional virtual model of the dentition. Individual tooth objects are obtained from the virtual model. A computer-interactive software program provides for treatment planning, diagnosis and appliance from the virtual tooth models. A desired occlusion for the patient is obtained from the treatment planning software. The virtual model of the desired occlusion and the virtual model of the original dentition provide a base of information for custom manufacture of an orthodontic appliance. A variety of possible appliance and appliance manufacturing systems are contemplated, including customized archwires and customized devices for placement of off-the shelf brackets on the archwires, and removable orthodontic appliances.

A method and apparatus for facilitating placement and evaluation of virtual appliances on virtual teeth of an orthodontic patient are described. Positioning references comprising bracket height, occlusal plane, or any arbitrary plane are provided to facilitate desired placement of virtual appliances on virtual teeth model. The process can be applied with any dentition state of a patient such as malocclusion, target state from treatment, or intermediate monitored state during the course of a treatment. An unified workstation for treatment planning provides the computer software tools for verification, simulation and evaluation of the virtual appliance placement. The process enables proper planning of treatment for an orthodontic patient suffering from malocclusion involving bonding of virtual brackets to the surface of the patient's virtual teeth with archwires placed in the slots of the brackets, so as to realize the desired results from the treatment in the most desired manner.

An orthodontic bracket is described and which includes a base member defining an archwire slot having an opening, and at least one projection extending outwardly from the base member; a ligating slide moveable between a first position which is clear of the archwire slot, and second position where the ligating slide projects over the opening of the archwire slot; and a biasing member borne by the ligating slide, and resiliently cooperating with the projection, and wherein the biasing member has a first portion which receives the projection when the ligating slide is in the first position, and a second portion which receives the projection when the ligating slide is in the second position.

A self-ligating orthodontic bracket assembly with selectively removable self-ligation features is configured to provide a low profile to minimize labial-lingual prominence. A clip is configured to snap into the base of the bracket and close over the archwire slot to retain the archwire in the slot. The clip is easily moved to an open position when the archwire is changed out during routine treatment. The clip includes spaced apart arms that, along with the bracket tie-wings, straddle the most outwardly prominent site on the crown of the tooth thereby minimizing labial-lingual profile. The self-ligation capability is achieved without any increase in occlusal-gingival height or measial-distal width of the orthodontic bracket.

Computer analysis is made of individual patient related data in order to select standard or pre-manufactured orthodontic appliances or appliance components (10) that are most likely to provide orthodontic treatment suitable for the individual patient. This analysis can be made by the software of a custom orthodontic appliance designing system, without actually manufacturing the custom appliance. Geometric parameters (21-24, 28, 29) of a custom designed appliance may be compared with corresponding parameters of alternative standard appliances or appliance components so that the closest standard component can be used. The custom appliance can be designed to accommodate the geometries of one or more appliance components. Where custom mounting instructions that modify otherwise standard installation of an appliance or component will render the standard component more compatible with a custom appliance design, such instructions are provided to the orthodontist along with the selection. The invention is most useful in selecting orthodontic brackets, or combinations of standard brackets and standard archwires.

A method for applying a desired shape to an orthodontic archwire includes the steps of obtaining a numerical description of the desired shape of an orthodontic archwire, generating a description of the design of a fixture basing on the numerical description, manufacturing a fixture basing on this description of the design, constraining a wire into the fixture and applying an adequate treatment to the wire in order to cause it to adopt the shape dictated by the fixture.

Multi-piece, reusable orthodontic appliances that include a support assembly to be bonded to a tooth and a corrective assembly adapted to receive an archwire and direct corrective forces exerted by the archwire to the tooth. The support assembly is releasably engaged with the corrective assembly, such as with coupling portions that disengage responsive to a force applied to the corrective assembly exceeding a predetermined value, such as less than a force sufficient to debond the support assembly from the tooth. In response to such a force, the corrective assembly disengages from the support assembly, rather than the appliance debonding from the tooth. Self-release assemblies for use with a corrective orthodontic bracket, including either a support assembly or a corrective assembly, and an engagement assembly configured to disengage as described above, may allow a conventional set of orthodontic hardware to be retrofitted with a self-release feature.

A self-ligating orthodontic bracket assembly with selectively removable self-ligation features is configured to provide a low profile to minimize labial-lingual prominence. A clip is configured to snap into the base of the bracket and close over the archwire slot to retain the archwire in the slot. The clip is easily moved to an open position when the archwire is changed out during routine treatment. The clip includes spaced apart arms that, along with the bracket tie-wings, straddle the most outwardly prominent site on the crown of the tooth thereby minimizing labial-lingual profile. The self-ligation capability is achieved without any increase in occlusal-gingival height or measial-distal width of the orthodontic bracket.

Orthodontic brackets and appliances, and methods of making and using orthodontic brackets. The orthodontic bracket may include a molded identification marking comprising at least one alphanumeric character disposed on a visible surface. A kit of self-ligating orthodontic brackets may be provided that includes individual brackets of different archwire slot widths for attachment to anterior and posterior teeth during a corrective orthodontic treatment. An appliance or auxiliary may be provided that includes a spring-loaded latch operative to secure the appliance to an orthodontic bracket.

An orthodontic bracket system includes a bracket having a base contoured to engage a tooth surface, a body extending from the base, at least one first tie wing connected to the body, and a pair of second tie wings connected to the body and spaced from the first tie wing in an occlusal-gingival direction when the bracket is mounted on a tooth. An archwire slot extends between the first and second tie wings in a mesial-distal direction, wherein the first tie wing has an outwardly inclined rear surface proximate the archwire slot. A clip for use with the bracket has a retaining portion configured to fit beneath the first tie wing on the side thereof opposite the archwire slot, a locking edge portion remote from the retaining portion that fits into a recess beneath the second tie wings, a mid-portion that spans the retaining portion and the locking edge portion and covers at least a portion of the archwire slot in a manner effective to retain an archwire therein, and at least one arm that extends from the locking edge portion towards the retaining portion and is spaced from the mid-portion. During closing, the arm rides down against the inclined rear surface of the first tie wing and a portion of the clip bends resiliently, exerting a force that locks the locking edge portion of the clip in the recess beneath the second tie wings. During opening, the arm rides up against the inclined rear surface of the first tie wing as the locking edge portion of the clip is removed from the recess beneath the second tie wings. The clip is then moved to an open position to permit placement and removal of the archwire and held in that position.

An orthodontic appliance may include an archwire and multiple orthodontic brackets. The archwire may fit within a human mouth and contain multiple male connectors. Each orthodontic bracket may have a configuration that facilitates attaching the orthodontic bracket to a single tooth. Each orthodontic bracket may allow one of the male connectors to be locked into the orthodontic bracket with a snapping action. The male connector may be unable to slide with respect to the orthodontic bracket after being locked in the orthodontic bracket. A manual unlocking action may allow the male connector to disengage from the orthodontic bracket.

A molar tube having a first face portion that is adapted to be adhered to a molar tooth, a second face portion, and a mesial-distal length dimension. There is a body portion disposed on the second face portion of the base portion, and the body portion comprises an upper portion and a lower portion. The body portion further comprises a lumen that is adapted to receive an archwire, wherein the lumen has an axis which substantially coincides with the mesial-distal length dimension of the base portion. The body portion further comprises a boss comprising a threaded bore that is adapted to receive a setscrew, wherein the threaded bore has an axis. The axis of the threaded bore intersects with the mesial-distal length dimension to form an angle of any degree between 15 degrees and 55 degrees, including every degree therebetween. A molar tube according to the invention allows for easy adjustment of the tension in an archwire used in an orthodontic dental treatment, and provides for the painless withdrawal of the archwire at any time during or following the treatment.

An orthodontic bracket enabling to securely maintain positive pressure of an archwire effecting to the bottom of an archwire slot even if doing the rotational control more than a determined amount. The orthodontic bracket has a base, a main body furnished on the base, an archwire slot formed in the main body, a guiding part crossing with the slot, and a band-like clip guided in the guiding part. A clip is curved in U-shape as covering at least one part of a reverse base side in the archwire slot, and a locking portion furnished at one end side in the length direction of the clip creeps under a cover portion supported by the main body. The locking claw formed in the locking portion and a covering claw formed in the cover portion get over and engage each other.

An orthodontic bracket assembly adapted for securement to teeth of the upper and lower jaw is provided. The assembly is a multi-component system that includes a base component and a bracket component. The base component is adapted for securement to a tooth using an adhesive material and includes a housing having an integral channel guide. The bracket component includes a flange arranged for insertion within the channel guide and is held therein by a spring clip. The bracket component includes an archwire retention head for receiving and retaining an orthodontic archwire therein. In one embodiment, the archwire retention head includes a tube having an archwire tunnel extending mesial-distally therethrough. The cross-sectional shape of the archwire tunnel can vary depending upon the archwire being employed and may provide a frictional or frictionless fit. The tube may be positioned at a predetermined location for correcting a maloccluded tooth.