646 results about "Orthodontic brackets" patented technology

An interactive, software-based treatment planning method to correct a malocclusion is described. The method can be performed on an orthodontic workstation in a clinic or at a remote location such as a lab or precision appliance manufacturing center. The workstation stores a virtual three-dimensional model of the dentition of a patient and patient records. The virtual model is manipulated by the user to defme a target situation for the patient, including a target archform and individual tooth positions in the archform. Parameters for an orthodontic appliance, such as the location of orthodontic brackets and resulting shape of an orthodontic archwire, are obtained from the simulation of tooth movement to the target situation and the placement position of virtual brackets. The treatment planning can also be executed remotely by a precision appliance service center having access to the virtual model of the dentition. In the latter situation, the proposed treatment plan is sent to the clinic for review, and modification or approval by the orthodontist. The method is suitable for other orthodontic appliance systems, including removable appliances such as transparent aligning trays.

The present invention provides an improved self-ligating orthodontic bracket. According to one embodiment, the improved orthodontic bracket includes a mounting base for attachment to a tooth surface, an archwire slot formed upon the base and sized for receiving an orthodontic archwire, a channel formed upon the base and transversely oriented to the archwire slot, and a ligating slide member slideably retained within the channel and closeable over the archwire slot for retaining the orthodontic archwire therein, and wherein the ligating slide member includes at least one coplanar resilient retention mechanism for exerting retention forces coplanar with the ligating slide member for holding the ligating slide member in a closed position. In one embodiment, the improved orthodontic bracket comprises a bracket with a ligating slide member slideably retained within a dovetail shaped channel.

This invention provides an adjustable orthodontic bracket. The adjustable orthodontic bracket includes an orthodontic arch wire slot / tube and fixing part, an adjustable part, and a tooth surface fixing part. The orthodontic arch wire slot and fixing part is used to fix one or several orthodontic arch wire(s). The adjustable part is fixed under the orthodontic arch wire slot / tube and fixing part and provides a structure allowing the orthodontic arch wire slot / tube and fixing part to be turned around and fixed, and thereby the orthodontic arch wire slot / tube and fixing part is able to generate a stress to teeth for orthodontic treatment through turning itself around to pull and drag the orthodontic arch wire(s). The tooth surface fixing part is used to fix the adjustable part on tooth surface.

A self-locking orthodontic bracket comprises a body (1) and a base (2) contoured to fit a tooth surface. The body (1) has an arch wire slot (3) extending horizontally across the labial / buccal surface, a pair of tie wings (4A and 4B) projecting vertically on either side of the arch wire slot (3), a retainer member (6) having a transverse part and two perpendicular horizontal extensions at the end (6A and 6B) attached to the sides of one of the tie wings (4A) and a slidable cover (5) retained and guided in the recess created between the retainer member (6) and the surface of the tie wing (4A). The slidable cover (5) can be moved vertically towards the tip of the tie wing (4A) to open the arch wire slot (3) and it can be moved in the opposite direction to close the arch wire slot (3).Different embodiments of the slidable cover (5) and the retainer member (6) are disclosed herein.

Selection of orthodontic brackets from predefined and existing orthodontic brackets is provided by a user viewing a patient's teeth and using, for example, a user interface, to define a three-dimensional tooth / arch model from three-dimensional model data. Likewise, a prescription is selected. With such information, the teeth of the defined tooth / arch model can be positioned in prescribed positions. Once modifications to the prescription or for that matter the patient's tooth / arch model, if any, are made, predefined and existing orthodontic brackets can be selected, e.g., such selection can be based on selection criteria used to search a database including parameters defining such predefined and existing orthodontic brackets.

Force magnitudes and / or directions may be determined objectively using orthodontic brackets having an elastomeric member which allows one portion of the bracket to be resiliently moveable relative to at least on other portion of the bracket. In a preferred embodiment, the brackets include a lower base member, an upper bracket member, and an elastomeric layer interposed between the lower base and upper bracket members. The orthodontic bracket is advantageously employed as part of a system whereby the orthodontic bracket includes an elastomeric member which allows at least one portion of the bracket to be resiliently movable relative to at least one other portion of the bracket in response to an applied force, and at least one force-responsive sensor operatively associated with the orthodontic bracket for generating a detectable signal in response to movement of the at least one and other portions of the bracket. A detector is provided so as to allow for the wireless detection of the force-responsive signal generated by the force-responsive sensor and issue an output signal in response thereto. A processor receives the output signal from the detector to provide an indication of magnitude and / or direction of the force applied to the orthodontic bracket.

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.

Low profile self-ligating orthodontic brackets and methods of using such orthodontic brackets. The bracket includes a bracket body, a latching member, and a hinge pin pivotally coupling a hinged end of the latching member with the bracket body. The hinge pin, which is made of a resilient material, is configured to flex so that a portion of the latching member can be engaged with a recess defined in the bracket body to couple the non-hinged end of the latching member with the bracket body.

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.

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.

The following invention is an apparatus and method for quickly determining the type of bracket implanted on patient's tooth. A radio frequency identification (RFID) microchip is coupled to or in an orthodontic bracket. The bracket or series of brackets are then implanted on the patient's teeth as required. With the RFID in or on the bracket, the orthodontist or staff uses a scanner to read the brackets. The information read by the scanner allows the staff to select the correct corresponding bracket needed for replacement from an inventory. Confirmation of the correct selection is obtained by another scan from another scanner located in the bracket holding device. Not only does this process ensure that the correct replacement bracket is received by the patient, but also provides the orthodontist and staff with a real-time tracking of inventory supply.

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.

According to one embodiment of the invention, a self-ligating orthodontic bracket apparatus has a body with an archwire slot, a lingual surface for mounting to a tooth and a guide track. The body and guide track form facing surfaces. A clip is engaged between the facing surfaces and is slideably movable in the guide track between an open position such that the archwire slot can receive an archwire and a closed position in which the clip can retain the archwire in the slot. The clip is dimensioned to extend the entire length and height of the slot in the bracket when in the closed position.

The invention provides a package for a prepasted orthodontic bracket that includes a cover having a hollow projection thereon and a lateral flange extending from and surrounding an open end of the projection, and a base having a flat upper surface. An orthodontic bracket having a layer of light-curable paste thereon is placed with the paste layer in contact with a flat upper surface of the base. The bracket is surrounded by and spaced from the cover. Each of the cover and base are opaque to visible light and actinic radiation. The cover, or both cover and base, comprise a bilayered plastic structure including a first plastic layer containing particles of an opaque filler in an amount effective to render the first layer opaque to visible light, and a second plastic layer containing an effective amount of an actinic blocking agent.

A carrier for at least one fastening element (4) to be fabricated having an attachment area whereby the carrier is provided with a holding piece (3) for attachment in a receiving part of a finishing machine and whereby the carrier includes a carrier piece (2) for the fastening element (4) and the carrier piece (2) is embedded at least partially in the carrier piece (2) in a manner so that the attachment area (4b) of the fastening element (4) can be fabricated. A method for producing a fastening element (4) to be finished and to be attached to an individual surface whereby the contour of the attachment area is defined with the aid of data of the surface onto which the fastening element (4) is to be attached and whereby a pre-shaped, not yet individualized fastening element (4) is formed by removal of material to produce the specific contour. Furthermore, an auxiliary positioning part (21) is provided with a contour that is continued by the contour of the attachment area, which is also defined by the surface onto which the fastening element (4) is to be attached.

A novel orthodontic bracket system comprised of orthodontic appliances, such as brackets or buccal tubes, with a vertical instead of conventional horizontal slot orientation. The occlusal-gingival slot orientation minimizes the risk of unintentional debonding of the bracket as a result of insertion and removal of the archwire. An archwire retention mechanism designed to guide, retain and / or seat the archwire. The archwire retention mechanism releases the archwire from the archwire slot whenever appropriate force is applied, or manipulation of physical properties of the material are altered by the operator.

An orthodontic bracket of the present invention is an orthodontic bracket to be attached through adhesive to an individual tooth in an alignment of teeth including a tooth to be corrected comprising two claws faced to each other, the two claws forming therebetween an engaging slot for engaging an arch wire and the engaging slot having a T-shaped cross section, and a fixed spacer provided on the bottom of the engaging slot.

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.

An orthodontic bracket has a clip which is curved substantially in U-shape as covering at least one part of an opposite side to a base in an arch wire slot. Catching end portions which are provided at an upper end part of the clip may be caught to enable to creep under a cover portion supported by the bracket main body. The clip is formed at the upper end part thereof with a concave portion as a recess portion which enables to catch a clip release tool for releasing the clip.

The present invention is directed to a locking orthodontic bracket that contains a mechanism that rotationally locks an orthodontic archwire fully or partially within the bracket archwire slot.