Orthodontic distalization and mesialization apparatus and method

An apparatus for distalization or mesialization of molars in an upper dental arch of a mouth, comprising:

• an apparatus body having an adjustment-drive mechanism, the adjustment-drive mechanism including rotatable shafts operable to move upon an orthodontic adjustment action;
• a set of posterior arms coupled to the adjustment-drive mechanism of the apparatus body and attachable to molar teeth in the upper dental arch, the set of posterior arms comprising (i) a first rigid arm that spans from the apparatus body to a first molar tooth and (ii) a second rigid arm that spans from the apparatus body to a second molar tooth;
• a set of anterior arms coupled to the apparatus body and attachable to non-molar teeth in the upper dental arch, the set of anterior arms comprising (i) a third rigid arm that spans from the apparatus body to a first non-molar tooth and (ii) a fourth rigid arm that spans from the apparatus body to a second non-molar tooth;
• and
• an anchorage device including one or both of a pin and a pad coupled to the apparatus body and attachable to a bone in the mouth,
• wherein the set of posterior arms are configured to transfer a force onto the molar teeth when the adjustment-drive mechanism is actuated to cause movement of the molar teeth in the upper dental arch in a direction determined by actuation of the adjustment-drive mechanism, and
• wherein the anchorage device is operable to positionally stabilize the apparatus body and the set of anterior arms to reduce force potentially applied to the non-molar teeth to prevent movement of the non-molar teeth in the upper dental arch,
• wherein the adjustment-drive mechanism includes a rack and pinion assembly comprising a first rack and pinion set and a second rack and pinion set configured perpendicular to the first rack and pinion set, where each of the first and second rack and pinion sets has one of the rotatable shafts and a pinion gear at a first end of the rotatable shaft that interfaces with a rack gear having a linear array of rack teeth, wherein, when the rotatable shaft is rotated in a first rotation direction, the adjustment-drive mechanism translates rotational motion of the rotatable shaft into linear motion to generate the force to cause the movement of the molar teeth in the upper dental arch.

An apparatus for distalization or mesialization and lateral expansion of molars in an upper dental arch of a mouth, comprising:

• an apparatus body having an adjustment-drive mechanism, the adjustment-drive mechanism including rotatable shafts;
• a first arm coupled to the adjustment-drive mechanism of the apparatus body and attachable to a molar tooth in the upper dental arch;
• a second arm coupled to the apparatus body and attachable to a non-molar tooth of the upper dental arch;
• and
• an anchorage device including one or both of a pin and a pad coupled to the apparatus body and attachable to a bone in the mouth,
• wherein the first arm is configured to transfer a force onto the molar tooth when the adjustment-drive mechanism is actuated to cause movement of the molar tooth in the upper dental arch in a direction determined by actuation of the adjustment-drive mechanism, and
• wherein the anchorage device is operable to positionally stabilize the apparatus body and the second arm to reduce force potentially applied to the non-molar tooth to prevent movement of the non-molar tooth in the upper dental arch,
• wherein the direction of the movement of the molar tooth is in a posterior direction into the mouth when the adjustment-drive mechanism is actuated for distalization, and wherein the direction of the movement of the molar tooth is in an anterior direction out of the mouth when the adjustment-drive mechanism is actuated for mesialization, and
• wherein the adjustment-drive mechanism is configured to cause a lateral movement of the molar tooth in the upper dental arch,
• wherein the adjustment-drive mechanism includes a rack and pinion assembly comprising a first rack and pinion set and a second rack and pinion set configured perpendicular to the first rack and pinion set, where each of the first and second rack and pinion sets has one of the rotatable shafts and a pinion gear at a first end of the rotatable shaft that interfaces with a rack gear having a linear array of rack teeth, wherein, when the rotatable shaft is rotated in a first rotation direction, the adjustment-drive mechanism translates rotational motion of the rotatable shaft into linear motion to generate the force to cause the movement of the molar tooth in the upper dental arch.