# US 11,992,386 B2 · Methods of dental wire attachment > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,992,386 B2 - Document ID: US11992386B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/444,790 - Filed: 2021-08-10 - Published: 2021-11-25 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2009-03-19 - Assignees: Align Technology, Inc. - Applicants: Align Technology, Inc. - Inventors: Douglas Brandt; Rick M. Matty - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11992386B2 ## CPC - A61C 7/20: Arch wires (A61C7/28 takes precedence) - A61C 5/007: {Dental splints; teeth or jaw immobilisation devices; stabilizing retainers bonded to teeth after orthodontic treatments} - A61C 7/002: {Orthodontic computer assisted systems} - A61C 7/08: Mouthpiece-type retainers {or positioners, e.g. for both the lower and upper arch (arch-shaped medicament applicators for teeth or gums A61C19/063; mouthguards for protecting the teeth of sportsmen A63B71/085)} - A61C 7/12: Brackets; Arch wires; Combinations thereof; Accessories therefor - A61C 7/146: {Positioning or placement of brackets; Tools therefor} - B21F 1/00: Bending wire other than coiling; Straightening wire - B33Y 80/00: Products made by additive manufacturing - Y10T 29/49568: Orthodontic device making - A61C: DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE (non-driven toothbrushes A46B; {tongue scrapers A61B17/24;} preparations for dentistry A61K6/00; preparations for cleaning the teeth or mouth A61K8/00, A61Q11/00) - B21F: WORKING OR PROCESSING OF METAL WIRE (rolling of metal wire B21B1/16; by drawing, auxiliary operations used in connection with metal-working without essentially removing material B21C) - B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract Methods of attaching a wire to a dentition. The methods may include placing a shell on the dentition, where first cavity of the shell includes an attachment material reservoir for receiving an attachment material, and second cavity of the shell includes a wire attachment member having a slot for receiving the wire. The methods may also include placing the wire through the attachment material reservoir and through the slot of the wire attachment member to hold the wire in position with respect to a tooth within the first cavity. The methods may further include placing the attachment material within the attachment material reservoir to bond the attachment material and the wire to the tooth. Once the shell and the wire attachment member are removed from the dentition, the wire remains attached to the tooth via the attachment material. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of attaching a wire to a patient's dentition, the method comprising: placing a shell with cavities shaped to receive corresponding teeth on the patient's dentition, wherein a first cavity of the shell includes an attachment material reservoir for receiving an attachment material, wherein a second cavity of the shell includes a wire attachment member having a slot for receiving the wire, the wire attachment member coupled to the shell in the second cavity; placing the wire through the attachment material reservoir and the wire attachment member, wherein the wire is positioned through the slot and in contact with the wire attachment member to hold the wire in position with respect to a tooth of the patient's dentition within the first cavity; placing the attachment material within the attachment material reservoir having the wire placed therethrough to bond the attachment material and the wire to the tooth; and removing the shell and the wire attachment member from the patient's dentition, thereby leaving the wire attached to the tooth via the attachment material. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein placing the wire through the attachment material reservoir includes positioning the wire through slits on laterally opposing sides of the attachment material reservoir. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein removing the shell and the wire attachment member from the patient's dentition includes using a tab connected to the shell to remove the shell from the patient's dentition. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein placing the attachment material within the attachment material reservoir includes using an applicator to provide the attachment material through one or more apertures in a wall of the attachment material reservoir. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the slot is on a tooth-facing surface of the wire attachment member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second cavity is placed over a second tooth, wherein a portion of the slot proximal to the second tooth is wider than a portion of the slot distal to the second tooth. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising affixing the wire attachment member to the tooth via a releasable adhesive. ### Claim 8 A method of attaching a wire to a patient's dentition, the method comprising: placing a shell on the patient's dentition, wherein a first cavity of the shell is positioned over a first tooth, and a second cavity of the shell is positioned over a second tooth, wherein the first cavity of the shell includes an attachment material reservoir, and the second cavity includes a wire attachment member having a slot, the wire attachment member coupled to the shell in the second cavity; positioning the wire through the attachment material reservoir and the slot of the wire attachment member, wherein the wire is positioned in contact with the wire attachment member to hold the wire in position with respect to the first tooth; bonding an attachment material within the attachment material reservoir to the first tooth, thereby bonding the wire to the first tooth; and removing the shell and the wire attachment member from the patient's dentition, thereby leaving the wire attached to the first tooth via the attachment material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein a third cavity of the shell is positioned over a third tooth, the third cavity including a second wire attachment member. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising positioning the wire through a second slot of the second wire attachment member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the first tooth is between the second tooth and the third tooth along the patient's dental arch. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising positioning the wire through slits on laterally opposing sides of the attachment material reservoir. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein removing the shell and the wire attachment member from the patient's dentition includes using a tab connected to the shell to remove the shell from the patient's dentition. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein placing the attachment material within the attachment material reservoir includes using an applicator to provide the attachment material through one or more apertures in a wall of the attachment material reservoir. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the slot is on a tooth-facing surface of the wire attachment member. ### Claim 16 A method of attaching a wire to a patient's dentition, the method comprising: placing a shell on the patient's dentition such that an attachment material reservoir is positioned adjacent to a first tooth and a wire attachment member is positioned adjacent to a second tooth, the wire attachment member coupled to the shell in a cavity of the shell, wherein a tooth-facing surface of the wire attachment member includes a slot; sliding the wire through the attachment material reservoir and through the slot of the wire attachment member, wherein the wire attachment member is in contact with and holds the wire in position with respect to the first tooth; bonding an attachment material within the attachment material reservoir to the first tooth, thereby bonding the wire to the first tooth; and removing the shell and the wire attachment member from the patient's dentition, thereby leaving the wire attached to the first tooth via the attachment material.