Method for fabricating orthodontic appliances
OwnerVelton C. Whiteinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for fabricating a removable orthodontic appliance with lingual springs using a model of a patient's teeth. One or more ideal reference grooves (e.g., a central ideal reference groove, occlusal ideal reference groove, or gingival ideal reference groove) are cut into the lingual surfaces of the model teeth reflecting the desired, ideal positions of these teeth after orthodontic treatment. The orthodontic appliance is then cast on the model with the stem of each lingual spring stem embedded in the appliance and the tooth-contacting end of each lingual spring positioned in the reference groove of a model tooth.
Claims15
A method for fabricating a removable orthodontic appliance having at least one lingual spring, said method comprising:
- creating a model of at least a portion of a patient's oral cavity and teeth;
- forming an ideal reference groove in the lingual surfaces of the model teeth reflecting the desired positions of the patient's teeth after orthodontic treatment;
- and
- casting an appliance on the model with at least one lingual spring having its stem embedded in the appliance and its tooth-contacting end in the reference groove of a model tooth.
A method for fabricating a removable orthodontic appliance having a plurality of lingual springs, said method comprising:
- creating a model of at least a portion of a patient's oral cavity and teeth;
- forming an ideal reference groove in the lingual surfaces of the model teeth as a substantially continuous horizontal arc extending across a plurality of model teeth to reflect the desired positions of the patient's teeth after orthodontic treatment;
- and
- casting an appliance on the model with a plurality of lingual springs, each lingual spring having its stem embedded in the appliance and its tooth-contacting end in the reference groove of a model tooth.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.