System and method for improved control of tooth movement with elastic repositioning appliances
OwnerFrederick Solomoninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Micro-regional force application improves the control of the orthodontic movement of teeth in all six degrees of freedom. Micro regional force application utilizes an elastic repositioning appliance, a tooth positioner, a polymeric shell, or preprogrammed series of polymeric shells. The key components of the invention are the envelope of freedom, the force applicators, force couplers, counterpart coupling, vector modifiers, seating guides, decouplers, and forced balance points. Further, computerized finite element analysis determines the center of resistance and the center of rotation for each tooth to be moved. The present invention gently rotates and translates one or more teeth to a desired straight position within a treatment plan.
Claims10
An orthodontic appliance for translating and rotating at least one tooth having a root within a gum and a gum line separating the root from the visible portion of a tooth, comprising;
- a shell, fitting over at least one tooth on at least two sides above the gum line;
- said shell having at least one applicator located upon the interior of said shell, at least one coupler located upon the interior of said shell, opposite the gum line and opposite said applicator;
- said applicator protruding inwards from said shell and adapting to contact the tooth at a point, said applicator distending said shell away from the tooth leaving a gap forming between the tooth and said shell;
- and,
- said coupler protruding inwards from said shell generally less than said applicator and opposite said applicator and adapting to contact the tooth at a point, said coupler counteracting any moment or translation of said applicator so the at least one tooth meets an orthodontic plan.
An orthodontic appliance for axially rotating at least one tooth having a root within a gum and a gum line separating the root from the visible portion of a tooth, comprising:
- a shell, fitting over at least one tooth above the gum line, having a lingual surface and an opposite buccal surface, at least one applicator located upon the interior of said shell opposite the gum line;
- said applicator protruding inwards from said shell and adapting to contact the tooth at a point, said applicator distending said shell away from the tooth leaving a gap forming between the tooth and said shell, and rotating the at least one tooth to meet an orthodontic plan.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.