Method of making indirect bonding apparatus for orthodontic therapy
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsDavid Cinader, James Cleary
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of making transfer apparatus for use in indirect bonding of orthodontic appliances includes the act of applying a spacer material over a dentition replica. The spacer material includes at least one cavity for releasably receiving an orthodontic appliance, and a base of the appliance is in contact with one of the teeth of the dentition replica. A tray is formed over the spacer material and the spacer material is then removed. Subsequently, a quantity of matrix material is directed into the space between the tray and the dentition replica in order to releasably hold the appliance for an indirect bonding procedure.
Claims38
A method of making transfer apparatus for orthodontic indirect bonding comprising:
- providing a replica of a patient's dentition;
- applying a spacer material over the replica of the patient's dentition, wherein the spacer material has at least one cavity;
- placing an orthodontic appliance in a cavity of the spacer material in an orientation such that a base of the appliance is in contact with a replica tooth of the replica dentition;
- and
- forming a tray over the spacer material.
An assembly for making transfer apparatus for use in indirect bonding of orthodontic appliances comprising:
- a dentition replica including a number of replica teeth;
- a spacer material extending over at least part of the replica including at least part of the replica teeth, the spacer material having a number of cavities each located next to one of the replica teeth;
- a set of orthodontic appliances each located in a respective one of the cavities;
- and
- a tray extending over the cavities and releasably connected to the spacer material.
A method of making transfer apparatus for orthodontic indirect bonding comprising:
- providing a replica of a patient's dentition;
- obtaining a set of digital data representing the shape of the patient's dentition;
- making a spacer material using the digital data in a rapid prototyping process;
- applying the spacer material to the replica of the patient's dentition;
- and
- forming a tray over the spacer material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.