# US 2015/0147710 A1 · Laser etched sintered ceramic orthodontic brackets > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2015/0147710 A1 - Document ID: US20150147710A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/237,963 - Filed: 2012-08-10 - Published: 2015-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2011-08-12 - Assignees: Ultradent Products, Inc. - Inventors: Paul Lewis - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20150147710A1 ## CPC - A61C 7/16: specially adapted to be cemented to teeth - A61C 7/14: Brackets (A61C7/28 takes precedence); Fixing brackets to teeth - B23K 26/361: for deburring or mechanical trimming (B23K26/351 takes precedence) - B23K 26/40: taking account of the properties of the material involved - A61C 13/0018: {using laser} - B23K 2103/52: {Ceramics} - 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) - B23K: SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM ## Abstract The present disclosure is drawn to laser etched, sintered ceramic orthodontic brackets. Such a bracket can comprise a working surface including an archwire slot and a ligating structure. The bracket can also include a laser etched tooth attachment surface that is laser etched after sintering of the ceramic orthodontic bracket. In another example, a method of increasing the average bonding strength of a sintered ceramic orthodontic bracket can comprise laser etching a tooth attachment surface of the sintered ceramic orthodontic bracket. In one specific example, the method can further comprise the preliminary steps of forming a ceramic material into a shape of an orthodontic bracket and sintering the orthodontic bracket. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sintered ceramic orthodontic bracket, comprising: a working surface including an archwire slot and a ligating structure; and a laser etched tooth attachment surface which is laser etched after sintering of the ceramic orthodontic bracket. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sintered ceramic orthodontic bracket of claim 1, wherein the entire orthodontic bracket is ceramic. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The sintered ceramic orthodontic bracket of claim 1, wherein the laser etched tooth attachment surface provides an average bonding strength of about 15 to about 40 pounds of force. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The sintered ceramic orthodontic bracket of claim 3, wherein the average bonding strength is from about 20 to 35 pounds of force. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The sintered ceramic orthodontic bracket of claim 1, wherein the sintered ceramic orthodontic bracket provides for an average bonding strength that is at least 1.05 times that of a comparison sintered ceramic bracket that is not laser etched. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The sintered ceramic orthodontic bracket of claim 5, wherein the average bonding strength is at least 1.4 times that of a comparison sintered ceramic bracket that is not laser etched. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The sintered ceramic orthodontic bracket of claim 1, wherein the sintered ceramic orthodontic bracket comprises polycrystalline alumina, monocrystalline zirconia, or combinations thereof. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The sintered ceramic orthodontic bracket of claim 1, wherein the archwire slot includes a metal slot liner. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The sintered ceramic orthodontic bracket of claim 1, wherein the ligating structure includes a plurality of tie wings. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The sintered ceramic orthodontic bracket of claim 1, wherein the ligating structure includes a self-ligating structure. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The sintered ceramic orthodontic bracket of claim 1, wherein the bracket is sintered to a Knoop hardness of at least 600 HK prior to being laser etched. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The sintered ceramic orthodontic bracket of claim 1, wherein the bracket is sintered to a Knoop hardness of at least 1000 HK prior to being laser etched. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The sintered ceramic orthodontic bracket of claim 1, wherein the laser etched tooth attachment surface includes laser-generated cross-hatching, parallel lines, or design patterning. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The sintered ceramic orthodontic bracket of claim 1, wherein the laser etched tooth attachment surface includes from about 0.01 to about 10 linear mm of laser etched lines. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The sintered ceramic orthodontic bracket of claim 1, wherein the laser etched tooth attachment surface includes from about 0.01 to about 5 linear mm of laser etched lines. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The sintered ceramic orthodontic bracket of claim 1, wherein the laser etched tooth attachment surface includes from about 0.02 to about 2 linear mm of laser etched lines. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The sintered ceramic orthodontic bracket of claim 1, wherein the laser etched tooth attachment surface includes laser etched lines ranging from about 0.01 mm to about 1 mm in depth. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The sintered ceramic orthodontic bracket of claim 1, wherein the laser etched tooth attachment surface includes laser etched lines ranging from about 0.05 mm to about 0.3 mm in depth. ### Claim 19 A method of increasing the average bonding strength of a sintered ceramic orthodontic bracket, comprising laser etching a tooth attachment surface of the sintered ceramic orthodontic bracket. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, further comprising the preliminary steps of: forming a ceramic material into a shape of an orthodontic bracket; and sintering the orthodontic bracket. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the laser etching provides for an average bonding strength of the sintered ceramic orthodontic bracket that is at least 1.05 times that of a comparison sintered ceramic bracket that is not laser etched. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the average bonding strength is at least 1.4 times that of a comparison sintered ceramic bracket that is not laser etched. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the laser etching is carried out with a laser at a power setting of 10 to 50 watts. ### Claim 24 An orthodontic system, comprising: a sintered ceramic orthodontic bracket, comprising a working surface including an archwire slot and a ligating structure, and a laser etched tooth attachment surface which is laser etched after sintering of the ceramic orthodontic bracket, and an adhesive for attaching the sintered ceramic orthodontic bracket to the enamel of a tooth, wherein the laser etched tooth attachment surface combined with the adhesive provides an average bonding strength of about 15 to about 40 pounds of force. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The orthodontic system of claim 24, wherein the entire orthodontic bracket is ceramic. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The orthodontic system of claim 24, wherein the average bonding strength is from about 20 to 35 pounds of force. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) The orthodontic system of claim 24, wherein the sintered ceramic orthodontic bracket provides for an average bonding strength that is at least 1.05 times that of a comparison sintered ceramic bracket that is not laser etched. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The orthodontic system of claim 27, wherein the average bonding strength is at least 1.4 times that of a comparison sintered ceramic bracket that is not laser etched. ### Claim 29 (depends on 24) The orthodontic system of claim 24, wherein the sintered ceramic orthodontic bracket comprises polycrystalline alumina. ### Claim 30 (depends on 24) The orthodontic system of claim 24, wherein the archwire slot includes a metal slot liner. ### Claim 31 (depends on 24) The orthodontic system of claim 24, wherein the ligating structure includes a plurality of tie wings. ### Claim 32 (depends on 24) The orthodontic system of claim 24, wherein the ligating structure includes a self-ligating structure. ### Claim 33 (depends on 24) The orthodontic system of claim 24, wherein the bracket is sintered to a Knoop hardness of at least 600 HK prior to being laser etched. ### Claim 34 (depends on 24) The orthodontic system of claim 24, wherein the bracket is sintered to a Knoop hardness of at least 1000 HK prior to being laser etched. ### Claim 35 (depends on 24) The orthodontic system of claim 24, wherein the laser etched tooth attachment surface includes from about 0.01 to about 10 linear mm of laser etched lines. ### Claim 36 (depends on 24) The orthodontic system of claim 24, wherein the laser etched tooth attachment surface includes from about 0.01 to about 5 linear mm of laser etched lines. ### Claim 37 (depends on 24) The orthodontic system of claim 24, wherein the laser etched tooth attachment surface includes from about 0.02 to about 2 linear mm of laser etched lines. ### Claim 38 (depends on 24) The orthodontic system of claim 24, wherein the laser etched tooth attachment surface includes laser etched lines ranging from about 0.01 mm to about 1 mm in depth. ### Claim 39 (depends on 24) The orthodontic system of claim 24, wherein the adhesive is a methacrylate monomer-based composite. ### Claim 40 (depends on 24) The orthodontic system of claim 24, wherein the adhesive includes bisphenol A diglycidylether methacrylate, bisphenol A bis(2-hydroxyethyl ether)dimethacrylate, silane treated quartz, silica, alumina, silane treated silica or alumina, or mixtures thereof.