Veneer supported orthodontic appliance
OwnerFrank R. Faunceinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An orthodontic appliance according to the present invention may incorporate a thin veneer body of non-metallic material that may be flexible so as to conform readily to the external configuration of a patient's tooth and which veneer body may be bonded directly to the enamel of the tooth in any desirable manner. An orthodontic appliance which may be composed of metal may be permanently embedded within the thin veneer body and may protrude from the veneer body to enable other orthodontic devices to be attached thereto. Marginal leakage between the veneer body and the enamel surface of the tooth is effectively prevented by the use of a dental sealer material.
Claims13
An orthodontic appliance assembly for attachment to the tooth structure of a patient, said orthodontic appliance assembly comprising:
- a fully cured pre-formed thin veneer body of plastic material, said veneer body defining a concave interior surface that is shaped to conform to a portion of the exterior surface area of at least one of the patients teeth and defining an exterior surface that conforms to the natural configuration of the teeth of the patient;
- and
- an orthodontic appliance, said appliance having a base portion and an active portion, said base portion being formed to define plastic interlocking means, said base portion being molded within said thin veneer body and said plastic material being interconnected with said base portion and firmly supporting said base portion, said active portion of said appliance protruding from said veneer body and having an orthodontic connector portion formed thereon, said connector portion being of generally T-shaped crosssection defining an arch wire slot and defining opposed wire retaining flanges for receiving ligature wires, said connector portion of said orthodontic appliance being spaced from the exterior surface of said thin veneer body.
In combination with the tooth structure of an orthodontic patient:
- a thin veneer body of fully cured stain resistant plastic material, said veneer body defining a concave interior surface that is shaped to conform to a portion of the exterior surface area of at least one of the teeth of said patient and defining an exterior surface that conforms to the natural configuration of the labial surface of said one of the teeth of said patient;
- an orthodontic appliance having a base portion and an active portion, said base portion being formed to define plastic interlocking means, said base portion said active portion protruding from said veneer body, said orthodontic appliance having a connecting portion of smaller dimension than the dimension of said active portion and said base portion and being at least partially molded within said thin veneer body and having an orthodontic connector portion formed thereon, said connector portion being of generally T-shaped cross-section defining an arch wire slot and defining opposed wire retaining flanges for receiving ligature wires, said connector portion of said orthodontic appliance being spaced from the exterior surface of said thin veneer body;
- and
- bonding material being disposed between said veneer body and said exterior surface area of said tooth filling any voids between the veneer body and the tooth and bonding said thin veneer body to the exterior surface of said tooth.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.