Orthodontic elastic appliance

An orthodontic elastic appliance for use with orthodontic bracket means mountable on teeth, said bracket means defining an opening of predetermined cross-sectional dimension adapted to receive at least a portion of the orthodontic elastic appliance therein, the bracket opening defined by at least one of said bracket means having at least one engaging and retaining surface adjacent thereto,

• said elastic appliance comprising:
• a plurality of closed loops of elastic material;
• at least one of the said elastic closed loops being adapted to at least partially pass through at least a portion of an opening of a bracket means and be mounted on the bracket means;
• elastic connecting means coupled between adjacent closed loops for applying a force to said at least one elastic closed loop relative to a bracket means on which said at least one elastic loop is mounted, said force having a rotational component at least in the plane of said at least one elastic closed loop;
• and
• undulated surface means on at least one of said elastic loops defining a plurality of first and second surface portions which are high and low relative to each other, said undulated surface means and said at least one elastic loop being dimensioned and shaped such that when said at least one elastic loop is stretched and is at least partially engaged in an opening defined by one of said bracket means, a high portion of the undulations of said at least one elastic loop abuttingly engages at least a portion of said at least one engaging and retaining surface of said bracket means to substantially prevent said engaged elastic loop from shifting its position relative to the bracket means on which it is mounted under the influence of said rotational component of said applied force.

An orthodontic elastic appliance for use with orthodontic bracket means mountable on teeth, said bracket means defining an opening of predetermined cross-sectional dimension adapted to receive at least a portion of the orthodontic elastic appliance therein, the bracket opening defined by at least one of said bracket means having at least one engaging and retaining surface adjacent thereto,

• said elastic appliance comprising:
• a plurality of closed loops of elastic material;
• at least one of the said elastic closed loops being adapted to at least partially pass through at least a portion of an opening of a bracket means and be mounted on the bracket means;
• elastic connecting means coupled between adjacent closed loops for applying a force to said at least one elastic closed loop relative to a bracket means on which said at least one elastic loop is mounted, said force having a rotational component at least in the plane of said at least one elastic closed loop;
• and
• abutment engaging means on a surface of at least one of said elastic loops, said abutment engaging means comprising an elastic central member extending from said at least one elastic loop and substantially filling the inner space defined by said at least one elastic loop, said central elastic member having at least one slit therein so as to define segments thereof, said segments and said at least one elastic loop being dimensioned and shaped such that when said at least one elastic loop is stretched and is at least partially engaged in an opening defined by one of said bracket means, at least one of said segments abuttingly engages at least a portion of said at least one engaging and retaining surface of said bracket means to substantially prevent said engaged elastic loop from shifting its position relative to the bracket means on which it is mounted under the influence of said rotational component of said applied force.

An orthodontic elastic appliance for use with orthodontic bracket means mountable on teeth, said bracket means defining an opening of predetermined cross-sectional dimension adapted to receive at least a portion of the orthodontic elastic appliance therein, the bracket opening defined by at least one of said bracket means having at least one engaging and retaining surface adjacent thereto,

• said elastic appliance comprising:
• a plurality of closed loops of elastic material;
• at least one of the said elastic closed loops being adapted to at least partially pass through at least a portion of an opening of a bracket means and be mounted on the bracket means;
• elastic connecting means coupled between adjacent closed loops for applying a force to said at least one elastic closed loop relative to a bracket means on which said at least one elastic loop is mounted, said force having a rotational component at least in the plane of said at least one elastic closed loop;
• and
• abutment engaging means on a surface of at least one of said elastic loops, said abutment engaging means comprising a plurality of slits in said at least one elastic loop, said slits extending from a peripheral surface thereof and partially through the cross-section of said at least one elastic loop, said at least one elastic loop and said slits therein being dimensioned and shaped such that when said at least one elastic loop is stretched and is at least partially engaged in an opening defined by one of said bracket means, the portion of said at least one elastic loop adjacent one of said slits abuttingly engages at least a portion of said at least one engaging and retaining surface of said bracket means to substantially prevent said engaged elastic loop from shifting its position relative to the bracket means which it is mounted under the influence of said rotational component of said applied force.

An orthodontic elastic appliance mountable on teeth, comprising:

• a plurality of closed loops of elastic material, at least one of said elastic closed loops having an inner periphery substantially smaller than the outer periphery of a tooth on which it is to be mounted;
• elastic connecting means coupled between adjacent elastic closed loops for applying a force to said at least one elastic closed loop relative to the tooth on which said at least one elastic loop is mounted, said force having a rotational component at least in the plane of said at least one elastic closed loop;
• and
• at least one protuberance extending from at least an inner surface of said at least one elastic loop, said at least one protuberance and said at least one elastic loop being dimensioned and shaped such that when said at least one elastic loop is stretched and is engaged around the outer periphery of a tooth said at least one protuberance of said at least one elastic loop abuttingly and non-slidingly engages at least a portion of the outer periphery of said tooth to substantially prevent said stretched and engaged elastic loop from shifting its position relative to a tooth around which it is mounted under the influence of said rotational component of said applied force.

An orthodontic elastic appliance mountable on teeth, comprising:

• a plurality of closed loops of elastic material, at least one of said elastic closed loops having an inner periphery substantially smaller than the outer periphery of a tooth on which it is to be mounted;
• elastic connecting means coupled between adjacent elastic closed loops for applying a force to said at least one elastic closed loop relative to the tooth on which said at least one elastic loop is mounted, said force having a rotational component at least in the plane of said at least one elastic closed loop;
• and
• undulated surface means on at least an inner surface of said at least one elastic loop defining a plurality of first and second surface portions which are high and low relative to each other, said undulated surface means and said at least one elastic loop being dimensioned and shaped such that when said at least one elastic loop is stretched and is engaged around the outer periphery of a tooth, a high portion of the undulations of said at least one elastic loop abuttingly and non-slidingly engages at least a portion of the outer periphery of said tooth to substantially prevent said stretched and engaged elastic loop from shifting its position relative to a tooth around which it is mounted under the influence of said rotational component of said applied force.

An orthodontic elastic appliance mountable on teeth, comprising:

• a plurality of closed loops of elastic material at least one of said elastic closed loops having an inner periphery substantially smaller than the outer periphery of a tooth on which it is to be mounted;
• elastic connecting means coupled between adjacent elastic closed loops for applying a force to said at least one elastic closed loop relative to the tooth on which said at least one elastic loop is mounted, said force having a rotational component at least in the plane of said at least one elastic closed loop;
• and
• abutment engaging means on at least an inner surface of said at least one elastic loop, said abutment engaging means comprising an elastic central member extending from said at least one elastic loop and filling at least a substantial portion of the inner space defined by said at least one elastic loop, said central elastic member having at least one slit therein so as to define segments thereof, said segments and said at least one elastic loop being dimensioned and shaped such that when said at least one elastic loop is stretched and is engaged around the outer periphery of a tooth, at least one of said segments abuttingly and non-slidingly engages at least a portion of the outer periphery of said tooth to substantially prevent said stretched and engaged elastic loop from shifting its position relative to a tooth around which it is mounted under the influence of said rotational component of said applied force.

An orthodontic elastic appliance mountable on teeth, comprising:

• a plurality of closed loops of elastic material, at least one of said elastic closed loops having an inner periphery substantially smaller than the outer periphery of a tooth on which it is to be mounted;
• elastic connecting means coupled between adjacent elastic closed loops for applying a force to said at least one elastic closed loop relative to the tooth on which said at least one elastic loop is mounted, said force having a rotational component at least in the plane of said at least one elastic closed loop;
• and
• abutment engaging means on at least an inner surface of said at least one elastic loop, said abutment engaging means comprising a plurality of slits in said at least one elastic loop, said slits extending from the inner peripheral surface thereof and partially through the cross-section of said at least one elastic loop, said at least one elastic loop and slits therein being dimensioned and shaped such that when said at least one elastic loop is stretched and is engaged around the outer periphery of a tooth, the portion of said at least one elastic loop adjacent one of said slits abuttingly and non-slidingly engages at least a portion of the outer periphery of said tooth to substantially prevent said stretched and engaged elastic loop from shifting its position relative to a tooth around which it is mounted under the influence of said rotational component of said applied force.

An orthodontic elastic appliance for use with orthodontic bracket means mountable on teeth, said bracket means defining an opening of predetermined cross-sectional dimension adapted to receive at least a portion of the orthodontic elastic appliance therein, the bracket opening defined by at least one of said bracket means having at least one engaging and retaining surface adjacent thereto,

• said elastic appliance comprising:
• a plurality of closed loops of elastic material;
• at least one of the said elastic closed loops being adapted to at least partially pass through at least a portion of an opening of a bracket means and be mounted on the bracket means;
• elastic connecting means coupled between adjacent closed loops for applying a force to said at least one elastic closed loop relative to a bracket means on which said at least one elastic loop is mounted, said force having a rotational component at least in the plane of said at least one elastic closed loop;
• and
• at least one of said loops, in the relaxed state, having a cross-section over substantially the complete extent of the loop which is substantially larger than the cross-section of said opening defined by said bracket means, and being stretchable to reduce the cross-section of said at least one closed loop to fit at least partially within said opening defined by said bracket means, and the inner opening of said at least one closed loop, when in its relaxed state, being substantially smaller than the opening required to engage and be mounted on said bracket means;
• said at least one elastic loop when relaxed after being stretched and mounted on said bracket means, having a portion thereof which bulges outwardly relative to said bracket means to abuttingly engage said at least one engaging and retaining surface of said at least one bracket means to substantially prevent said engaged elastic loop from shifting its position relative to the bracket means on which it is mounted under the influence of said rotational component of said applied force.

An orthodontic appliance for use with orthodontic bracket means mountable on teeth, said bracket means defining an opening of predetermined cross-sectional dimension adapted to receive at least a portion of the orthodontic elastic appliance therein, the bracket opening defined by at least one of said bracket means having at least one engaging and retaining surface adjacent thereto,

• said elastic appliance comprising:
• at least one closed loop of elastic material;
• said at least one closed loop being adapted to at least partially pass through at least a portion of an opening of a bracket means and be mounted on the bracket means;
• means coupled to said at least one elastic closed loop for applying a force to said at least one elastic loop relative to the bracket means on which said loop is mounted, said force having a rotational component at least in the plane of said at least one elastic closed loop;
• and
• at least one protuberance extending from a surface of said at least one elastic loop, said at least one protuberance and said at least one elastic loop being dimensioned and shaped such that when said at least one elastic loop is stretched and is at least partially engaged in an opening defined by one of said bracket means, said at least one protuberance of said at least one elastic loop abuttingly engages at least a portion of said at least one engaging and retaining surface of said bracket means to substantially prevent said engaged elastic loop from shifting its position relative to the bracket means on which it is mounted under the influence of said rotational component of said applied force.

An orthodontic appliance for use with orthodontic bracket means mountable on teeth, said bracket means defining an opening of predetermined cross-sectional dimension adapted to receive at least a portion of the orthodontic elastic appliance therein, the bracket opening defined by at least one of said bracket means having at least one engaging and retaining surface adjacent thereto,

• said elastic appliance comprising:
• at least one closed loop of elastic material;
• said at least one closed loop being adapted to at least partially pass through at least a portion of an opening of a bracket means and be mounted on the bracket means;
• means coupled to said at least one elastic closed loop for applying a force to said at least one elastic loop relative to the bracket means on which said loop is mounted, said force having a rotational component at least in the plane of said at least one elastic closed loop;
• and
• undulated surface means on at least a surface of said at least one elastic loop defining a plurality of first and second surface portions which are high and low relative to each other, said undulated surface means and said at least one elastic loop being dimensioned and shaped such that when said at least one elastic loop is stretched and is at least partially engaged in an opening defined by one of said bracket means, a high portion of the undulations of said at least one elastic loop abuttingly and non-slidingly engages at least a portion of said at least one engaging and retaining surface of said bracket means to substantially prevent said engaged elastic loop from shifting its position relative to the bracket means on which it is mounted under the influence of said rotational component of said applied force.

An orthodontic appliance for use with orthodontic bracket means mountable on teeth, said bracket means defining an opening of predetermined cross-sectional dimension adapted to receive at least a portion of the orthodontic elastic appliance therein, the bracket opening defined by at least one of said bracket means having at least one engaging and retaining surface adjacent thereto,

• said elastic appliance comprising:
• at least one closed loop of elastic material;
• said at least one closed loop being adapted to at least partially pass through at least a portion of an opening of a bracket means and be mounted on the bracket means;
• means coupled to said at least one elastic closed loop for applying a force to said at least one elastic loop relative to the bracket means on which said loop is mounted, said force having a rotational component at least in the plane of said at least one elastic closed loop;
• and
• abutment engaging means on at least a surface of said at least one elastic loop, said abutment engaging means comprising a plurality of slits in said at least one elastic loop, said slits extending from a peripheral surface thereof and partially through the cross-section of said at least one elastic loop, said at least one elastic loop and said slits therein being dimensioned and shaped such that when said at least one elastic loop is stretched and is at least partially engaged in an opening defined by one of said bracket means, the portion of said at least one elastic loop adjacent one of said slits abuttingly and non-slidingly engages at least a portion of said at least one engaging and retaining surface of said bracket means to substantially prevent said engaged elastic loop from shifting its position relative to the bracket means on which it is mounted under the influence of said rotational component of said applied force.

An orthodontic elastic appliance mountable on a tooth, comprising:

• at least one closed loop of elastic material having an inner periphery substantially smaller than the outer periphery of a tooth on which it is to be mounted;
• means coupled to said at least one elastic loop for applying a force to said at least one elastic loop relative to a tooth on which said loop is mounted said force having a rotational component at least in the plane of said at least one elastic closed loop;
• and
• at least one protuberance extending from an inner surface of said at least one elastic loop, said at least one protuberance and said at least one elastic loop being dimensioned and shaped such that when said at least one elastic loop is stretched and is engaged around the outer periphery of a tooth said at least one protuberance of said at least one elastic loop abuttingly and non-slidingly engages at least a portion of the outer periphery of said tooth to substantially prevent said stretched and engaged elastic loop from shifting its position relative to a tooth around which it is mounted under the influence of said rotational component of said applied force.

An orthodontic elastic appliance mountable on a tooth, comprising:

• at least one closed loop of elastic material having an inner periphery substantially smaller than the outer periphery of a tooth on which it is to be mounted;
• means coupled to said at least one elastic loop for applying a force to said at least one elastic loop relative to a tooth on which said loop is mounted said force having a rotational component at least in the plane of said at least one elastic closed loop;
• and
• undulated surface means on at least an inner surface of said at least one elastic loop defining a plurality of first and second surface portions which are high and low relative to each other, said undulated surface means and said at least one elastic loop being dimensioned and shaped such that when said at least one elastic loop is stretched and is engaged around the outer periphery of a tooth, a high portion of the undulations of said at least one elastic loop abuttingly and non-slidingly engages at least a portion of the outer periphery of said tooth to substantially prevent said stretched and engaged elastic loop from shifting its position relative to a tooth around which it is mounted under the influence of said rotational component of said applied force.

An orthodontic elastic appliance mountable on a tooth, comprising:

• at least one closed loop of elastic material having an inner periphery substantially smaller than the outer periphery of a tooth on which it is to be mounted;
• means coupled to said at least one elastic loop for applying a force to said at least one elastic loop relative to a tooth on which said loop is mounted said force having a rotational component at least in the plane of said at least one elastic closed loop;
• and
• abutment engaging means on at least an inner surface of said at least one elastic loop, said abutment engaging means comprising a plurality of slits in said at least one elastic loop, said slits extending from the inner peripheral surface thereof and partially through the cross-section of said at least one elastic loop, said at least one elastic loop and said slits therein being dimensioned and shaped such that when said at least one elastic loop is stretched and is engaged around the outer periphery of a tooth, the portion of said at least one elastic loop adjacent one of said slits abuttingly and non-slidingly engages at least a portion of the outer periphery of said tooth to substantially prevent said stretched and engaged elastic loop from shifting its position relative to a tooth around which it is mounted under the influence of said rotational component of said applied force.

An orthodontic elastic appliance for use with orthodontic bracket means mountable on teeth, said bracket means defining an opening of predetermined cross-sectional dimension adapted to receive at least a portion of the orthodontic elastic appliance therein, the bracket opening defined by at least one of said bracket means having at least one engaging and retaining surface adjacent thereto,

• said elastic appliance comprising:
• at least one closed loop of elastic material;
• said at least one closed loop being adapted to at least partially pass through at least a portion of an opening of a bracket means and be mounted on the bracket means;
• means coupled to said at least one elastic closed loop for applying a force to said at least one elastic loop relative to the bracket means on which said loop is mounted, said force having a rotational component at least in the plane of said at least one elastic closed loop;
• and
• said at least one closed loop, in the relazed state, having a cross-section over substantially the complete extent of the loop which is substantially larger than the cross-section of said opening defined by said bracket means, and being stretchable to reduce the cross-section of said at least one closed loop to fit at least partially within said opening defined by said bracket means, and the inner opening of said at least one closed loop, when in its relaxed state, being substantially smaller than the opening required to engage and be mounted on said bracket means;
• said at least one elastic loop when relaxed after being stretched and mounted on said bracket means, having a portion thereof which bulges outwardly relative to said bracket means to abuttingly engage said at least one engaging and retaining surface of said at least one bracket means to substantially prevent said engaged elastic loop from shifting its position relative to the bracket means on which it is mounted under the influence of said rotational component of said applied force.

An orthodontic elastic appliance for use with orthodontic bracket means mountable on teeth, said bracket means defining an opening of predetermined cross-sectional dimension adapted to receive at least a portion of the orthodontic elastic appliance therein, the bracket opening defined by at least one of said bracket means having at least one engaging and retaining surface adjacent thereto,

• said elastic appliance comprising:
• a plurality of closed loops of elastic material;
• at least one of the said elastic closed loops being adapted to at least partially pass through at least a portion of an opening of a bracket means and be mounted on the bracket means;
• elastic connecting means coupled between adjacent closed loops for applying a force to said at least one elastic closed loop relative to a bracket means on which said at least one elastic loop is mounted, said force having a rotational component at least in the plane of said at least one elastic closed loop;
• and
• serrated surface means on at least one of said elastic loops defining a plurality of first and second surface portions which are high and low relative to each other, said serrated surface means and said at least one elastic loop being dimensioned and shaped such that when said at least one elastic loop is stretched and is at least partially engaged in an opening defined by one of said bracket means, a high portion of the serrations of said at least one elastic loop abuttingly engages at least a portion of said at least one engaging and retaining surface of said bracket means to substantially prevent said engaged elastic loop from shifting its position relative to the bracket means on which it is mounted under the influence of said rotational component of said applied force.

An orthodontic elastic appliance mountable on teeth, comprising:

• a plurality of closed loops of elastic material, at least one of said elastic closed loops having an inner periphery substantially smaller than the outer periphery of a tooth on which it is to be mounted;
• elastic connecting means coupled between adjacent elastic closed loops for applying a force to said at least one elastic closed loop relative to the tooth on which said at least one elastic loop is mounted, said force having a rotational component at least in the plane of said at least one elastic closed loop;
• and
• serrated surface means on at least an inner surface of said at least one elastic loop defining a plurality of first and second surface portions which are high and low relative to each other, said serrated surface means and said at least one elastic loop being dimensioned and shaped such that when said at least one elastic loop is stretched and is engaged around the outer periphery of a tooth, a high portion of the serrations of said at least one elastic loop abuttingly and non-slidingly engages at least a portion of the outer periphery of said tooth to substantially prevent said stretched and engaged elastic loop from shifting its position relative to a tooth around which it is mounted under the influence of said rotational component of said applied force.

An orthodontic appliance for use with orthodontic bracket means mountable on teeth, said bracket means defining an opening of predetermined cross-sectional dimension adapted to receive at least a portion of the orthodontic elastic appliance therein, the bracket opening defined by at least one of said bracket means having at least one engaging and retaining surface adjacent thereto,

• said elastic appliance comprising:
• at least one closed loop of elastic material;
• said at least one closed loop being adapted to at least partially pass through at least a portion of an opening of a bracket means and be mounted on the bracket means;
• means coupled to said at least one elastic closed loop for applying a force to said at least one elastic loop relative to the bracket means on which said loop is mounted, said force having a rotational component at least in the plane of said at least one elastic closed loop;
• and
• serrated surface means on at least a surface of said at least one elastic loop defining a plurality of first and second surface portions which are high and low relative to each other, said serrated surface means and said at least one elastic loop being dimensioned and shaped such that when said at least one elastic loop is stretched and is at least partially engaged in an opening defined by one of said bracket means, a high portion of the serratins of said at least one elastic loop abuttingly and non-slidingly engages at least a portion of said at least one engaging and retaining surface of said bracket means to substantially prevent said engaged elastic loop from shifting its position relative to the bracket means on which it is mounted under the influence of said rotational component of said applied force.

An orthodontic elastic appliance mountable on a tooth, comprising:

• at least one closed loop of elastic material having an inner periphery substantially smaller than the outer periphery of a tooth on which it is to be mounted;
• means coupled to said at least one elastic loop for applying a force to said at least one elastic loop relative to a tooth on which said loop is mounted said force having a rotational component at least in the plane of said at least one elastic closed loop;
• and
• serrated surface means on at least an inner surface of said at least one elastic loop defining a plurality of first and second surface portions which are high and low relative to each other, said serrated surface means and said at least one elastic loop being dimensioned and shaped such that when said at least one elastic loop is stretched and is engaged around the outer periphery of a tooth, a high portion of the serrations of said at least one elastic loop abuttingly and non-slidingly engages at least a portion of the outer periphery of said tooth to substantially prevent said stretched and engaged elastic loop from shifting its position relative to a tooth around which it is mounted under the influence of said rotational component of said applied force.

An orthodontic elastic appliance for use with orthodontic bracket means mountable on teeth, said bracket means defining an opening of predetermined cross-sectional dimension adapted to receive at least a portion of the orthodontic elastic appliance therein, the bracket opening defined by at least one of said bracket means having at least one engaging and retaining surface adjacent thereto,

• said elastic appliance comprising:
• a plurality of closed loops of elastic material;
• at least one of the said elastic closed loops being adapted to at least partially pass through at least a portion of an opening of a bracket means and be mounted on the bracket means,
• elastic connecting means coupled between adjacent closed loops for applying a force to said at least one elastic closed loop relative to a bracket means on which said at least one elastic loop is mounted, said force having a rotational component at least in the plane of said at least one elastic closed loop;
• and
• irregular surface engaging means on a surface of at least one of said elastic loops defining first and second surface portions which are high and low relative to each other and defining at least one portion extending away from the remainder of the surface thereof, said irregular surface engaging means and said at least one elastic loop being dimensioned and shaped such that when said at least one elastic loop is stretched and is at least partially engaged in an opening defined by one of said bracket means, said irregular surface engaging means of said at least one elastic loop interferingly engages at least a portion of said at least one engaging and retaining surface of said bracket means to substantially prevent said engaged elastic loop from shifting its position relative to the bracket means on which it is mounted under the influence of said rotational component of said applied force.

An orthodontic elastic appliance mountable on teeth, comprising:

• a plurality of closed loops of elastic material, at least one of said elastic closed loops having an inner periphery substantially smaller than the outer periphery of a tooth on which it is to be mounted;
• elastic connecting means coupled between adjacent elastic closed loops for applying a force to said at least one elastic closed loop relative to the tooth on which said at least one elastic loop is mounted, said force having a rotational component at least in the plane of said at least one elastic closed loop;
• and
• irregular surface engaging means on an inner surface of said at least one elastic loop defining first and second surface portions which are high and low relative to each other and defining at least one portion extending away from the remainder of the surface thereof, said irregular surface engaging means and said at least one elastic loop being dimensioned and shaped such that when said at least one elastic loop is stretched and is engaged around the outer periphery of a tooth said engaging means of said at least one elastic loop non-slidingly engages at least a portion of the outer periphery of said tooth to substantially prevent said stretched and engaged elastic loop from shifting its position relative to a tooth around which it is mounted under the influence of said rotational component of said applied force.

An orthodontic appliance for use with orthodontic bracket means mountable on teeth, said bracket means defining an opening of predetermined cross-sectional dimension adapted to receive at least a portion of the orthodontic elastic appliance therein, the bracket opening defined by at least one of said bracket means having at least one engaging and retaining surface adjacent thereto,

• said elastic appliance comprising:
• at least one closed loop of elastic material;
• said at least one closed loop being adapted to at least partially pass through at least a portion of an opening of a bracket means and be mounted on the bracket means;
• means coupled to said at least one elastic closed loop for applying a force to said at least one elastic loop relative to the bracket means on which said loop is mounted, said force having a rotational component at least in the plane of said at least one elastic closed loop;
• and
• irregular surface engaging means on a surface of said at least one elastic loop defining first and second surface portions which are high and low relative to each other and defining at least one portion extending away from the remainder of the surface thereof, said engaging means and said at least one elastic loop being dimensioned and shaped such that when said at least one elastic loop is stretched and is at least partially engaged in an opening defined by one of said bracket means, said engaging means of said at least one elastic loop engages at least a portion of said at least one engaging and retaining surface of said bracket means to substantially prevent said engaged elastic loop from shifting its position relative to the bracket means on which it is mounted under the influence of said rotational component of said applied force.

An orthodontic elastic appliance mountable on a tooth, comprising:

• at least one closed loop of elastic material having an inner periphery substantially smaller than the outer periphery of a tooth on which it is to be mounted;
• means coupled to said at least one elastic loop for applying a force to said at least one elastic loop relative to a tooth on which said loop is mounted, said force having a rotational component at least in the plane of said at least one elastic closed loop;
• and
• irregular surface engaging means on an inner surface of said at least one elastic loop defining first and second surface portions which are high and low relative to each other and defining at least one portion extending away from the remainder of the surface thereof, said irregular surface engaging means and said at least one elastic loop being dimensioned and shaped such that when said at least one elastic loop is stretched and is engaged around the outer periphery of a tooth said engaging means of said at least one elastic loop non-slidingly engages at least a portion of the outer periphery of said tooth to substantially prevent said stretched and engaged elastic loop from shifting its position relative to a tooth around which it is mounted under the influence of said rotational component of said applied force.