Magnetic orthodontic appliance

An orthodontic appliance for exerting a corrective magnetic force on live teeth comprising two separate rigid caps having internal shapes conforming to the crown portions of juxtaposed teeth in the upper and lower jaws, respectively, said caps being adapted to be removably secured to such teeth, two permanent magnets carried by said two caps, respectively, and having facing poles which are in registry when said jaws are in occluded position and further exert a magnetic force in a direction substantially normal to the occlusal plane, said poles being of extended area such that at least portions thereof remain in juxtaposed registry and said magnetic force maintains substantially in said direction during normal relative movement of said jaws, each cap being of a size and shape which fits a portion of the gingiva of the respective tooth, each cap having an exterior of relatively hard material and a relatively soft interior lining in that portion for overlying the gingiva.

An orthodontic appliance for exerting a corrective force on live teeth comprising separate sets of upper and lower permanent magnets adapted to be disposed on juxtaposed teeth in the upper and lower jaws, respectively, on opposite lateral sides of each jaw, means for securing said magnets to said teeth, respectively, first means for rigidly securing the upper magnet on one side of the jaw to the upper magnet on the opposite side, second means for rigidly securing the lower magnet on one side of the jaw to the lower magnet on the opposite side, said first and second securing means comprising bridging portions that extend between the respective magnets and lie adjacent the roof and base of the mouth when the appliance is in use, said magnets having extended area facing poles which are juxtaposed in registry when the jaws are normally closed thereby to exert a magnetic force in a direction substantially parallel to the axes of said teeth, said pole areas of said magnets further being of such size that at least portions thereof remain in juxtaposed registry to maintain said magnetic force substantially in said direction for normal relative movement between said jaws.