Orthodontic debonding method and tool
AssigneeUnitek Corporation
InventorsClarence W. Hannan, Wilford A. Snead, Jirina V. Pospisil, Robert P. Eckert
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Debonding of cemented orthodontic brackets from teeth by application of a quick twisting force to fracture the adhesive bond. A torquing tool has slotted ends making a close slip fit over mesial and distal side surfaces of the bracket, and has a flattened center section providing a good tactile sense of applied force. The method and tool are especially useful with brackets made of brittle ceramic material.
Claims16
A debonding tool for removing an adhesively bonded orthodontic bracket from a tooth, the bracket having a body with opposed noncircular surfaces of known contour and spacing, the tool comprising a central handle portion and a pair of fixed, spaced-apart tips having surfaces with a contour and spacing substantially identical to said known contour and said spacing of said opposed bracket surfaces, said tips extending from the central portion and being separated and contoured to define a slot in which the bracket body can be fitted with the tips in mating engagement with said bracket surfaces so the tool and bracket can be rotated together about an axis generally perpendicular to the tooth surface to break the adhesive bond.
A debonding tool for removing an adhesively bonded ceramic bracket which is cemented to a tooth, the bracket having substantially flat and parallel spaced-apart mesial and distal sides, the tool comprising an elongated central handgrip portion, and a first end portion extending laterally from the central portion and terminating in a pair of tips having substantially flat and parallel inner facing surfaces which are spaced apart by a distance corresponding to the spacing of the bracket mesial and distal sides, whereby the tool tips can be fitted over the bracket in engagement with the mesial and distal sides to enable bracket debonding by rotary movement of the tool and bracket about an axis generally perpendicular to the tooth surface to which the bracket is secured.
A process for removing an orthodontic bracket having a base which is adhesively bonded to a tooth surface, comprising the steps of:
- fitting a debonding tool over the bracket so that a pair of fixed, spaced apart tips of the tool are in face-to-face, complemental engagement with opposed surfaces of the bracket;
- and
- rotating the tool to effect corresponding rotation of the bracket and base about an axis generally perpendicular to the tooth surface to which the bracket is bonded, and thereby fracturing the adhesive bond to release the bracket base from the tooth.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.