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US 5,292,248 AGranted
Molar appliance
AssigneeGAC International, Inc.
InventorCharles J. Schultz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An orthodontic appliance has a tooth-abutting surface oriented at an acute angle relative to the base of an arch-wire slot. A lip bumper tube of the appliance is reverse offset relative to the base of the arch-wire slot to obtain more accurate manipulation of the force and torque vectors applied to the tooth. The angle of the base also reduces occlusal interference by gingivally inclining the lip bumper. Wedge-shaped occlusal tie wings further reduce occlusal interference. An auxiliary hook of the appliance is shaped so that its extension in the buccal direction is less than that of the lip bumper tube to reduce patient irritation and discomfort.
Claims16
An orthodontic appliance for a molar comprising:
- a gingival portion defining a first tie-wing and a lip-bumper portion defining an opening for receiving a lip bumper, the first tie wing being wedge shaped;
- an occlusal portion defining a second tie-wing, the second tie-wing being wedge shaped;
- an arch-wire slot defining a base surface and extending substantially in the mesial-distal direction between the gingival and occlusal portions for receiving an arch wire;
- a distally-opening hook portion defining a base extending from the occlusal portion in the buccal direction and an arm portion coupled to the base portion extending distally from the base portion;
- and
- a base defining a tooth-abutting surface and coupled to the occlusal and gingival portions, the tooth-abutting surface being oriented at an acute angle relative to a plane of the base surface of the arch-wire slot for applying a torque to the molar through the tooth-abutting surface.
3 more elements
An orthodontic appliance comprising:
- a base portion defining an arch-wire slot formed by a base surface and two side walls located on either side of the base surface for receiving an arch wire, and further including a tooth-abutting surface oriented at an acute angle relative to a plane of the base surface of the arch-wire slot for applying a torque to the tooth through the tooth-abutting surface;
- a lip-bumper portion coupled to the base portion and defining a lip-bumper tube for receiving a lip bumper, an occlusal surface of the lip-bumper portion being oriented in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the base surface of the arch-wire slot to facilitate visual alignment of the appliance on the tooth;
- a hook portion located on the opposite side of the arch-wire slot relative to the lip-bumper portion for attaching an elastic or auxiliary appliance;
- at least one first tie wing extending gingivally from the base portion;
- and
- at least one second tie wing located on the opposite side of the arch-wire slot relative to the first tie wing, wherein the first and second tie wings each define a substantially wedge-shaped portion to facilitate the attachment of an elastic or ligature to the respective tie wing.
3 more elements
An orthodontic appliance for a molar comprising:
- a gingival portion defining a first tie-wing and a lip-bumper portion defining an opening for receiving a lip bumper, the first tie-wing being wedge shaped;
- an occlusal portion defining a second tie-wing, the second tie-wing being wedge shaped;
- an arch-wire slot defining a base surface and extending substantially in the mesial-distal direction between the gingival and occlusal portions for receiving an arch wire;
- a distally-opening hook portion defining a base extending from the occlusal portion in the buccal direction and an arm portion coupled to the base portion extending distally from the base portion, the arm portion including an enlarged end portion having the general shape of a ball;
- and
- a base defining a tooth-abutting surface and coupled to the occlusal and gingival portions, the tooth-abutting surface being oriented at an acute angle relative to a plane of the base surface of the arch-wire slot for applying a torque to the molar through the tooth-abutting surface.
3 more elements
An orthodontic appliance comprising:
- a base portion defining an arch-wire slot formed by a base surface and two side walls located on either side of the base surface for receiving an arch wire, and further including a tooth-abutting surface oriented at an acute angle relative to a plane of the base surface of the arch-wire slot for applying a torque to the tooth through the tooth-abutting surface;
- lip-bumper portion extending gingivally from the base portion and defining a lip-bumper tube for receiving a lip bumper, an occlusal surface of the lip-bumper portion being oriented in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the base surface of the arch-wire slot to facilitate visual alignment of the appliance on the tooth;
- a hook portion located on the opposite side of the arch-wire slot relative to the lip-bumper portion such that the hook portion is located in an occlusal position relative to the arch-wire slot for attaching an elastic or auxiliary appliance;
- the hook portion including an enlarged end portion having the general shape of a ball;
- at least one first tie wing extending in an occlusal direction from the base portion;
- and
- at least one second tie wing located on the opposite side of the arch-wire slot relative to the first tie wing, wherein the first and second tie wings each define a substantially wedge-shaped portion to facilitate the attachment of an elastic or ligature to the respective tie wing.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.