Adjustable aligning reel and methods for aligning a tooth

An adjustable aligning reel for aligning a tooth into a predetermined position in an arch of teeth, said adjustable aligning reel comprising:

• an adjustable tensioner which is capable of being mounted on an archwire in operative relationship with the tooth;
• and
• a filament for coupling the tooth to said adjustable tensioner;
• said adjustable tensioner being adjustable to cause the filament to apply a predetermined tension to the tooth in order to maneuver the tooth towards the predetermined position;
• said adjustable tensioner further comprising a housing having a drive shaft rotatably mounted therein, said filament being secured to said drive shaft such that, upon rotation of said drive shaft, said filament is winched therearound, thereby causing said filament to pull said misaligned tooth toward said predetermined position;
• said drive shaft having a slip gear portion for ensuring that said predetermined tension does not exceed a preselected tension limit.

An adjustable aligning reel for aligning a tooth into a predetermined position in an arch of teeth, said adjustable aligning reel comprising:

• an adjustable tensioner which is capable of being mounted on an archwire in operative relationship with the tooth;
• and
• a filament for coupling the tooth to said adjustable tensioner;
• said adjustable tensioner being adjustable to cause the filament to apply a predetermined tension to the tooth in order to maneuver the tooth towards the predetermined position;
• said adjustable tensioner further comprising a housing having a drive shaft rotatably mounted therein, said filament being secured to said drive shaft such that, upon rotation of said drive shaft, said filament is winched therearound, thereby causing said filament to pull said misaligned tooth toward said predetermined position;
• and
• said adjustable aligning reel comprising locking means for preventing the filament from unwinding.

An aligning reel for aligning a misaligned tooth into a predetermined position in an arch of teeth, said aligning reel comprising:

• a housing;
• mounting means for mounting said housing on an archwire which is positioned in operative relationship to said arch of teeth;
• adjustable tension means located in said housing for moving the misaligned tooth towards the predetermined position;
• a filament for coupling the misaligned tooth to said adjustable tension means;
• said adjustable tension means being adjustably rotatable to reel said filament so that said misaligned tooth is moved towards the predetermined position;
• said adjustable tension means moving said filament so that said misaligned tooth moves in a direction which is transverse a tangent line of said arch of teeth;
• said adjustable tension means comprising a drive shaft rotatably mounted in said housing;
• said housing having a filament aperture for permitting said filament to pass from said drive shaft to said misaligned tooth;
• and
• said adjustable tension means further comprising protection means for ensuring that the predetermined tension does not exceed a preselected tension limit.

An aligning reel for aligning a misaligned tooth into a predetermined position in an arch of teeth, said aligning reel comprising:

• a housing;
• mounting means for mounting said housing on an archwire which is positioned in operative relationship to said arch of teeth;
• adjustable tension means located in said housing for moving the misaligned tooth towards the predetermined position;
• a filament for coupling the misaligned tooth to said adjustable tension means;
• said adjustable tension means being adjustably rotatable to reel said filament so that said misaligned tooth is moved towards the predetermined position;
• said adjustable tension means moving said filament so that said misaligned tooth moves in a direction which is transverse a tangent line of said arch of teeth;
• said adjustable tension means comprising a drive shaft rotatably mounted in said housing;
• said housing having a filament aperture for permitting said filament to pass from said drive shaft to said misaligned tooth;
• said aligning reel further comprising a locking mechanism to prevent the filament from unwinding.

An aligning reel for aligning an impacted tooth into a predetermined position in an arch of teeth, said arch of teeth having an arch wire operatively mounted thereon;

• said aligning reel comprising:
• a housing;
• a fastener located on said housing for fastening the housing to the arch wire;
• a drive shaft rotatably mounted in said housing;
• a locking mechanism for permitting said drive shaft to rotate in a first direction and also for restricting movement of said drive shaft in a direction opposite said first direction;
• and
• a filament for coupling said drive shaft to said impacted tooth;
• when said housing is mounted on the arch wire and said filament is coupled to said impacted tooth, said drive shaft may be adjustably rotated in said first direction, thereby causing said filament to be tightened to a predetermined tension in order to pull the impacted tooth towards said predetermined position.

An aligning reel for aligning an impacted tooth into a predetermined position in an arch of teeth, said arch of teeth having an arch wire operatively mounted thereon;

• said aligning reel comprising:
• a housing;
• a fastener located on said housing for fastening the housing to the arch wire;
• a drive shaft rotatably mounted in said housing;
• a locking mechanism for permitting said drive shaft to rotate in a first direction;
• and
• a filament for coupling said drive shaft to said impacted tooth;
• when said housing is mounted on the archwire and said filament is coupled to said impacted tooth, said drive shaft may be adjustably rotated in said first direction, thereby causing said filament to be tightened to a predetermined tension in order to pull the impacted tooth towards said predetermined position;
• said locking mechanism comprising a ratchet located on said drive shaft and a pawl located on said housing;
• said aligning reel further comprising a slip gear mounted to said shaft for preventing the tension applied to said drive shaft to exceed a preselected tension limit;
• said drive shaft being rotatably mounted in said housing using at least one C-clip.

A method of moving a tooth towards a predetermined position in an arch of teeth, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) mounting an adjustable tension reel on an arch wire associated with said arch of teeth;
• said adjustable tension reel having a filament which can be reeled into said adjustable tension reel;
• (b) mounting an end of said filament to said tooth;
• (c) reeling said filament in a first direction into said adjustable tension reel so as to move said tooth towards said predetermined position;
• and
• (d) locking said adjustable tension reel so that said filament does not unwind in a direction opposite said first direction.