Dental clamp

Abstract

Apparatus for attaching to two or more adjacent teeth maintains the teeth in fixed position relative to one another and permits various orthodontic appliances such as rubber bands, "Herbst" appliances, maxillary expansion appliances, elastics, wires, etc., to be attached. One embodiment includes a pair of spaced, screw-tightened, generally C-shaped clamp members positioned between adjacent teeth which are connected by means of one or more elongated side arms disposed adjacent lateral portions of the teeth being clamped together. A screw in each C-clamp member permits secure attachment between adjacent teeth, with the side arm inserted through an aperture in each C-clamp member and secured by crimping permitting the length of the side arm to be fixed as required. The side arm, or arms, may be rigid or flexible to accommodate various sizes and alignments of the clamped teeth. Appliances may be attached to the tightening screw or to the side arms which also function to prevent the C-clamp member from separating the teeth. Another embodiment employs a single C-clamp member with a pair of side arms, with the C-clamp member attached to an intermediate portion of each side arm. Respective ends of each side arm include a tooth engaging element for maintaining the teeth in fixed relation. The screw attachment prevents removal by the user and eliminates the need for "bonding" and band attachment arrangements.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.