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US 7,452,205 B2Granted
Orthodontic indirect bonding apparatus with occlusal positioning stop members
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsDavid K. Cinader, Jr., James K. Mah
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A transfer apparatus for indirect bonding of orthodontic appliances includes a tray with a channel and a matrix material received in the channel. At least one stop member is connected to the tray and is made of a relatively rigid thermoset material. Each stop member helps to facilitate accurate positioning of the tray in the patient's oral cavity during a bonding procedure, a particular advantage when the matrix material is relatively flexible.
Claims22
Transfer apparatus for use in indirect bonding of orthodontic appliances comprising:
- a tray having a channel;
- a matrix material received in the channel;
- at least one orthodontic appliance detachably connected to the matrix material, wherein the matrix material has a first Shore hardness;
- at least one stop member located next to the channel, wherein each of the at least one stop member comprises a polymeric thermoset material having a second Shore hardness that is greater than the first Shore hardness and extends next to the matrix material for contact with the dental arch;
- and
- a chemical bond affixing each stop member to the matrix material.
3 more elements
A method of orthodontic indirect bonding comprising:
- providing an orthodontic transfer apparatus comprising a tray, a quantity of matrix material received in the tray, and one or more orthodontic appliances detachably connected to the matrix material, wherein the matrix material has a first Shore hardness;
- moving the transfer apparatus into a patient's oral cavity in order to locate the one or more orthodontic appliances adjacent the patient's dental arch;
- and
- engaging a thermoset polymeric material of the transfer apparatus with an occlusal section of the patient's dental arch as one or more of the appliances are brought into contact with the patient's dental arch, wherein the thermoset polymeric material has a second Shore hardness that is greater than the first Shore hardness of the matrix material.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.