CA2488195C - Orthodontic appliance with embedded wire for moving teeth and method - Google Patents
Orthodontic appliance with embedded wire for moving teeth and method Download PDFInfo
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- CA2488195C CA2488195C CA002488195A CA2488195A CA2488195C CA 2488195 C CA2488195 C CA 2488195C CA 002488195 A CA002488195 A CA 002488195A CA 2488195 A CA2488195 A CA 2488195A CA 2488195 C CA2488195 C CA 2488195C
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61C—DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE
- A61C7/00—Orthodontics, i.e. obtaining or maintaining the desired position of teeth, e.g. by straightening, evening, regulating, separating, or by correcting malocclusions
- A61C7/08—Mouthpiece-type retainers or positioners, e.g. for both the lower and upper arch
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- Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (AREA)
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Abstract
A generally horseshoe shaped clear flexible resilient plastic wire-imbedded orthodontic appliance (10) is made with a plastic portion (12) having contours (26) to snugly cover the patient~s teeth (34) so that the appliance (10) remains in place. One or more flexible wires (18) are imbedded within the lingual side (14) of the plastic portion from the left molar area to the right molar area of the plastic portion (12), in order to apply force on the lingual side of the patient~s bite. The applicance (10) is formed by obtaining a plaster cast of the patient~s teeth and gums, removing plaster teeth from the palster cast of the gums, reattaching the plaster teeth to the plaster cast of the gums to form a cast of proper bite alignment, attaching one or more wires to the labial surface of the aligned plaster teeth so the wires become imbedded within thermosetting plastic placed over the cast, putting the cast in a thermosetting plastic molding machine, and heating the thermosetting plastic around the cast of the proper bite alignment, so the wires are imbedded within the formed appliance after the thermosetting plastic cools. A series of appliances (10) may be used to shift a patient~s bite to proper bite orientation.
Description
ORTHODONTIC APPLIANCE WITH EMBEDDED WIRE FOR MOVING TEETH
AND METHOD
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention Orthodontics is a specialty of dentistry dealing with the correction of a patient's bite and alignment of a patient's teeth.
Currently, orthodontic appliances apply forces to the teeth of the patient. These forces physically shift the patient's teeth with precise and complex movements, to conform the teeth to a model created by the orthodontist or a laboratory specifically suited to the purpose.
AND METHOD
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention Orthodontics is a specialty of dentistry dealing with the correction of a patient's bite and alignment of a patient's teeth.
Currently, orthodontic appliances apply forces to the teeth of the patient. These forces physically shift the patient's teeth with precise and complex movements, to conform the teeth to a model created by the orthodontist or a laboratory specifically suited to the purpose.
2. Description of Related Art Active treatment of the7bite historically involved cementing brackets onto the teeth with one or more arch wires attached.
While these brackets are unattractive, they have shown that a wire can be used to rapidly move teeth. The present invention relates to the field of orthodontics. In particular, the invention relates to an orthodontic appliance which comprises a wired imbedded in a plastic matrix.
Teeth are generally repositioned by wearing braces, which include brackets, ligatures, O-rings and archwires. Archwires are wires firmly attached to the brackets and are used to exert a force on teeth either on the lingual side or on the labial side.
_ 2 Recently, apparati have been developed which use a flexible thermoplastic that fit entirely over the upper and/or the lower bridge. However, these apparati have only a limited ability to 30 move teeth.
An orthodontic appliance is described in U.S. Patent Nb.
5,310,340 to Zedda. In Zedda, the appliance has a base and support element in which a steel wire extends from the base and support element to a synthetic resin bracket cemented to a tooth. Another 35 orthodontic appliance is described in U.S. Patent No. 5,536,169 to Yousefian. In Yousefian, The appliance includes a plurality of arcurate polymer strips which includes a wire extending through the length of the strips with transverse adjusting segments. The appliance requires a lingual strip and a labial strip of polymer.
40 An orthodontic retainer is described in U.S. Patent No.
While these brackets are unattractive, they have shown that a wire can be used to rapidly move teeth. The present invention relates to the field of orthodontics. In particular, the invention relates to an orthodontic appliance which comprises a wired imbedded in a plastic matrix.
Teeth are generally repositioned by wearing braces, which include brackets, ligatures, O-rings and archwires. Archwires are wires firmly attached to the brackets and are used to exert a force on teeth either on the lingual side or on the labial side.
_ 2 Recently, apparati have been developed which use a flexible thermoplastic that fit entirely over the upper and/or the lower bridge. However, these apparati have only a limited ability to 30 move teeth.
An orthodontic appliance is described in U.S. Patent Nb.
5,310,340 to Zedda. In Zedda, the appliance has a base and support element in which a steel wire extends from the base and support element to a synthetic resin bracket cemented to a tooth. Another 35 orthodontic appliance is described in U.S. Patent No. 5,536,169 to Yousefian. In Yousefian, The appliance includes a plurality of arcurate polymer strips which includes a wire extending through the length of the strips with transverse adjusting segments. The appliance requires a lingual strip and a labial strip of polymer.
40 An orthodontic retainer is described in U.S. Patent No.
3,994,068 to Goshgarian. In Goshgarian, the retainer includes loops outside the body of the device for accurate adjustment on the labial side of the teeth. U.S. Patent No. 4,299,568~to Crowley describes an orthodontic retainer in which wires contact tooth 45 surface, and which includes palatial overlays. U.S. Patent No., 5,203,695 to Bergersen teaches a device with a wire that has a sharp and jutting bend. Moreover, the wire, is bent and otherwise adjusted after the appliance is made and fitted for the patient.
U.S. Patent No. 4,413,978 to Kurz describes a retainer with wire 50 hooks anchoring the retainer to molars, and has a wire cemented to _ 3 _ the person's arch. U.S. Patent No. 5,975,893 to Chishti, et al., teaches a clear plastic orthodontic device fitted over all of the patient's teeth which slowly moves the teeth through a system of plastic appliances. However, Chishti only teaches the inefficient 55 and slow use of force on the patient's teeth that is intrinsic to the resiliency in the plastic that forms the appliance.
The prior art inventions either attach brackets directly to the teeth or comprise a plastic device that slowly moves the'teeth around the bridge. Also, prior art devices require clasps for the 60 wire to be attached to the device. Prior art inventions also include devices that are costly and difficult to manufacture.
Permanently attached braces are unsightly, inconvenient when eating or speaking and may cause discoloration or even pain to the patient. The speed by which the prior art plastic devices move 65 teeth is limited by the rigidity of the plastic used. Not even modern plastics can provide sufficient force to quickly reorient the alignment of the teeth or the bite of a patient.
A need exists in the field of orthodontic devices for an easy to manufacture device which quickly moves teeth into an 70 orthodontically advantageous orientation. A need also exists for a device that is clear and therefore invisible to others and which is relatively pain free when worn. The need also exists for a device which allows the chewing surface of the front teeth or the labial side of the front teeth to be exposed while the appliance 75 is worn. Moreover, the need also exists for a removable orthodontic device with a wire imbedded in the lingual surface, providing the advantage of a flexible, olear device with the benefit of one or more wires to provide invisible .force on the teeth. There is also a need for a succession of these devices 80 incorporating wires, allowing intricate movement of the patient's teeth. Additionally, there is a need for a method for making these devices.
The instant invention has been directed to the effective resolution of the aforementioned shortcomings and to the meeting 85 of the aforementioned needs.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a novel and unique removable 90 appliance that is easy to manufacture and provides more forceful and less obtrusive movement of teeth while the appliance is worn.
The. present invention provides relatively pain free and rapid movement of a patient's teeth into a proper orientation. In the preferred embodiment, the invention is a generally horseshoe 95. shaped clear flexible resilient plastic wire-imbedded orthodontic appliance for an upper arch or a lower arch of a patient. The appliance includes a plastic portion with a lingual side, a labial side, a left molar area, a right molar area, a lef t canine area and a right canine area, and has contours on the lingual 100 side and on the labial side, wherein the contours snugly cover the patient's teeth so that the appliance remains in place over the patient's teeth. One or more flexible wires are imbedded within the lingual side of the plastic portion, extending from the left molar area to the right molar area of the plastic 105 portion, so the wires are able to apply force on the lingual side of the patient's teeth to rapidly correct the orientation of the teeth in the patient's bite. -In an alternative embodiment, the plastic portion covers the surface of the patient's teeth from the left rear molar to the 110 right rear molar. Also, the plastic portion may have a first outer section that covers the entire surface of the patient's teeth from approximately the left molars to the left canines, a second outer section that covers the entire surface of the patient's teeth from approximately the right molars to the right 115 canines, and a middle span that covers only the labial side of the patient's teeth approximately between the canines. In this embodiment, the middle span acts as a guide for the force of the wire upon the patient's teeth.
In still another embodimewt, the plastic portion has a first 120 outer section that covers the entire surface of the patient's teeth from approximately the left molars to the left canines, and a 'second outer section that covers the entire surface of the patient's teeth from approximately the right molars to the right canines. Thus, the plastic portion does not touch the patient's 125 teeth approximately between the patient's canines. Also, a plurality of vertically parallel wires may be imbedded within the lingual side of the plastic portion of the appliance. The appliance may also have vertically parallel wires with a length and cross-sectional shape which optimizes the force applied to 130 the patient's teeth. For example, the cross-sectional shape may be rectangular,~round, or oval.
The invention is also a method of forming a generally horseshoe shaped clear flexible resilient plastic wire-imbedded orthodontic appliance for an upper bite or a lower bite of a 135 patient. The method generally includes the steps of obtaining a plaster cast of the patient's teeth and gums, removing plaster teeth from the plaster cast of the gums that are appropriate for the formation of proper bite alignment, reattaching the appropriate plaster teeth to the plaster cast of the gums to form 140 a cast of the proper bite alignment, attaching one or more wires to the lingual surface of the plaster teeth so that the wires become imbedded within thermosetting plastic placed over the cast of the proper bite alignment, putting the cast in a thermosetting plastic molding machine and inserting thermosetting plastic in 145 the thermosetting plastic molding machine, and heating the thermosetting plastic around the cast , of the proper bite alignment so the wires are imbedded within the thermosetting plastic after the thermosetting plastic cools. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of removing the appliance from the 150 thermosetting plastic molding machine and trimming the lingual surface of the appliance to form a middle span, wherein the span acts as a guide for the pushing force of the wire on the patient's bite.
Moreover, the invention includes a method of rapidly 155 repositioning teeth from an initial alignment to a proper alignment using a generally horseshoe shaped clear flexible resilient plastic wire-imbedded orthodontic appliance for an upper bite or a lower bite of a patient, comprising the steps of placing a first incremental position adjustment appliance over a 160 patient's teeth, wherein the first appliance has at least pne wire imbedded within the lingual side of the first appliance to reposition the teeth from the initial tooth alignment to a first intermediate alignment, successively replacing ~ one or more additional appliances, wherein the additional appliances each 165 have at least one wire imbedded within the lingual side to rapidly reposition the teeth from the first intermediate alignment to successive intermediate alignments and placing a final appliance over a patient's teeth, wherein the final appliance has at least one wire imbedded within the lingual side 170 of the first appliance to reposition the teeth, wherein the final _ 8a _ appliance positions the teeth from the last intermediate alignment to a final bite alignment. Alternatively, a plurality of vertically parallel wires is imbedded within the lingual side of 'the first appliance, the intermediate appliances and the final 175 appliance.
In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a perspective drawing of the preferred embodiment of the invention for the lower bridge of a patient.
Figure 2 is a perspective drawing of an alternative embodiment of the invention for the lower bridge of a patient. , 185 Figure 2a is a top view of an alternative embodiment of the invention for the lower bridge of a patient.
Figure 3 is a perspective drawing of an embodiment of the invention for the lower bridge of a patient.
Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of the preferred 190 embodiment of the invention for the lower.bridge before it is placed on a patient.
Figure 5 is a cross sectional view o.f an alternative embodiment of the device with several generally parallel wires embedded within the lingual surface of the appliance.
_ g _ 195 Figure 6 is a top view of an embodiment of the invention for the lower bridge of a patient.
Figure 7 is a back perspective view of an embodiment of the invention for the lower bridge of a patient.
Figure 8 is a back perspective view of a different embodiment 200 of the invention for the lower bridge of a patient.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to the drawings and in particular, Figure l, the generally horseshoe shaped clear flexible resilient plastic orthodontic appliance for a patient is shown generally at 10. A
205 plastic portion 12 has a lingual side 14 and a labial side 16.
Both the lingual side 14 and the labial side 16 have concave contours 26. These contours 26 snugly contact the patient's teeth 34. The contours 26, especially those over the molars, allow the appliance 10 to remain fixed. in place over the patient's teeth 210 34. The contours 26, especially those on the front 36 of the appliance 10, serve the function of guiding the force of the appliance 10 to move the patient's teeth 34 into an advantageous position. On the lingual side 14 of the appliance 10 are one or more flexible wires 18 at least partially embedded within the 215 plastic portion 12. Preferably, the wires 18 are made of a nickel-titanium alloy or stainless steel, although other similar materials which would provide force on the patient's teeth may also be used. It is also preferred that the diameter of the wire be approximately 12 to 18 thousandths of an inch. However, 220 depending upon the force necessary to improve the patient's bite, the wire 18 may be of greater or lesser diameter. The wire 18 may round, oval, square, or some other shape in cross-section which, when used, is advantageous to the patient's bite. Moreover, as shown in Figure 5, several generally vertically parallel wires 18 225 may be used.
In the preferred embodiment, a flexible wire 18 extends generally from a left molar area 20 to a right molar area 22 of °the plastic portion 12. However, the wire 18 may alternatively extend from left bicuspid area 38 to right bicuspid area 40 of 230 the plastic portion 12, or extend other areas where the force of the wire 18 would help the patient's bite. Thus, when worn by the patient, the wires 18 apply force on the lingual side of the patient's bite. The wire 18 thereby aids in the rapid correction of the orientation of the patient's bite while the appliance 10 235 is~ in use.. The appliance 10 may be used on the patient's upper jaw or the lower jaw, or for use on both jaws simultaneously.
In the preferred embodiment, as shown in Figure 1, the plastic portion 12 includes a span 24 which covers the patient's teeth from the left canine area 30 to a right canine area 32.
240 This span 24 also contains contours 26 as described above. As illustrated in Figure l, the plastic portion 12 preferably covers the entire front surface of the patient's teeth from the patient's molars approximately to the patient's canines, and the span 24 covers the labial side of the teeth approximately between 245 the canines. Thus the span 24 across the labial side of the patient's teeth acts as a guide for the force of the wire 18. As shown in Figure 5, multiple parallel wires 18 may be used on the labial side of the appliance 10, thereby increasing the moving force on the patient's teeth. To precisely apply force on the 250 teeth,. wires of varying strength, diameter and cross sectional shape may be used. For example, although wires 18 with rectangular cross-section are shown in Figure 4, round or oval wires 18 may be used.
An alternative embodiment is shown in Figures 2 and 2a. In 255. Figures this embodiment, the appliance 10 comprise contours which cover the patient's teeth entirely. A second alternat~.ve embodiment is shown in Figure 3. In Figure 3, the appliance 10 covers the patient's teeth only from approximately the left molar to approximately the left canine and from approximately the right 260 molar to approximately the right canine. As shown in Figure 3, one wire 18 or a plurality of vertically parallel wires 18 are imbedded within the lingual side of the appliance 10. Such an appliance may be preferred in situations where the guidance of the plastic contours of the span 24 is not necessary,.or where it 265 is cosmetically advantageous for the patient to have no covering over the front teeth while the appliance 10 is worn.
In another alternative embodiment, shown in Figures 6 - 8, the, plastic portion 12 of the appliance 10 covers the entire surface of the patient's teeth from left molar to right molar, 270 Figures 6 - 8 show this embodiment for a patient's lower bridge.
One or more small fingers springs 42 are pre-fabricated and incorporated into the plastic portion during molding. The finger spring 42 may be located in the lingual side of the plastic portion 12, on the front teeth as shown in Figures 6 - 7 or on a 275 molar as shown in Figure 8. Alternatively, the finger spring may be located in the buccal side of the plastic portion. In addition, during the formation of the appliance '10, on the plaster model of the patient's bite used to make the appliance 10, the opposite side of the tooth 44 affected by the finger 280 spring 44 may be built up with modeling clay to make a void , in the appliance 10~. The patient's tooth is then able to move into the void as pressure is applied to the tooth on the labial side by the finger spring 42. The use of the void allows selective movement of an individual tooth. However, several finger springs 285 42 may be used in this manner on a particular appliance 10.
Finger springs 42 are preferably made' of .014, .018 or rectangular wire, and are preferably made of stainless. steel, nickel titanium alloy or an equivalent material.
The plastic structure 12 in this embodiment may also be the.
290 open structure as shown in Figures 1 and 3. Typical finger springs are made by Great Lakes Lab, Inc. or Pro Positioner, Inc.; however, they may also be made by hand. More or less pressure may be applied to a tooth by deforming the spring with pliers. Furthermore, the use of progressive springs on a tooth 295 may be used on progressive appliances as described below.
The preferred method of forming the appliance 10 of this invention is as follows. A plaster cast of the patient's teeth and gums is taken by means already well known in the field of orthodontics. Then, appropriate plaster teeth are removed from 300 the plaster cast of the gums, and reattached with modeling .clay, floral arrangement putty or equivalent means to the plaster cast of the gums in a proper bite alignment. One or more wires or one or more finger springs are attached to the lingual surface of the plaster teeth using a means for attachment such as modeling clay 305 or sculpting. clay. The means for attachment must allow the wires to become imbedded within thermosetting, plastic to be placed over the cast as described below. The cast of the properly aligned teeth is then put in a thermosetting plastic molding machine, preferably the Raiz~tree Essix Amplified Vacuum Thermoforming 310 Machine, or an equivalent compression vacuum machine. Also, a compression machine that operates on heated thermoplastic could also make the appliance, such as the compression machine made by Biostar, Inc. The appliance is then made by inserting thermosetting plastic in the compression vacuum machine or the 315 compression machine. The thermosetting plastic is heated and flows around the cast of the aligned teeth and gums. Preferably, Essix C+ thermoplastic is used, although other plastics with equivalent physical properties are known in the art. The wires 18 are thus imbedded within the appliance 10 formed by the 320 thermosetting plastic when the plastic cools. Preferably, the appliance 10 is removed from the machine and the lingual side of the appliance is trimmed to the general appearance of Figure 1.
However, the appliance may be. untrimmed to provide the appliance as generally shown in Figure 2 or trimmed to remove all 325 thermoplastic from the front teeth, as shown in Figure 3. Thus, when worn, the wire 18 will act as the pushing force on the patient's bite, while in the embodiments shown in Figures 1 and 2 the span 24 of the plastic portion 12 acts as a guide for the future placement of the patient's foremost teeth.
330 A series of appliances 10 with intermediate positions of the bite of the patient may be also formed. A series of appliances 10 may be preferred where complex movements are necessary to properly align the teeth of a patient. As above, the plaster teeth are removed from the plaster cast, and reattached to the 335 plaster cast of the patient's gums with a material such as modeling clay, floral arrangement putty or the equivalent.
However, the plaster teeth are serially reattached in one or more intermediate positions, and.a plastic appliance is created from each, of the intermediate positions.
340 Thus, when the appliances 10 are formed, the patient wears the appliances in series, and the patient's bite is progressively corrected until the final appliance 10 is used. The final appliance 10 properly aligns the patient's bite into proper alignment. Moreover, the wire or wires 18 in the intermediate 345 appliances 10 may be varied as to number, thickness, shape and material to best and most quickly and efficiently alter the patient's bite at each intermediate step. This series would move faster than any series of appliances known in the prior art, because the imbedded wire would move the patient's teeth more 350 rapidly than any plastic appliance in the prior art.
The preferred method for rapidly repositioning teeth from an initial arrangement to a final arrangement using a series ,of appliances as disclosed~comprises of the following steps. A first incremental position adjustment appliance is placed over a 355 patient's teeth, wherein the first appliance is plastic and has at least one wire imbedded within the lingual side of said first appliance to reposition the teeth from the initial tooth arrangement to a first intermediate arrangement. Then, one or more additional appliances are successively replaced on the 360 patient, wherein the additional appliances each have at least one wire imbedded within the lingual side to rapidly reposition the teeth from the first intermediate arrangement to successive intermediate arrangements. Eventually, a final appliance is placed over a patient's teeth. Like the prior appliances, the 365 .final appliance has at least one wire imbedded within the lingual side' of the first appliance to reposition the teeth, and the final, appliance positions the teeth from the last intermedia a arrangement to a final tooth arrangement.
In one alternative embodiment, a plurality of vertically 370 parallel wires is imbedded within the lingual side of the first appliance, the additional appliances and the final appliance. In other embodiments, the shapes of the wires utilized are of different shapes to better apply forces on the patient's teeth.
In another alternative embodiment, the. invention is an 375 expansion appliance with a spring such as a finger spring that that will distalize teeth, including molars. , The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made 380 therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.
U.S. Patent No. 4,413,978 to Kurz describes a retainer with wire 50 hooks anchoring the retainer to molars, and has a wire cemented to _ 3 _ the person's arch. U.S. Patent No. 5,975,893 to Chishti, et al., teaches a clear plastic orthodontic device fitted over all of the patient's teeth which slowly moves the teeth through a system of plastic appliances. However, Chishti only teaches the inefficient 55 and slow use of force on the patient's teeth that is intrinsic to the resiliency in the plastic that forms the appliance.
The prior art inventions either attach brackets directly to the teeth or comprise a plastic device that slowly moves the'teeth around the bridge. Also, prior art devices require clasps for the 60 wire to be attached to the device. Prior art inventions also include devices that are costly and difficult to manufacture.
Permanently attached braces are unsightly, inconvenient when eating or speaking and may cause discoloration or even pain to the patient. The speed by which the prior art plastic devices move 65 teeth is limited by the rigidity of the plastic used. Not even modern plastics can provide sufficient force to quickly reorient the alignment of the teeth or the bite of a patient.
A need exists in the field of orthodontic devices for an easy to manufacture device which quickly moves teeth into an 70 orthodontically advantageous orientation. A need also exists for a device that is clear and therefore invisible to others and which is relatively pain free when worn. The need also exists for a device which allows the chewing surface of the front teeth or the labial side of the front teeth to be exposed while the appliance 75 is worn. Moreover, the need also exists for a removable orthodontic device with a wire imbedded in the lingual surface, providing the advantage of a flexible, olear device with the benefit of one or more wires to provide invisible .force on the teeth. There is also a need for a succession of these devices 80 incorporating wires, allowing intricate movement of the patient's teeth. Additionally, there is a need for a method for making these devices.
The instant invention has been directed to the effective resolution of the aforementioned shortcomings and to the meeting 85 of the aforementioned needs.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a novel and unique removable 90 appliance that is easy to manufacture and provides more forceful and less obtrusive movement of teeth while the appliance is worn.
The. present invention provides relatively pain free and rapid movement of a patient's teeth into a proper orientation. In the preferred embodiment, the invention is a generally horseshoe 95. shaped clear flexible resilient plastic wire-imbedded orthodontic appliance for an upper arch or a lower arch of a patient. The appliance includes a plastic portion with a lingual side, a labial side, a left molar area, a right molar area, a lef t canine area and a right canine area, and has contours on the lingual 100 side and on the labial side, wherein the contours snugly cover the patient's teeth so that the appliance remains in place over the patient's teeth. One or more flexible wires are imbedded within the lingual side of the plastic portion, extending from the left molar area to the right molar area of the plastic 105 portion, so the wires are able to apply force on the lingual side of the patient's teeth to rapidly correct the orientation of the teeth in the patient's bite. -In an alternative embodiment, the plastic portion covers the surface of the patient's teeth from the left rear molar to the 110 right rear molar. Also, the plastic portion may have a first outer section that covers the entire surface of the patient's teeth from approximately the left molars to the left canines, a second outer section that covers the entire surface of the patient's teeth from approximately the right molars to the right 115 canines, and a middle span that covers only the labial side of the patient's teeth approximately between the canines. In this embodiment, the middle span acts as a guide for the force of the wire upon the patient's teeth.
In still another embodimewt, the plastic portion has a first 120 outer section that covers the entire surface of the patient's teeth from approximately the left molars to the left canines, and a 'second outer section that covers the entire surface of the patient's teeth from approximately the right molars to the right canines. Thus, the plastic portion does not touch the patient's 125 teeth approximately between the patient's canines. Also, a plurality of vertically parallel wires may be imbedded within the lingual side of the plastic portion of the appliance. The appliance may also have vertically parallel wires with a length and cross-sectional shape which optimizes the force applied to 130 the patient's teeth. For example, the cross-sectional shape may be rectangular,~round, or oval.
The invention is also a method of forming a generally horseshoe shaped clear flexible resilient plastic wire-imbedded orthodontic appliance for an upper bite or a lower bite of a 135 patient. The method generally includes the steps of obtaining a plaster cast of the patient's teeth and gums, removing plaster teeth from the plaster cast of the gums that are appropriate for the formation of proper bite alignment, reattaching the appropriate plaster teeth to the plaster cast of the gums to form 140 a cast of the proper bite alignment, attaching one or more wires to the lingual surface of the plaster teeth so that the wires become imbedded within thermosetting plastic placed over the cast of the proper bite alignment, putting the cast in a thermosetting plastic molding machine and inserting thermosetting plastic in 145 the thermosetting plastic molding machine, and heating the thermosetting plastic around the cast , of the proper bite alignment so the wires are imbedded within the thermosetting plastic after the thermosetting plastic cools. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of removing the appliance from the 150 thermosetting plastic molding machine and trimming the lingual surface of the appliance to form a middle span, wherein the span acts as a guide for the pushing force of the wire on the patient's bite.
Moreover, the invention includes a method of rapidly 155 repositioning teeth from an initial alignment to a proper alignment using a generally horseshoe shaped clear flexible resilient plastic wire-imbedded orthodontic appliance for an upper bite or a lower bite of a patient, comprising the steps of placing a first incremental position adjustment appliance over a 160 patient's teeth, wherein the first appliance has at least pne wire imbedded within the lingual side of the first appliance to reposition the teeth from the initial tooth alignment to a first intermediate alignment, successively replacing ~ one or more additional appliances, wherein the additional appliances each 165 have at least one wire imbedded within the lingual side to rapidly reposition the teeth from the first intermediate alignment to successive intermediate alignments and placing a final appliance over a patient's teeth, wherein the final appliance has at least one wire imbedded within the lingual side 170 of the first appliance to reposition the teeth, wherein the final _ 8a _ appliance positions the teeth from the last intermediate alignment to a final bite alignment. Alternatively, a plurality of vertically parallel wires is imbedded within the lingual side of 'the first appliance, the intermediate appliances and the final 175 appliance.
In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a perspective drawing of the preferred embodiment of the invention for the lower bridge of a patient.
Figure 2 is a perspective drawing of an alternative embodiment of the invention for the lower bridge of a patient. , 185 Figure 2a is a top view of an alternative embodiment of the invention for the lower bridge of a patient.
Figure 3 is a perspective drawing of an embodiment of the invention for the lower bridge of a patient.
Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of the preferred 190 embodiment of the invention for the lower.bridge before it is placed on a patient.
Figure 5 is a cross sectional view o.f an alternative embodiment of the device with several generally parallel wires embedded within the lingual surface of the appliance.
_ g _ 195 Figure 6 is a top view of an embodiment of the invention for the lower bridge of a patient.
Figure 7 is a back perspective view of an embodiment of the invention for the lower bridge of a patient.
Figure 8 is a back perspective view of a different embodiment 200 of the invention for the lower bridge of a patient.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to the drawings and in particular, Figure l, the generally horseshoe shaped clear flexible resilient plastic orthodontic appliance for a patient is shown generally at 10. A
205 plastic portion 12 has a lingual side 14 and a labial side 16.
Both the lingual side 14 and the labial side 16 have concave contours 26. These contours 26 snugly contact the patient's teeth 34. The contours 26, especially those over the molars, allow the appliance 10 to remain fixed. in place over the patient's teeth 210 34. The contours 26, especially those on the front 36 of the appliance 10, serve the function of guiding the force of the appliance 10 to move the patient's teeth 34 into an advantageous position. On the lingual side 14 of the appliance 10 are one or more flexible wires 18 at least partially embedded within the 215 plastic portion 12. Preferably, the wires 18 are made of a nickel-titanium alloy or stainless steel, although other similar materials which would provide force on the patient's teeth may also be used. It is also preferred that the diameter of the wire be approximately 12 to 18 thousandths of an inch. However, 220 depending upon the force necessary to improve the patient's bite, the wire 18 may be of greater or lesser diameter. The wire 18 may round, oval, square, or some other shape in cross-section which, when used, is advantageous to the patient's bite. Moreover, as shown in Figure 5, several generally vertically parallel wires 18 225 may be used.
In the preferred embodiment, a flexible wire 18 extends generally from a left molar area 20 to a right molar area 22 of °the plastic portion 12. However, the wire 18 may alternatively extend from left bicuspid area 38 to right bicuspid area 40 of 230 the plastic portion 12, or extend other areas where the force of the wire 18 would help the patient's bite. Thus, when worn by the patient, the wires 18 apply force on the lingual side of the patient's bite. The wire 18 thereby aids in the rapid correction of the orientation of the patient's bite while the appliance 10 235 is~ in use.. The appliance 10 may be used on the patient's upper jaw or the lower jaw, or for use on both jaws simultaneously.
In the preferred embodiment, as shown in Figure 1, the plastic portion 12 includes a span 24 which covers the patient's teeth from the left canine area 30 to a right canine area 32.
240 This span 24 also contains contours 26 as described above. As illustrated in Figure l, the plastic portion 12 preferably covers the entire front surface of the patient's teeth from the patient's molars approximately to the patient's canines, and the span 24 covers the labial side of the teeth approximately between 245 the canines. Thus the span 24 across the labial side of the patient's teeth acts as a guide for the force of the wire 18. As shown in Figure 5, multiple parallel wires 18 may be used on the labial side of the appliance 10, thereby increasing the moving force on the patient's teeth. To precisely apply force on the 250 teeth,. wires of varying strength, diameter and cross sectional shape may be used. For example, although wires 18 with rectangular cross-section are shown in Figure 4, round or oval wires 18 may be used.
An alternative embodiment is shown in Figures 2 and 2a. In 255. Figures this embodiment, the appliance 10 comprise contours which cover the patient's teeth entirely. A second alternat~.ve embodiment is shown in Figure 3. In Figure 3, the appliance 10 covers the patient's teeth only from approximately the left molar to approximately the left canine and from approximately the right 260 molar to approximately the right canine. As shown in Figure 3, one wire 18 or a plurality of vertically parallel wires 18 are imbedded within the lingual side of the appliance 10. Such an appliance may be preferred in situations where the guidance of the plastic contours of the span 24 is not necessary,.or where it 265 is cosmetically advantageous for the patient to have no covering over the front teeth while the appliance 10 is worn.
In another alternative embodiment, shown in Figures 6 - 8, the, plastic portion 12 of the appliance 10 covers the entire surface of the patient's teeth from left molar to right molar, 270 Figures 6 - 8 show this embodiment for a patient's lower bridge.
One or more small fingers springs 42 are pre-fabricated and incorporated into the plastic portion during molding. The finger spring 42 may be located in the lingual side of the plastic portion 12, on the front teeth as shown in Figures 6 - 7 or on a 275 molar as shown in Figure 8. Alternatively, the finger spring may be located in the buccal side of the plastic portion. In addition, during the formation of the appliance '10, on the plaster model of the patient's bite used to make the appliance 10, the opposite side of the tooth 44 affected by the finger 280 spring 44 may be built up with modeling clay to make a void , in the appliance 10~. The patient's tooth is then able to move into the void as pressure is applied to the tooth on the labial side by the finger spring 42. The use of the void allows selective movement of an individual tooth. However, several finger springs 285 42 may be used in this manner on a particular appliance 10.
Finger springs 42 are preferably made' of .014, .018 or rectangular wire, and are preferably made of stainless. steel, nickel titanium alloy or an equivalent material.
The plastic structure 12 in this embodiment may also be the.
290 open structure as shown in Figures 1 and 3. Typical finger springs are made by Great Lakes Lab, Inc. or Pro Positioner, Inc.; however, they may also be made by hand. More or less pressure may be applied to a tooth by deforming the spring with pliers. Furthermore, the use of progressive springs on a tooth 295 may be used on progressive appliances as described below.
The preferred method of forming the appliance 10 of this invention is as follows. A plaster cast of the patient's teeth and gums is taken by means already well known in the field of orthodontics. Then, appropriate plaster teeth are removed from 300 the plaster cast of the gums, and reattached with modeling .clay, floral arrangement putty or equivalent means to the plaster cast of the gums in a proper bite alignment. One or more wires or one or more finger springs are attached to the lingual surface of the plaster teeth using a means for attachment such as modeling clay 305 or sculpting. clay. The means for attachment must allow the wires to become imbedded within thermosetting, plastic to be placed over the cast as described below. The cast of the properly aligned teeth is then put in a thermosetting plastic molding machine, preferably the Raiz~tree Essix Amplified Vacuum Thermoforming 310 Machine, or an equivalent compression vacuum machine. Also, a compression machine that operates on heated thermoplastic could also make the appliance, such as the compression machine made by Biostar, Inc. The appliance is then made by inserting thermosetting plastic in the compression vacuum machine or the 315 compression machine. The thermosetting plastic is heated and flows around the cast of the aligned teeth and gums. Preferably, Essix C+ thermoplastic is used, although other plastics with equivalent physical properties are known in the art. The wires 18 are thus imbedded within the appliance 10 formed by the 320 thermosetting plastic when the plastic cools. Preferably, the appliance 10 is removed from the machine and the lingual side of the appliance is trimmed to the general appearance of Figure 1.
However, the appliance may be. untrimmed to provide the appliance as generally shown in Figure 2 or trimmed to remove all 325 thermoplastic from the front teeth, as shown in Figure 3. Thus, when worn, the wire 18 will act as the pushing force on the patient's bite, while in the embodiments shown in Figures 1 and 2 the span 24 of the plastic portion 12 acts as a guide for the future placement of the patient's foremost teeth.
330 A series of appliances 10 with intermediate positions of the bite of the patient may be also formed. A series of appliances 10 may be preferred where complex movements are necessary to properly align the teeth of a patient. As above, the plaster teeth are removed from the plaster cast, and reattached to the 335 plaster cast of the patient's gums with a material such as modeling clay, floral arrangement putty or the equivalent.
However, the plaster teeth are serially reattached in one or more intermediate positions, and.a plastic appliance is created from each, of the intermediate positions.
340 Thus, when the appliances 10 are formed, the patient wears the appliances in series, and the patient's bite is progressively corrected until the final appliance 10 is used. The final appliance 10 properly aligns the patient's bite into proper alignment. Moreover, the wire or wires 18 in the intermediate 345 appliances 10 may be varied as to number, thickness, shape and material to best and most quickly and efficiently alter the patient's bite at each intermediate step. This series would move faster than any series of appliances known in the prior art, because the imbedded wire would move the patient's teeth more 350 rapidly than any plastic appliance in the prior art.
The preferred method for rapidly repositioning teeth from an initial arrangement to a final arrangement using a series ,of appliances as disclosed~comprises of the following steps. A first incremental position adjustment appliance is placed over a 355 patient's teeth, wherein the first appliance is plastic and has at least one wire imbedded within the lingual side of said first appliance to reposition the teeth from the initial tooth arrangement to a first intermediate arrangement. Then, one or more additional appliances are successively replaced on the 360 patient, wherein the additional appliances each have at least one wire imbedded within the lingual side to rapidly reposition the teeth from the first intermediate arrangement to successive intermediate arrangements. Eventually, a final appliance is placed over a patient's teeth. Like the prior appliances, the 365 .final appliance has at least one wire imbedded within the lingual side' of the first appliance to reposition the teeth, and the final, appliance positions the teeth from the last intermedia a arrangement to a final tooth arrangement.
In one alternative embodiment, a plurality of vertically 370 parallel wires is imbedded within the lingual side of the first appliance, the additional appliances and the final appliance. In other embodiments, the shapes of the wires utilized are of different shapes to better apply forces on the patient's teeth.
In another alternative embodiment, the. invention is an 375 expansion appliance with a spring such as a finger spring that that will distalize teeth, including molars. , The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made 380 therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.
Claims (9)
1. A generally horseshoe shaped orthodontic appliance for an upper or lower arch of a patient, comprising:
a plastic portion with a lingual side, a labial side, a left molar area, a right molar area, a left canine area and a right canine area, including:
contours on the lingual side and on the labial side adapted to snugly cover a single arch of the patient's teeth so that the appliance remains in place; and one or more flexible wires imbedded within the lingual side of the plastic portion, extending from the left molar area to the right molar area of the plastic portion, whereby the wires are adapted to apply force on the lingual side of the single arch to correct the orientation of the teeth in the patient's bite;
wherein the plastic portion comprises a first outer section that is adapted to cover the entire surface of the patient's teeth of only one arch from approximately the left molars to the left canines, a second outer section that covers the entire surface of the patient's teeth from approximately the right molars to the right canines, and a middle span that covers only the labial side of the patient's teeth approximately between the canines, whereby the middle span acts as a guide for the force of the wire upon the patient's teeth.
a plastic portion with a lingual side, a labial side, a left molar area, a right molar area, a left canine area and a right canine area, including:
contours on the lingual side and on the labial side adapted to snugly cover a single arch of the patient's teeth so that the appliance remains in place; and one or more flexible wires imbedded within the lingual side of the plastic portion, extending from the left molar area to the right molar area of the plastic portion, whereby the wires are adapted to apply force on the lingual side of the single arch to correct the orientation of the teeth in the patient's bite;
wherein the plastic portion comprises a first outer section that is adapted to cover the entire surface of the patient's teeth of only one arch from approximately the left molars to the left canines, a second outer section that covers the entire surface of the patient's teeth from approximately the right molars to the right canines, and a middle span that covers only the labial side of the patient's teeth approximately between the canines, whereby the middle span acts as a guide for the force of the wire upon the patient's teeth.
2. The appliance of claim 1, wherein a plurality of vertically parallel wires for tooth movement is imbedded within the lingual side of the plastic portion.
3. The appliance of claim 2, wherein the vertically parallel wires have a shape which optimize the force applied to the patient's teeth.
4. The appliance of claim 3, wherein the vertically parallel wires are rectangular in cross-section.
5. A method of forming a generally horseshoe shaped orthodontic appliance for only an upper bite or only a lower bite of a patient, comprising the steps of:
obtaining a plaster cast of the patient's teeth and gums;
removing plaster teeth from the plaster cast of the gums that are appropriate for the formation of proper bite alignment;
reattaching with reattachment means the appropriate plaster teeth to the plaster cast of the gums to form a cast of the proper bite alignment;
attaching one or more wires to the lingual surface of the plaster teeth using a means for attachment which allows the wires to become imbedded within thermosetting plastic to be placed over the cast of the proper bite alignment;
putting the cast in a thermosetting plastic molding machine;
inserting a single type of resilient, flexible thermosetting plastic in the thermosetting plastic molding machine;
heating the thermosetting plastic around the cast of the proper bite alignment, whereby the wires are imbedded within the thermosetting plastic after the thermosetting plastic cools;
removing the appliance from the thermosetting plastic molding machine; and trimming the lingual surface of the appliance to form a middle span that covers only the labial side of the patient's teeth approximately between the canines.
obtaining a plaster cast of the patient's teeth and gums;
removing plaster teeth from the plaster cast of the gums that are appropriate for the formation of proper bite alignment;
reattaching with reattachment means the appropriate plaster teeth to the plaster cast of the gums to form a cast of the proper bite alignment;
attaching one or more wires to the lingual surface of the plaster teeth using a means for attachment which allows the wires to become imbedded within thermosetting plastic to be placed over the cast of the proper bite alignment;
putting the cast in a thermosetting plastic molding machine;
inserting a single type of resilient, flexible thermosetting plastic in the thermosetting plastic molding machine;
heating the thermosetting plastic around the cast of the proper bite alignment, whereby the wires are imbedded within the thermosetting plastic after the thermosetting plastic cools;
removing the appliance from the thermosetting plastic molding machine; and trimming the lingual surface of the appliance to form a middle span that covers only the labial side of the patient's teeth approximately between the canines.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the reattachment means comprises one or more from the group consisting of molding clay and floral arrangement putty.
7. The method of claim 5, wherein the wires are rectangular in cross-section.
8. The method of claim 5, wherein the wires imbedded in the thermoplastic are a plurality of wires in parallel orientation with each other.
9. The method of claim 5, wherein the attachment means comprises of one of modeling clay and sculpting clay.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US10/160,943 US7104790B2 (en) | 2002-05-31 | 2002-05-31 | Orthodontic appliance with embedded wire for moving teeth and method |
| US10/160,943 | 2002-05-31 | ||
| PCT/US2003/016861 WO2004017854A1 (en) | 2002-05-31 | 2003-05-29 | Orthodontic appliance with embedded wire for moving teeth and method |
Publications (2)
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|---|---|
| CA2488195A1 CA2488195A1 (en) | 2004-03-04 |
| CA2488195C true CA2488195C (en) | 2009-08-04 |
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| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002488195A Expired - Lifetime CA2488195C (en) | 2002-05-31 | 2003-05-29 | Orthodontic appliance with embedded wire for moving teeth and method |
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| US (2) | US7104790B2 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU2003238784A1 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2488195C (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2004017854A1 (en) |
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| US7416407B2 (en) | 2008-08-26 |
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| AU2003238784A1 (en) | 2004-03-11 |
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