Abstract: A self-ligating orthodontic bracket assembly has a bracket with an archwire slot extending in a mesial-distal direction for receiving an archwire; a vertical slot extending into the bracket to intersect the archwire slot; and a retentive boss in the vertical slot. A retentive pin slides in the vertical slot between an open position and a closed position. The pin has two parallel legs separated by a space, and a lower cross member extending between the legs. The cross member contacts the retentive boss in the open position to retain the pin in the vertical slot. Camming surfaces on the legs slidably engage the vertical slot to hold the pin in the closed position.

Abstract: Improved methods and apparatus for forming a series of progressive aligners. A virtual model may be manipulated in a virtual CAD environment to arrive at an activated iteration of the virtual model representing progressively improved positions of one or more virtual teeth. From the virtual model, a positioning guide may be created (e.g., through the use of CAD CAM techniques to produce a corresponding positioning guide). The positioning guide may be registered to the physical model such that model teeth may be positioned according to the positioning guide to arrive at an activated iteration of the physical model. An aligner may then be generated using the activated iteration of the physical model. This process may be repeated for a variable number of iterations until the treatment objectives are determined to be met.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to an orthodontic mechanical force module having a jack screw whose rotation is controlled by a ratchet. In one embodiment, a pair of housings are interconnected with the patient in any appropriate manner, and are further rotatably interconnected with a rotatable spindle. At least one of these housings is also threadably engaged with the spindle. A ratchet is associated with the spindle to selectively allow the spindle to rotate only in a direction that increases a magnitude of the treatment forces being exerted on the patient by changing the spacing between the pair of housings by a movement of at least one of the housings along the spindle due to its rotation. That is, in an active position the ratchet precludes the spindle from rotating in a direction that would tend to reduce the magnitude of the treatment forces being exerted on the patient.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for constructing an orthodontic applicance. The method includes the forming of a model of a patient's malocclusion. The teeth are separated and teeth are placed back in their malooclusion position on a base support. The teeth are moved directly from the malocclusion position to the prescribed ideal form. A tool is provided which can assist in establishing the arch form, placing the brackets on the model teeth in accordance with the desired arch form and determining the wire arch form.