Abstract: A crimp stop is made of a metal formed member having a U-shaped cross-section. The metal formed member has a size and shape configured to receive an orthodontic archwire into the U-shaped cross-section and configured to be crimped onto the orthodontic archwire so as to maintain position of the metal formed member after being crimped on the orthodontic archwire by friction. The metal formed member has a curved portion and a pair of legs attached to the curved portion; the legs are not parallel to each other and diverge at an angle.

Abstract: A crimp stop is made of a metal formed member having a U-shaped cross-section. The metal formed member has a size and shape configured to receive an orthodontic archwire into the U-shaped cross-section and configured to be crimped onto the orthodontic archwire so as to maintain position of the metal formed member after being crimped on the orthodontic archwire by friction. The metal formed member has a curved portion and a pair of legs attached to the curved portion; the legs are not parallel to each other and diverge at an angle.

Abstract: An orthodontic arch wire has a generally parabolic shape and includes a curved anterior segment and a pair of posterior segments connected to and extending from respective ends of the curved anterior segment. The curved anterior segment has a circular cross-section and does not have substantially the same flexural rigidity as the pair of posterior segments, at least one of which has a non-circular cross-section. The three pieces are joined together to form the generally parabolic shape.

Abstract: A reverse curve archwire includes a generally smoothly curved U-shaped metal wire having a curved central anterior segment including a mesial center line of the U-shaped metal wire and a pair of posterior segments extending from ends of the anterior segment. Each posterior segment has a reverse Curve of Spee of a predetermined radius when relaxed. A pair of connecting members is attached to the archwire, each connecting member being provided on a respective side of the mesial center line.

Abstract: A crimping machine includes a platform having a substantially flat upper working surface and a first crimping jaw fixed on the platform. An arm is slidably attached to the platform, the arm having a second crimping jaw provided thereon, the arm being slidable at least between a first, crimping position in which the first and second jaws are opposed and adjacent one another and spaced apart by a first distance sufficient to crimp a workpiece between the first and second jaws, and a second, open position in which the first and second jaws are opposed and spaced apart by a second distance, the second distance being greater than the first distance and sufficient to insert an uncrimped workpiece therebetween. A resilient biasing element is provided for biasing the second jaw towards the first jaw. An actuator is provided for forcing the arm into the first, crimping position.

Abstract: An orthodontic bracket includes a bracket body having a mesial-distally extending archwire slot opening to the labial surface portion, and a mesial-distally extending groove provided adjacent the archwire slot in a portion of the bracket body labially and occlusally of the archwire slot, the groove opening in a gingival direction. A spring clip of resilient material has labial and lingual portions in embracing sliding engagement with corresponding labial and lingual surface portions of the body, the spring clip being movable on the bracket body between an open position in which the archwire slot is open to the labial surface portion and a closed position in which the archwire slot is closed by the spring clip to the labial surface portion. The labial portion of the spring clip terminates in a free end that, in the closed position, is retained in the groove in the bracket body.

Abstract: A crimp stop is made of a U-shaped cross-section member made of a metal material, the member being annealed to soften the metal material. The crimp stop can be made by a process for including forming a metal material into a member having a U-shaped cross-section, annealing the member by heating, and cooling the annealed member to soften the metal material.

Abstract: Orthodontic crimping pliers include a first member having a first handle at a first end and a first jaw at a second end, the first jaw having a first flat edge, a second member having a second handle at a first end and a second jaw at a second end having a second flat edge and a pivot connecting the first and second members and allowing the first and second members to pivot with respect to one another so that pivoting the first handle towards the second handle causes the first jaw and the second jaw to move from an open position with the first and second jaws spaced apart toward a closed position with the first flat edge of the first jaw and second flat edge of the second jaw adjacent one another. In the closed position, the first flat edge of the first jaw and second flat edge of the second jaw are parallel and adjacent one another over a width of 0.005 to 0.015 inches.

Abstract: An orthodontic bracket includes a base, an archwire slot extending through the base, and archwire slot extensions extending substantially in the mesiodistal direction from opposite sides of the base.

Abstract: An orthodontic arch wire has a generally parabolic shape. The arch wire includes a curved anterior segment and a pair of posterior segments connected to and extending from respective ends of the curved anterior segment. The curved anterior segment and the pair of posterior segments comprise three discrete pieces having substantially the same flexural rigidity. The three pieces are joined together to form the generally parabolic shape.

Abstract: An orthodontic arch wire has a generally parabolic shape. The arch wire includes a curved anterior segment and a pair of posterior segments connected to and extending from respective ends of the curved anterior segment. The curved anterior segment and the pair of posterior segments comprise three discrete pieces having substantially the same flexural rigidity. The three pieces are joined together to form the generally parabolic shape.

Abstract: The present invention provides an orthodontic metal arch wire having a wire comprising a metal alloy, e.g., "shape memory" alloys, formed into an arch shape, and a metal layer provided on at least a portion of the wire such that an auxiliary part either is to or can be soldered to the metal layer. The metal layer provided on the arch wire can be a noble metal layer, e.g., gold, platinum, rhodium and palladium, or a layer of tin-nickel or palladium-nickel. An auxiliary part, such as a post, hook or loop, can then be soldered or brazed to the metal layer.

Abstract: An orthodontic arch wire, comprising a continuous wire having a generally parabolic shape defining a principal plane, the wire having a bend extending substantially in the principal plane, the bend being located approximately midway along a length of the wire, and an orthodontic appliance employing the wire.

Abstract: An orthodontic appliance including a series of orthodontic brackets configured to be secured to the teeth of patient, the brackets having slots for supporting an orthodontic arch wire, and an orthodontic arch wire extending through the slots. The orthodontic arch wire is arch-shaped and includes posterior segments and an anterior segment connecting the posterior segments. Either the anterior segment, or the entire arch wire, has a non-symmetrical, trapezoidal cross-section, and can be supported by bracket slots having either a rectangular or non-symmetrical trapezoidal shape.

Abstract: A method and device for measuring torque in a rectangular or square orthodontic arch wire wherein the orthodontic arch wire is held relative to the torque indicator scale in such a manner that the presence and amount of torque in the orthodontic arch wire can be determined directly from the torque indicator scale.

Abstract: An orthodontic bracket with an arch wire slot into which a high visibility marker has been inserted to facilitate alignment of the slot without the need for cumbersome jigs.

Abstract: An orthodontic device adapted for lightwire or rectangular or square arch wire treatment having a bracket which is bonded to a patient's tooth, a face for hiding the bracket, and a slot defined by the bracket and face for receiving lightwire or rectangular or square arch wire.

Abstract: A device for forming orthodontic arches from straight wire blanks comprises a die having a cylindrical surface with multiple wire-receiving grooves situated in planes perpendicular to the die axis. A clamp temporarily applies a clamping force to the wire blank, thereby firmly holding a portion of the wire blank in the groove of the die. The bender has two sweep arms, each pivoted on the die axis. A slide is provided on each of the sweep arms, and is constrained for movement toward and away from the die axis. Each slide carries a circular cylindrical roller mounted in bearings on the slide, for rotation about a roller axis parallel to the die axis. An adjustable toggle mechanism on each arm temporarily locks its roller in a position such that the outer roller surface presses the wire blank into one of the wire-receiving grooves before the arm begins to sweep about the die axis, and throughout the sweeping movement of the arm.

Abstract: An arch wire for correction of anterior tooth malformations comprising a continuous, unitary, solid wire having circular cross-sections at least in its anterior segments and preferably throughout its length with the cross-sections of the anterior segments being smaller than the cross-sections of the posterior segments. The narrow anterior segment is easy to install and comfortable to the patient, while the larger posterior segments are more stiff and less likely to damage the patient's gums or pull out of the buccal tubes on the patient's molars even when the parts of the wire adjacent to the bicuspids and canines are unsupported.

Abstract: This orthodontic appliance comprises a novel arch wire having posterior segments of circular cross-section and an anterior segment at least part of which is rectangular or trapezoidal in cross-section. When used in "light wire" treatment, the arch wire is secured to a bracket by a special lock pin having an offset surface on its tail. The offset surface cooperates with the rectangular portion of the anterior segment to prevent relative rotation between the arch wire and the bracket, thereby allowing torqueing. The special lock pin is also used with a uniform rectangular wire to apply torque to posterior teeth having light wire brackets.