Abstract: An orthodontic appliance including labial and lingual bodies having teeth-contacting surfaces for acting against targeted anterior teeth of a patient and associated labial and lingual components incorporating spring-loaded biasing means for causing the labial and lingual bodies to act in generally opposed directions and in unison against the surfaces of the targeted anterior teeth. Bands for attaching the appliance to molars and a lingual support component also are provided. The foregoing is applied to a fixed spring aligner, a habit appliance and a bonded crossbite appliance, as well as appliances having new and improved labial and lingual components. The habit appliance includes a labial component to pull anterior teeth into an ideal position, and the aligner and crossbite appliances include labial and lingual components for applying corrective forces to the respective labial and lingual surfaces of the anterior teeth.

Abstract: A clasp for a removable dental appliance includes a stem embedded into and extending from the acrylic portion of the appliance. Two ball clasps extend from the stem and are laterally spaced apart from one another. Each ball clasp has an elongated flexible member and an enlarged exposed end. A bridge segment extends laterally between the flexible members of the first and second ball clasps. The stem and ball clasps can be formed by two substantially parallel wires, with the bridge segment extending generally perpendicularly between the wires near their exposed ends adjacent to the ball clasps.

Abstract: A force adjusting mechanism for an orthodontic appliance wherein the appliance functions to move teeth and/or to expand the dental arch. The mechanism includes a shaft operatively coupled at opposite ends between a first portion of the appliance which is anchored in the patient's dental arch and a second portion of the appliance which applies force to one or more of the patient's teeth. A lock is slidable along the shaft to compress a spring between the lock and the second portion of the appliance. Co-operating structures on the shaft and on the lock provide a unidirectional ratchet movement of the lock along the shaft. Thus, the lock may be advanced one step at a time in one direction only, preferably manually using an implement for engaging the lock, to compress the spring to apply force to one or more of the patient's teeth. Advantageously, this may be done by the patient or a parent or guardian without the need for an office visit to a clinician.

Abstract: A force adjusting mechanism for an orthodontic appliance wherein the appliance functions to move teeth and/or to expand the dental arch. The mechanism includes a shaft operatively coupled at opposite ends between a first portion of the appliance which is anchored in the patient's dental arch and a second portion of the appliance which applies force to one or more of the patient's teeth. A lock is slidable along the shaft to compress a spring between the lock and the second portion of the appliance. Co-operating structures on the shaft and on the lock provide a unidirectional ratchet movement of the lock along the shaft. Thus, the lock may be advanced one step at a time in one direction only, preferably manually using an implement for engaging the lock, to compress the spring to apply force to one or more of the patient's teeth. Advantageously, this may be done by the patient or a parent or guardian without the need for an office visit to a clinician.

Abstract: An orthodontic appliance (10) for treating anterior teeth of a patient includes a support structure (12, 14) having labial and lingual components for applying opposed forces to a set of targeted teeth. The labial component includes a labial arch (20) having an encapsulated (26) labial bow (34) and distal extending portions (27) extending through sleeves (18) attached to clasps (16), and compressed springs (25) disposed between hooked ends (22) of the wire and the sleeve ends (19). The lingual component includes a lingual rod (30) having a mushroom-shaped center (34) encapsulated in a hard acrylic body (35) and distal extending portions extending through sleeves (36). Compressed springs (40) are disposed between the sleeve end (38) and the hard body.