Abstract: The present invention provides multi-layer adhesives and methods that are useful for bonding orthodontic appliances to a tooth structure. The multi-layer adhesives can be precoated on an orthodontic appliance, or alternatively, they can be provided on an adhesive delivery system for transfer to an orthodontic appliance. The multi-layer adhesives and methods preferably provide a useful balance of properties for bonding orthodontic appliances to the tooth structure.

Abstract: A self-ligating orthodontic bracket has a sliding archwire cover that has a top surface congruent with the top surface of an upper body portion having an archwire slot. The cover has a resilient locking tab that slides across the slot, bending upward as it encounters a ridge on the other side of the slot, and latching to the ridge to secure the cover in a closed position. The cover has a modified dovetail shape with flared bottom portions that slideably engage guides for reciprocal opening and closing sliding motion. A groove in the slide support track engages the locking tab in the open position preventing it from disengaging from the upper body portion.

Abstract: A carrier for at least one fastening element (4) to be fabricated having an attachment area whereby the carrier is provided with a holding piece (3) for attachment in a receiving part of a finishing machine and whereby the carrier includes a carrier piece (2) for the fastening element (4) and the carrier piece (2) is embedded at least partially in the carrier piece (2) in a manner so that the attachment area (4b) of the fastening element (4) can be fabricated. A method for producing a fastening element (4) to be finished and to be attached to an individual surface whereby the contour of the attachment area is defined with the aid of data of the surface onto which the fastening element (4) is to be attached and whereby a pre-shaped, not yet individualized fastening element (4) is formed by removal of material to produce the specific contour.

Abstract: This invention has provided a direct manufacturing methodology of customized lingual orthodontic brackets by selective laser melting. The procedure is as follows. First of all, measure the dentition data and construct the 3D CAD model of the teeth through reverse engineering. Then a single soleplate of the lingual bracket contacting the tooth surface, as well as the ideal slot position is designed based on the teeth features. The designed models are later imported into the SLM machine and used to produce the brackets with desired materials directly. This method can actualize customized manufacture with highly accuracy, producing highly matched brackets all at once. The invention not only saves time and cost, but also has wide adaptation range and is able to adopt various raw materials. Different raw materials can be utilized in one step to accommodate specific capacity requirement of different parts of the brackets.

Abstract: This invention is an adjustable orthodontic bracket system which allows brackets to be adjusted for the particular angulations required for each individual tooth of any patient, while continuously attached to the tooth surface. The orthodontist manually adjusts the relationship of the bracket component with the frame and bracket base during treatment eliminating the necessity of repositioning bracket components due to erroneous positioning. The bracket component is positioned such that it can move completely in all directions to achieve the proper angulation for tooth repositioning. The base of the bracket component and the interior surface of the bracket compartment are textured to provide friction and secure the components once positioned for proper tooth movement. The exterior of the bracket component is also textured to provide more secure attachment to the surface of the tooth. This system will lead to lower treatment cost and quicker adjustments of the orthodontic bracket system.

Abstract: An orthodontic appliance includes a body (16) and at least one clip (36) connected to the body for retaining an archwire in an archwire slot (18). The body and each clip have matching, generally oval-shaped external profiles that present a compact, low-profile configuration. Each clip includes at least one prong (46) that engages a tab for helping to retain the clip in connected relationship to the body. Each tab is connected to the body by a protrusion that has a top surface coplanar with a bottom wall of the archwire slot.

Abstract: This invention is a dynamic orthodontic bracket system which allows brackets to be adjusted for particular angulations required for each individual tooth of a patient, while the frames are continuously attached to tooth surface. The orthodontist manually adjusts the relationship of a bracket and a frame during treatment eliminating the necessity of a full repositioning of all components. The bracket is positioned such that it can move in various directions to achieve a proper angulation for tooth repositioning. The base of the bracket and the interior surface of the frame can be textured to provide friction and secure the components once positioned for proper tooth movement. The exterior of the frame can also be textured to provide more secure attachment to the surface of the tooth. This system will lead to lower treatment cost and quicker adjustments of the orthodontic bracket system.

Abstract: An orthodontic archwire bracket having a first body (10) with a base (11) configured to be fixed to a tooth and a second body (20) with a central hollow portion (25) and a slot (21) formed by two slot portions (21a, 21b) on opposite sides of the central hollow portion (25). The slot (21) is configured to receive an archwire. A ball joint coupling connects the first and second bodies (10, 20). The second body (20) is made at least in part of a material with shape memory that maintains an original shape at body temperature thus locking the ball joint coupling, and acquires a deformable state at a temperature below body temperature. In one embodiment, the second body (20) further has retaining members (26) extending into each of the slot portions (21a, 21b) next to an inlet thereof.

Abstract: An orthodontic device consisting of a bracket having a slot formed by arm parts facing each other in the vertical direction, and an inner part having a socket for holding a wire. Different forces depending on the socket can be applied to a tooth. Desired forces can be applied simply by changing the inner part; and without requiring changing of the brackets. The orthodontic device is characterized in that the opening of the slot is closed by inserting the inner part into the slot so that the inner part can be held by the arm parts; and the wire can be securely held in its position.

Abstract: An orthodontic bracket for attaching an archwire to a tooth including a body including a bonding base for attachment to the tooth, the body having an occlusal-gingivally extending opening, a lingual vertical slot, a pair of laterally spaced gingival tie wings and a pair of laterally spaced occlusal tie wings, the gingival and occlusal tie wings projecting from a labial surface of the body. An archwire slot is provided extending mesiodistally across the body and between the gingival and occlusal tie wings at opposed medial and distal sides of the body to accommodate the archwire. A locking shutter including at least one resilient arm member at one end and a retaining portion at another end is provided such that the locking shutter moveable between an open position in which placement and removal of the archwire is facilitated and a closed position in which placement and removal of the archwire is inhibited.

Abstract: Orthodontic anchoring method and custom apparatus affixed to teeth, TADS and/or tooth positioning and stabilization appliances and/or orthodontic auxiliaries. Each appliance has mechanical fasteners structured to secure segments of a curable flexible resin rope called a flex fit module (FFM). The FFM is moldable and adaptable to the oral cavity between mechanical fasteners in an uncured first mode where it is cut to length, positioned around the anatomy of the mouth and attached to clamps or fasteners at each end. Each fastener has a clamp attached to orthodontic auxiliaries, orthodontic appliances or onto a TAD for anchorage purposes. One end of this custom appliance is usually attached via a clamp manufactured as part of a bracket or band to a tooth. The other end is connected to an appliance, tad or auxiliary. Once connected together the system is cured and becomes a solid entity ready to accept orthodontic forces.

Abstract: A method for producing a patient-specific pad (3) for a modular bracket (1) having a pad (3) and a bracket body (7), which comprises the steps: P1 a) providing a pad material section, which preferably is plane, b) providing a punch having at least one punching stamp for punching out at least one raw pad (5) from the pad material section, c) punching out of at least one raw pad (5) from the pad material section by means of the punch, d) generating a patient-specific set-up, in particular made of plaster, of the teeth to be treated of an upper jaw and/or of a lower jaw of a patient, e) selecting a raw pad (5) from the raw pad library (19) for each of the patient's teeth to be treated, f) filling a gap (27) between the raw pad (5) and the corresponding tooth in the set-up using a filling material, especially of plastic, in order to produce for the pad (3) a tooth-specific glued surface (3K) allow for a form fit to the clinical tooth of the patient.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed, at least in part, to a self ligating orthodontic bracket system that includes a rotatable member for securing an archwire within a slot of a bracket. Embodiments of the orthodontic bracket system disclosed herein include a bracket body containing the archwire slot as well as tie wings for attaching various orthodontic devices (e.g., elastomeric bands) to the bracket. The rotatable member is rotatable in a first direction (e.g., counter clockwise) relative to a body of the bracket for securing or locking the archwire within the slot, and for rotating in an opposite direction (e.g., a clockwise direction) relative to the bracket body for unsecuring or unlocking the archwire so that it is substantially unrestrained from exiting the slot.

Abstract: An improved edgewise orthodontic bracket is disclosed. In one embodiment, a bracket comprises a single pair of opposing T-shaped tie wings which define an archwire slot therebetween. Notches are provided on each of the mesial and distal sides of the center leg of each T-shaped tie wing for selectively receiving a ligating device. The notches are defined in the gingival/occlusal edges of the tie wings and comprise sloped portions that extend labially towards the archwire slot. Convex sidewall portions and convex floor portions are provided in the archwire slot adjacent to the notches. The body of the bracket is interconnected to a base that includes a continuous series of characters that serve as texturing to facilitate bonding of the bracket with a tooth. A discontinuous perimeter rail may be used at the edge of the base. A method for forming a bracket is also provided.

Abstract: Dental assemblies and related methods of making are provided. The dental assemblies include a dental article with a bonding surface an adhesive having both a compressible material and at least one hardenable dental composition extending across the bonding surface. The compressible material is coupled to the dental article by a first quantity of hardened dental composition extending at least partially through the compressible material and contacting the bonding surface. The hardened dental composition extends over less than the entire bonding surface. Adjacent portions of the compressible material contain a second quantity of unhardened dental composition, preserving flexibility of the compressible material. Advantageously, this configuration was found to enhance bond reliability and facilitate manufacturing.

Abstract: An orthodontic bracket assembly adapted for securement to teeth of the upper and lower jaw is provided. The assembly is a multi-component system that includes a base component and a bracket component. The base component is adapted for securement to a tooth using an adhesive material and includes a housing having an integral channel guide. The bracket component includes a flange arranged for insertion within the channel guide and is held therein by a spring clip. The bracket component includes an archwire retention head for receiving and retaining an orthodontic archwire therein. In one embodiment, the archwire retention head includes a tube having an archwire tunnel extending mesial-distally therethrough. The cross-sectional shape of the archwire tunnel can vary depending upon the archwire being employed and may provide a frictional or frictionless fit. The tube may be positioned at a predetermined location for correcting a maloccluded tooth.

Abstract: An orthodontic bracket including a body including a bonding base for attachment to the tooth, a lingual vertical slot, a pair of laterally spaced gingival tie wings and a pair of laterally spaced occlusal tie wings, the gingival and occlusal tie wings projecting from a labial surface of the body; an archwire slot extending mesio-distally across the body and between the gingival and occlusal tie wings at opposed medial and distal sides of the body to accommodate an archwire; a locking shutter including at pair of resilient arm members and a lingual guide bar between the resilient arm members, the locking shutter moveable between an open position in which placement and removal of the archwire is facilitated and a closed position in which placement and removal of the archwire is inhibited; first and second tracks formed on each of first and second outer lateral surfaces of the body, extending from the gingival tie wings across the archwire slot and into the occlusal tie wings; the first and second tracks sized a

Abstract: A set of orthodontic brackets is provided in combination with an archwire extending over an arc when fitted to the set of orthodontic brackets. The archwire has at least one radius of curvature over the length of its arc, and each one of said brackets in the set has an archwire slot. Each slot has at least one surface supporting the archwire which is contoured to have a radius of curvature that matches the radius of curvature along the arc of the archwire at that point. A round archwire is preferred and the archwire slots may be formed as tubular channels to provide better torque action for the archwire.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a self-ligation bracket for correcting teeth alignment comprising: on one side a body 210 further comprising a connection part 2110 and an attachable portion 2120, the connection part being provided on the upper portion of an insertion groove 2111 and an insertion groove 2111 having a predetermined depth into which an archwire is inserted, being provided on the lower portion of the insertion groove and a plurality of fixing protrusions provided with fixing grooves on one side, and being provided in between a supporting protrusion 2114 and a supporting protrusion 2114 which are arranged with a predetermined distance apart from each other, and the body 210 formed with a hooking space 2118 which is provided on the downside of a guide protrusion 2116 that protrudes to a predetermined height and the insertion groove 2111; and a cap spring 220 provided with an elastic fixing part 222 on one side, an elastic hanging part 224 on the other side, and a bent portion 223 which is at the e

Abstract: A tool bit for removing orthodontic brackets includes a handpiece-engaging portion, a shaft portion, a curved portion and a working end portion. The curved portion provides sufficient offset to present the end portion in a substantially co-planar relationship with a tooth surface. The working end portion includes at least one beveled cutting surface for cutting away the adhesive and at least one blunt/flat polishing surface for polishing away any residual adhesive that may remain after the bracket has been removed. The tool bit may also include a cooling fluid delivery port. Edges of the beveled surfaces may be serrated. Beveled surfaces and the top surface may be coated with an abrasive material such as diamond grit. These cutting surfaces are used to cut through the adhesive layer bonding the bracket to the tooth. The tool has a blunt/flat second edge surface for polishing away any remaining adhesive after removal of the bracket.

Abstract: An orthodontic bracket system used on the anterior lower teeth includes a plurality of alternating high-low brackets which is made up of a subplurality of high brackets and low brackets. The plurality of alternating high-low brackets are fixed to the anterior teeth, namely the subplurality of high brackets is fixed to alternately successive anterior teeth and the low brackets are fixed to other ones of alternately successive anterior teeth. A first orthodontic wire is coupled or attached to the subplurality of high brackets. A second orthodontic wire is coupled or attached to the subplurality of low brackets. The first and second orthodontic wires are selectively bent between selected brackets to which the first and second orthodontic wires are coupled, so that length of the first and second wire between each bracket to which it is coupled is increased, leaving space between brackets for bends formed in the wire.

Abstract: An orthodontic bracket includes a bracket portion including a receiving slot extending across at least a portion of the bracket portion and configured to receive an arch wire. The bracket includes a metal mesh bonded to the ceramic bracket portion on a side of the ceramic bracket portion opposite the receiving slot. Another orthodontic bracket includes a metal core coated with a tooth-colored coating. Methods of attaching and aligning the brackets are provided as well as a tool for aligning the brackets. Inserts are also described for reinforcing the brackets and/or increasing a surface area for enhancing bonding strength.

Abstract: Methods and compositions including an aqueous liquid that includes an acid-sensitive dye are disclosed for use in dental and orthodontic procedures. The aqueous liquid can be useful for providing a visible color change to indicate contact with acidic materials including, for example, etching compositions, self-etching adhesives, and self-adhesive compositions.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a kit of parts comprising part A and part B, part A comprising a polymerizable component having an acid group in the molecule, an initiator, part B comprising an activator, and a film former with a molecular weight of at least 1000. The present disclosure also relates to a composition obtainable by mixing the components contained in the kit of parts and to a process for producing the kit of parts comprising the steps of bringing the components contained in part B of the kit in contact with a surface, drying the surface to form a film.

Abstract: Provided is an orthodontic buccal tube, which is capable of preventing glue from flowing out towards a boundary between a tooth (300) and a base (100), being firmly attached to a face of the tooth (300), and being easily removed from the face of the tooth (300) after being used. The orthodontic buccal tube is attached to the face of the tooth (300) by the glue (400), and includes a base (100) having a bonding face (110) on one side of the buccal tube, a body (200) having a slot (210) into which an archwire is inserted in the middle of the body (200) on a side opposite the base, and a glue anti-outflow step (120) formed along an outer circumference of the bonding face (110) at a predetermined height in a closed loop. The glue anti-outflow step (120) prevents the glue (400) applied to the bonding face (110) from flowing out towards a boundary between the base (100) and the tooth (300).

Abstract: Methods of use are provided, relating to a bracket with a pad for affixing it to a tooth of a patient, with a bracket body that has a slot for receiving an orthodontic wire, and with a channel-like wire guide which has wire guide surfaces for guiding the wire and which is assigned a lateral insertion area for insertion of the wire into the wire guide, wherein the insertion area has, in the longitudinal direction of the wire, a curved section through which the wire can be inserted into the wire guide in an elastically deformed state, such that the wire, on forming back to a rectilinear state, locks in the wire guide, and that the wire guide surfaces enclose the wire in a circle shape, such that the wire is held longitudinally displaceably in the wire guide by the wire guide surfaces and is secured against escaping laterally from the wire guide.

Abstract: An orthodontic appliance comprises a bracket bonded on the surface of the tooth, which includes an insertion groove whose bottom surface is round for use of an improved orthodontic wire and a pair of wings, and an orthodontic wire inserted into the insertion groove of the bracket, that is round to allow two orthodontic wire surfaces to be closely combined onto the bottom surface of the insertion groove.

Abstract: An orthodontic brace system includes brackets having a diamond-shaped tie-wing configuration that defines two parallel, horizontal slots, each of which is adapted to receive an archwire. Each slot is angled with respect to the base of the bracket to produce a specific, maximum torque value, and generally, the maximum torque value of the gingival slot is less than the maximum torque value of the incisal slot. The brackets provide multiple force vectors in different directions simultaneously, which decreases the amount of time required for a patient to wear braces, reduces the number of costly and time consuming visits to an orthodontist, and reduces time and effort required of an orthodontist for installation and adjustment of the braces on a per visit basis. A self-ligating bracket with a sliding door is disclosed in another embodiment.

Abstract: A orthodontics bracket has a bracket body, an arch wire slot formed on the bracket body, an opening/closing lid for locking an arch wire, and a opening/closing lid connecting part for connecting the opening/closing lid to the bracket body in a slidable and rotatable state. The opening/closing lid is capable of moving along a movement path that passes through a closed position at which it is engaged to the bracket body in a state of blocking the arch wire slot, an disengagement position at which it has slid from the closed position and disengaged from the bracket body, and an open position at which it has rotated from the disengagement position and the arch wire slot has been uncovered. The opening/closing lid for locking the arch wire closes in a reliable manner and does not accidentally open, and can be readily operated so as to open or close.

Abstract: A self-adjustable, self-ligating orthodontic bracket includes a base with a tooth face bonded to a surface of a tooth. A linking body includes a body connection. The linking body is in physical communication with an archwire transmitting a force to the linking body. A connector applies a tension between the linking body and the base motivating the linking body and the base toward a normal position.

Abstract: In some implementations at least one orthodontic tooth-bonding-pad is attached to an archwire through a sheath. In some implementations, a tooth-bonding-pad has a passageway through which an archwire can be placed.

Abstract: An orthodontic brace system includes brackets having a diamond-shaped tie-wing configuration that defines two parallel, horizontal slots, each of which is adapted to receive an archwire. Each slot is angled with respect to the base of the bracket to produce a specific, maximum torque value, and generally, the maximum torque value of the gingival slot is less than the maximum torque value of the incisal slot. The brackets provide multiple force vectors in different directions simultaneously, which decreases the amount of time required for a patient to wear braces, reduces the number of costly and time consuming visits to an orthodontist, and reduces time and effort required of an orthodontist for installation and adjustment of the braces on a per visit basis.

Abstract: An orthodontic bracket for an orthodontic system has a rear base for being mounted to a tooth and first and second portions extending from the rear base. The first and second portions are spaced apart to provide a slot for positioning an arch wire therein. The first and second portions define a front face with an opening for receiving the arch wire. At least one of the first and second portions includes an adjustable tightening element for adjusting the pressure on the arch wire. An orthodontic bracket system comprises a plurality of brackets for being mounted to the teeth of a patient and at least one inter-bracket adjoining assembly mounted to a pair of adjacent brackets and interposed therebetween. The length of said inter-bracket adjoining assembly is modifiable so as to correspondingly modify the distance between the pair of adjacent brackets.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing an orthodontic element with a ceramic main body, which has a base surface for fixing the element to a tooth. In order to develop the method in such a way that the main body can, on the one hand, be fastened to the tooth with a high adhesive force and, on the other hand, can easily be detached from the tooth at the end of an orthodontic treatment, it is proposed according to the invention that a laser beam is guided along the base surface in an impingement area, the base surface in the impingement area is superficially heated locally by means of the laser beam and microscopic particles are broken free from the base surface by means of crack development.

Abstract: An adjustable orthodontic bracket comprising: a fixed support base having a circular housing and an inferior surface for attaching to the surface of a tooth; a rotating base, rotary housed inside the circular housing, having a superior surface for receiving a bracket; and locking means for the rotating base, for locking the rotary movement of the base at a specific rotational position, wherein said locking means can be disabled to allow the rotation of the rotating base.

Abstract: An improved bondable molar tube is provided having a base and a tube structure supported on the base, where the base is configured having a first portion that is to be bonded to a mesial cusp of a molar and second portion that is bonded to a distal cusp of the molar, and where the tube structure is provided to be located on the mesial cusp on the first portion of the base, and where the second base portion that is provided on the distal cusp does not have a tube structure thereon and, preferably, is substantially free of structure thereon that may interfere with surrounding teeth.

Abstract: Improved methods for indirect bonding of orthodontic appliances, such as brackets, to the tooth surfaces of dental patients are provided. The methods use a transfer tray to accurately position the brackets on the tooth surfaces. Preferably, the tray is made of an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA)/siloxane material. The brackets are coated with a protective coating to prevent them from becoming embedded in the tray. Preferably, a translucent, blue-tinted coating is used to cover the brackets. Dental restorative materials are used to bond the brackets to the teeth. The transfer tray is then removed from the mouth, while the appliances remain firmly bonded to the tooth surfaces.

Abstract: An orthodontic bracket mountable on a tooth for use in retraction mechanics to facilitate movement of teeth along an arch, which includes an archwire-receiving member rotatably mounted on a base and structured to freely rotate when tipping a tooth during sliding of the bracket along an archwire thereby minimizing friction between the archwire and bracket to significantly decrease the required retraction force, and treatment time, thereby minimizing the possibility of root resorption and maintaining the integrity of the root and surrounding bone. A locking mechanism for locking the member against rotation is employed when uprighting the tooth from a tipped position.

Abstract: A positioning method for orthodontic appliance and structure, mainly provided with base units molded by plastic injection. During the fabricating process, a crossed reference line is first drawn on a dental mold of the patient, after heating, the orthodontic appliance is embedded to the base unit, and a flexible member is used to bind and fixedly position the orthodontic appliance. Each of the aforementioned base units together with the orthodontic appliance is attached to the dental mold, and then light curing composite resin is attached to each of the base units. Accordingly, after applying an adhesive layer to each of the orthodontic appliances, each of the series connected base units together with the orthodontic appliances bound to the base units is directly attached to the respective teeth portion of the patient requiring straightening, thereby enabling fitting of orthodontic appliances to be more convenient and providing a more efficient fabricating process.

Abstract: An orthodontic apparatus for direct placement of a ligature for tooth extruding. The apparatus comprises a body having a first end and a second end wherein the first end has a reservoir for receiving adhesive and a ligature having a first end and a second end wherein the first end is releasably embedded in the reservoir and the second and extends through the body.

Abstract: Orthodontic brackets that can accurately be mounted to the surface of teeth to effectively perform orthodontic treatment. The orthodontic bracket according to the present invention is characterized in that, a marker is provided on at least a portion of an outline that is generated by crossing a plane including a longitudinally extending center line, on the archwire slot base of the archwire slot and vertical to the archwire slot base, and an outer surface of the bracket with each other. The marker can be selected from the group consisting of a protrusion, a projection, a slit, a notch and a paint.

Abstract: A method for producing an orthodontic bracket is comprised of sintering a molded body of highly-pure alumina fine powder at a temperature of 1,200° C. to 1,300° C. to obtain a sintered body composed of crystals having a relative density of 96% to 99.5% and an average crystal grain size of at most 1 ?m, and thereafter subjecting the sintered body to an HIP treatment at a temperature of 1,200° C. to 1,350° C., under a pressure of at least 50 MPa. Such an orthodontic bracket has high strength and high translucency, can be processed into a complicated shape, similar to that of a metal bracket, and maintains excellent translucency.

Abstract: An orthodontic bracket includes a slot for attaching auxiliary attachments. The slot is formed into the pad of the bracket rather than being included in the bracket body. By forming the slot into the pad of the bracket rather than incorporating it into the bracket body, the slot may have a vertical orientation and may be centered on the bracket.

Abstract: Provided is an orthodontic buccal tube, which is capable of preventing glue from flowing out towards a boundary between a tooth (300) and a base (100), being firmly attached to a face of the tooth (300), and being easily removed from the face of the tooth (300) after being used. The orthodontic buccal tube is attached to the face of the tooth (300) by the glue (400), and includes a base (100) having a bonding face (110) on one side of the buccal tube, a body (200) having a slot (210) into which an archwire is inserted in the middle of the body (200) on a side opposite the base, and a glue anti-outflow step (120) formed along an outer circumference of the bonding face (110) at a predetermined height in a closed loop. The glue anti-outflow step (120) prevents the glue (400) applied to the bonding face (110) from flowing out towards a boundary between the base (100) and the tooth (300).

Abstract: Coordinated metal and ceramic orthodontic bracket systems (100) allow a practitioner to insert one or more ceramic brackets (102, 104, 106, 108) into a metal bracket system (1001), replacing selected metal brackets (102?, 1041, 106?, 108?) with ceramic brackets (102, 104, 106, 108), and vice-versa. Thus, both a ceramic bracket system (100) and a metal bracket system (1001) are provided, in which corresponding brackets of each system include substantially identical “in-out” slot floor cross-sectional thicknesses so that corresponding brackets are interchangeable with each other, without any need for compensating bends or later treatment to correct unintended buccal-lingual tooth movement.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an orthodontic bracket system for correcting the teeth in an arch that includes molars, premolars, canines, lateral incisors and central incisors. The system includes a plurality of brackets that each include a main body portion having first and second tunnels extending transversely therethrough. Each bracket is bonded to the facial surface of a tooth in the arch. The first and second tunnels of each bracket extend approximately parallel to the facial surface of the tooth to which the bracket is bonded. The system further includes a first archwire extending through the first tunnels in each of the brackets.

Abstract: Bracket (1) with a pad (3) for affixing it to a tooth of a patient, with a bracket body (5) that has a slot (7) for receiving an orthodontic wire (9), and with a channel-like wire guide (11) which has wire guide surfaces (11F) for guiding the wire (9) and which is assigned a lateral insertion area (13) for insertion of the wire (9) into the wire guide (11), wherein the insertion area (13) has, in the longitudinal direction of the wire (9), a curved section (13A) through which the wire (9) can be inserted into the wire guide (11) in an elastically deformed state, such that the wire (9), on forming back to a rectilinear state, locks in the wire guide (11), and that the wire guide surfaces (11F) enclose the wire (9) in a circle shape, such that the wire (9) is held longitudinally displaceably in the wire guide (11) by the wire guide surfaces (11F) and is secured against escaping laterally from the wire guide (11).

Abstract: Provided are methods for making adhesive coated orthodontic appliances having a silane treated metallic bonding surface, and related assemblies. Exemplary methods of making an adhesive coated orthodontic appliance include providing a metallic bonding surface on the orthodontic appliance for attachment to a tooth surface, sand blasting the bonding surface with a silica-based media, functionalizing the bonding surface in the presence of a pH-modified coupling agent solution, and applying an adhesive onto at least a portion of the bonding surface, where the adhesive is a hydrophilic adhesive having a water uptake of at least 0.5 percent of its original weight after hardening.

Abstract: A dental splint, a method for fabricating and installing same is disclosed for stabilizing mobile or unstable teeth. The dental splint comprises a one-piece extracoronal component customized to the dentition of a patient, wherein the one-piece extracoronal component is adhered to the lingual aspect of the teeth and substantially non-visible facially.

Abstract: Provided is an orthodontic bracket that is capable of a more effective three-dimensional motion and particularly an effective motion on the tooth surface. Specifically provided is an orthodontic bracket which comprises a substrate surface that is bonded to the tooth surface and an arch wire retaining portion that is configured to retain an arch wire with the substrate surface as a bottom surface, the orthodontic bracket being connected by the arch wire and continuously applying a stress to individual teeth to thereby straighten a row of teeth, wherein the orthodontic bracket is in an approximately hog-backed cross-sectional shape that is orthogonal to the direction in which the arch wire is stretched with the substrate surface bonded to the tooth surface as the bottom surface, and is provided with a plurality of arch wire through holes respectively for inserting the arch wires into the holes and connecting adjacent orthodontic brackets by the arch wires.