Abstract: A ceramic orthodontic bracket assembly for attaching an arch wire to a tooth of the invention includes a bracket body made of a first transparent or translucent ceramic which consists essentially of a monocrystalline alumina. The bracket body has a mesial-distal channel formed therein, and a generally rectangular liner made of a second transparent or translucent ceramic is disposed in the channel. The liner has occlusal and gingival side walls forming an archwire slot therebetween. Means such as brazing or adhesive are provided for bonding the liner in the channel in which it is configured to closely fit.

Abstract: A packaged, pre-pasted orthodontic bracket includes a container having an open well therein and a top surface surrounding the well. A cover film with a central hole is disposed over the top opening of the well and secured to the top surface of the container with a layer of adhesive. An orthodontic bracket mounted in the central hole of the cover film has a base, a central portion extending from the base, at least two opposed tie wings extending from the central portion of the bracket, and a layer of light-curable adhesive disposed on the base of the bracket. The bracket is mounted in the central hole of the cover film such that the cover film contacts the central portion of the bracket and supports the bracket with the adhesive layer and base inside the well and the tie wings outside the well.

Abstract: The invention provides a non-unitary jumper or connecting element that can utilize a thin strip as the jumper body while providing one or preferably both ends of the jumper with a reinforced end cap instead of a thin end flange that is subject to breakage. An orthodontic appliance of the invention includes a first attachment appliance attached to first teeth associated with a first jaw of a patient and a second attachment appliance attached to second teeth associated with a second jaw of the patient. A connecting element or jumper includes a generally flat, elongated, resilient strip configured for developing an axial pushing force from end to end when flexed between the first attachment appliance and the second attachment appliance for moving the first teeth relative to the second teeth. The strip has a pair of end portions.

Abstract: The invention provides a package for a prepasted orthodontic bracket that includes a cover having a hollow projection thereon and a lateral flange extending from and surrounding an open end of the projection, and a base having a flat upper surface. An orthodontic bracket having a layer of light-curable paste thereon is placed with the paste layer in contact with a flat upper surface of the base. The bracket is surrounded by and spaced from the cover. Each of the cover and base are opaque to visible light and actinic radiation. The cover, or both cover and base, comprise a bilayered plastic structure including a first plastic layer containing particles of an opaque filler in an amount effective to render the first layer opaque to visible light, and a second plastic layer containing an effective amount of an actinic blocking agent.

Abstract: An orthodontic buccal tube includes an elongated buccal tube body having a first end weld flange integral with the tube body extending from a first end of the buccal tube body, and a second end weld flange integral with the tube body extending from a second end of the buccal tube body. At least the first end flange has a maximum width greater than the width of the tube body end adjacent the first flange. In one variation, the second end weld flange buccal tube likewise has a maximum width greater than the width of the tube body end adjacent the second flange. The amount of the end flange widening is to a degree sufficient to allow sufficient room for welding without substantial splashing of weld material at the end openings of the tube. The tube preferably has a diameter (or minimum diameter, if not of uniform diameter) of less than about 0.06 inch.

Abstract: The invention provides a package for a prepasted orthodontic bracket that includes a cover having a hollow projection thereon and a lateral flange extending from and surrounding an open end of the projection, and a base having a flat upper surface. An orthodontic bracket having a layer of light-curable paste thereon is placed with the paste layer in contact with a flat upper surface of the base. The bracket is surrounded by and spaced from the cover. Each of the cover and base are opaque to visible light and actinic radiation. The cover, or both cover and base, comprise a bilayered plastic structure including a first plastic layer containing particles of an opaque filler in an amount effective to render the first layer opaque to visible light, and a second plastic layer containing an effective amount of an actinic blocking agent.

Abstract: The invention provides a non-unitary jumper or connecting element that can utilize a thin strip as the jumper body while providing one or preferably both ends of the jumper with a reinforced end cap instead of a thin end flange that is subject to breakage. An orthodontic appliance of the invention includes a first attachment appliance attached to first teeth associated with a first jaw of a patient and a second attachment appliance attached to second teeth associated with a second jaw of the patient. A connecting element or jumper includes a generally flat, elongated, resilient strip configured for developing an axial pushing force from end to end when flexed between the first attachment appliance and the second attachment appliance for moving the first teeth relative to the second teeth. The strip has a pair of end portions.

Abstract: The present invention is a medical implant or device fabricated, in any manner, from a niobium (Nb)—titanium (Ti)—zirconium (Zr)—Molybdenum (Mo) alloy (NbTiZrMo alloy). The implant or device has components at least partially fabricated from a metal alloy comprising a) between about 29 and 70 weight percent Nb; b) between about 10 and 46 weight percent Zr; c) between about 3 and 15 weight percent Mo; and a balance of titanium. The inventive alloy provides for a uniform beta structure which is corrosion resistant, and can be readily processed to develop high-strength and low-modulus, with the ability for conversion oxidation or nitridization surface hardening of the medical implant or device.

Abstract: A bond card for mounting prepasted orthodontic appliances that includes a substantially rigid planar substrate and a flexible adhesive-releasing film attached to the substrate and having a plurality of unmounted or unattached portions serving as sites for the appliances that are capable of being lifted from the surface of the substrate to facilitate removal of the appliance for mounting on a tooth.

Abstract: A bonding pad for an orthodontic attachment to be bonded to a tooth, including a foil or plate having a photoetched surface, and a layer of mesh material diffusion bonded to the photoetched surface of the foil, thereby greatly increasing the bonding strength of the attachment to which the bonding pad is secured.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for prepasting orthodontic appliances such as brackets with a light-cure adhesive and facilitating the mounting of the brackets in the mouth of a patient. The apparatus includes a kit having a storage box capable of storing a plurality of bond cards on which prepasted brackets are mounted in an organized fashion, a work box for facilitating the initial mounting of the brackets on the bond cards, a bond card cover for protecting the prepasted brackets against curing of the adhesive at the chairside of the patient, and a mouth shield for delaying the curing of the adhesive following initial placement of the prepasted brackets in the mouth of a patient.

Abstract: An orthodontic band having a textured inner surface for enhancing the adhesive bonding to a tooth, wherein the textured surface is formed by photoetching a pattern of pockets, indentations, or raised portions.

Abstract: A bonding base and method of making the base for a plastic orthodontic bracket to provide a mechanical lock that inhibits both shear and tensile forces when bonded to a tooth with a mechanical bonding adhesive. The bonding base includes a coating or layer of thermoset epoxy, urethane or acrylate chemistry having partially embedded therein a layer of textured particles that define multi-directional undercuts and projections. The method of making the bonding base includes the steps of applying a substantially uniform in thickness coating of the chosen chemistry to the tooth-attaching side of the bracket, next applying a layer of textured particles to the coating while it is wet, and then curing the coating to lock the textured particles to the bracket for producing a textured mechanical lock.

Abstract: A bonding base and method of making a base for a ceramic orthodontic bracket to provide mechanical retention between the bracket and the tooth so that the bracket may be debonded by the failure of the mechanical bond at the bracket/bond interface when the shear strength of the bond is exceeded. The bracket bonding base includes a glass frit fired to the tooth-attaching side of the bracket and a layer of textured aluminum oxide fired to the frit. The method of making the bonding base includes controlled preparation of a glass ceramic glaze (frit) to have a coefficient of thermal expansion slightly less than that of the bracket and application of the glaze to the bracket base. Thereafter, a proper firing sequence transforms the glaze into a sintered glass ceramic. A specially prepared textured substance is then applied to the sintered ceramic glaze and the bracket is again fired under controlled conditions in order to fuse the textured substance with the glaze.

Abstract: A twin tie wing orthodontic bracket having a pair of substantially parallel spaced tie wings extending from a base portion adapted to be attached to a tooth, and a horizontally opening buccolabially extending archwire slot and cutouts at the mesial and distal sides of the bracket at the archwire slot and the buccolabial face which increases the interbracket distance and thereby increases the range of the archwire and decreases the force the archwire exerts on the brackets.