Abstract: The appliances and methods provide a tab on a “U”-shaped clip having a labial (i.e. toward the patient's lips or cheek) section and a lingual (i.e. toward the patient's tongue) section. The tab is located in a position that facilitates access by a practitioner and also reduces the moment applied to the clip when the clips is opened and closed. Advantageously, the tab can be positioned to account for the varying degree of resistance encountered by different sections of the clip and minimize the likelihood of either distorting the clip or torquing the appliance. The tab can be positioned coplanar with the sliding mechanism. Advantageously, these appliances can provide improved ease of use, reduced clip distortion over time, and greater patient comfort.

Abstract: Provided are orthodontic appliances including a bonding base, a body extending outwardly from the base and an elongated slot extending along the body in a generally mesial-distal direction, and first and second protrusions disposed on the body on opposite sides of the slot. A clip is slidably engaged to the body and movable between open and closed positions. When operating the clip, the first protrusion extends into the clip to retain the clip to the body in an interference fit while the second protrusion extends into the clip when in its closed position. Optionally, the clip comprises at least one deflectable portion aligned along a reference plane extending over the slot, where the deflectable portion resiliently bends out of the reference plane to traverse the second protrusion as the clip moves between open and closed positions.

Abstract: Appliances and related methods use a resilient retention member that is retained in a recess within a body that is optionally made from a suitably translucent ceramic material. The retention member, optionally in combination with one or more side walls of the recess, provides two or more regions for accommodating a protrusion. The protrusion, in turn, is part of a sliding door which can be opened or closed depending on the equilibrium position of the protrusion with respect to the two or more regions. Based on the engagement between the protrusion and the retention member, these appliances can provide discrete opened and closed door positions to facilitate archwire ligation.

Abstract: Provided is an orthodontic splint and related methods, which use two or more bonding pads and a flexible connector beam that deflects in response to stress, effectively reducing the amount of stress felt by the adhesive. The connector beam has a non-uniform cross-section along its length, thereby shifting the maximum stress away from the ends of the beam and toward the mid-point of the beam. Further, the connector beam attached to each base along locations remote from the outer edge of the base. These splint configurations can decrease the likelihood of bond failure and improve fatigue performance by causing stress, and associated strain, encountered during treatment to be spread more evenly along the length of the beam.

Abstract: Provided are orthodontic appliances including a bonding base, a body extending outwardly from the base and an elongated slot thereon extending along a generally mesial-distal direction, and first and second protrusions disposed on the body on opposite sides of the slot. A clip is slidably engaged to the body and movable between open and closed positions. When operating the clip, the first protrusion extends into the clip to retain the clip to the body in an interference fit while the second protrusion extends into the clip when in its closed position. Optionally, the clip comprises at least one deflectable portion aligned along a reference plane extending over the slot, where the deflectable portion resiliently bends out of the reference plane to traverse the second protrusion as the clip moves between open and closed positions.

Abstract: Provided are orthodontic appliances and related methods in which at least one region of at least one sidewall of an archwire slot is tapered relative to an opposing sidewall. This feature can allow the archwire slot to conform to the slight twist that occurs in the archwire when the archwire is placed in asymmetric torque. Advantageously, this feature can distribute the contact stress between the archwire and appliance over a much larger surface area compared with conventional appliances, leading to a dramatic and surprising increase in torque strength and providing other ancillary benefits.

Abstract: Provided is an improved self-ligating orthodontic appliance and methods of assembling the same. The improved orthodontic appliance uses at least one resilient clip to releasably couple an archwire to the body, where a portion of the clip is rigidly coupled to the appliance body in a position and orientation that minimizes the overall profile of the appliance. The appliance is assembled by combining a press fit coupling between the clip and appliance body with an interference fit coupling between the clip and retaining structure located on the body. Advantages include a greater freedom to select a bonding pad location, lower bracket profile, decreased engagement force, enhanced clip fatigue life, and ease of assembly.

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: The appliances and methods provide a tab on a “U”-shaped clip having a labial (i.e. toward the patient's lips or cheek) section and a lingual (i.e. toward the patient's tongue) section. The tab is located in a position that facilitates access by a practitioner and also reduces the moment applied to the clip when the clips is opened and closed. Advantageously, the tab can be positioned to account for the varying degree of resistance encountered by different sections of the clip and minimize the likelihood of either distorting the clip or torquing the appliance. The tab can be positioned coplanar with the sliding mechanism. Advantageously, these appliances can provide improved ease of use, reduced clip distortion over time, and greater patient comfort.

Abstract: Provided is an improved self-ligating orthodontic appliance and methods of assembling the same. The improved orthodontic appliance uses at least one resilient clip to releasably couple an archwire to the body, where a portion of the clip is rigidly coupled to the appliance body in a position and orientation that minimizes the overall profile of the appliance. The appliance is assembled by combining a press fit coupling between the clip and appliance body with an interference fit coupling between the clip and retaining structure located on the body. Advantages include a greater freedom to select a bonding pad location, lower bracket profile, decreased engagement force, enhanced clip fatigue life, and ease of assembly.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for orthodontic treatment planning that involve determining an initial position of an orthodontic structure, determining an altered position, and generating response surface data using a mathematical relationship between the positions. The mathematical relationship may be defined by a number of parameters useful for determining one or more of the stress, strain, force, and moment associated with movement of the orthodontic structure. The mathematical relationship between the initial position and the altered position may be defined using a finite element analysis, empirically determined, or using other computational methodologies such as a finite difference methodology. The mathematical relationship may also be defined using an analytical methodology, such as elasticity and/or plasticity methodologies.

Abstract: An indirect bonding tray places orthodontic appliances in precise, predetermined positions on the teeth of a patient. The indirect bonding tray includes a first matrix material that extends over a set of appliances and a second matrix material that extends over the first matrix material. The indirect bonding tray also includes at least one occlusal stop member that is connected to the second matrix material for firm, relatively hard contact with the occlusal tips of the patient's teeth when the tray is received in place over the patient's dental arch.

Abstract: Systems for moving teeth of a patient's dental arch from a first tooth arrangement to a second tooth arrangement include a plurality of resilient appliances such as positioning trays or elongated arch members that are used in sequence. Each appliance of the systems includes a row of spaced apart couplings for connection to respective teeth of the dental arch. The appliances have certain geometric characteristics that match the geometric characteristics of other appliances of the system, and at least one appliance has a stiffness that is greater than the stiffness of at least one other appliance.

Abstract: Indirect bonding trays for orthodontic treatment are made from a model of the patient's dental arch that is manufactured using digital data and rapid prototyping processes. The model includes one or more guides for orienting an orthodontic appliance in a desired position on a model tooth of the dental arch model. A holder is connected to the archwire slot of the appliance and is brought into contact with the guide in order to move the appliance to its intended position for subsequent manufacture of the indirect bonding tray.

Abstract: A hand instrument for debonding an adhesively bonded orthodontic bracket from a patient's tooth includes two jaws, each of which includes a contact pad for engaging opposite sides of the bracket. When the jaws are moved together, at least a majority of the area of each contact pad that contacts the side of the bracket is located beneath the archwire slot of the bracket in a lingual direction in order to facilitate fracture of the adhesive bond and release of the bracket from the tooth surface.

Abstract: An indirect bonding tray places orthodontic appliances in precise, predetermined positions on the teeth of a patient. The indirect bonding tray includes a first matrix material that extends over a set of appliances and a second matrix material that extends over the first matrix material. The indirect bonding tray also includes at least one occlusal stop member that is connected to the second matrix material for firm, relatively hard contact with the occlusal tips of the patient's teeth when the tray is received in place over the patient's dental arch.

Abstract: Indirect bonding trays for orthodontic treatment are made from a model of the patient's dental arch that is manufactured using digital data and rapid prototyping processes. The model includes one or more guides for orienting an orthodontic appliance in a desired position on a model tooth of the dental arch model. A holder is connected to the archwire slot of the appliance and is brought into contact with the guide in order to move the appliance to its intended position for subsequent manufacture of the indirect bonding tray.

Abstract: An orthodontic brace includes a set of orthodontic brackets for a dental arch that comprises at least one central incisor bracket, one lateral incisor bracket, and one cuspid bracket. Each bracket of the set lacks occlusal tiewings. Without occlusal tiewings, interferences with opposing teeth are substantially reduced and patient comfort, hygiene, and bracket aesthetics are enhanced.

Abstract: An orthodontic appliance includes a latch that comprises at least one clip for retaining an archwire in an archwire slot of the appliance. The clip includes a first section, a second section opposed to the first section and a third section that interconnects the first section and the second section. The third section is adjacent the base and includes an outer edge having a convex shape in contact with a wall portion of the base. The convex shape facilitates opening the clip during insertion of an archwire into the archwire slot of the appliance.

Abstract: An orthodontic appliance such as a bracket or buccal tube has a latch for retaining an archwire in an archwire slot. The appliance also includes built-torque in order to reduce the need for the practitioner to manually bend the archwire by twisting the archwire about its longitudinal axis during the course of treatment. The latch comprises at least one clip having certain features that significantly reduce strain during opening movements of the clip. As a result, the fatigue life of the clip is enhanced.