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 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: An orthodontic appliance comprises a base portion adapted to be affixed to a patient's tooth and an upper portion including a flexible and resilient hook for forming a tubular channel for receiving an archwire. The upper portion includes a flange affixed to the hook, and is sized and shaped to connect to loops of an elastomeric power chain.

Abstract: An orthodontic appliance comprises a base portion adapted to be affixed to a patient's tooth and an upper portion including a flexible and resilient hook for forming a tubular channel for receiving an archwire. The upper portion includes a flange affixed to the hook, and is sized and shaped to connect to loops of an elastomeric power chain.

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 base of an orthodontic bracket includes a matrix of bond pads that form channels to hold adhesive. These channels are oriented at acute angles to a long tooth axis to better resist shear forces impinging from random directions.

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: The invention relates to a tooth top part for a tooth correction means (1), with a base body (2) at which a tooth support surface (5, 25, 45) is formed for being fixed at a tooth surface (3) by bonding, and which is provided with a guide recess (12, 32, 52) which is formed for receiving a connecting means (4, 24, 44) for coupling neighboring tooth top parts (2, 22, 42) and which passes through the base body (2) in spaced relationship to the tooth support surface (5) along a guiding axis (17). According to the invention, the base body (2) comprises a substantially triangular or circular section shaped cross section (11, 11a, 31, 51) in a cross sectional plane (10) normal to the guiding axis (17).

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 latch and mating with the latch as it restores 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.

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 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: 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 pin for locking the member against rotation is employed when uprighting the tooth from a tipped position.

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: The invention relates to a tooth top part for a tooth correction means (1), with a base body (2) at which a tooth support surface (5, 25, 45) is formed for being fixed at a tooth surface (3) by bonding, and which is provided with a guide recess (12, 32, 52) which is formed for receiving a connecting means (4, 24, 44) for coupling neighbouring tooth top parts (2, 22, 42) and which passes through the base body (2) in spaced relationship to the tooth support surface (5) along a guiding axis (17). According to the invention, the base body (2) comprises a substantially triangular or circular section shaped cross section (11, 11a, 31, 51) in a cross sectional plane (10) normal to the guiding axis (17).

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 package for a set of orthodontic appliances includes a tray having a plurality of open pockets in which each pocket is sized and shaped to receive a selected orthodontic bracket according to its shape and dimensions such that each bracket is held snugly therein. The tray includes a tab at one end adapted to be grasped between a user's thumb and forefinger, and a cover is provided which is adapted for slideable engagement with the tray for covering the open pockets.

Abstract: An orthodontic tool for an orthodontic appliance includes a handle and at least one distal end having a finger. The finger has a manipulator, which may include a pin or a plurality of pins, and a probe for engaging a rotary archwire cover. Using the tool, the orthodontist may open and close the archwire cover, which is rotationally mounted to an orthodontic bracket.

Abstract: An orthodontic bracket having a base attachable to a tooth surface, with the base extending outward away from the tooth surface and forming an archwire slot sized to receive an archwire therewithin, and a removable archwire slot cover coined onto the base so as to cover the archwire slot and enable the bracket to function as a buccal tube when the cover is attached. The cover may be removed from the bracket base without removal of the bracket from the tooth surface so as to provide an open archwire slot for continued orthodontic treatment subsequent to removal of the removable archwire slot cover.

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 pin for locking the member against rotation is employed when uprighting the tooth from a tipped position.

Abstract: An orthodontic tool for an orthodontic appliance includes a handle and at least one distal end having a finger. The finger has a manipulator, which may include a pin or a plurality of pins, and a probe for engaging a rotary archwire cover. Using the tool, the orthodontist may open and close the archwire cover, which is rotationally mounted to an orthodontic bracket.