Abstract: An orthodontic appliance has a tooth-abutting surface oriented at an acute angle relative to the base of an arch-wire slot. A lip bumper tube of the appliance is reverse offset relative to the base of the arch-wire slot to obtain more accurate manipulation of the force and torque vectors applied to the tooth. The angle of the base also reduces occlusal interference by gingivally inclining the lip bumper. Wedge-shaped occlusal tie wings further reduce occlusal interference. An auxiliary hook of the appliance is shaped so that its extension in the buccal direction is less than that of the lip bumper tube to reduce patient irritation and discomfort.

Abstract: A buccal tube contains a rotating integral cover attachable over the archwire slot of the tube.

Abstract: An orthodontic buccal tube has an effective height of the main body of the tube restricted to a certain value by removing a portion corresponding to tie wings at the same time there are provided a groove for receiving a ligature in a part on the occlusal side, proximal to a tooth, of the main body of the tube and a recess portion capable of receiving the extremity of an instrument for dental surgery such as a pincette, etc. at a required position on the frontal surface of the main body of the tube, in order to solve problems of prior art orthodontic buccal tubes.

Abstract: A dental article is coated with a hard carbon coating of polycrystalline diamond, diamond-like amorphous hydrogen-free carbon, diamond-like hydrogenated amorphous carbon, or combinations thereof. The hard carbon coating presents a barrier to nickel and chromium that might otherwise diffuse from an underlying metal substrate, and as such is useful for patients exhibiting sensitivity to nickel and chromium.

Abstract: An orthodontic buccal tube has a first passage for receiving a main arch wire, a second passage for receiving either a lip bumper or a facebow, and a third passage for receiving an auxiliary or segmented arch wire. The second passage includes an enlarged, generally frustoconical mesial entrance, and the third passage includes a mesial opening that is located at least partially in the enlarged entrance. As such, the third passage can be spaced relatively close to the second passage while the enlarged mesial entrance of the second passage facilitates the insertion of the facebow or the lip bumper.

Abstract: A dental crown analog for anchoring an orthodontic archwire to a dental implant fixture installed in a patient who is edentulous at the site where such anchorage is desired has a hollow tubular passage integral with the analog and extending mesially-distally through the analog close to an adjacent buccal or lingual surface. This passage has a slot-shaped opening at one end, the larger dimension of which is generally parallel to the adjacent surface, and the larger dimension tapers toward a smaller generally cylindrical cross-section between its ends or at the other end. Where the smaller cross section is between the ends of the passage the other end of the passage also has a slot-shaped opening. A tube for holding the archwire may be fitted in the passage, rockably mounted in the smaller portion of the passage.

Abstract: A dental crown analog suitable for orthodontic anchorage mates with an endosseous dental implant fixture to provide such anchorage at an edentulous site. The crown analog is tapered down toward the transverse dimensions of the implant fixture above the gun line, to minimize the accumulation of bacterial plaque, and to facilitate cleaning by the patient during the process of orthodontic therapy. A standard abutment fixed to the implant fixture may be used with a dental crown overlay fitted over the abutment to provide a choice of crown sizes and shapes.

Abstract: A buccal tube used in orthodontic therapy is convertible to a bracket during later stages of treatment. The buccal tube includes two tabs initially extending toward each other from opposite sides of an arch wire slot. A prying tool placed in a slot of the buccal tube moves both of the tabs apart and bends the tabs toward recessed positions in order to open the slot and convert the buccal tube to a bracket.

Abstract: A molar tube appliance including a molar or buccal tube for mounting on a molar and for receiving a lip bumper or a face bow, wherein the tube has a flared opening with the larger end of the opening being at the mesial end. The opening is structured to enhance insertion of the lip bumper or face bow by the patient particularly where the molar is adversely rotated.

Abstract: An improved appliance for producing backward movement of molars or adjacent teeth is disclosed. The appliance can be readily removed, adjusted in length to change applied forces and then easily reinstalled.

Abstract: An abutment for orthodontic anchorage is mountable on an osseointegrated dental implant fixture in the same manner as components used to support prosthodontic restorations. This abutment is adjustable around the axis of the implant fixture, and it supports a mount for holding an orthodontic anchor fixed to a buccal or a lingual side of the abutment. The mount is adjustable around an axis running between the buccal and lingual surfaces.

Abstract: An orthodontic buccal tube appliance for use with the molars has a tube with a mesial, open-ended cylindrical passage and a distal rectangular passage aligned with the cylindrical passage. The tube is thus adapted for use with either round or rectangular wire in accordance with the preference of the orthodontist. A funnel-shaped wall connects the cylindrical passage to the rectangular passage in order to guide an end of rectangular wire toward a position within the rectangular passage.

Abstract: An orthodontic bracket comprises a body having first and second ends, a first vertical sidewall for attachment to a molar band, and a second sidewall extending arcuate and upwardly away from a lower portion of the first sidewall. A contoured slot extends between the ends and downwardly from an upper portion of the first sidewall for defining an upper and a lower channel, and the lower channel permits the second sidewall to flex outwardly relative to the first sidewall. The upper channel includes a lower arcuate surface upon which an orthodontic wire seats. The second sidewall includes a pawl overlying the upper channel and extending substantially the length thereof for engaging and maintaining an orthodontic wire in the upper channel and against the lower arcuate surface.

Abstract: A sintered-metal convertible buccal tube for orthodontic use, and having a body with an integrally formed cover plate closing an outer side of an arch-wire slot. Lines of weakness are defined along opposite side edges of the cover plate so the plate can be sheared away from the body to open the slot at a later treatment phase.

Abstract: An orthodontic appliance system includes a plurality of connector appliances for rigidly connecting a force-supplying appliance to a patient's teeth to be positioned or stabilized. Each connector appliance includes a male connector piece rigidly attached to the force-supplying appliance and a female connector piece adapted for rigid attachment to a tooth to be positioned or stabilized. Each male connector piece is substantially wedge-shaped having a large base connected to the force-supplying appliance and a relatively narrow outer end. Each female connector piece includes a wedge-shaped receptacle generally corresponding in shape to the wedge shape of the male connector pieces, the receptacle being adapted to receive one of the male connector pieces in a fully inserted, connected position with the receptacle surfaces substantially abutting said wedge-shaped male connector. Each connector preferably also includes a locking device for locking the male and female pieces together in the connected position.

Abstract: A convertible-buccal-tube orthodontic bracket of compact design, and having an auxiliary-appliance hook which is gingivally inclined to prevent occlusal interference.

Abstract: A dental intrusion device for intruding one or more teeth of a dental arch. Plural embodiments of the device are disclosed within the generic context of an intra-oral structure operatively related to the arch, an extra-oral structure, and a force-creating mechanism extending between the intra- and extra-oral structures. The co-action of these components results in intrusion forces being developed on teeth which are to be intruded. Various features within the generic aspect of the invention relate to particular forms of force-applying mechanism, particular forms of intra-oral structures and particular forms of extra-oral structures.

Abstract: Mirror image orthodontic brackets of an overall elongated block configuration are provided for attachment to bands, in turn secured to molars, to receive respective horizontal ends of lingual arch wires terminating in ninety degree bend portions. The overall elongated block configuration has: one medial surface for attachment to a band to be secured to lingual side of a molar; one interrupted occlusal surface presenting a longitudinal slot to receive a horizontal end of a lingual arch wire; one forward, i.e., mesial, interrupted surface presenting the entry of the longitudinal slot; one rear, i.e.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an arch wire holder, in orthodontic appliances, composed of a bracket which is preferably to the lingual side of a tooth and has a slot for receiving a wire and which supports a rotatable locking member which is rotatably engaged with the bracket to open and close the slot thereby permitting the wire to be secured to or detached from the slot. Using such a wire holder, attachment and detachment of arch wire can easily and positively be effected in a single simple operation so that time required for dental treatment can be reduced, and further medical accidents can be prevented.

Abstract: A convertible buccal tube assembly for selectively receiving archwire in non-torquing or torquing modes, which includes a buccal tube portion having a round archwire opening therethrough capable of receiving round or non-round archwire and a torquing flap with a rectangular or other non-round opening selectively positionable between non-working and working positions and movable into the working position with the rectangular opening aligning with the round opening of the buccal tube portion to convert the assembly for receiving a rectangular archwire in a torquing mode.

Abstract: An orthodontic face bow in which the outer bow is coupled firmly but separably to the inner bow by magnetic means and the inner bow is coupled to opposite molars in the mouth of the patient by a combination of mechanical and magnetic means, all to the end that, at a predetermined force the outer bow will separate from the inner bow and, at a higher force, the inner bow may be removed from the mouth of the patient so that prevention of injury to the patient by the inner bow may be prevented.

Abstract: A system of orthodontic appliances and method for their use for gaining space in a dental arch without extraction. Space is gained in the maxillary arch primarily through a transpalatal bar, transmitting force to selected teeth through a maxillary lingual sheath, the receiving portion of the sheath having a mesial offset of about eight degrees. Additional space in the maxillary arch may be gained by employing an extraoral force appliance, transmitting force through a maxillary buccal tube carried on a selected pair of maxillary molars. The mandibular arch is treated by applying similar forces to selected molars through a lip bumper. This appliance transmits force through a mandibular buccal tube that receives the bumper in a passage having a mesial offset of about five degrees. The mandibular buccal tube also carries an archwire receiving passage, distally offset by about four degrees.

Abstract: A coated metallic dental crown and orthodontic appliances which are coated with a thin layer tooth-colored polymer which resembles the normal tooth. The appearance of temporary dental crowns and orthodontic appliances is metallic and the coated crowns and appliance blend with the teeth to give a more pleasing appearance in the mouth.

Abstract: An orthodontic appliance comprising: an orthodontic channel bracket having two channels therein at right angles to each other in adjacent sides of the bracket; an orthodontic tube bracket providing the static components of a spring latch or locking mechanism; a supplemental tube bracket providing the movable components of a spring latch or locking mechanism, and removable and replacable molar tube components of an orthodontic appliance; and an orthodontic arch wire movable spring latch component mechanism.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an arch wire holder, in orthodontic appliances, composed of a bracket which is fixed to a tooth and has a slot for receiving a wire and which supports a rotatable locking member which is rotatably engaged with the bracket to open and close the slot thereby permitting the wire to be secured to or detached from the slot. Using such a wire holder, attachment and detachment of arch wire can easily and positively be effected in a simple operation so that time required for dental treatment can be reduced, and medical accidents can be prevented.

Abstract: An orthodontic bracket system for edgewise orthodontic therapy which is adapted for attachment to the lingual surface portions of a patient's teeth. The lingual orthodontic bracket system of this invention is designed to permit occlusal and mesial insertion of an edgewise archwire into precision archwire slots that are defined by the respective brackets of incisors, cuspids, bicuspids and molars. At least some of the lingual orthodontic brackets incorporate fulcrum controlled twin tie wing systems to permit efficient controlled rotation of the teeth as well as archwire tipping and torque activities. The lingual bracket system of this invention also incorporates a molar tube that is designed for mesio-occlusal insertion of the end portion of the edgewise archwire and also permits pivoting or rotation of the archwire about the molar tube structure so as to bring the archform portion thereof occlusally into properly seated relation with respect to the archwire slots of other brackets.

Abstract: An orthodontic clip or cap removably snap mountable on an edgewise bracket for retaining an archwire in the archwire slot of the bracket and having means for enhancing rotational tipping and/or torque control.

Abstract: An orthodontic appliance which converts from a buccal tube to a bracket upon the removal of a wire insert which is partly positioned within the longitudinal slot of a bracket body and attached to the surface of the bracket.

Abstract: An orthodontic appliance that is convertible to function in both light wire and edgewise techniques and which includes a sheath mountable on a tooth that may selectively receive any one of several wire receiving inserts. Each of the inserts is lockable to the sheath and thereafter removable so that the sheath, while still mounted on a tooth, can alternately be fitted with any one of several inserts. One of the inserts is formed to function as a light wire buccal tube, while another is formed to function as an edgewise buccal tube. A further insert is formed to function as an edgewise bracket.

Abstract: Orthodontic converters for converting straight wire archwire tooth receptacles to light wire appliance system treatment and light wire archwire tooth receptacles to straight wire appliance system treatment. The converters have snap clips for selectively and conveniently attaching and detaching the converter to the tooth receptacle. The converter also includes a cut-out to accept an archwire of the chosen system.

Abstract: There is described a dento-facial orthopaedy apparatus, comprising a force-conveying means at the level of two right-side and left-side molars from a patient, and anchoring means for said conveying means on both said molars in which each anchoring means comprises a fluted tube-like element which is fixedly connected to the one molar, said tube-like element having an axial recess opening outwards through a lengthwise groove, said force-conveying means comprising fastening means which can cooperate with said anchoring means and enter the axial recess from the tube-like elements through the lengthwise groove thereof with a movement along a substantially radial direction relative to the corresponding tube-like element, the apparatus further comprising locking means to prevent any radial movement of the fastening means of the conveying means after entering the tube-like element thereof.

Abstract: An orthodontic appliance for jaw correction comprises positioning structure operatively disposed between the upper and lower sets of teeth for correcting the condition. The invention relates to improvements operatively relating the positioning structure to the respective sets of teeth.

Abstract: The orthodontic appliance includes the usual band fitted around the tooth, a pair of T-shaped brackets with an aligned groove for placing the arch wire; a ligating element having a flat base and a button on top is placed on the brackets to hold the arch wire; the ligating element is fastened to the brackets by means of wires welded to the bottom of the ligating element; an elastic band can be fastened to the button as well as to the button on a ligating element analogously tied to another tooth.

Abstract: A removable orthodontic palatal arch bar for applying rotating, expanding, contracting, intruding and/or torqueing forces to a pair of opposed molars which includes an arch bar of round wire having doubled-over ends receivable by lingual tubes mounted on the molars and a combination locking device and elastic anchoring means extending from the doubled over ends along the gingival and distal sides of the tubes.

Abstract: A dental appliance for use with a variety of different sizes and shapes of elongated wire-like members including: a metal tubular member for attachment to a band which band encircles a tooth for support and with the metal tubular member forming an open passage extending from one end of the tubular member to the other end of the tubular member. The open passage has a greater height than width and with the passage large enough to receive different sizes and shapes of wire-like members. An insert member has a size in one direction approximately the same as the width of the open passage and having a size in the other direction substantially equal to one-half of the height of the open passage so that two inserts substantially fill the open passage.

Abstract: An extraoral anchorage device for imparting orthopedic force to teeth is provided which comprises outer bows for transmitting an external force to teeth and inner bows for transmitting the force delivered by the outer bows to buccal tubes respectively fixed to said teeth, said inner bows being connected to the outer bows and having outer free ends. In the extraoral anchorage device the improvement consists in that the outer free ends of said inner bows have a non-circular cross section. By the use of the extraoral anchorage device according to the present invention, the orthopedic force is transmitted from the outer free ends of the inner bows to the buccal tubes without rotational movement.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an orthodontic appliance for the treatment of dental malocclusion. Brackets of the present invention, used for securing the orthodontic wire, are all bonded to the internal sides of the teeth, that is, the lingual or palatal side. The orthodontic appliance comprises a plate bonded to a tooth, which plate is connected to the main body of the bracket. The covering orthodontic cap for fixing the wire is connected to the main body of the bracket. The cap can be removed from the bracket since it is fixed and connected thereto with a connecting part and elastic connecting device. The bracket or the cap is provided with a shearing groove that prevents the caps from sliding off and provides for locking and removal of the cap by simple operations.

Abstract: An orthodontic appliance, such as a buccal tube, an edgewise bracket or an edgewise bracket having rotating pads thereon, is molded either from a ceramic material or metal. When a ceramic material is used, the color of the appliance may be coordinated with that of a tooth. The appliance has a domed outwardly facing surface which is entirely curved in both the length and width directions and which is free of angular edge surfaces. The appliance may be adapted either for bonding directly to a tooth surface or for welding to a tooth and circling band. When the appliance is bonded directly to the tooth surface, a bonding material is employed. When bonded directly to the tooth, the appliance has an aperture formed with an undercut portion therein at the point of bonding which forms the bonding material contained within the aperture thereby causing the bonding material and appliance to be mechanically interlocked.

Abstract: An orthodontic appliance is molded either from a ceramic material or metal. When a ceramic material is used, the color of the appliance may be a coordinated with that of a tooth. The appliance has a domed outwardly facing surface which is entirely curved in both the length and width directions and which is free of angular edge surfaces. The appliance may be adapted either for bonding directly to a tooth surface or for welding to a tooth encircling band.

Abstract: The bracket according to the invention includes the following structure:Flange means provided for securing the bracket to the teeth of a patient. A bearing member having a through hole on an axis that is transversely spaced from the flange means. Connecting means connect the bearing member and the flange means and have a neck portion. A rotary catch is mounted in the bearing member for rotation on said axis and defines with said neck portion and the flange means a channel, which is disposed on one side of the bearing member and open opposite to the neck portion and adapted to receive a wire so that the latter is engageable with the neck portion. The rotary catch channel is rotatable about the axis to and from a wire-retaining position and in the wire-retaining position is adapted to retain a wire in the channel.

Abstract: A buccal tube device has a body attached to a tooth band. The body contains at least one channel with a non-circular cross-section. The channel is formed in the body by an electroerosion process. In a preferred form, the channel cross-section is four cornered and is inclined. The invention also includes a process for forming such buccal tubes by providing an electroerosion electrode with a non-circular cross-section and using it to form a channel of corresponding cross-section. The electroerosion process may include flushing the channel thus formed during the electroerosion.