Abstract: The present invention relates to an orthodontic arch (12) comprising at least one special loop (22) in the form of a spring hook. Said spring hook makes it possible to effect intrusion and corporal retraction of the front teeth, especially in the upper jaw, in a faster, more gentle and better controlled manner in comparison with conventional arches and methods. By additionally attaching rubber bands, springs or ligatures (24), all disadvantages of conventional constructions can be eliminated or minimized by means of an adjustable lever action effect due to the fact that the inventive arch-spring construction enables dynamic undulating movement of the front teeth adapted to biological processes during an activation procedure as opposed to conventional rigid mechanisms. Especially medical or biological requirements and aspects are fulfilled by the inventive arch. The inventive arch enables faster movement and greatly reduces damage and pain.

Abstract: Disclosed is the rapid orthodontics treatment method after corticotomy and the skeletal anchorage plate. The method comprises the steps of: incising gums within a range established in consideration of a set of teeth to be corrected; incising front and rear surfaces of a cortical bone; suturing incised gums; and placing an orthodontic appliance on the teeth and applying tensioning force to the set of teeth, thereby to correct irregularities of the teeth.

Abstract: An orthodontic device for retraction or extension of teeth. The orthodontic device utilizes a spring and concentric sliding members to apply a biasing force to a patient's teeth in a manner that translates the teeth without rotation or tipping either tooth to which it is attached. A removable activation structure is adapted to hold the sliding members in a locked condition which maintains the device at a fixed length prior to fixation of the device to the teeth. When the activation structure is removed to provide a released condition, a corrective force is applied to the teeth for accomplishing an orthodontic treatment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for orthodontic treatment employs a cast mass-type appliance with a labial bow and combinations of labial and lingual springs to produce multiple coupled forces on selected teeth. The lingual spring has a stem embedded in the appliance and a plurality of pairs of activation loops at its active, tooth-contacting end, which extend laterally outward from the longitudinal axis of the stem. The labial spring has a pair of lateral wings for attachment to a labial bow, and one or more rabbit ears extending selectively either occlusally or gingivally along the labial surface of the tooth.

Abstract: An orthodontic appliance (10) for treating anterior teeth of a patient includes a support structure (12, 14) having labial and lingual components for applying opposed forces to a set of targeted teeth. The labial component includes a labial arch (20) having an encapsulated (26) labial bow (34) and distal extending portions (27) extending through sleeves (18) attached to clasps (16), and compressed springs (25) disposed between hooked ends (22) of the wire and the sleeve ends (19). The lingual component includes a lingual rod (30) having a mushroom-shaped center (34) encapsulated in a hard acrylic body (35) and distal extending portions extending through sleeves (36). Compressed springs (40) are disposed between the sleeve end (38) and the hard body.

Abstract: A contracting connector between a maxillary apparatus and mandibular apparatus to treat an underbite. The connector has a telescoping outer sheath connected at its posterior end to the maxillary apparatus. A rod is slidingly engaged in the sheath. And connected at its anterior end to the mandibular apparatus. A spring connected between the rod and the posterior end of the sheath exerts adjustable contraction pressure on the rod and thus the mandible. In another embodiment, the rod has separate anterior and posterior segments The posterior segment of the rod is attached to the maxillary apparatus and the anterior segment is attached to the mandibular apparatus A spring connected between the anterior and posterior segments exerts adjustable contracting pressure on the two rod segments and thus on the maxilla and the mandible. In either embodiment the contracting pressure on the spring is adjusted by changing the length of the telescoping outer sheath. An improved channel lock for connectors also is disclosed.

Abstract: A palatal adjusting device includes an elastic means which has two arms in different directions engageable respectively with an upper barrel band and a lower barrel band mounted respectively on an upper molar and a lower molar. When a patient's mouth is closed, the elastic means will be compressed to produce an upward force or a forward force to push the upper jaw bone upward or forward for the upper teeth to have proper occlusal contact with the lower teeth.

Abstract: An orthodontic appliance includes brackets, an arch wire and a hook for receiving an elastic member. The hook is movable from a first position when the elastic is not positioned about the hook to a second position when the elastic member is positioned about the hook. In one embodiment, the orthodontic appliance includes a clamp pivotable about the arch wire, a tube connected to the clamp and to the hook, and a second wire connected to the tube and to at least one of the brackets. In another embodiment, magnets are secured to the arch wire. One of the magnets can pivot about the arch wire and includes a hook attached thereto. In another embodiment, an orthodontic appliance includes brackets, an arch wire, a clamp secured to the arch wire, a hook and a wire. The wire is secured to the clamp and the hook. The hook is movable in response to a force applied by an elastic member. In another embodiment, an orthodontic appliance includes brackets, an arch wire, a hook and a wire segment.

Abstract: An orthodontic appliance for correcting minor incisor irregularities and/or retaining incisors in orthodontically corrected positions, which includes a labial plate engaging the labial surfaces of the incisors, a lingual bar or plate engaging the lingual incisal surfaces, and shape memory wire interconnecting the ends of the labial plate with the lingual bar and resiliently urging the plate and bar toward each other so that when the appliance is mounted on the teeth of a patient, it will actively and continuously grip the incisors for tooth control and to prevent dislodgement.

Abstract: A mandibular arch expander for moving the lower teeth of an individual in better alignment with the upper teeth of the individual. The expander includes a first orthodontic band and a second orthodontic band attachable to opposite molars on each side of a patient's lower mouth. A first and second attachment device is provided for bonding to at least one tooth located between the lower molar and the incisor teeth. An expansion mechanism is provided for widening the mandibular arch near the front incisor teeth. The expansion mechanism is located between the first and second attachment device. A first helical spring apparatus is located between the first attachment device and the first orthodontic band and is actuable for applying both rotational and linear forces to the first molar tooth. A second helical spring apparatus is located between the second attachment device and the second orthodontic band and is actuable for applying both rotational and linear forces to the second molar tooth.

Abstract: An orthodontic spring system is provided for primary intended use with conventional fixed appliance systems. The orthodontic spring system includes one or more orthodontic spring devices that may actively grip a fixed orthodontic appliance during use for enhanced delivery of aligning forces and tooth/root control. The orthodontic spring devices may include two or more spring segments for applying tooth aligning forces in transverse directions. Additionally, the orthodontic springs may include one or more bends to provide for deflection of adjacent springs portions, twisting, wherein the orthodontic spring devices may be used to apply alignment forces in three different planes. The orthodontic springs are provided such that, when the maloccluded teeth to be repositioned have assumed their desired position, the interconnected springs will assume a substantially inactive state.

Abstract: The present invention is an orthodontic anchor system for controlling or altering the position of teeth, which is comprised of an anchor for selective attachment to a palate, a transpalatal member having a first and second end, where either the first end is attached to the anchor and the second end is attached to a tooth or teeth, or the first and second end are each respectively attached to a tooth or teeth and a center portion of the transpalatal member is attached to the anchor, and a stress breaker that is included either within the transpalatal member or between the anchor and transpalatal member. The anchor can be comprised of one or more dental implants or subperiosteal implants with the transpalatal member either attached directly thereto, or the stress breaker is directly attached thereto and also attached to the transpalatal member. The stress breaker is preferably comprised of a biasing element or a spring.

Abstract: A hard palate supporting device for pushing apart or anchoring of upper teeth, such as molars and/or premolars, includes a hard palate supporting element and/or carrier therefor, a hinge by means of which the supporting element or carrier is rotatable relative to an axis of rotation extending in the transverse direction of the teeth, and a spring which on rotation of the supporting element or carrier in a direction away from the position resting against the hard palate exerts on the supporting element or carrier a force counter-acting such rotation. The supporting device can also include a stopper which limits rotation in the direction of the position resting against the hard palate, preferably to the contact position.

Abstract: An orthodontic device is worn in the mouth of a patient and is attached between an upper attachment means secured to the maxillary teeth and a lower attachment means secured to the mandibular teeth such that the device is proximal a cheek of the patient. The device is formed from a flexible resilient spring element having a generally curved body portion configured to be inserted in the patient's mouth so as to lie in a plane defined by the cheek of the patient. The spring element has first and second oppositely disposed end portions where the first end portion is configured to be directly attached to corresponding upper or lower attachment means so as to preclude relative movement between the first end portion and the attachment means. The second end portion is configured to be directly attached to the other of the corresponding attachment means.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the distal movement of the molars, bicuspids and canines. A palate plate (10) is molded to the palate and attached to the teeth. The appliance also includes molar band attachments (16) that are attached to the palate plate by a spring-loaded wire (12). The spring (13) creates a distal force on the molars. The bicuspids are securely attached to the palate molar, therefore creating a distal movement of only the molars. Once the distal movement of the molars is complete, the bicuspids are detached from the palate plate (10) allowing for bicuspid distal movement.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of nucleic acid sequence analysis based on repeated cycles of ligation to and cleavage of probes at the terminus of a target polynucleotide. At each such cycle one or more terminal nucleotides are identified and one or more nucleotides are removed from the end of the target polynucleotide, such that further cycles of ligation and cleavage can take place. At each cycle the target sequence is shortened by one or more nucleotides until the nucleotide sequence of the target polynucleotide is determined. The method obviates electrophoretic separation of similarly sized DNA fragments and eliminates the difficulties associated with the detection and analysis of spatially overlapping bands of DNA fragments in a gel, or like medium. The invention further obviates the need to generate DNA fragments from long single stranded templates with a DNA polymerase.

Abstract: An orthodontic spring is comprised of a wave spring made of shape memory alloy that consists of a wire tightly looped, once or many times back on itself, side-to-side in figure "8"fashion. After winding, the spring is heat treated into this position. In its relaxed state, the bends of the spring form peaks and valleys which lie in parallel planes at an angle to the line of force between attachment loops at opposite end points of the spring. Portions of the wire between successive peaks and valleys overlap other portions between other peaks and valleys when the wire is relaxed. When extended, the elements of the spring lie in a longitudinal plane along its line of force. The spring is particularly suited to attachment between closely spaced points, such as brackets affixed to adjacent teeth.

Abstract: An orthodontic device is worn in a mouth of a patient and is attached between an upper attachment portion secured to the maxillary teeth and a lower attachment portion secured to the mandibular teeth such that the device is proximal a cheek of the patient. The device is formed from a single flexible resilient spring element having a generally curved body portion where the body portion is defined to lie in a plane relative to a plane defined by the cheek of the patient. The spring element has first and second oppositely disposed end portions where the first end portion is configured to directly attach to the upper attachment portion. The second end portion is configured to directly attach to the lower attachment portion. The spring element produces an applied force between the upper and lower attachment portion operative to displace the maxillary teeth relative to the mandibular teeth.

Abstract: A long-armed type molar uprighting spring is disclosed. It contains: (a) a lingual groove rest for mounting the uprighting spring in a lingual groove of a first molar; (b) a loop, which extends from the lingual groove and can be fixedly mounted around a mesial side of a second molar; (c) a buccal bracket rest extending from one end of the loop opposing the lingual groove rest for resting the upright spring on a buccal bracket of the first molar; (d) a reactivating area, which extends from the other end of the buccal bracket rest to fit into an area between the first molar and a second premolar so as to provide a stronger activating function; (e) a lever arm, which extends from the reactivating area to provide an uprighting function in accordance with impacted condition of the second molar. The long-armed type uprighting spring is specially designed in accordance with a first kind lever theory so as to overcome the problem of poor bonding that may affect a molar.

Abstract: An orthodontic bite jumping device includes a metal cylinder for receiving a telescoping plunger, for attachment to and between the orthodontic braces fixed to a patient's upper and lower teeth to achieve desired movement in otherwise conventional fashion. This appliance is at each end provided with connectors which slidingly interact with the orthodontic braces. A spring is attached between the cylinder and the plunger in a manner which causes the application of relatively consistent pushing forces to the teeth, to achieve desired tooth and jaw movements while buffering the relatively heavy forces that are produced so as not to cause damage to the orthodontic braces or to the appliances which interconnect them. Such forces are applied to and between the orthodontic braces in a substantially horizontal direction, avoiding the application of major forces in a vertical direction as was characteristic of prior bite jumping devices.

Abstract: An orthodontic device is worn in a mouth of a patient and is attached between an upper attachment portion secured to the maxillary teeth and a lower attachment portion secured to the mandibular teeth such that the device is proximal a cheek of the patient. The device is formed from a single flexible resilient spring element having a generally curved body portion where the body portion is defined to lie in a plane relative to a plane defined by the cheek of the patient. The spring element has first and second oppositely disposed end portions where the first end portion is configured to directly attach to the upper attachment portion. The second end portion is configured to directly attach to the lower attachment portion. The spring element produces an applied force between the upper and lower attachment operative to displace the maxillary teeth relative to the mandibular teeth.

Abstract: An orthodontic appliance which may be used to advance the mandible comprising a central straight segment, a pair of pivotable connectors disposed at opposite ends of the central straight segment, and a pair of arms each extending from one of the oppositely disposed pivotable connectors. The arms may be affixed, oppositely directed, to opposing upper and lower teeth on one side of a patient's dental arch.

Abstract: An orthodontic appliance which may be used to advance the mandible comprising a single element Z-shaped body including a central straight segment, a pair of oppositely curved segments disposed at opposite ends of the central straight segment, and a pair oppositely directed arms each extending from one of the oppositely curved segments. The opposing arms may be affixed to opposing upper and lower teeth on one side of the dental arch.

Abstract: An orthodontic coil spring to be used within an extraoral orthodontic appliance where the coil spring is made of a superelastic, shape-memory alloy wire. The coil spring is to impart a substantially constant force over the entire range of deflection. The level of force is to be between 375 to 800 grams.

Abstract: An orthodontic brace which is easy to use and which will optimize the relation between moment and force includes a guide mechanism that includes an upper bending stable mounting bar, two lower mounting bars, and substantially rectilinear wires connected between the upper mounting bar and each of the lower mounting bars. The lower mounting bars are fastened to an arch wire or a bracket on the teeth desired to be moved by fastening locks. As the springs of the orthodontic brace are made up of the wires, which are made from a superelastic material, and which are fixed in the bars, a desired moving, in relation to another tooth segment, may be obtained in form of a translation, which possibly is combined with a rotation of a tooth segment. The desired movement depends on the form of the guide mechanism.

Abstract: A removable orthodontic appliance repositions misaligned anterior teeth with a plurality of springs and a labial wire each secured to an acrylic palatal fitting. Each spring has a head portion in the shape of an eyelet which is positioned on the lingual side of an anterior tooth and a foot portion secured to the fitting. The springs provide lingual-to-labial force to the teeth, and the labial wire provides labial-to-lingual force to the teeth. A spring may engage the lingual surface of a tooth to provide active force to urge the tooth labially into a proper position, or may be spaced away from a tooth at a desired position to engage the tooth as it move lingually. The springs may be positioned on a mesial or a distal surface of a tooth to induce rotation. Further, the springs may provide passive resistance to maintain a properly positioned tooth in place. Each spring is made of a single strand of wire which has one end terminating at the head portion and the other end terminating at the foot portion.

Abstract: An orthodontic coil spring assembly is provided for installment on orthodontic brackets bonded on a patient's teeth for applying interarch tension. The coil spring assembly includes a coil spring and two attachment plates. Each of the attachment plates includes a first end connected with one of the ends of the coil spring, and an opposite second end connectable with an orthodontic bracket. The distance between the first and second ends of each plate is about 6 mm. Each plate also includes a narrowed neck portion between the first and second ends to facilitate deformation of the plate during installation on the brackets. An expandable sheath may be provided for covering the coil spring to inhibit pinching of the patient's cheeks by the coil spring.

Abstract: An intraoral apparatus for the treatment of labiolingual dysfunctions which includes a removable support plate equipped with dental anchoring hooks and an anterior vestibular arc. The apparatus includes an active device, and attachment members and stimulating elements which are attached to the support plate for stimulating exact positions within the oral cavity that are associated with various orofacial functions.

Abstract: A device for distalizing maxillary molars. The device comprises a spring attached to a tubular head and an attached ligature tie wire. The device is attached by a ligature tie wire at the mesial end to a hook or eyelet on a maxillary bicuspid and pushes at the distal end on a buccal tube or bracket attached to a maxillary molar. The compressed spring creates a force that tends to move the molars distally.

Abstract: Coil springs for use in orthodontic appliances which are made from wire of a beta-phase titanium alloy wound into a plurality of turns forming a coil having an outside diameter in the range of about 0.040 inches (1.016 mm) to about 0.075 inches (1.905 mm). These coil springs may be designed for use in tension as well as compression for a number of orthodontic applications.

Abstract: A drive tube apparatus for providing a precisely adjustable linear range of motion to orthodontic devices. The drive tube apparatus includes a threaded tube with a roughened surface for secure attachment to a mounting. A drive screw engages the threaded tube through a predetermined range of motion. A ball and socket rotatably attaches the drive screw to the drive shaft allowing the drive shaft to move within a linear range of motion without rotating with the drive screw. The drive shaft attached to and accomplishes the positioning of an adjustable appliance.

Abstract: A device for separating a pair of adjacent teeth comprising a wire spring formed from a single piece of wire. The wire spring comprises two angled leg segments connected by a bridging portion, the leg segments being offset from one another and from a central reference plane such that when the leg segments are drawn towards a common plane, the bridging portion is placed under a torsional load. This torsional load causes the legs to apply a force to the proximal walls of the adjacent teeth. The terminal ends of the leg portions are blunted, preferably through the formation of loops.The wire utilized in formation of the separating spring is of a substantially rectangular cross section wherein the wire has a horizontal surface dimension which is greater than the vertical side dimension.

Abstract: A coil-less wire-form orthodontic appliance for use with orthodontic brackets and archwire, installed in the mouth of a patient, for uprighting teeth.

Abstract: An orthodontic appliance (10) for distalizing an upper molar (12) includes a main support shaft (50) disposed in the archwire receptacle (22) of a molar tooth bracket (20). A slide shaft (52) extends from the main support shaft (50) and movably supports a slide collar (56). The slide collar (56) is tied via a tensile ligature (66) to the bracket (34) of a secondary tooth (14), such as a premolar. A biocompatible and corrosion resistant compression spring (64) is operatively disposed between the slide collar (56) and the slide shaft (52). The compression spring (64) is prevented from buckling by a guide pin (60) extending centrally through the compression spring (64). The guide pin (60) is attached at one end to the slide collar (56) and the other end passes through a guide tube (58) extending rigidly from the slide shaft (52). A mesial support ligature (68) extends between the slide collar ( 56) and an archwire (38) to prevent inadvertent dislocation of the appliance (10).

Abstract: An adjustable aligning reel for aligning a misaligned tooth into a predetermined position in an arch of teeth. The adjustable aligning reel comprises an adjustable tensioner which is capable of being mounted on an archwire in operative relationship with the misaligned tooth . The adjustable tensioner comprises a drive shaft having a filament attached thereto. An end of the filament is secured to a bracket which is mounted on the misaligned tooth and the drive shaft is rotated such that a predetermined tension is applied to the tooth. This tension causes the misaligned tooth to be moved towards the predetermined position. The drive shaft comprises a slip gear for preventing the tension applied to the filament from exceeding a preselected tension limit. The adjustable tensioner also includes a ratchet and pawl mechanism for preventing the drive shaft from rotating in a manner that causes the filament to unwind.

Abstract: Disclosed is an orthodontic retraction system that couples to vertical bracket slots, and that is compatible with continuous arches. In one aspect of the invention, a retraction spring that is formed of a high-strength elongate member of uniform cross-section has a stem at one end of the spring for engaging the vertical slot of a first tooth bracket, the stem being bendable for anchoring to the first tooth bracket; a shank extending from the other end of the spring for engaging a horizontally oriented auxiliary passage in a second tooth bracket, the shank also being bendable for anchoring to the second tooth bracket; and a T-shaped loop formed between the stem and the shank for biasingly connecting the tooth brackets. The disclosed system includes the spring and includes a plurality of the tooth brackets for rigid connection to corresponding teeth of a patient, each of the brackets having associated means for anchoring the continuous arch wire.

Abstract: An appliance for separating a pair of adjacent teeth comprising a wire spring formed into an approximate U-shape having two leg segments and a connecting bridge segment. The leg segments are drawn to either side of a reference plane such that the bridge segment is in torsional strain when the leg segments are near coplanar. This torsional strain causes the legs to apply a force to the proximal walls of the adjacent teeth. One leg has a hook end which acts an an anchor in the lingual or the buccal embrasure during installation of the spring, while the other leg has an abrupt bend which acts as an antirotational feature.

Abstract: An orthodontic teeth alignment correction wire element made of an alloy represented by the chemical formula of Ti.sub.a Ni.sub.b-c C.sub.c, wherein a+b=100, b=50-52, c=0.25-5.0, or an alloy represented by the chemical formula of Ti.sub.a Ni.sub.b-c-d C.sub.c X.sub.d, wherein X is at least one element selected from V, Cr, Fe, Nb, Ta, W, and Al, wherein a+b=100, b=50-52, c=0.25-5.0, d=0.25-2.0, and exhibits pseudoelasticity at the natural human body temperature. The wire has different recovery forces at different sections therealong by heat treating those sections at controlled temperatures of 400.degree.-600.degree. C. and for controlled time periods of 10-150 minutes and thereafter reheat treating them. An orthodontic coil is made of each of the above-described alloy wires for correction of mismatch of the upper and the lower jaws.

Abstract: To aid in the eruption of palatally impacted teeth, an elongated resilient wire, having a loop formed at one end thereof and a coil spring formed at the other end thereof, is attached to an archwire fixed to the patient's mouth, at the coil spring end thereof. An eyelet is bonded to an exposed portion of the impacted tooth, and the loop is attached to the eyelet by an elastic ligature. When the loop is being attached to the eyelet, the resilient arm is moved into a position against the force of the spring so that, when the resilient arm is released, the action of the spring will force the impacted tooth down and out of the palate, into the mouth and laterally, towards a dental arch.

Abstract: A dual coil lingual arch (10) appliance for use in the field of orthodontics is disclosed. Molar teeth (36, 38) are displaced distally by means of a primary wire arch (14) while anterior teeth (40) are displaced forward by means of a secondary wire arch (20). The primary wire arch (14) may be attached to the molar teeth (36, 38) by means of a pair of molar bands (42, 44), and the secondary wire arch (20) is attached to the primary wire arch (14) at a pair of spring junctions (30, 32). Near the spring junctions (30, 32) the secondary wire arch (20) is wound around the primary wire arch (14) to form a pair of spring coils (24, 26). In use, after the primary wire arch (14) is anchored to the molar teeth (36, 38) the secondary wire arch is activated by a practitioner by the action of lengthening the spring coils (24, 26), whereas the pressure on the molar teeth ( 36, 38) is independently set by means of preforming the primary wire arch (14).

Abstract: An orthodontic tensioning device and method of assembly. The device comprises at least one elastic tensioning member and a second tensioning member made of a non-elastic material provided for cooperation with the elastic tensioning member so as to provide a predetermined tensioning member.

Abstract: A molar distalizing appliance for distalizing the first and/or second molars into a normal anterior/posterior relationship with the opposing teeth, which is cantileverly mounted from the first molar and includes a spring means activated by a connection to an anchoring tooth such as a first or second bicuspid or a deciduous molar as a tooth mesial to the molar. The distal end of the appliance is formed to mount in a stabilized position on the molar and to extend mesially along the mesially positioned teeth to a point that permits development of a light continuous force from the spring sufficient to bodily move the first and/or second molars distally from the bicuspid.

Abstract: A continuous-length orthodontic coil spring is made from a shape-memory alloy wire wound into a coil. The coil defines a plurality of open coil sections defining spaces between the turns thereof, and closed coil sections formed between the open coil sections. The closed coil sections are tightly wound with insubstantial spacing between the turns thereof. The coil spring is made of a Ni-Ti alloy wire, and is heat treated to impart a predetermined range of spring force within a superelastic zone of deflection. The continuous-length coil spring is cut through the closed coil sections to form several shorter-length coil springs therefrom. The closed coil sections on either end of the shorter-length coil springs are thus adapted to engage the orthodontic brackets mounted to a patient's teeth, to accurately impart the force of the spring to the brackets.

Abstract: An orthodontic auxiliary applicance for intruding and torquing upper anterior teeth, which includes the use of an auxiliary archwire gingival to the main archwire and slidably retained by buccal tubes, together with a unique connecting auxiliary extending between the main archwire and the auxiliary archwire or between the brackets on the anterior teeth and the auxiliary archwire, which connecting auxiliary includes an anchoring portion, an intermediate coiled portion, and a hook.

Abstract: An individual root torquing auxiliary for use with an edgewise bracket having a vertical slot which includes a torquing arm received in the vertical slot and a tail for engagement in the archwire slot of one or more adjacent brackets, wherein the axis of torquing is centered substantially along the main archwire.

Abstract: An appliance is disclosed for the correction of dental malpositions, and particularly for the distalization of molar teeth. A metal wire arch is fastened to the incisors and canines, and at least one small tube receives a portion of the wire arch which can move freely inside the tube. The tube has a fixed protrusion which is in contact with a coil-spring wound around the tube at one end. The coil-spring engages a sleeve fastened onto a metal band which is fitted to a malpositioned molar tooth. At the other end, the tube is provided with a hook-shaped projection. An inter-maxillary rubber band engages the hook and a similar hook-projection fastened to a molar of the antagonist jaw. The appliance is of the intra-oral and non-movable type, which is used to carry out a functional treatment which is similar to biological and natural rhythms. This device uses the muscular force that the patient exerts in order to tense the inter-maxillary elastic, when talking or chewing.

Abstract: A removable orthodontic appliance is firmly seated on the teeth on each side at a midregion by clasps which provide a base for a label filament serving as a reference arch, and curved lingual spring filament which urges the teeth against the reference. The lingual filament provides a gentle but constant force over a substantial distance to cause repositioning of selected teeth without the need for frequent readjustments. The mountings for the filaments comprise open loops having filament receiving sleeves at each end by means of which the positions and angles of the filaments may be adjusted but the filaments may be coupled in solely by mechanical means. The lingual filament may comprise a memory alloy having a temperature transition below normal body temperature so that it may initially follow the irregular profile of the teeth and continue to exert pressure over a substantial distance as the teeth are repositioned.

Abstract: An orthodontic applicance for preventing unwanted rotation of a tooth during its translational movement along a main guide-wire. The appliance is adapted to be held by at least one bracket affixed to a tooth. The appliance includes a main spring assembly for causing, when activated, translational movement of a tooth along the main guide-wire to reduce space between the tooth and another tooth. An auxiliary spring assembly, which is separate and spaced from the main spring assembly, includes a spring and a mesial leg extending from the spring. The auxiliary spring assembly is used to substantially prevent unwanted rotation of the tooth being moved in a lateral direction. Orthodontic wire, which includes an anchoring end, interconnects the auxiliary spring assembly and the main spring assembly.

Abstract: An uprighting spring for use with an edgewise and/or ribbon arch type bracket wherein the spring includes, a coil or force-generating portion adapted to be disposed on the labial surface of the bracket, a tail to be anchored in a vertical opening or slot of the bracket or to a tie wing of an edgewise bracket, and means connected to the coil portion and adaptable to extend substantially along the archwire and be connected to the archwire when activating the spring.

Abstract: An orthodontic appliance to establish and maintain normal alignment of the teeth. The orthodontic appliance includes a U-shaped band of flexible material having a pair of rearwardly extending arms where the U-shaped band conforms to the labial surface of the dental arch when in position in the mouth. It also includes a pair of anchors each of which is adapted to cooperate with a molar on opposite sides of the mouth to maintain the U-shaped band in position against the labial surface of the dental arch. The orthodontic appliance further includes a resilient member joining the anchors to the arms of the U-shaped band with the resilient member applying a biasing force to the labial surface of the dental arch through the U-shaped band. In addition, the orthodontic appliance may include a U-shaped member releasably securable to the anchors for applying a counterforce to the front teeth of the dental arch.