U.S. patent application number 15/552594 was filed with the patent office on 2018-02-22 for orthodontic appliance including arch member.
The applicant listed for this patent is 3M Innovative Properties Company. Invention is credited to David K. CINADER, JR., Michael K. DOMROESE, Todd I. ODA, Ralf M. PAEHL, Richard E. RABY, Lee C. YICK.
Application Number | 20180049847 15/552594 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55543140 |
Filed Date | 2018-02-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180049847 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
ODA; Todd I. ; et
al. |
February 22, 2018 |
ORTHODONTIC APPLIANCE INCLUDING ARCH MEMBER
Abstract
Various embodiments of an orthodontic appliance and method for
forming such appliance are disclosed. The appliance can include a
first anchor and a second anchor each including an anchor coupling
and a base adapted to connect the respective anchor to a surface of
a first tooth and a second tooth respectively. The appliance can
also include an arch member including an arch member body and first
and second arch member couplings integral with the body, the arch
member body including a cross-sectional geometry that varies along
a length of the body. The first arch member coupling can be
releasably connectable to the anchor coupling of the first anchor
and the second arch member coupling can be releasably connectable
to the anchor coupling of the second anchor. The arch member body
can include a first nonlinear portion between the first arch member
coupling and the second arch member coupling.
Inventors: |
ODA; Todd I.; (Torrance,
CA) ; YICK; Lee C.; (Placentia, CA) ; CINADER,
JR.; David K.; (Woodbury, MN) ; RABY; Richard E.;
(Lino Lakes, MN) ; PAEHL; Ralf M.; (Melle, DE)
; DOMROESE; Michael K.; (Woodbury, MN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
3M Innovative Properties Company |
St. Paul |
MN |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
55543140 |
Appl. No.: |
15/552594 |
Filed: |
March 9, 2016 |
PCT Filed: |
March 9, 2016 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US2016/021583 |
371 Date: |
August 22, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62133142 |
Mar 13, 2015 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61C 7/20 20130101; A61C
7/12 20130101; A43B 7/14 20130101; A61C 7/30 20130101; A61C 7/002
20130101; A61C 7/28 20130101; A43D 11/01 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A61C 7/30 20060101
A61C007/30; A61C 7/00 20060101 A61C007/00 |
Claims
1. An orthodontic appliance comprising: a first anchor comprising
an anchor coupling and a base adapted to connect the first anchor
to a surface of a first tooth, and a second anchor comprising an
anchor coupling and a base adapted to connect the second anchor to
a surface of a second tooth; and an arch member comprising an arch
member body and first and second arch member couplings integral
with the body, the arch member body comprising a cross-sectional
geometry that varies along a length of the body; wherein the first
arch member coupling is releasably connectable to the anchor
coupling of the first anchor and the second arch member coupling is
releasably connectable to the anchor coupling of the second anchor,
and further wherein the arch member body comprises a first
nonlinear portion between the first arch member coupling and the
second arch member coupling that is adapted to be spaced apart from
the surfaces of the first and second teeth when the first and
second anchors are connected to the surfaces of the first and
second teeth and the first and second arch member couplings are
releasably connected to the anchor couplings of the first and
second anchors.
2. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the arch member body and the
first anchor are in a fixed relationship when the first arch member
coupling is connected to the anchor coupling of the first
anchor.
3. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the first anchor is adapted
for displacement relative to the arch member body when the first
anchor is connected to the first tooth and the first arch member
coupling is releasably connected to the anchor coupling of the
first anchor.
4. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the arch member comprises a
self-ligating arch member.
5. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the first nonlinear portion
extends in at least one of a gingival, occlusal, labial, and
lingual direction when the first and second anchors are connected
to the surfaces of the first and second teeth and the first arch
member coupling and the second arch member coupling are connected
to the anchor coupling of the first anchor and the anchor coupling
of the second anchor respectively.
6. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the arch member body comprises
a third arch member coupling and a second nonlinear portion between
the second arch member coupling and the third arch member coupling,
wherein a shape of the first nonlinear portion between the first
and second arch member couplings is different from a shape of the
second nonlinear portion between the second and third arch member
couplings.
7. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the first nonlinear portion
comprises at least one of a V-shaped portion, a U-shaped portion,
an S-shaped portion, and a sinusoidal-shaped portion.
8. The appliance of claim 7, wherein the sinusoidal-shaped portion
extends in both gingival and occlusal directions when the first and
second anchors are connected to the surfaces of the first and
second teeth and the first arch member coupling and the second arch
member coupling are connected to the anchor coupling of the first
anchor and the anchor coupling of the second anchor
respectively.
9. The appliance of claim 7, wherein the sinusoidal portion extends
in both mesial and distal directions when the first and second
anchors are connected to the surfaces of the first and second teeth
and the first arch member coupling and the second arch member
coupling are connected to the anchor coupling of the first anchor
and the anchor coupling of the second anchor respectively.
10. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the anchor coupling of the
first anchor comprises a post that extends from the base of the
first anchor, and wherein the first arch member coupling comprises
a slotted portion of the arch member body that is adapted to
releasably engage the post of the first anchor.
11. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the anchor coupling of the
first anchor comprises a slot, and wherein the first arch member
coupling comprises a resilient tab that is adapted to releasably
engage the slot of the anchor coupling of the first anchor.
12. An orthodontic appliance comprising: an arch member comprising
an arch member body and a plurality of arch member couplings
integral with the body; and a plurality of anchors each comprising
an anchor coupling and a base adapted to connect the anchor to a
surface of a tooth; wherein each arch member coupling is releasably
connectable to the anchor coupling of an anchor of the plurality of
anchors; wherein a first portion of the arch member body is adapted
to provide a first corrective force and a second portion of the
arch member body is adapted to provide a second corrective force
different from the first corrective force, and further wherein the
arch member body is adapted to not contact the surface of the tooth
when the anchor of the plurality of anchors is connected to the
surface of the tooth.
13. The appliance of claim 12, wherein the arch member comprises a
self-ligating arch member.
14. The appliance of claim 12, wherein at least one anchor of the
plurality of anchors is adapted for displacement relative to the
arch member body when the at least one anchor is connected to a
tooth and an arch member coupling of the plurality of arch member
couplings is releasably connected to the anchor coupling of the at
least one anchor.
15. The appliance of claim 12, wherein the first portion of the
arch member body comprises a first cross-sectional geometry and the
second portion of the arch member body comprises a second
cross-sectional geometry different from the first cross-sectional
geometry.
16. The appliance of claim 15, wherein at least one of the first
cross-sectional geometry and the second cross-sectional geometry
comprises a twisted portion or a stepped portion.
17. The appliance of claim 12, wherein the anchor coupling includes
at least one clip for engaging with the arch member coupling.
18. An orthodontic treatment system comprising an orthodontic
appliance, wherein the orthodontic appliance comprises: a set of
arch members, each arch member comprising an arch member body and
an arch member coupling integral with the body, at least one arch
member of the set of arch members comprises an arch member body
comprising a cross-sectional geometry that varies along a length of
the body; a set of anchors adapted to connect to respective teeth
of a patient's dental arch, each anchor comprising an anchor
coupling and a base adapted to connect the anchor to a surface of a
tooth; wherein the arch member coupling is releasably connectable
to an anchor coupling of an anchor of the set of anchors; wherein a
first arch member of the set of arch members has a first
cross-sectional geometry adapted to move at least one tooth from a
first arrangement to a second arrangement, and a second arch member
of the set of arch members has a second cross-sectional geometry
adapted to move at least one tooth from the second arrangement to a
third arrangement.
19. The system of claim 18, wherein at least one arch member of the
set of arch members comprises a self-ligating arch member.
20. The system of claim 18, wherein a first portion of the arch
member body is adapted to provide a first corrective force and a
second portion of the arch member body is adapted to provide a
second corrective force different from the first corrective force,
and further wherein the arch member body is adapted to not contact
the surface of the tooth when the anchor of the plurality of
anchors is connected to the surface of the tooth.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Orthodontics is the area and specialty of dentistry
associated with the supervision, guidance, and correction of
malpositioned teeth into proper locations. Orthodontic treatment
can be useful in correcting defects in a patient's bite (also
called occlusion) along with promoting better hygiene and improving
the overall aesthetics and health of the teeth.
[0002] Orthodontic treatment often involves the use of slotted
appliances known as brackets, which are generally affixed to the
patient's anterior, cuspid, and bicuspid teeth. After the brackets
have been placed on the teeth, an archwire is received into a slot
of each bracket. The archwire can act as a track to guide the
movement of respective teeth to orthodontically correct positions.
End sections of the archwire are typically captured in appliances
known as buccal tubes that are affixed to the patient's molar
teeth. The brackets, archwires, and buccal tubes are typically
referred to collectively as "braces."
[0003] Conventional braces, however, have inherent limitations. For
example, brackets and wires in the mouth tend to trap food and
plaque, especially in areas behind the archwire and beneath bracket
tiewings. The poor oral hygiene that results from plaque build-up,
in turn, can lead to additional problems, including tooth decay,
gingivitis, periodontal disease, etc. Plaque build-up adjacent the
brackets in particular can also cause decalcification and so-called
"white spot" lesions on enamel surfaces of teeth that remain even
after the braces are removed at the conclusion of treatment.
[0004] Removable appliances can significantly alleviate some of
these problems because the appliances can be removed from the mouth
while eating and/or brushing. Not only do removable appliances
facilitate the maintenance and cleaning of the teeth, they also
facilitate cleaning of the appliance. Popular removable appliances
include polymeric aligner shells manufactured by Align Technology
(Santa Clara, Calif.), which are intended to incrementally and
progressively re-position teeth to a desired teeth arrangement.
Other types include wire-embedded appliances such as those based on
the Hawley retainer or Crozat appliance, which typically use metal
wires that passively contact the teeth surfaces. While these
appliances can be used to provide corrective tooth movements, they
are most commonly used for retention of teeth after correction has
been completed. Spring aligners, also called spring retainers,
which combine aspects of both clear aligners and wire-embedded
retainers, can also be used for orthodontic correction. These
aligners, however, are limited in the types of forces they can
apply to teeth, which in turn can limit the breadth of dental
malocclusions that can be treated.
SUMMARY
[0005] In general, the present disclosure provides various
embodiments of an orthodontic appliance and methods of forming such
appliance. In one or more embodiments, the appliance can include
one or more anchors and an arch member. Each anchor can include an
anchor coupling and a base adapted to connect the anchor to a
surface of a tooth. Further, the arch member can include an arch
member body and one or more arch member couplings integral with the
body. In one or more embodiments, the body of the arch member can
include a cross-sectional geometry that varies along a length of
the body. The arch member coupling can be releasably connectable to
the anchor coupling.
[0006] In one aspect, the present disclosure provides an
orthodontic appliance that includes a first anchor including an
anchor coupling and a base adapted to connect the first anchor to a
surface of a first tooth, and a second anchor including an anchor
coupling and a base adapted to connect the second anchor to a
surface of a second tooth. The appliance also includes an arch
member including an arch member body and first and second arch
member couplings integral with the body, the arch member body
including a cross-sectional geometry that varies along a length of
the body. The first arch member coupling is releasably connectable
to the anchor coupling of the first anchor and the second arch
member coupling is releasably connectable to the anchor coupling of
the second anchor. The arch member body includes a first nonlinear
portion between the first arch member coupling and the second arch
member coupling that is adapted to be spaced apart from the
surfaces of the first and second teeth when the first and second
anchors are connected to the surfaces of the first and second teeth
and the first and second arch member couplings are releasably
connected to the anchor couplings of the first and second
anchors.
[0007] In another aspect, the present disclosure provides an
orthodontic appliance that includes an arch member including an
arch member body and a plurality of arch member couplings integral
with the body, and a plurality of anchors each including an anchor
coupling and a base adapted to connect the anchor to a surface of a
tooth. Each arch member coupling is releasably connectable to the
anchor coupling of an anchor of the plurality of anchors. Further,
a first portion of the arch member body is adapted to provide a
first corrective force and a second portion of the arch member body
is adapted to provide a second corrective force different from the
first corrective force. The arch member body is adapted to not
contact the surface of the tooth when the anchor of the plurality
of anchors is connected to the surface of the tooth.
[0008] In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method
of forming an arch member that includes an arch member body and an
arch member coupling integral with the body. The method includes
providing a substrate including a resilient material, and removing
a portion of the substrate to form the arch member.
[0009] In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method
of specifying an orthodontic appliance. The method includes
providing a proposed specification of the orthodontic appliance,
where the orthodontic appliance includes an arch member including
an arch member body and an arch member coupling integral with the
body. The appliance also includes a set of anchors, each anchor
including an anchor coupling and a base adapted to connect the
anchor to a surface of a tooth. Each arch member coupling is
releasably connectable to an anchor coupling. Further, the arch
member body includes a cross-sectional geometry that varies along a
length of the body. The method further includes providing a first
digital image representing a first dental arrangement associated
with the orthodontic appliance, deriving a target digital image
representing a target dental arrangement, revising the proposed
specification of the orthodontic appliance based in part on the
target digital image, and forming the orthodontic appliance based
on the revised proposed specification.
[0010] In another aspect, the present disclosure provides an
orthodontic treatment system that includes an orthodontic
appliance. The orthodontic appliance includes a set of arch
members, each arch member including an arch member body and an arch
member coupling integral with the body. At least one arch member of
the set of arch members includes an arch member body including a
cross-sectional geometry that varies along a length of the body.
The appliance also includes a set of anchors adapted to connect to
respective teeth of a patient's dental arch, each anchor including
an anchor coupling and a base adapted to connect the anchor to a
surface of a tooth. The arch member coupling is releasably
connectable to an anchor coupling of an anchor of the set of
anchors. Further, a first arch member of the set of arch members
has a first cross-sectional geometry adapted to move at least one
tooth from a first arrangement to a second arrangement, and a
second arch member of the set of arch members has a second
cross-sectional geometry adapted to move at least one tooth from
the second arrangement to a third arrangement.
[0011] All headings provided herein are for the convenience of the
reader and should not be used to limit the meaning of any text that
follows the heading, unless so specified.
[0012] The terms "comprises" and variations thereof do not have a
limiting meaning where these terms appear in the description and
claims. Such terms will be understood to imply the inclusion of a
stated step or element or group of steps or elements but not the
exclusion of any other step or element or group of steps or
elements.
[0013] The words "preferred" and "preferably" refer to embodiments
of the disclosure that may afford certain benefits, under certain
circumstances; however, other embodiments may also be preferred,
under the same or other circumstances. Furthermore, the recitation
of one or more preferred embodiments does not imply that other
embodiments are not useful, and is not intended to exclude other
embodiments from the scope of the disclosure.
[0014] In this application, terms such as "a," "an," and "the" are
not intended to refer to only a singular entity, but include the
general class of which a specific example may be used for
illustration. The terms "a," "an," and "the" are used
interchangeably with the term "at least one." The phrases "at least
one of" and "comprises at least one of" followed by a list refers
to any one of the items in the list and any combination of two or
more items in the list.
[0015] The phrases "at least one of" and "comprises at least one
of" followed by a list refers to any one of the items in the list
and any combination of two or more items in the list.
[0016] As used herein, the term "or" is generally employed in its
usual sense including "and/or" unless the content clearly dictates
otherwise. The use of the term "and/or" in certain portions of this
disclosure is not intended to mean that the use of "or" in other
portions cannot mean "and/or."
[0017] The term "and/or" means one or all of the listed elements or
a combination of any two or more of the listed elements.
[0018] As used herein in connection with a measured quantity, the
term "about" refers to that variation in the measured quantity as
would be expected by the skilled artisan making the measurement and
exercising a level of care commensurate with the objective of the
measurement and the precision of the measuring equipment used.
Herein, "up to" a number (e.g., up to 50) includes the number
(e.g., 50). Also herein, the recitations of numerical ranges by
endpoints include all numbers subsumed within that range as well as
the endpoints (e.g., 1 to 5 includes 1, 1.5, 2, 2.75, 3, 3.80, 4,
5, etc.).
Glossary
[0019] The terms set forth herein will have the meanings as
defined:
[0020] "adapted for displacement" means that an anchor of an
orthodontic appliance is designed such that it is able to move
relative to an arch member body that is connected to the anchor.
The movement of the anchor relative to the arch member body can be
translational, rotational, and a combination of translational and
rotational movement. Further, the movement of the anchor relative
to the arch member body can be in any plane and along any desired
path;
[0021] "angulation" means the tilt of the long axis of the tooth in
a mesial or distal direction;
[0022] "cross-sectional geometry" means a cross-sectional shape of
an arch member body taken in a plane orthogonal to a length of the
arch member body;
[0023] "corrective force" means a force or forces applied to one or
more of a patient's teeth by an orthodontic appliance;
[0024] "distal" means in a direction away from the center of the
patient's curved dental arch;
[0025] "facial" means in a direction toward the patient's lips or
cheeks;
[0026] "gingival" means in a direction toward the patient's gums or
gingiva;
[0027] "inclination" means the tilt of the long axis of a tooth in
the buccolingual or faciolingual direction;
[0028] "lingual" means in a direction toward the patient's
tongue;
[0029] "mesial" means in a direction toward the center of the
patient's curved dental arch;
[0030] "occlusal" means in a direction toward the outer tips of the
patient's teeth;
[0031] "releasably connectable" means that an arch member coupling
can be connected to an anchor coupling of an anchor such that an
arch member connected to the arch member coupling remains attached
to the anchor and that the arch member coupling can be disconnected
from the anchor coupling using an appropriate amount of force
without destroying or altering the anchor coupling;
[0032] "rotation" means turning of a tooth by movement around its
long axis;
[0033] "self ligating" means that an arch member can be connected
to one or more anchors that are connected to surfaces of one or
more teeth without the need for use of additional ties, wires,
clamps, or other devices that fix the arch member in place; and
[0034] "torque" means a corrective force that changes the
inclination of the tooth.
[0035] These and other aspects of the present disclosure will be
apparent from the detailed description below. In no event, however,
should the above summaries be construed as limitations on the
claimed subject matter, which subject matter is defined solely by
the attached claims, as may be amended during prosecution.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0036] Throughout the specification, reference is made to the
appended drawings, where like reference numerals designate like
elements, and wherein:
[0037] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of one embodiment of
an orthodontic appliance connected to surfaces of one or more teeth
of a patient.
[0038] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of the
orthodontic appliance of FIG. 1.
[0039] FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of a portion of the
orthodontic appliance of FIG. 1.
[0040] FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of an
arch member of the appliance of FIG. 1.
[0041] FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of
another embodiment of an arch member.
[0042] FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of
another embodiment of an orthodontic appliance connected to
surfaces of one or more teeth of a patient.
[0043] FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of an anchor of the
orthodontic appliance of FIG. 6.
[0044] FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of
another embodiment of an orthodontic appliance.
[0045] FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of
another embodiment of an orthodontic appliance.
[0046] FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of
another embodiment of an orthodontic appliance.
[0047] FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of
another embodiment of an orthodontic appliance.
[0048] FIG. 12 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of
another embodiment of an orthodontic appliance.
[0049] FIG. 13 is a schematic perspective view of an anchor of the
orthodontic appliance of FIG. 12.
[0050] FIG. 14 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of
another embodiment of an orthodontic appliance.
[0051] FIG. 15 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of
another embodiment of an orthodontic appliance.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0052] In general, the present disclosure provides various
embodiments of an orthodontic appliance and a method of forming
such appliance. In one or more embodiments, the appliance can
include one or more anchors and an arch member. Each anchor can
include an anchor coupling and a base adapted to connect the anchor
to a surface of a tooth. Further, the arch member can include an
arch member body and one or more arch member couplings integral
with the body. In one or more embodiments, the body of the arch
member can include a cross-sectional geometry that varies along a
length of the body. The arch member coupling can be releasably
connectable to the anchor coupling.
[0053] Orthodontic systems typically rely on straightening teeth by
attaching a stressed archwire to an orthodontic bracket. The teeth
move and unravel to the final or relaxed shape of the archwire. A
typical orthodontic appliance includes an orthodontic archwire that
slides within a lumen or slot of an orthodontic bracket as the
teeth straighten. The movement of the archwire relative to the
orthodontic bracket can be referred to as the sliding mechanics of
the appliance. Passive brackets allow the archwire to move freely
within the slot regardless of the archwire size. This can allow
faster tooth movement during the initial stages of treatment
because of the reduced friction between the archwire and the
bracket but may cause difficulties during the finishing stages of
treatment. Active brackets tend to force the archwire to the bottom
of the archwire slot to increase bracket control. This increase in
bracket control allows the practitioner to more easily align the
teeth during the finishing stages of treatment. Active brackets,
however, can increase the amount of friction between the archwire
and the bracket, thereby impairing the sliding mechanics of the
orthodontic system.
[0054] One or more embodiments of orthodontic appliances described
herein can include an arch member having one or more arch member
couplings that releasably couple to anchor couplings of one or more
anchors such that the arch member does not move relative to the
anchor. The arch member can include an arch member body that is
formed into one or more geometries that can emulate the sliding
mechanics of a conventional orthodontic system. In one or more
embodiments, the various geometries can dictate a path that does
not follow sliding mechanics. Because the arch member body does not
move relative to the anchor, the anchor can, in one or more
embodiments, be made substantially simpler and smaller. This can be
especially advantageous when the orthodontic appliance is connected
to a lingual surface of one or more teeth as the space in this
lingual orientation for placing an orthodontic appliance is
somewhat limited. Further, because the arch member body does not
move relative to the anchor, no friction exists between the arch
member body and the anchor. This lack of friction between the arch
member and the anchors may, in one or more embodiments, allow the
teeth to unravel and straighten within a shorter period of
time.
[0055] Current removable appliances, while offering certain hygiene
benefits, can also have shortcomings related to treatment efficacy.
Polymeric shells, for example, tend to be limited in their ability
to correct particular dental malocclusions. Further, extrusion, gap
closure, and molar tooth movement can be difficult or impossible to
achieve because these shells rely on relatively weak mechanical
retention between the shell and the teeth. Further, polymeric
shells may not be entirely aesthetic even when clear since they
still cover the facial teeth surfaces and can stain or trap dark
liquids such as coffee. On the other hand, retainer-like appliances
that use springs or clasps that engage with teeth suffer from many
of the same shortcomings as polymeric shells. These appliances, as
a whole, may not positively engage with the teeth in a manner that
allows precise torque, angulation, rotation, and translation
control. Further, many of these appliances are generally not
aesthetic as they use a facial wire residing over the facial
surface of the teeth to prevent proclination of the teeth.
[0056] One or more embodiments of orthodontic appliances described
herein can be easily installed and removed by a practitioner as the
appliance is self-ligating, i.e., an arch member of the appliance
can be connected to one or more anchors that are connected to
surfaces of one or more teeth without the need for use of
additional ties, wires, clamps, or other devices that fix the arch
member in place. In one or more embodiments where the appliance is
adapted to be connected to a lingual surface of one or more teeth
of a patient, the appliance can be more aesthetically pleasing than
clear aligners as the appliance is at least partially hidden from
view by the patient's teeth.
[0057] FIGS. 1-4 are various schematic views of one embodiment of
an orthodontic appliance 10. The appliance 10 is shown in FIG. 1
connected to one or more teeth 12 of a patient. The appliance 10
can include one or more anchors 30, where one or more anchors
includes an anchor coupling 34 and a base 32 adapted to connect the
anchor to a surface 13 of a tooth 12. The appliance 10 can also
include an arch member 20 that includes an arch member body 22 and
one or more arch member couplings 24 connected to the arch member
body. As is further described herein, the arch member coupling 24
can be releasably connectable to the anchor coupling 34.
[0058] The orthodontic appliance 10 can also include one or more
anchors 30. At least one anchor 30 can include an anchor coupling
34 and a base 32 adapted to connect the anchor to a surface 13 of a
tooth 12. For example, the appliance 10 can include a first anchor
40, a second anchor 42, and a third anchor 44. The first anchor 40
can include an anchor coupling 34 and a base 32 adapted to connect
the respective anchor to a surface 15 of a first tooth 14. The
second anchor 42 can include an anchor coupling 34 and a base 32
adapted to connect the second anchor to a surface 17 of a second
tooth 16. And the third anchor 44 can include an anchor coupling 34
and a base 32 adapted to connect the third anchor to a surface 19
of a third tooth 18. Further, the arch member 20 can include a
first arch member coupling 23, a second arch member coupling 28,
and a third arch member coupling 29. The first arch member coupling
23 can be releasably connectable to the anchor coupling 34 of the
first anchor 40, the second arch member coupling 28 can be
releasably connectable to the anchor coupling 34 of the second
anchor 42, and the third arch member coupling 29 can be releasably
connectable to the anchor coupling 34 of the third anchor 44.
[0059] The anchor coupling 34 can take any suitable shape or
combination of shapes. For example, the anchor coupling 34 can
include a slot 36 that is adapted to receive one or more tabs 26 of
arch member coupling 24. The slot 36 can include one or more
openings 39 that are adapted to receive barb 21 of tab 26 such that
the tab is releasably connected to the slot 36. To remove the arch
member coupling 24 from the anchor coupling 34, the practitioner
can bring together the tabs 26 such that the barb 21 is no longer
engaged with opening 39 of slot 36.
[0060] The anchor 30 can include any suitable material or
combination of materials. For example, the anchor 30 can include
metallic material, polymeric material, glass material, and
combinations thereof. In one or more embodiments, the anchor 30 can
include the same materials as described for the arch member body
22. The anchor 30 can also take any suitable shape or combination
of shapes such that the base is adapted to connect the anchor to a
surface of a tooth and releasably connect the anchor to arch member
coupling 24.
[0061] The base 32 of the anchor 30 can have a tooth facing surface
contour that is customized to fit any suitable surface of a tooth
12. For example, in one or more embodiments, the base 32 has a
tooth-facing surface contour that is customized to fit a lingual
surface 13 of the tooth 12. Having a customized base 32 can allow
the anchor 30 to be configured with a lower profile for patient
comfort. In one or more embodiments, the base 32 of the anchor 30
can be customized such that it provides a self-positioning "lock
and key" mechanism, where the base has contours that only allow
anchor 30 to be mounted on the teeth 12 in a unique, well-defined
location and orientation. Any suitable technique or combination of
techniques can be utilized to form customized bondable anchors,
e.g., the techniques described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,776,614
(Wiechmann et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 7,811,087 (Wiechmann et al.), and
U.S. Pat. No. 7,850,451 (Wiechmann et al.), and U.S. Patent
Publication No. 2005/0277084 (Cinader et al.). In one or more
embodiments, the base 32 of one or more anchors 30 can include any
suitably shaped surface that is not necessarily customized to fit a
particular surface of a tooth, i.e., a "generic" base.
[0062] The anchor 30 can be attached to the surface 13 of tooth 12
using any suitable technique or combination of techniques. For
example, the anchor 30 can be bonded to the surface 13 of tooth 12
using a suitable adhesive or cement. The anchor 30 need not be
adhesively bonded. For example, one or more anchors 30 may be
welded to an orthodontic band and the band subsequently secured to
a respective tooth 12 using a suitable band cement. In one or more
embodiments, anchors 30 are bondable lingual buttons or other
commercially available off-the-shelf bondable appliances. Further,
anchors 30 may be formed entirely from a curable composite dental
material, such as TRANSBOND brand light cure adhesive (available
from 3M Company, St. Paul, Minn.), and cured in vivo on the
patient's teeth using techniques such as those described in U.S.
Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0031774 (Cinader et
al.).
[0063] Connected to one or more anchors is the arch member 20. In
one or more embodiments, the arch member can be a self-ligating
arch member. The arch member includes the arch member body 22 and
one or more arch member couplings 24 connected to the body. In one
or more embodiments, the arch member couplings 24 can be integral
with the body 22. The arch member 20 can include any suitable
number of arch member couplings 24, e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or more
couplings. The arch member couplings 24 can be connected to the
arch member body 22 using any suitable technique or combination of
techniques. In one or more embodiments, the arch member couplings
24 can be attached to the arch member body 22 using any suitable
technique or combination of techniques, e.g., welding, adhering
using an adhesive, etc. In one or more embodiments, the arch member
couplings 24 can be integrally formed with the arch member body 22
such that the arch member couplings are integral with the arch
member body 22.
[0064] The arch member couplings 24 can include any suitable
material or combination of materials. In one or more embodiments,
the arch member couplings 24 can include the same material or
combination of materials as those described for the arch member
body 22. Each of the arch member couplings 24 can include the same
material or combination of materials. In one or more embodiments,
one or more arch member couplings 24 can include materials that are
different from one or more additional arch member couplings 24.
[0065] The arch member couplings 24 can take any suitable shape or
combination of shapes such that the arch member couplings are
releasably connectable to one or more anchor couplings 34. Examples
of releasable couplings are described, e.g., in issued U.S. Pat.
No. 6,302,688 (Jordan et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 6,582,226 (Jordan et
al.), U.S. Pat. No. 7,014,460 (Lai et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 7,252,505
(Lai), and U.S. Pat. No. 8,827,697 (Cinader et al.), and pending
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0277084 (Cinader et
al.). In one or more embodiments, the arch member coupling 24 and
the anchor coupling 34 can each include a cross-sectional shape
having two or more sides such that the appliance 10 can provide a
force to correct angulation of one or more teeth. Although depicted
as being connected to teeth via arch member couplings 24 and anchor
couplings, in one or more embodiments, a portion of the arch member
body 22 can be adapted to be attached directly to a surface 13 of a
tooth 12 using any suitable technique or combination of techniques,
e.g., direct bonding to the surface of the tooth.
[0066] The arch member couplings 24 and the anchor couplings 34 can
be adapted such that the arch member body 22 and one or more
anchors 30 are in a fixed relationship when the arch member
coupling is connected to the anchor coupling of the anchor. In
other words, when the anchor coupling 34 and the arch member
coupling 24 are connected, the arch member body 22 adjacent the
arch member coupling 24 is fixed and cannot move relative to the
anchor in a direction parallel to the surface 13 of the attached
tooth 12, i.e., the arch member body cannot slide relative to the
anchor. In one or more embodiments, the anchor 30 can be adapted
for displacement relative to the arch member body 22 when the
anchor is connected to the tooth 12 and the arch member coupling 24
is releasably connected to the anchor coupling 24 of the anchor. As
used herein, the phrase "adapted for displacement" means that the
anchor 30 is designed such that it is able to move relative to the
arch member body 22 that is connected to the anchor in a direction
parallel to the surface 13 of the attached tooth 12. In one or more
embodiments, the anchor 30 can move relative to the arch member
body 22. In one or more embodiments, the arch member body can move
relative to the anchor 30. In one or more embodiments, both the
anchor 30 and the arch member body 22 can move relative to each
other.
[0067] In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, the arch member
coupling 24 includes one or more tabs 26 that are adapted to engage
a slot 36 of anchor coupling 34. Each tab 26 can take any suitable
shape or combination of shapes. In one or more embodiments, the tab
26 can be a resilient tab. Further, in one or more embodiments, one
or more tabs 26 can include a barb 21 that is adapted to retain the
tab in the slot 36 of the anchor coupling 34. In other words, the
arch member coupling 24 can include a male coupling and the anchor
coupling 34 can include a female coupling, or the arch member
coupling can include a female coupling and the anchor coupling can
include a male coupling. In one or more embodiments, one or more
arch member couplings 24 can include male couplings that couple to
one or more anchor couplings 34 that include female couplings, and
one or more additional arch member couplings can include female
couplings that couple to one or more additional anchor couplings
that include male couplings.
[0068] The forces required to connect and disconnect couplings 24,
34 from each other can be sufficiently low to allow easy insertion
and removal of the arch member 20 by the patient. In one or more
embodiments, these forces can be sufficiently high such that the
arch member 20 connects to the patient's dental structure and does
not unintentionally detach from any of the anchors 30 during
treatment. That is, couplings 24, 34 can remain connected even when
subjected to normal corrective forces and other forces encountered
during treatment. In one or more embodiments, couplings 24, 34 are
adapted to yield an engagement force that is as low as possible. In
one or more embodiments, the disengagement forces are neither too
high such that disengagement causes patient discomfort nor too low
such that spontaneous disengagement occurs during treatment. The
optimal values for engagement and disengagement forces may vary
considerably from tooth to tooth and depend in part on the
configuration of the arch member body 22. In one or more
embodiments, the forces required to disconnect couplings 24, 34 can
be such that only a practitioner can remove the arch member 20.
[0069] The arch member 20 can provide a corrective force or forces
to one or more teeth of a patient through the anchors 30 to provide
an orthodontic treatment or series of treatments to the teeth of a
patient. The arch member body 22 of the arch member 20 can include
any suitable material or combination of materials that provide a
wide range of material properties such as stiffness and resiliency.
For example, the arch member body 22 can include metallic material,
polymeric material, glass material, and combinations thereof. In
one or more embodiments, the arch member body 22 can include at
least one of nitinol, stainless steel, nickel titanium, and beta
titanium. The arch member body 22 can be a unitary body or can
include one or more layers of materials. Further, the arch member
body 22 can be unitary along its length. In one or more
embodiments, the arch member body 22 can include several portions
that are connected together using any suitable technique or
combination of techniques.
[0070] The arch member body 22 can also be individually configured
based on the needs of the practitioner. For example, a given arch
member body 22 can be made from stainless steel when a high level
of corrective force is desired, nickel titanium for a lower level
of force, and beta titanium for an intermediate level of force. In
one or more embodiments, the body 22 can include other materials,
including non-metallic materials such as polymers or filled
composites. Furthermore, the cross-sectional geometry of the body
22 can be tailored to provide the desired corrective force or
forces. For example, the shape and/or cross-sectional dimensions
(e.g., thickness) of the body 22 can be tailored to provide the
desired corrective force or forces. In one or more embodiments, the
arch member body 22 can have a cross-sectional geometry that varies
along a length of the body.
[0071] The arch member body 22 can include any suitable
cross-sectional geometry, e.g., shape, area, orientation, etc. The
cross-sectional geometry can be constant or vary along a length of
the arch member body 22. For example, the arch member body 22 can
take any suitable shape or combination of shapes. The arch member
body 22 can also include any suitable cross-sectional shape, e.g.,
polygonal (e.g., triangular, rectangular, etc.), elliptical, etc.
The cross-sectional shape of the arch member body 22 can be uniform
along a length of the body. In one or more embodiments, a first
portion of the arch member body 22 can have a first cross-sectional
shape, and a second portion of the arch member body can have a
second cross-sectional shape that is different from the first
cross-sectional shape. The arch member body 22 can include a
uniform cross-sectional area or a cross-sectional area that varies
along the length of the body.
[0072] In one or more embodiments, the edges of the arch member
body 22 can be smoothed after the body is formed to provide added
comfort to a patient. Further, in one or more embodiments, one or
more portions of the arch member body 22 can be coated with any
suitable material or combination of materials to provide a coating
that covers edges of the body to improve comfort. The arch member
body 22 can also be covered with one or more protective covers that
are applied to the body in portions between arch member couplings
24 such that the body does not have sharp corners. The covers can
include any suitable material or combination of materials. In one
or more embodiments, the covers can provide any desired aesthetic
appearance. Further, the covers can include stain resistant
material or materials to maintain the aesthetics of the covers.
[0073] The arch member body 22 can be adapted to provide any
suitable corrective force between two or more arch member couplings
24. Any suitable technique or combination of techniques can be
utilized to provide these corrective forces. For example, as shown
in FIG. 4, a cross-sectional geometry (e.g., area) of the arch
member body 22 can vary along a length of the body. For example,
first portion 50 of arch member body 22, which is disposed between
arch member coupling 23 and arch member coupling 28, has a first
cross-sectional geometry. Arch member body 22 also includes a
second portion 52, which is disposed between arch member coupling
28 and arch member coupling 29, that has a second cross-sectional
geometry. In one or more embodiments, the first cross-sectional
geometry in first portion 50 is different from the second
cross-sectional geometry in second portion 52.
[0074] The cross-sectional geometry of the arch member body 22 can
vary in any suitable plane or planes along the length of the body.
In one or more embodiments, a thickness of the arch member body 22
can be varied to change the cross-sectional geometry of the body
between any two anchor couplings 24 (a portion of that section of
the body or continuously between). For example, in one or more
embodiments, a thickness of the arch member body 22 can vary in a
plane parallel to the mesio-distal direction and orthogonal to a
surface of a tooth when the arch member 20 is connected to one or
more teeth 12 of a patient via one or more anchors 30 as shown in
FIG. 1. In one or more embodiments, a thickness of the arch member
body 22 can vary in a plane orthogonal to the facial-lingual or
occlusal-gingival directions along the mesial-distal length of the
arch member and parallel to a surface of a tooth when the arch
member 20 is connected to one or more teeth 12 of a patient via one
or more anchors 30.
[0075] The cross-sectional geometry of the arch member body 22 can
be selected to provide a desired bending stiffness in one or more
portions of the arch member body. Tailoring the bending stiffness
of the arch member body 22 can provide selected corrective forces
that can be varied along a length of the arch member body. For
example, in one or more embodiments, the second portion 52 of arch
member body 22 can provide a smaller corrective force than the
first portion 50 because the second portion has a cross-sectional
area that is less than a cross-sectional area of the first portion
50. Although two portions 50, 52 of arch member body 22 are shown
as having a varying cross-sectional geometry along the length of
the body, any suitable portion or portions of the arch member body
can have a varying cross-sectional geometry to provide one or more
corrective forces between arch member couplings 24 of the arch
member 20.
[0076] Further, a shape of the arch member body 22 can be varied in
any suitable plane to provide one or more corrective forces between
arch member couplings of the arch member. The arch member body 22
can take any suitable shape or combination of shapes. For example,
FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of another
embodiment of an arch member 120. All of the design considerations
and possibilities regarding arch member 20 of FIGS. 1-4 apply
equally to arch member 120 of FIG. 5. Arch member 120 includes arch
member body 122 and arch member couplings 124 connected to the arch
member body. The arch member body 122 includes a first nonlinear
portion 150 between arch member couplings 123 and 128. Further,
arch member body 122 includes a second nonlinear portion 152
between arch member couplings 128 and 129. The first nonlinear
portion 150 can take a first shape that is the same as a second
shape of the second nonlinear portion 152. In one or more
embodiments, the first shape can be different from the second
shape. Any suitable shape or combination of shapes can be formed in
the arch member body 122. In one or more embodiments, at least one
of the first and second nonlinear portions 150, 152 can be, e.g.,
U-shaped, V-shaped, S-shaped, sinusoidal, etc. For example, the
first nonlinear portion 150 can take a sinusoidal shape that
extends in at least one of the gingival, occlusal, mesial, and
distal directions when the arch member 120 is connected to one or
more teeth via anchors (e.g., anchors 30 of FIGS. 1-4).
[0077] The first nonlinear portion 150 and the second nonlinear
portion 152 can extend in any direction or combination of
directions. For example, in one or more embodiments, at least one
of the first nonlinear portion 150 and the second nonlinear portion
152 can extend in at least one of a gingival, occlusal, labial, and
lingual direction when the first and second anchors (e.g., anchors
40, 42 of FIG. 1) are connected to the surfaces (e.g., surfaces 15,
17) of the first and second teeth (e.g., first and second teeth 14,
16) and the first arch member coupling 123 and the second arch
member coupling 128 are connected to the anchor coupling of the
first anchor and the anchor coupling of the second anchor
respectively.
[0078] In one or more embodiments, the shape of the arch member
body 122 can vary in a plane parallel to the mesio-distal direction
and orthogonal to a surface of a tooth when the arch member 120 is
connected to an anchor coupling of one or more anchors (not shown)
that are connected to one or more teeth. In one or more
embodiments, the shape of the arch member body 122 can vary in a
plane orthogonal to the mesio-distal direction and parallel to a
surface of the tooth. In one or more embodiments, the second
nonlinear portion 152 can include an arcuate portion, e.g., a
sinusoidal portion such as spring 121. Any suitable spring or
combination of springs can be utilized. The spring 121 can be
installed in a patient's mouth such that it is either in tension or
compression to provide the desired corrective force.
[0079] In one or more embodiments, the first nonlinear portion 150
can have a first shape that is adapted to provide a first
corrective force to one or both teeth connected to arch member
couplings 123 and 128. Further, the second nonlinear portion 152
can have a second shape that is adapted to provide a second
corrective force to one or both teeth that are attached to arch
member couplings 128 and 129. The first corrective force can be the
same as the second corrective force. In one or more embodiments,
the first corrective force is different from the second corrective
force.
[0080] One or more portions of the arch member body 122 can include
both a varying cross-sectional geometry and a nonlinear shape or
shapes. For example, second nonlinear portion 152 can also include
a cross-sectional geometry that varies along the length of the
portion, e.g., a thickness of the portion can vary along the spring
121.
[0081] Returning to FIGS. 1-4, one or more of the nonlinear
portions, e.g., nonlinear portions 50, 52 can be adapted to be
spaced apart from the surfaces 15, 17 of teeth that are connected
to the appliance 10 by anchors 30. For example, as shown in FIG. 1,
the first nonlinear portion 50 of the arch member body 22, which is
between the first arch member coupling 23 and the second arch
member coupling 28, can be adapted to be spaced apart from the
surfaces 15, 17 of the first tooth 14 and the second tooth 16 when
the first and second anchors 40, 42 are connected to the surfaces
of the first and second teeth and the first and second arch member
couplings 23, 28 are releasably connected to the anchor couplings
of the first and second anchors 40, 42. The first nonlinear portion
50 can be spaced apart from the surfaces 15, 17 of the first and
second teeth 14, 16 any suitable distance 2. The first nonlinear
portion 50 can be spaced apart the same distance from each of the
surfaces 15, 17 of the first and second teeth 14, 16. In one or
more embodiments, the first nonlinear portion 50 can be spaced
apart a distance from the surface 15 of the first tooth 14 that is
different from the distance between the first nonlinear portion and
the surface 17 of the second tooth 16. Any suitable number of
portions of the arch member body 22 can be spaced apart from
surfaces of the teeth to which the appliance 10 is connected. In
one or more embodiments, the entire arch member body 22 is spaced
apart from the connected surfaces of the teeth 12. In one or more
embodiments, one or more portions of the arch member body 22 can be
in contact with one or more teeth while one or more portions of the
arch member body can be spaced apart from additional teeth.
[0082] One or both of the arch member 20 and the anchors 30 can
include other devices or elements that can be utilized to provide a
selected treatment to a patient. For example, in one or more
embodiments, the selected shape of a nonlinear portion between two
arch member couplings 24 can include at least one of a hook, a
twist, a step, a loop, and a spring. For example, the arch member
body 22 can include one or more flexible springs (e.g., spring 121
of FIG. 5) that allows longitudinal movement (i.e., in a direction
generally along the length of the arch member body). The spring can
be integral to the arch member body 22 or made separately from the
body and connected to the body using any suitable technique or
combination of techniques. The spring can also increase the
flexibility of the arch member body 22. In one or more embodiments,
the spring can be resilient and can deliver tensile or compressive
forces in the longitudinal direction. Various types of springs may
be used, including Z-springs, coil springs, omega loops, pushrods,
or any combinations thereof. By increasing flexibility of the arch
member body 22 and allowing longitudinal deflection, the springs
can facilitate connecting the arch member couplings 24 and the
anchor couplings 34 when the teeth are maloccluded. Based on the
patient's treatment plan, the springs may be provided along any
suitable portion or portions of the arch member body 22. The arch
member 24 can include one or more tabs that can be adapted to
engage at least one of the anchors 30 to maintain a connection
between the arch member coupling 24 and the anchor coupling 34.
[0083] The arch member body 22 can be manufactured using any
suitable technique or combination of techniques. In one or more
embodiments, the arch member body 22 can be formed from a
substrate, e.g., a sheet of material, by removing a portion or
portions of the substrate. For example, a nitinol substrate can be
cut or etched to form the arch member body 22. Any suitable
technique or combination of techniques can be utilized to cut or
etch the substrate, e.g., laser cutting, water jet cutting, etching
(e.g., ion beam etching), die cutting, etc.
[0084] The arch member body 22 can be formed into any suitable
shape or combination of shapes using any suitable technique or
combinations of techniques. For example, the shape of the arch
member body 22 can be formed when the arch member is cut or etched
from a sheet of material. In one or more embodiments, the arch
member body 22 can be formed and then shaped into one or more
shapes using any suitable technique or combination of techniques,
e.g., bending, machining, etc. The one or more shapes of the arch
member body 22 can be set using any suitable technique or
combination of techniques, e.g., heat setting.
[0085] As mentioned herein, the arch member body 22 can have any
suitable cross-sectional geometry along the length of the body. In
one or more embodiments, the arch member body 22 can have a
thickness in an occlusal direction that varies along a length of
the arch member body 22 when the arch member body is connected to
one or more anchors 30 of the appliance 10. Varying the thickness
of the arch member body 22 can provide control of corrective forces
that are applied to one or more teeth. This thickness can be varied
using any suitable technique or combination of techniques. In one
or more embodiments, the thickness can be varied by removing
portions of the arch member body 22 by ablating, etching, sanding,
cutting, etc. The arch member body 22 can also be elongated in one
or more portions to reduce the thickness in such portions.
[0086] In one or more embodiments, anchors 30 can be accurately
placed and bonded in precise, pre-selected positions on the tooth
surfaces of a patient (e.g., the lingual surfaces). To this end, it
can be advantageous to use indirect techniques such as those
described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,020,963 (Cleary et al.) and U.S. Pat.
No. 7,404,714 (Cleary et al.), and U.S. Patent Publication No.
2006/0177791 (Cinader et al.).
[0087] The appliance 10 can be capable of producing various types
of tooth movement. The configuration of the arch member body 22 and
the anchor couplings 34 of anchors 30, and the displacement of the
arch member body (e.g., by deformation of the arch member body)
relative to the anchor can allow appliance 10 to move teeth in ways
that can be difficult to achieve using conventional aligners and
wire-embedded appliances. Because one or more portions of the arch
member body 22 can be formed into a variety of configurations, the
appliance 10 has the potential to produce any combination of in-out
and mesial-distal tooth movements, as well as tipping and
rotational tooth movements. Translational tooth movements parallel
to the longitudinal axis of the arch member body 22 can be
performed by incorporating one or more flexible springs into the
arch member body or by forming one or more springs in the arch
member body.
[0088] The orthodontic appliance 10 can be manufactured using any
suitable technique or combination of techniques. For example, in
one or more embodiments, one or both of the arch member 20 and the
anchor 30 can be manufactured using rapid manufacturing techniques.
In one or more embodiments, the anchor coupling 34 and the arch
member coupling 24 can be chosen from a standard library either by
the manufacturer or a practitioner. Similarly, the arch member body
22 can be selected from a standard library and modified to meet the
treatment targets of the practitioner. The tooth position targets
for each stage of treatment can be suggested by software or by a
technician and modified by the practitioner as necessary. During
treatment, one or more of the tooth position targets can be
generated from the information contained in an intermediate scan of
the teeth, e.g., as described in co-owned U.S. Patent Application
Publication No. 2010/0260405 (Cinader et al.). Subsequent
appliances can be produced on an as-needed basis rather than
producing the entire series of appliances at the outset of
treatment. In one or more embodiments, the practitioner can
fabricate the appliance entirely in the practitioner's office. This
can give the practitioner more flexibility to adjust the appliance
as the treatment progresses.
[0089] In one or more embodiments, one or both of the arch member
20 and the anchor 30 can be manufactured using 3D printing
technology. For example, one or more data files can be selected by
a practitioner that can then produce the orthodontic appliance 10
using 3D printing technology.
[0090] The arch member coupling 24 and the anchor coupling 34 can
be designed in any suitable manner such that the arch member
coupling is releasably connectable to the anchor coupling. For
example, FIGS. 6-7 are schematic perspective views of a portion of
another embodiment of an orthodontic appliance 200. All of the
design considerations and possibilities regarding the orthodontic
appliance 10 of FIGS. 1-4 apply equally to the appliance 200 of
FIGS. 6-7. The appliance 200 includes an arch member 220 that
includes an arch member body 222 and one or more arch member
couplings 224 connected to the body. In one or more embodiments,
the arch member coupling 224 can be integral with the arch member
body 222. The one or more arch member couplings 224 can include a
slotted portion 226 of the arch member body 222. The slotted
portion 226 can take any suitable shape or combination of shapes
and can be any suitable dimensions. In one or more embodiments, the
slotted portion 226 can be formed using any suitable technique or
combination of techniques. For example, in one or more embodiments,
the slotted portion 226 can be formed when the arch member body 222
is formed using any suitable technique or combination of
techniques. In one or more embodiments, the slotted portion 226 can
be formed after the arch member body 222 is formed, e.g., the arch
member body can be cut or etched to form the slotted portion. In
one or more embodiments, the slotted portion 226 is resilient.
[0091] The appliance 200 also includes one or more anchors 230 that
can each include an anchor coupling 234 and a base 232 adapted to
connect the anchor to a surface 214 of a tooth 212. One or more
anchor couplings 234 can include a post 236 that extends from the
base 232 and is adapted to receive the slotted portion 226 of the
arch member body 222. In one or more embodiments, the arch member
coupling 224 is releasably connectable to the anchor coupling
234.
[0092] The anchor 230 can include an anchor coupling 234 that can
take any suitable shape or combination of shapes and have any
suitable dimensions. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 6-7,
the anchor coupling 234 includes the post 236 that extends from the
base 232 of the anchor 230. The post 236 can take any suitable
shape or combination of shapes. In the illustrated embodiment, the
post 236 includes a cylindrical shape that is adapted to engage the
slotted portion 226 of the arch member coupling 224. In one or more
embodiments, the anchor coupling 234 can have any suitable
cross-sectional shape and dimension. For example, in one or more
embodiments, the anchor coupling 234 can have a polygonal,
elliptical, or frusto-conical cross-sectional shape. The anchor
coupling 234 can have a constant cross-sectional shape and size
along a length of the anchor coupling that extends from the base
232 of the anchor 230. In one or more embodiments, the anchor
coupling 234 can have a cross-sectional shape that varies along the
length of the anchor coupling.
[0093] In one or more embodiments, the post 236 of the anchor
coupling 234 can include an undercut portion or portions 237 that
retain the slotted portion 226 of the arch member body 222 such
that it remains engaged with the post 236. The post 236 can include
any suitable dimensions and take any suitable shape or combination
of shapes. In one or more embodiments, the post 236 can have a
cross-sectional area in a direction orthogonal to a surface 214 of
a tooth 212 that is greater than a width of the slotted portion 226
of the arch member body 222 such that the slotted portion expands
when the post is inserted into the slotted portion. The arch member
220 can be connected to the anchor 230 by pressing the arch member
in a gingival direction such that the post 236 is inserted into the
slotted portion 226.
[0094] In one or more embodiments, the post 236 can extend from the
base 232 along an axis that is normal to the base such that the
arch member 220 can be connected to the anchor 230 by pressing the
arch member onto the post in a distal direction. Further, the post
236 can be formed in the anchor 230 or manufactured separately and
attached to the base 232 of the anchor. The post 236 can be
attached directly to the base 232. In one or more embodiments, the
post 236 can be inserted into a recess 239 of the anchor 230. In
one or more embodiments, the recess 239 can be adapted to allow for
adjustment of the post 236 to provide one or more selected
corrective forces to the connected tooth 212. In one or more
embodiments, an orientation of the post 236 of one or more anchors
230 can be adjusted at one or more stages of treatment. In one or
more embodiments, an orientation of the post 236 of one or more
anchors can be fixed throughout various stages of treatment.
[0095] The anchors 230 can be shaped such that any suitable
corrective force or forces can be applied to the attached tooth.
For example, in one or more embodiments, the post 236 can be formed
or disposed on the base 232 such that it extends along an axis that
forms any suitable angle with a normal vector to the tooth surface
214 in a plane orthogonal to the occlusal plane. By selecting the
appropriate angle, a corrective force can be applied by the arch
member 220 to the tooth that can correct for torque of the attached
tooth. In one or more embodiments, the axis along which the post
236 extends can be formed or disposed such that it forms an angle
with a normal to the tooth surface in a plane parallel to the
mesio-distal direction. By selecting the appropriate angle, a
corrective force can be applied by the arch member 220 to the tooth
that can correct for a rotation of the tooth 212. In one or more
embodiments, the post 236 can be formed or disposed such that it
forms an angle with both of these planes to provide a corrective
force that can correct both an angulation and a rotation of the
tooth 212. In one or more embodiments, the anchor coupling 234 can
be adapted to provide at least one of a selected torque, rotation,
and angulation to the tooth when the arch member coupling 224 is
connected to the anchor coupling of the anchor 230 and the anchor
is connected to the tooth 212.
[0096] For example, FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of
anchor 230 of the appliance 200 of FIG. 6. The post 236 of anchor
230 has been disposed within the recess 239 of anchor 230 such that
an axis 231 that extends along a width of the post forms an angle
208 with the mesio-distal direction 202. Any suitable angle can be
formed between the axis 231 and the mesio-distal direction 202.
When connected to the arch member 220, the rotation of the post 236
can provide a corrective force that can correct for angulation of
the tooth 212.
[0097] FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of
another embodiment of an orthodontic appliance 300. All of the
design considerations and possibilities regarding the orthodontic
appliance 10 of FIGS. 1-4 apply equally to the orthodontic
appliance 300 of FIG. 8. Orthodontic appliance 300 includes an arch
member 320 that includes an arch member body 322 and one or more
arch member couplings 324 connected to the body. The appliance 300
also includes one or more anchors 330 that each include an anchor
coupling 334 and a base 332 adapted to connect the anchor to a
surface of a tooth, e.g., a lingual surface. In one or more
embodiments, the arch member coupling 324 is releasably connectable
to the anchor coupling 334.
[0098] The anchor coupling 334 includes a slot 336 that is adapted
to receive the arch member coupling 324 of the arch member 320. The
slot 336 can take any suitable shape or combination of shapes. The
arch member coupling 324 can include a slotted portion 326 that is
adapted to be inserted into the slot 336 of the anchor coupling
334. In one or more embodiments, the slotted portion 326 is
resilient such that it can be compressed within the slot 336 of the
anchor 330 and retained therein. The arch member coupling 324 can
also include one or more tabs 328 that are adapted to be received
by the slot 336 of the anchor coupling 334. The tabs 328 can engage
the slot 336 of the anchor coupling 334 such that the arch member
320 can provide, e.g., angulation to a tooth attached to the anchor
330.
[0099] One difference between the arch member 320 and arch member
20 of FIGS. 1-4 is that the body 322 includes one or more nonlinear
(e.g., arcuate) portions that, in the illustrated embodiment, are
V-shaped portions 323 that provide a spring-like effect to the arch
member 320 and are substantially offset in a gingival direction
from the anchors. Any suitable number of V-shaped portions can be
formed between arch member couplings 324. In one or more
embodiments, the V-shaped portions 323 can lie in a plane that is
substantially parallel to a surface of a tooth that is connected to
the arch member 320. As used herein, the term "substantially
parallel" means that the V-shaped portions 323 (or U-shaped
portions 523 below) lie in a plane that forms an angle with the
surface of the one or more teeth that are connected to the
appliance that is no greater than about 10 degrees. The V-shaped
portions 323 can provide any suitable corrective force to one or
more teeth that are attached to the arch member 320. The arch
member 320 can be connected to the one or more anchors 330 such
that the arch member is either in tension or compression, e.g., as
is described herein regarding spring 121 of arch member 120 of FIG.
5.
[0100] Although not shown, one or more portions of the arch member
320 can include different geometries between arch member couplings
324 to provide one or more corrective forces that are different
from the corrective forces provided by the V-shaped portions 323.
Further, a cross-sectional geometry of the arch member body 322 can
vary along the length of the arch member body in any suitable
portion or portions, e.g., the portions of the body that include
V-shaped portions 323. In one or more embodiments, a medial-distal
distance between one or more arch member couplings 324 can be
selected such that the V-shaped portion 323 has a selected apex
angle.
[0101] The arch member 320 can be connected to the anchor 330 by
pressing the arch member coupling 324 into the slotted portion 336
of the anchor coupling 334, thereby compressing the resilient
slotted portion 326 of the arch member coupling against sides of
the recessed portion. The arch member coupling 324, therefore, is
friction-fit within the recessed portion 336 of the anchor coupling
334. The anchor coupling 334 can also include overhanging portions
that can engage the arch member coupling 324 when the arch member
coupling 324 is disposed within the recessed portion 336.
[0102] Any suitable couplings 324, 334 can be utilized with arch
member 320 such that the arch member coupling is releasably
connectable to the anchor coupling. For example, FIG. 9 is a
schematic perspective view of a portion of another embodiment of an
appliance 400. All of the design considerations and possibilities
regarding the appliance 10 of FIGS. 1-4 and appliance 300 of FIG. 8
apply equally to the appliance 400 of FIG. 9. The appliance 400
includes an arch member 420 including an arch member body 422, and
one or more arch member couplings 424 connected to the body. In one
or more embodiments, one or more arch member couplings 424 can be
integral with the arch member body 422. Further, in one or more
embodiments, a cross-sectional geometry of the body 422 can vary
along the length of the body. The appliance 400 can also include
one or more anchors 430 each including an anchor coupling 434 and a
base 432 adapted to connect the anchor to a surface of a tooth (not
shown). In one or more embodiments, the arch member coupling 424 is
releasably connectable to the anchor coupling 434. The anchor
coupling 434 can also include overhanging portions that can engage
the arch member coupling 424 when the arch member coupling 424 is
connected to the anchor coupling.
[0103] One difference between appliance 400 and appliance 300 is
that the anchor 430 includes a post 436 having one or more recessed
portions 437 formed in the post to receive a slotted portion 426 of
the arch member coupling 424. The slotted portion 426 is adapted to
engage the post 436 of the anchor 430. In one or more embodiments,
the arch member coupling 424 can also include tabs 428 that can
include any suitable shape or combination of shapes. The tabs 428
can assist the practitioner in connecting and disconnecting the
arch member 420 from the one or more anchors 430.
[0104] To connect the arch member 420 to the anchor 430, the anchor
coupling 424 is pressed against the post 436 of the anchor coupling
434 such the slotted portion 426 expands over the post. As the
slotted portion 426 engages the recessed portion 437 of the anchor
430, the slotted portion contracts against a surface or surfaces of
the recessed portion. The arch member coupling 424 is, therefore,
friction-fit against the anchor coupling 434.
[0105] FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of
another embodiment of an appliance 500. All of the design
considerations and possibilities regarding the appliance 10 of
FIGS. 1-4 and the appliance 300 of FIG. 8 apply equally to the
appliance 500 of FIG. 10. The appliance 500 includes an arch member
520 including an arch member body 522, and one or more arch member
couplings 524 connected to the body. In one or more embodiments,
one or more arch member couplings 524 can be integral with the arch
member body 522. Further, in one or more embodiments, a
cross-sectional geometry of the body 522 can vary along the length
of the body. The appliance 500 can also include one or more anchors
530 including an anchor coupling 534 and a base 532 adapted to
connect the anchor to a surface of a tooth (not shown). In one or
more embodiments, the arch member coupling 524 is releasably
connectable to the anchor coupling 534.
[0106] One difference between appliance 500 and appliance 300 is
that the body 522 of the arch member 520 includes one or more
U-shaped portions 523. The U-shaped portions 523 can take any
suitable shape or combination of shapes. Further, the U-shaped
portions 523 can extend or lie within any plane or planes. In one
or more embodiments, the U-shaped portions 523 lie in a plane that
is substantially parallel to a surface of one or more teeth of a
patient when the appliance is connected to the one or more teeth.
The body 522 can include any suitable number of U-shaped portions
523 between each arch member coupling 524.
[0107] Another difference between appliances 500 and 300 is that
the one or more arch member couplings 524 include one or more tabs
526 that are adapted to couple with one or more anchors 530. For
example, in one or more embodiments, the anchor coupling 534 can
include a slot 536. The slot 536 can take any suitable shape or
combination of shapes. In one or more embodiments, the slot 536 is
adapted to one or more receive tabs 526 of arch member coupling
524.
[0108] The arch member 520 can be attached or connected to one or
more anchors 530 by pressing the arch member coupling 524 into the
slot 536 of the anchor coupling 534 such that the tabs 526 engage
the slot. One or more tabs 526 of arch member coupling 524 can also
include a barb 527 of any suitable shape that engages the slot 536
of the anchor coupling 534 and retains the arch member 520 in a
connected relationship with the anchor 530. Further, in one or more
embodiments, at least one tab 526 can be bent around a portion of
the slot 536 such that the arch member 520 remains connected to the
anchor 530.
[0109] In one or more embodiments, the arch member coupling 524 can
also include an opening 529 that is adapted to engage a tool that
the practitioner can use to connect and/or disconnect the arch
member coupling 524 to the anchor coupling in one or more
embodiments, the anchor 530 can also include a recess (not shown)
that can be aligned with the opening 529 of the arch member
coupling 524 when the couplings are connected. The practitioner can
insert a tool into the opening 529 of the arch member coupling 524
and the recess of the anchor 530 and lift the arch member coupling
away from the anchor coupling 534 using the tool as a lever.
[0110] Although not shown, one or more portions of the arch member
520 can include different geometries between arch member couplings
524 to provide one or more corrective forces that are different
from the corrective forces provided by the U-shaped portions 523.
Further, a cross-sectional area of the arch member body 522 can
vary along the length of the arch member body in any suitable
portion or portions of the body, e.g., portions of the body that
include U-shaped portions 523.
[0111] FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of
another embodiment of an orthodontic appliance 600. All of the
design considerations and possibilities regarding the orthodontic
appliance 10 of FIGS. 1-4 and the orthodontic appliance 300 of FIG.
8 apply equally to the orthodontic appliance 600 of FIG. 11. The
appliance 600 includes an arch member 620 including an arch member
body 622, and one or more arch member couplings 624 connected to
the body. In one or more embodiments, one or more arch member
couplings 624 can be integral with the arch member body 622.
Further, in one or more embodiments, a cross-sectional geometry of
the body 622 can vary along the length of the body. The appliance
600 can also include one or more anchors 630 each including an
anchor coupling 634 and a base 632 adapted to connect the anchor to
a surface of a tooth (not shown). In one or more embodiments, the
arch member coupling 624 is releasably connectable to the anchor
coupling 634.
[0112] One difference between the appliance 600 of FIG. 11 and
appliance 300 of FIG. 8 is that the arch member coupling 624
includes one or more resilient fingers 626. Any suitable number of
resilient fingers 626 can be formed in or attached to arch member
body 622. The resilient fingers 626 are adapted to releasably
connect the arch member coupling 624 to the anchor coupling 634 of
the anchor 630. In the illustrated embodiment, the anchor coupling
634 includes a post 636 that extends from the base 632 of the
anchor 630. The post 636 can take any suitable shape or combination
of shapes. In one or more embodiments, the post 636 can include one
or more recessed portions 637 that are adapted to receive the
flexible fingers 626 of the arch member coupling 624.
[0113] Another difference between appliance 600 and appliance 300
is that the arch member 620 includes one or more S-shaped portions
623 that can provide any suitable corrective force or forces to one
or more teeth that are connected to the arch member. Also, unlike
arch members 420 and 520, the nonlinear S-shaped portions 623 do
not substantially extend beyond the occlusal and gingival edge
regions of arch member couplings 624. The arch member 620 can,
however, include any suitable number of S-shaped portions between
arch member couplings 624. In one or more embodiments, the arch
member 620 can be connected to one or more anchors 630 such that
the S-shaped portions are either in tension or compression as
described, e.g., regarding spring 121 of FIG. 5. Although not
shown, one or more portions of the arch member 620 can include
different geometries between arch member couplings 624 to provide
one or more corrective forces that are different from the
corrective forces provided by the S-shaped portions 623. Further, a
cross-sectional geometry of the arch member body 622 can vary along
the length of the arch member body in any suitable portion or
portions of the body, e.g., portions that include 5-shaped portions
623.
[0114] To couple the arch member 620 to the anchor 630, the arch
member coupling 624 can be pressed against the anchor coupling 634
such that the resilient fingers 626 are displaced around the post
636. The fingers 626 can engage the recessed portion 637 of the
post 636 to keep the arch member 620 connected to the anchor 630.
Further, in one or more embodiments, the fingers 626 can also
provide a corrective force to the attached tooth, e.g., a
rotational force.
[0115] FIGS. 12-13 are schematic perspective views of a portion of
another embodiment of an orthodontic appliance 700. All of the
design considerations and possibilities regarding the orthodontic
appliance 10 of FIGS. 1-4 and the orthodontic appliance 300 of FIG.
8 apply equally to appliance 700 of FIGS. 12-13. The appliance 700
includes an arch member 720 including an arch member body 722, and
one or more arch member couplings 724 connected to the body. In one
or more embodiments, one or more arch member couplings 724 can be
integral with the arch member body 722. Further, in one or more
embodiments, a cross-sectional geometry of the body 722 can vary
along the length of the body. The appliance 700 can also include
one or more anchors 730 including an anchor coupling 734 and a base
732 adapted to connect the anchor to a surface of a tooth (not
shown). In one or more embodiments, the arch member coupling 724 is
releasably connectable to the anchor coupling 734.
[0116] One difference between appliance 700 of FIGS. 12-13 and
appliance 10 of FIGS. 1-4 is that the arch member coupling 724
includes one or more resilient tabs 726 are adapted to engage a
post 736 of anchor 730 that extends from the base 732 of the
anchor. The post 736 can also include one or more recessed portions
737 that are adapted to engage the tabs 726 of the arch member
coupling 724.
[0117] To connect the arch member 720 to the anchor 730, the arch
member coupling 724 is pressed against the post 736 of the anchor
coupling 734 such that the resilient tabs 726 of the arch member
coupling are deflected and engage the surface of the post until the
tabs reach the recessed portions 737. Once the tabs 726 engage the
recessed portions 737, the arch member coupling 724 is releasably
connected to the anchor coupling 734.
[0118] FIGS. 14-15 are schematic perspective views of a portion of
another embodiment of an orthodontic appliance 800. All of the
design considerations and possibilities regarding the orthodontic
appliance 10 of FIGS. 1-4 and the orthodontic appliance 300 of FIG.
8 apply equally to appliance 800 of FIGS. 14-15. The appliance 800
includes an arch member 820 including an arch member body 822, and
one or more arch member couplings 824 connected to the body. In one
or more embodiments, one or more arch member couplings 824 can be
integral with the arch member body 822. Further, in one or more
embodiments, a cross-sectional geometry of the body 822 can vary
along the length of the body. The appliance 800 can also include
one or more anchors 830 including an anchor coupling 834 and a base
832 adapted to connect the anchor to a surface of a tooth (not
shown). In one or more embodiments, the arch member coupling 824 is
releasably connectable to the anchor coupling 834.
[0119] One difference between appliance 800 of FIGS. 14-15 and
appliance 10 of FIGS. 1-4 is that the anchor coupling 834 includes
at least one clip 840 adjacent a post 836 that extends from the
base 832 of the anchor, with the clip(s) 840 adapted to engage a
slot 826 of the arch member coupling 824. The anchor 830 includes a
pair of clips 840 in the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 14 and 15.
Each clip 840 includes a pair of arm portions 842, 844 that can
extend in generally labial-lingual (FIG. 14) or occlusal-gingival
(FIG. 15) directions and then bend outwardly away from each other.
A protrusion 838 on each of the mesial and distal faces of the post
836 extend through the clips 840, thereby retaining the clips 840
on the anchor 830.
[0120] Using a dual clip configuration can provide improved
stability over using a single clip by leveraging two engagement
points per clip on either side of the arch member coupling 824.
Having a plurality of engagement points helps prevent the arch
member 820 from rotating about the post 836, thereby resulting in a
more secure coupling.
[0121] The clips 840 are shown in their normal, relaxed
orientations in FIGS. 14 and 15. However, the arm portions 842 of
each clip 840 are movable towards each other in order to engage and
be received in the slot 826 when so desired. The smooth, outer edge
of the arm portions 842, 844 enables each clip 840 to engage an
arch member by pressing the arch member coupling slot 826 against
the outer curved edges of the arm portions 842, 844. As pressure is
exerted by the arch member coupling 824 on the curved edges, the
arm portions 842, 844 deflect towards each other in order to admit
the clips 840 into the slot 826.
[0122] Once the arm portions 842, 844 extend through the slot 826,
they will deflect away from one another and return the clip 840 to
its relaxed configuration. Once an arm portion of the clip 840
engages the walls of the slot 826, the arch member coupling 824 is
releasably connected to the anchor coupling 834. In one or more
embodiments, the width of the clip 840 in the area between arm
portions 842, 844 and protrusion receiving region 846 is greater
than or equal to a width of the slot 826. In such embodiments, the
clip 840 may apply sufficient expansionary force to the arch member
coupling 824 to prevent movement of the arch member body 820 in
directions along the longitudinal axis of the arch member 822.
Optionally, inner surfaces of the clips 840 may be roughened or
knurled or provided with serrations, grooves or other structure to
facilitate a secure, non-sliding connection between the clips 840
and the arch member 820.
[0123] To remove the arch member 820 from the anchor 830, the
practitioner can compress the arm portion 842, 844 together using a
suitable hand instrument, and may slide the arch member coupling
824 along the compressed clip 840.
[0124] Optionally, each of the clips 840 is cut from a flat section
of metallic stock material. Suitable metallic materials include
shape memory alloys such as alloys of nitinol and beta-titanium.
The clips 840 may be cut from the stock material using a stamping,
die cutting, chemical etching, EDM (electrical discharge
machining), laser cutting or water jet cutting process. As another
option, each clip 840 could be formed and then heat-treated to set
its shape. Other suitable clip features are given in issued U.S.
Pat. No. 7,252,505 (Lai) and U.S. Pat. No. 7,367,800 (Lai et
al.).
[0125] In general, the various embodiments of arch members and
anchors can be used interchangeably to provide selected treatments.
For example, in one exemplary embodiment, one or more teeth of a
patient may be connected to anchors 230 of appliance 200
illustrated in FIGS. 6-7, with the anchors coupled to an arch
member that includes couplings 224, and one or more additional
teeth may be connected to anchors 30 of the appliance 10
illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, with the anchors coupled to one or more
couplings 24 four or connected to the same arch member. In one or
more embodiments, different embodiments of appliances can be used
for different phases of treatment. For example, the appliance 300
of FIG. 8 may be utilized in an early treatment phase, and the
appliance 10 of FIGS. 1-4 may be utilized in a later treatment
phase of the same patient.
[0126] The various embodiments of orthodontic appliances of the
present disclosure can be utilized with any suitable orthodontic
treatment system. For example, in one or more embodiments, an
orthodontic treatment system can include an orthodontic appliance,
e.g., orthodontic appliance 10. The orthodontic appliance can
include a set of arch members (e.g., arch member 20 of FIGS. 1-4).
Each arch member 20 can include an arch member body 22 and an arch
member coupling 24 connected to the body. The appliance can also
include a set of anchors (e.g., anchor 30 of FIGS. 1-3) that are
adapted to connect to respective teeth of a patient's dental arch.
Each anchor 30 can include an anchor coupling 34 and a base 32
adapted to connect the anchor to a surface of the tooth. Each arch
member coupling can be releasably connectable to the anchor
coupling of an anchor of the set of anchors.
[0127] In one or more embodiments, a first arch member of the set
of arch members can have a geometry (e.g., shape, cross-sectional
area, etc.) selected to move at least one tooth from a first
arrangement to a second arrangement. Further, in one or more
embodiments, a second arch member of the set of arch members can
have a geometry (e.g., shape, cross-sectional area, etc.) selected
to move at least one tooth from the second arrangement to a third
arrangement.
[0128] The various embodiments of orthodontic appliances described
herein can be utilized with any suitable additional appliances. For
example in one or more embodiments, orthodontic appliance 10 of
FIGS. 1-4 can be utilized with one or more brackets, buccal tubes,
bands, cleats, buttons, removable appliances (including aligner
trays), palatal expanders, and combinations thereof. One or more
additional appliances can be adapted to be connected to an
orthodontic appliance (e.g., appliance 10 of FIGS. 1-4). For
example, a palatal expander can be adapted to be connected to an
orthodontic appliance using any technique or combination of
techniques. In one or more embodiments, one or more additional
appliances can be used simultaneously with one or more appliances
but not be connected to such appliance.
[0129] The various embodiments of orthodontic appliances described
herein can be manufactured using any suitable technique or
combination of techniques, e.g., the techniques described in U.S.
Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0260405 (Cinader, Jr.) and
U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/097,733 (Attorney
Docket No. 75174US002). In reference to orthodontic appliance 10 of
FIGS. 1-4, one exemplary technique includes providing a physical
dental model of a patient's teeth that can be used to form the
appliance 10. The configuration of the dental model can represent a
target dental arrangement as perceived by the treating
professional. As defined herein, the "target dental arrangement"
may be a patient's current dental arrangement, a desired final
dental arrangement, or a predicted intermediate dental arrangement,
depending on the application contemplated by the treating
professional. In one or more embodiments, the target dental
arrangement can also include a desired arrangement of one or more
anchor couplings.
[0130] If the target dental arrangement is defined as the patient's
current dental arrangement, then the dental model can be provided,
for example, from an epoxy resin or stone casting prepared from an
alginate, polyvinylsiloxane, or polyether impression of a patient's
dentition. If the target dental arrangement is defined as an
intermediate or final dental arrangement, then this casting may be
sectioned into individual model tooth elements, and the tooth
elements can be rearranged to form the desired dental arrangement.
Further, the tooth elements can be waxed back together to provide
the dental model. In one or more embodiments, the dental model can
also be a reconfigurable dental model, thereby allowing individual
teeth to be rearranged without sectioning. Examples of
reconfigurable dental models are described, e.g., in U.S. Pat. No.
6,227,851 (Chishti et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,394,801 (Chishti et
al.).
[0131] The dental model can be used as a template to make and
configure the orthodontic appliance 10. The anchors 30 can be
connected to the respective lingual and/or labial tooth surfaces of
the dental model. The arch member 20 can be formed into a desired
configuration using any suitable technique or combination of
techniques such that the arch member couplings 24 are releasably
connectable to the anchor couplings 34 of anchors 30. In one or
more embodiments, the arch member body 22 can be formed by
extrusion and then shaped using known techniques. In one or more
embodiments, the arch member body 22 can be formed by cutting,
stamping, or etching a substrate. In one or more embodiments, a
polymeric material can be thermoformed or cast to provide an arch
member body 22, and one or more arch member couplings 24 can be
connected to the arch member body. In one or more embodiments, the
arch member body 22 can be formed using 3D printing techniques.
[0132] Once the arch member body 22 is formed, the arch member
couplings 24 can be disposed along the arch member body such that
the arch member couplings are connected to the arch member body. In
one or more embodiments where the arch member couplings 24 are
formed along with the arch member body 22 (e.g., arch member body
320 of FIGS. 7-8), the arch member couplings can be formed by
slitting or etching one or more slots in the arch member body. In
one or more embodiments, the slots can be disposed in the arch
member body 22 during thermoforming or casting of the arch member
20.
[0133] To use the appliance 10, the anchors 30 are transferred from
the dental model to the patient's teeth. To preserve the precise
locations of the anchors 30 relative to the respective teeth, an
indirect bonding tray or other transfer apparatus can be utilized.
If the anchors 30 are customized to the lingual surfaces of the
patient's teeth and thereby self-positioning, direct bonding may be
a viable alternative. The arch member 20 can be placed in the
patient's mouth and releasably connected to the anchors 30 via the
arch member couplings 24.
[0134] By performing operations in a virtual world, it is also
possible for one or more of these steps to be consolidated or even
eliminated. Various digital techniques can potentially improve the
precision of appliance design and facilitate aspects of the
fabrication process that are traditionally done by hand.
[0135] One exemplary technique is digital scanning. A virtual
dental model representing the patient's dental structure can be
captured using a digital intraoral scan or by digitally scanning an
impression or dental model. The digital images may be provided
using a hand-held intra-oral scanner such as the intra-oral scanner
using active wavefront sampling developed by Brontes Technologies,
Inc. (Lexington, Mass.) and described, e.g., in PCT Publication No.
WO 2007/084727 (Boerjes et al.). In one or more embodiments, other
intra-oral scanners or intra-oral contact probes may be used. As
another option, the digital structure data may be provided by
scanning a negative impression of the patient's teeth. As still
another option, the digital structure data may be provided by
imaging a positive physical model of the patient's teeth or by
using a contact probe on a model of the patient's teeth. The model
used for scanning may be made, for example, by casting an
impression of a patient's dentition from a suitable impression
material such as alginate or polyvinylsiloxane (PVS), pouring a
casting material (such as orthodontic stone or epoxy resin) into
the impression, and allowing the casting material to cure. Any
suitable scanning technique may be used for scanning the model,
including X-ray radiography, laser scanning, computed tomography
(CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and ultrasound imaging.
Other possible scanning methods are described, e.g., in U.S. Patent
Application Publication No. 2007/0031791 (Cinader et al.).
[0136] From there, it is possible for a treating professional to
manipulate the virtual dental model on a computer, for example, to
arrive at the target dental arrangement. Further details on
software and processes that may be used to derive the target dental
arrangement are disclosed, e.g., in U.S. Pat. No. 6,739,870 (Lai et
al.), U.S. Pat. No. 8,194,067 (Raby et al.), U.S. Pat. No.
7,291,011 (Stark et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 7,354,268 (Raby et al.),
U.S. Pat. No. 7,869,983 (Raby et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 7,726,968
(Raby et al.).
[0137] Another digital technique that can facilitate preparation of
the dental model is rapid prototyping. After a virtual dental model
has been created using any of the above techniques, rapid
prototyping techniques can allow the dental model to be directly
fabricated from this virtual dental model. Advantageously, there is
no need to take an alginate impression or cast a stone model.
Examples of rapid prototyping techniques include, but are not
limited to, three-dimensional (3D) printing, selective area laser
deposition or selective laser sintering (SLS), electrophoretic
deposition, robocasting, fused deposition modeling (FDM), laminated
object manufacturing (LOM), stereolithography (SLA) and
photostereolithography. These and other methods of forming a
positive dental model from scanned digital data are disclosed,
e.g., in U.S. Pat. No. 8,535,580 (Cinader).
[0138] In one or more embodiments, the anchors 30 can be connected
to the patient's teeth prior to taking an impression or intraoral
scan. Since the anchors 30 can be directly bonded to the patient's
teeth, this can simplify the process by eliminating the need to
bond the anchors to the physical dental model, as well as the need
to transfer the anchors to the patient's teeth. As before, the
manipulation of the dental model from the maloccluded dental
arrangement to the target dental arrangement may be carried out on
a computer. There are other potential benefits. For example, if the
anchors 30 and the patient's teeth are captured together in an
intraoral scan, it is possible to digitally configure arch member
20 using a wire bending apparatus or robot based on the relative
locations of the anchors and the patient's teeth.
[0139] Rapid prototyping may even eliminate the need to provide a
physical dental model for fabricating the appliance 10. While it
has been shown that rapid prototyping can be used to fabricate a
dental model, it is also conceivable that rapid prototyping could
be used to directly fabricate at least a portion of the appliance
10. The configuration of the arch member body 22, the anchors 30,
and the couplings 24, 34 can be carried out with the assistance of
rapid prototyping techniques. Direct fabrication can provide
potential cost and time savings by eliminating intermediate steps
in the fabrication of the appliance 10.
[0140] If the appliance 10 is directly fabricated from a virtual
dental model, a physical dental model may still be useful to verify
the appliance for quality control purposes. This may be carried out
by seating the arch member 20 against a physical dental model and
observing that each arch member coupling 24 releasably connects to
a respective anchor 30. Assuming that the appliance 10 is properly
configured and the dental model represents the target dental
arrangement, the arch member 20 should be relaxed when releasably
connected to the anchors 30. This procedure can also be used to
verify the appliance 10 on a dental model representing a
maloccluded (or non-desired) dental arrangement to ensure that the
arch member couplings 24 of the arch member 20 can properly connect
to the corresponding anchor couplings 34 anchors 30. In this case,
the appliance 10 is active, so one or more portions of the arch
member body 22 should be acting in force-transmitting engagement
upon releasably connecting the arch member 20 to the anchors
30.
[0141] In one or more embodiments, the arch member 20 of the
appliance 10 can be reconfigured during the course of treatment.
Reconfiguring the arch member 20 and, in one or more embodiments,
one or more anchors 30, can be an efficient and cost-effective
alternative to fabricating a series of arch members. For example,
the arch member 20 may be reconfigured to guide teeth through two
or more dental arrangements during the course of treatment by
making manual adjustments (e.g., bends) to one or more portions of
the arch member body 22. This can also be used advantageously to
re-activate the appliance 10. For example, if the patient's teeth
have moved to an extent that the current appliance 10 is no longer
exerting sufficient corrective force to effect tooth movement, the
treating professional has the freedom to restore the corrective
forces applied by the appliance by making appropriate adjustments
to the arch member body 22. In one or more embodiments, such
adjustments can also be made to overcorrect or compensate for
anticipated relapse of one or more teeth. Optionally, the locations
of the anchors 30 are captured beforehand using an intraoral scan
or other scanning technique, and this information can be used to
configure the arch member body 22 automatically using a wire
bending apparatus or robot.
[0142] In one or more embodiments, a series of two or more arch
members 20 can be formed to provide a progressive treatment that
applies selected corrective forces to one or more teeth such that
the teeth are repositioned from an initial maloccluded position to
a final target position through, for at least one or more teeth,
one or more intermediate positions.
[0143] The various embodiments of orthodontic appliances described
herein can be utilized in any suitable application. In one
application, an appliance (e.g., orthodontic appliance 10 of FIGS.
1-4) functions as a retainer that maintains the patient's teeth in
their current positions. For this application, the dental model
used to fabricate appliance 10 is a replica of the patient's
current dental structure. Since the dental model has the same
configuration as the patient's dental structure, appliance 10 would
be applying essentially zero corrective force to the teeth when
placed in the mouth. If one or more of the teeth relapse, or change
location or orientation, then the appliance 10 can urge the wayward
teeth back to their original positions.
[0144] In a second application, appliance 10 can be adapted to
actively move teeth from current maloccluded positions to final,
desired positions. More specifically, one or more portions of the
arch member body 22 can be shaped to provide one or more corrective
forces when the arch member couplings 24 are releasably connected
to the anchor couplings 34. The inherent memory of the resilient
arch member body 22 can provide corrective forces to one or more
teeth as the shaped portions relax to their normal configuration.
In this application, the dental model used to fabricate the
appliance 10, therefore, represents the final dental arrangement
envisioned by the treating professional.
[0145] In a third application, appliance 10 can be configured to
move teeth to an intermediate, non-final dental arrangement. This
situation may be encountered when the severity or complexity of the
malocclusion is such that a single appliance is insufficient to
reposition teeth from initial to final positions. In these cases,
treatment may be conducted in multiple stages where a series of two
or more arch members 20 are sequentially used with a single set of
anchors 30 to incrementally and progressively move teeth from an
initial maloccluded dental arrangement to a final corrected dental
arrangement. Here, the dental model used to fabricate the appliance
10 can represent an intermediate dental arrangement that may be
observed during the course of treatment.
[0146] In an exemplary embodiment of the third application, a first
arch member 20 is connected to the anchors 30 to re-position a
patient's maloccluded teeth to an intermediate dental arrangement.
The first arch member 20 is then removed from the oral cavity.
Next, a second arch member that has a configuration when relaxed
that is different from the configuration of the first arch member
when relaxed can be used in a similar fashion to re-position the
patient's teeth from the intermediate dental arrangement to a final
dental arrangement. If desired, the above process can be extended
to two or more intermediate dental arrangements. In one or more
embodiments, the first arch member and the second arch member can
include the same configuration, but the second arch member can have
material properties that are different from the first arch member.
For example, one or more portions of the second arch member can
include a stiffness that provides a corrective force or forces that
are different from the corrective force or forces provided by the
first arch member.
[0147] Dental models representing intermediate or final dental
arrangements can be fabricated by manually forming, sectioning, and
re-assembling a physical dental casting. Digital techniques can
also be used. For example, a final dental arrangement can be
determined using a computer algorithm or input from a treating
professional, and one or more intermediate dental arrangements
derived by sub-dividing the treatment into a series of discrete
steps can be derived. In one or more embodiments, one or more of
the intermediate dental arrangements can include a reduced image as
is described, e.g., in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2010/0260405
(Cinader). Once each intermediate or final dental arrangement has
been derived in such fashion, respective dental models may be
directly fabricated using rapid prototyping methods. Each
respective intermediate or final arch member 20 can be fabricated
from the dental models using any suitable technique or combination
of techniques.
[0148] In one or more embodiments that utilize progressive
treatment of a patient's teeth, second, third, or more intermediate
scans of the teeth can be performed using any suitable technique or
combination of techniques. The practitioner or manufacturer can
then utilize these intermediate scans to provide one or more
additional arch members 20 that are adapted to provide one or more
corrective forces to the teeth such that one or more teeth are
repositioned to either a subsequent intermediate arrangement or a
final target arrangement. Any suitable technique or combination of
techniques can be utilized to provide these intermediate scans,
models, and arch members, e.g., the techniques described in U.S.
Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0260405 (Cinader Jr.) and
U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/097,733 (Attorney
Docket No. 75174US002).
[0149] In general, an orthodontic appliance (e.g., appliance 10 of
FIGS. 1-4) can be formed by providing a proposed specification of
the orthodontic appliance, where the orthodontic appliance includes
the arch member 20 that includes the arch member body 22 and the
arch member coupling 24 connected to the arch member body. The
appliance also includes a set of anchors 30, each anchor including
the anchor coupling 34 and the base 32 adapted to connect the
anchor to a surface of a tooth. Each arch member coupling 24 is
releasably connectable to an anchor coupling 34.
[0150] A first digital image representing a first dental
arrangement associated with the orthodontic appliance 10 can be
provided using any suitable technique or combination of techniques.
A target digital image representing a target dental arrangement can
be derived, e.g., by physically or virtually moving teeth in the
first dental arrangement to one or more desired positions. The
proposed specification of the orthodontic appliance 10 can be
revised based at least in part on the target digital image. And the
orthodontic appliance 10 can be formed based on the target digital
image.
[0151] In one or more embodiments, a second digital image
representing a second dental arrangement can be provided using any
suitable technique or combination of techniques. At least one tooth
in the second dental arrangement can be in a different position
from the corresponding tooth in the first dental arrangement. A
revised target digital image representing the second dental
arrangement can be derived, e.g., by physically or virtually moving
teeth in the first dental arrangement to desired positions. The
proposed specification of the orthodontic appliance 10 can be
revised based in part on the revised target digital image. And the
orthodontic appliance 10 can be revised based on the revised
proposed specification.
Embodiments
[0152] 1. An orthodontic appliance comprising:
[0153] a first anchor comprising an anchor coupling and a base
adapted to connect the first anchor to a surface of a first tooth,
and a second anchor comprising an anchor coupling and a base
adapted to connect the second anchor to a surface of a second
tooth; and an arch member comprising an arch member body and first
and second arch member couplings integral with the body, the arch
member body comprising a cross-sectional geometry that varies along
a length of the body; wherein the first arch member coupling is
releasably connectable to the anchor coupling of the first anchor
and the second arch member coupling is releasably connectable to
the anchor coupling of the second anchor, and further wherein the
arch member body comprises a first nonlinear portion between the
first arch member coupling and the second arch member coupling that
is adapted to be spaced apart from the surfaces of the first and
second teeth when the first and second anchors are connected to the
surfaces of the first and second teeth and the first and second
arch member couplings are releasably connected to the anchor
couplings of the first and second anchors.
2. The appliance of embodiment 1, wherein the arch member body and
the first anchor are in a fixed relationship when the first arch
member coupling is connected to the anchor coupling of the first
anchor. 3. The appliance of embodiment 1, wherein the first anchor
is adapted for displacement relative to the arch member body when
the first anchor is connected to the first tooth and the first arch
member coupling is releasably connected to the anchor coupling of
the first anchor. 4. The appliance of any one of embodiments 1 to
3, wherein the arch member comprises a self-ligating arch member.
5. The appliance of any one of embodiments 1 to 4, wherein the
first nonlinear portion extends in at least one of a gingival,
occlusal, labial, and lingual direction when the first and second
anchors are connected to the surfaces of the first and second teeth
and the first arch member coupling and the second arch member
coupling are connected to the anchor coupling of the first anchor
and the anchor coupling of the second anchor respectively. 6. The
appliance of any one of embodiments 1 to 4, wherein the first
nonlinear portion extends in at least one of a labial and a lingual
direction when the first and second anchors are connected to the
surfaces of the first and second teeth and the first arch member
coupling and the second arch member coupling are connected to the
anchor coupling of the first anchor and the anchor coupling of the
second anchor respectively. 7. The appliance of any one of
embodiments 1 to 4, wherein the first nonlinear portion extends in
at least one of a gingival and occlusal direction when the first
and second anchors are connected to the surfaces of the first and
second teeth and the first arch member coupling and the second arch
member coupling are connected to the anchor coupling of the first
anchor and the anchor coupling of the second anchor respectively.
8. The appliance of any one of embodiments 1 to 7, wherein the arch
member body comprises a third arch member coupling and a second
nonlinear portion between the second arch member coupling and the
third arch member coupling, wherein a shape of the first nonlinear
portion between the first and second arch member couplings is
different from a shape of the second nonlinear portion between the
second and third arch member couplings. 9. The appliance of any one
of embodiments 1 to 8, wherein the first nonlinear portion
comprises a V-shaped portion. 10. The appliance of any one of
embodiments 1 to 9, wherein the first nonlinear portion comprises a
U-shaped portion. 11. The appliance of any one of embodiments 1 to
10, wherein the first nonlinear portion comprises an S-shaped
portion. 12. The appliance of any one of embodiments 1 to 11,
wherein the first nonlinear portion comprises a sinusoidal-shaped
portion. 13. The appliance of embodiment 12 wherein the sinusoidal
portion extends in both gingival and occlusal directions when the
first and second anchors are connected to the surfaces of the first
and second teeth and the first arch member coupling and the second
arch member coupling are connected to the anchor coupling of the
first anchor and the anchor coupling of the second anchor
respectively. 14. The appliance of embodiment 12, wherein the
sinusoidal portion extends in both mesial and distal directions
when the first and second anchors are connected to the surfaces of
the first and second teeth and the first arch member coupling and
the second arch member coupling are connected to the anchor
coupling of the first anchor and the anchor coupling of the second
anchor respectively. 15. The appliance of any one of embodiments 1
to 14, wherein the anchor coupling of the first anchor comprises a
post that extends from the base of the first anchor, and wherein
the first arch member coupling comprises a slotted portion of the
arch member body that is adapted to releasably engage the post of
the first anchor. 16. The appliance of any one of embodiments 1 to
14, wherein the anchor coupling of the first anchor comprises a
slot, and wherein the first arch member coupling comprises a
resilient tab that is adapted to releasably engage the slot of the
anchor coupling of the first anchor. 17. The appliance of any one
of embodiments 1 to 16, wherein the anchor coupling of the first
anchor is adapted to provide at least one of a selected torque,
rotation, and angulation to the first tooth when the first arch
member coupling is connected to the anchor coupling of the first
anchor and the first anchor is connected to the first tooth. 18.
The appliance of any one of embodiments 1 to 17, wherein the arch
member comprises a tab adapted to engage at least one of the first
and second anchors. 19. The appliance of any one of embodiments 1
to 18, wherein at least a portion of the arch member body is
adapted to be attached directly to a surface of a tooth. 20. The
appliance of any one of embodiments 1 to 19, wherein the arch
member further comprises a coating disposed on at least a portion
of the arch member body. 21. The appliance of any one of
embodiments 1 to 20, wherein at least one of the first and second
anchors comprises a second anchor coupling. 22. The appliance of
any one of embodiments 1 to 21, wherein a portion of the arch
member body comprises a hook. 23. The appliance of any one of
embodiments 1 to 22, wherein a portion of the arch member body
comprises a loop. 24. An orthodontic appliance comprising:
[0154] an arch member comprising an arch member body and a
plurality of arch member couplings integral with the body; and a
plurality of anchors each comprising an anchor coupling and a base
adapted to connect the anchor to a surface of a tooth; wherein each
arch member coupling is releasably connectable to the anchor
coupling of an anchor of the plurality of anchors; wherein a first
portion of the arch member body is adapted to provide a first
corrective force and a second portion of the arch member body is
adapted to provide a second corrective force different from the
first corrective force, and further wherein the arch member body is
adapted to not contact the surface of the tooth when the anchor of
the plurality of anchors is connected to the surface of the
tooth.
25. The appliance of embodiment 24, wherein the arch member
comprises a self-ligating arch member. 26. The appliance of any one
of embodiments 24 to 25, wherein at least one anchor of the
plurality of anchors is adapted for displacement relative to the
arch member body when the at least one anchor is connected to a
tooth and an arch member coupling of the plurality of arch member
couplings is releasably connected to the anchor coupling of the at
least one anchor. 27. The appliance of any one of embodiments 24 to
26, wherein the arch member further comprises a coating disposed on
at least a portion of the arch member body. 28. The appliance of
any one of embodiments 24 to 27, wherein the first portion of the
arch member body comprises a first cross-sectional geometry and the
second portion of the arch member body comprises a second
cross-sectional geometry different from the first cross-sectional
geometry. 29. The appliance of embodiment 28, wherein at least one
of the first cross-sectional geometry and the second
cross-sectional geometry comprises a twisted portion. 30. The
appliance of embodiment 28, wherein at least one of the first
cross-sectional geometry and the second cross-sectional geometry
comprises a stepped portion. 31. The appliance of any one of
embodiments 24 to 30, wherein at least a portion of the arch member
body is adapted to be attached directly to a surface of a tooth.
32. A method of forming an arch member comprising an arch member
body and an arch member coupling integral with the body,
comprising:
[0155] providing a substrate comprising a resilient material;
and
[0156] removing a portion of the substrate to form the arch
member.
33. The method of embodiment 32, wherein removing the portion of
the substrate comprises laser cutting the substrate to form the
arch member. 34. The method of embodiment 32, wherein removing the
portion of the substrate comprises etching the substrate to form
the arch member. 35. The method of any one of embodiments 32 to 34,
further comprising removing a portion of the arch member body to
provide a thickness of the body that varies along a length of the
body. 36. The method of any one of embodiments 32 to 35, further
comprising forming a portion of the arch member body into a
selected shape. 37. The method of embodiment 36, wherein forming
the portion of the arch member body into the selected shape
comprises bending the portion of the arch member body into the
selected shape. 38. The method of embodiment 36, wherein forming
the portion of the arch member body into the selected shape
comprises machining the portion of the arch member body into the
selected shape. 39. The method of embodiment 36, wherein the
selected shape comprises a hook. 40. The method of embodiment 36,
wherein the selected shape comprises a twist. 41. The method of
embodiment 36, wherein the selected shaped comprises a step. 42.
The method of any one of embodiments 32 to 41, further comprising
heat-setting the arch member body. 43. A method of specifying an
orthodontic appliance comprising:
[0157] providing a proposed specification of the orthodontic
appliance, wherein the orthodontic appliance comprises an arch
member comprising an arch member body and an arch member coupling
integral with the body, and a set of anchors, each anchor
comprising an anchor coupling and a base adapted to connect the
anchor to a surface of a tooth, wherein each arch member coupling
is releasably connectable to an anchor coupling, and wherein the
arch member body comprises a cross-sectional geometry that varies
along a length of the body;
[0158] providing a first digital image representing a first dental
arrangement associated with the orthodontic appliance;
[0159] deriving a target digital image representing a target dental
arrangement;
[0160] revising the proposed specification of the orthodontic
appliance based in part on the target digital image; and
[0161] forming the orthodontic appliance based on the revised
proposed specification.
44. The method of embodiment 43, wherein the arch member comprises
a self-ligating arch member. 45. An orthodontic treatment system
comprising an orthodontic appliance, wherein the orthodontic
appliance comprises: a set of arch members, each arch member
comprising an arch member body and an arch member coupling integral
with the body, at least one arch member of the set of arch members
comprises an arch member body comprising a cross-sectional geometry
that varies along a length of the body; a set of anchors adapted to
connect to respective teeth of a patient's dental arch, each anchor
comprising an anchor coupling and a base adapted to connect the
anchor to a surface of a tooth; wherein the arch member coupling is
releasably connectable to an anchor coupling of an anchor of the
set of anchors; wherein a first arch member of the set of arch
members has a first cross-sectional geometry adapted to move at
least one tooth from a first arrangement to a second arrangement,
and a second arch member of the set of arch members has a second
cross-sectional geometry adapted to move at least one tooth from
the second arrangement to a third arrangement. 46. The system of
embodiment 45, wherein at least one arch member of the set of arch
members comprises a self-ligating arch member. 47. The system of
any one of embodiments 45 to 46, wherein at least one anchor of the
set of anchors is adapted for displacement relative to at least one
arch member of the set of arch members. 48. The system of any one
of embodiments 45 to 47, wherein at least one arch member of the
set of arch members comprises a portion that is adapted to be
attached directly to a surface of a tooth. 49. The system of any
one of embodiments 45 all to 48, wherein at least one arch member
of the set of arch members comprises a coating disposed on at least
a portion of the arch member body. 50. The system of any one of
embodiments 45 to 49, further comprising a palatal expander that is
adapted to be connected to an arch member of the set of arch
members.
[0162] All references and publications cited herein are expressly
incorporated herein by reference in their entirety into this
disclosure, except to the extent they may directly contradict this
disclosure. Illustrative embodiments of this disclosure are
discussed and reference has been made to possible variations within
the scope of this disclosure. These and other variations and
modifications in the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled
in the art without departing from the scope of the disclosure, and
it should be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the
illustrative embodiments set forth herein. Accordingly, the
disclosure is to be limited only by the claims provided below.
* * * * *