Patent Application
20230100466
The present disclosure relates in some aspects to methods of forming terminal ends of an archform.
The distal ends of an archform can be difficult to anchor to brackets on a patient's teeth. In some instances, hooks can be formed by an operator on the distal ends of the archform to anchor to the brackets. However, the formation of the hooks can be operator technique dependent (e.g., hooks for at time of installation in patient's mouth), creating inconsistencies and a lack of precise control over dimensions. The formation of the hooks can also lead to breakages and/or be time consuming. Additionally, the hooks can have sharp edges that can be uncomfortable in the patient's mouth.
Accordingly, archforms with terminal ends with a ball or knob formed thereon and methods for forming said terminal ends are disclosed herein. The methods can include forming a distal end of an archform into a ball or knob with a welding device. The described archforms with balled or knobbed terminal ends can reduce or eliminate operator technique dependence, allow for precise control of dimensions of the terminal ends, reduce or eliminate breaking risk of terminal ends during fabrication, reduce fabrication time, and/or decrease or eliminate reworking of terminal ends.
In some variants, an archform that can move teeth of a patient is disclosed herein. The archform can include a first end that can have a first enlarged end portion that can anchor the first end of the archform to a bracket disposed on a tooth of the patient.
In some variants, the first end can be a distal end of the archform.
In some variants, the first enlarged end portion can be a ball. The first enlarged end portion can have a ball shape. The first enlarged end portion can have a spherical shape. The first enlarged end portion can have a rounded shape.
In some variants, the first enlarged end portion can contact an exterior surface of the bracket to anchor the end of the archform.
In some variants, the first enlarged end portion can contact a curved groove disposed on an exterior surface of the bracket to anchor the end of the archform.
In some variants, the archform can include a custom nonplanar shape.
In some variants, the archform can include a shape memory material.
In some variants, the archform can include a plurality of bracket connectors and a plurality of interproximal segments. The bracket connectors can couple to brackets disposed on the teeth of the patient to prevent relative sliding between the bracket connectors and the brackets. The plurality of interproximal segments can be disposed between adjacent bracket connectors.
In some variants, the bracket connectors can include loops.
In some variants, the interproximal segments can include loops.
In some variants, the archform can include a second end opposite the first end. The second end can include a second enlarged portion. The second end can be a distal end of the archform. The first end can be a right or left distal end of the archform and the second end can be the other of the right or left distal end of the archform.
In some variants, the second enlarged portion can be a ball. The second enlarged end portion can have a ball shape. The second enlarged end portion can have a spherical shape. The second enlarged end portion can have a rounded shape.
In some variants, the bracket can be disposed on a lingual surface of the teeth of the patient.
In some variants, a method of forming an enlarged end portion on an end of an archform is disclosed herein. The method can include advancing an electrode of a welding device to contact a first end of an archform, forming a first enlarged end portion thereon. The method can include advancing the electrode of the welding device to contact a second end, opposite the first end, of the archform, forming a second enlarged end portion thereon.
In some variants, the method can include gripping the archform with a tool.
In some variants, the welding device can be a micro TIG welder.
In some variants, the electrode can be a one millimeter electrode.
In some variants, the first enlarged end portion can include a cross-sectional size that can be larger than a cross-sectional size of the archform.
In some variants, the second enlarged end portion can include a cross-sectional size that can be larger than a cross-sectional size of the archform.
In some variants, the first enlarged end portion can include a ball shape.
In some variants, the second enlarged end portion can include a ball shape
These drawings are illustrative embodiments and do not present all possible embodiments of this invention. The illustrated embodiments are intended to illustrate, but not to limit, the scope of protection. Various features of the different disclosed embodiments can be combined to form further embodiments, which are part of this disclosure.
Malocclusion of the teeth may be treated using orthodontic brackets and archforms to move the patient's teeth using non-sliding mechanics. For example, scans of a patient's teeth can be taken and a digital model of the patient's teeth can be created, at least in part, from the scans. The teeth of the digital model can be moved from positions of malocclusion (e.g., first positions) to second positions, which may be a final expected alignment of the teeth. Digital brackets can be placed, respectively, on the lingual or buccal surfaces of the teeth in the digital model. In some variants, the digital brackets can be placed before moving the teeth of the digital model from the positions of malocclusion (e.g., first positions) to the second positions.
A physical fixture can be created (e.g., 3D printed, machined, and/or otherwise formed) based on the digital model with the teeth in the second positions and the digital brackets placed. The physical fixture can include retention features (e.g., hooks, slots, locks, holders, etc.) that can retain portions of an archform such as bracket connectors. The retention features can be positioned based on the corresponding positioning of the digital brackets in the digital model with the teeth in the second positions, such that the relative positioning of the retention features to each other is the same as or similar to the relative positioning of the digital brackets to each other in the digital model. In some variants, the physical fixture can be a physical model of the patient's teeth corresponding to the digital model of the patient's teeth in the second positions and the retention features positioned on the teeth of the physical model can be based on the corresponding positioning of the digital brackets in the digital model.
An archform, which may also be referred to as an archwire, can be made of a shape memory material, such as nickel-titanium alloy (e.g., Nitinol). The archform can be cut (e.g., laser, waterjet, etc.) from a sheet of material (e.g., shape memory material). The archform can be cut from a wire of material (e.g., shape memory material). The archform can include bracket connectors that can couple to brackets and interproximal segments, such as interproximal loops, that can be configured to move one or more teeth of the patient. When cut from the sheet of material, the archform can have a substantially flat two-dimensional shape. When cut from the sheet of material, the bracket connectors and interproximal segments can be formed when the archform is cut from the sheet of material. When cut from a wire of material, the bracket connectors and interproximal loops can be formed by bending the wire. The archform can be deflected and coupled to the physical fixture to assume a custom nonplanar shape. Specifically, the bracket connectors of the archform can be coupled to the retention features of the physical fixture. While retained in the custom nonplanar shape, the archform can be set, which can be accomplished via exposure to heat. Setting the archform can set a new default or memorized position for the archform such that the archform is biased toward the memorized custom nonplanar shape when deflected therefrom. Accordingly, if the archform is deflected from the memorized custom nonplanar shape, the archform can exert forces to return the archform back toward the memorized custom nonplanar shape.
An indirect bonding (IDB) tray can be formed based on the digital model. The teeth of the digital model, with the digital brackets disposed thereon, can be returned back to the positions of malocclusion that can reflect the current positions of the patient's teeth. In some variants, the IDB tray can be formed based on the digital model with digital brackets placed on the maloccluded teeth of the digital model prior to movement of the teeth to the second positions. An IDB tray can be 3D printed and/or over molded based on the digital model. The IDB tray can be sized and shaped to fit over the teeth of the patient. The IDB tray can include wells (e.g., pockets, recesses, etc.) that can house orthodontic brackets therein. The wells can be positioned based on the corresponding positioning of the digital brackets in the digital model.
Orthodontic brackets can be placed in respective wells of the IDB tray with contact surfaces (e.g., bonding surfaces) exposed. An adhesive can be applied to the contact surfaces and the loaded IDB tray can be placed over the teeth of the patient, positioning the orthodontic brackets at locations on the teeth of the patient that correspond to the positioning of the digital brackets on the teeth in the digital model. The orthodontic brackets can bond to the teeth of the patient, which can be facilitated by exposing the adhesive to light (e.g., UV light) and/or heat.
With the orthodontic brackets bonded to the teeth of the patient, the archform can be deflected from the memorized custom nonplanar shape and coupled to the bonded orthodontic brackets. The bracket connectors of the archform can be coupled, e.g., locked, to the bonded orthodontic brackets such that the archform does not slide with respect to the brackets. As described, the deflected archform can exert forces on the teeth of the patient as the archform exerts forces to move toward the undeflected position (e.g., memorized custom nonplanar shape), which can move the teeth of the patient, using non-sliding mechanics, toward seconds positions that correspond to the second positions of the teeth in the digital model (e.g., final alignment of the teeth).
In some variants, a series of archforms can be sequentially installed in the patient's mouth (e.g., coupled to the brackets) and then replaced to move the patient's teeth from positions of malocclusion to second positions. For example, an initial archform set in the custom nonplanar shape may be used for an initial stage of treatment for initially moving the teeth of the patient toward the second positions. An intermediate archform set in the custom nonplanar shape, which may be stiffer than the initial archform, may be used for an intermediate stage of treatment for moving the teeth of the patient closer toward the second positions. A final archform set in the custom nonplanar shape, which may be stiffer than the intermediate archform, may be used for a final stage of treatment for moving the teeth of the patient closer toward or to the second positions.
Although references are made herein to archforms used to move teeth using non-sliding mechanics, the balled or knobbed terminal ends and methods of making the same can be applied to archforms used for moving teeth using sliding mechanics.
The archform 100 can include one or more connectors 102 (connecting loops, locking loops, male loops, bracket connectors). The connectors 102 can be coupled to corresponding brackets disposed on the lingual or buccal surfaces of a patient's teeth. The connectors 102 can correspond with the teeth of the patient and brackets placed thereon. The connector 102 can couple to a bracket such that the connector 102 does not slide and/or otherwise move with respect to the bracket. In some variants, the connectors 102 can include loops that extend away from a longitudinal axis of the archform 100 in a gingival direction to define a gap, open in the occlusal direction. In some variants, the connectors 102 can include loops that extend away from a longitudinal axis of the archform 100 in an occlusal direction to define a gap, open in the gingival direction.
The archform 100 can include one or more interproximal segments 104 (interproximal loops). The interproximal segment 104 can be disposed between adjacent connectors 102. In some variants, the interproximal segments 104 can include loops that extend away from a longitudinal axis of the archform 100 in a gingival direction to define a gap, open in the occlusal direction, which can facilitate flossing and/or be aesthetically pleasing. In some variants, the interproximal segment 104 can be loops that extend away from a longitudinal axis of the archform 100 in an occlusal direction to define a gap, open in the gingival direction. When the archform 100 is installed in a patient's mouth, the interproximal segment 104 can apply forces to the brackets bonded to the patient's teeth to move the patient's teeth. For example, the loops of the interproximal segments 104 can open and/or close to return toward un undeflected configuration of the archform 100 to move the patient's teeth closer together or farther apart.
The archform 100 can include a first distal end 106 and a second distal end 107. The first distal end 106 can be disposed proximate a first distal portion of the patient's dental arch. The second distal end 107 can be disposed proximate a second distal portion of the patient's dental arch. In some variants, the first distal end 106 and/or second distal end 107 can be disposed at more anterior positions than the distal portions of the patient's dental arch.
As described herein, the archform 100 can be deflected from a custom memorized shape to couple the connectors 102 to brackets on a patient's teeth. The archform 100 can apply forces to the brackets as the archform 100 moves toward the undeflected custom memorized shape, which applies forces to the patient's teeth to move the patient's teeth toward second positions.
As shown, the first distal end 106 of the archform 101 can extend past the distal wall 126 of the bracket 114. The first distal end 106 can include a hook 112 that can curve around the distal wall 126 of the bracket 114. The hook 112 can be formed by an operator. The hook 112 can anchor the first distal end 106 to the bracket 114 (e.g., distal wall 126), which can help to prevent sliding of the archform 101 relative to the bracket 114 and/or the connector 102 relative to the bracket 114. The hook 112 can curve in a gingival and/or occlusal direction. The hook 112 can curve such that an end thereof contacts a wall (e.g., distal wall 126 or mesial wall 127) of the bracket 114. The hook 112 can include an end that is disposed away from tissue inside the mouth to promote user comfort.
As illustrated in
Reference is made herein to orthodontic appliances and brackets that move teeth using non-sliding mechanics. However, this disclosure should not be limited to non-sliding mechanics. The methods, apparatuses, and/or systems disclosed herein can be applicable to configurations using sliding mechanics. The methods, apparatuses, and/or systems disclosed herein can be applicable to at least any orthodontic treatment plan that involves coupling an archform to the teeth of the patient and/or bonding and/or placing orthodontic brackets on the teeth of the patient. For example, orthodontic brackets formed and cured from an adhesive, as described herein, can be bonded to a patient's teeth and an archform can be coupled thereto that is configured to slide relative to the cured orthodontic bracket to move teeth of the patient.
It is intended that the scope of this present invention herein disclosed should not be limited by the particular disclosed embodiments described above. This invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, and specific examples have been shown in the drawings and are herein described in detail. This invention is not limited to the detailed forms or methods disclosed, but rather covers all equivalents, modifications, and alternatives falling within the scope and spirit of the various embodiments described and the appended claims. Various features of the orthodontic brackets and archforms described herein can be combined to form further embodiments, which are part of this disclosure. The orthodontic brackets described herein can be bonded to a patient's teeth and the archforms described herein can be deflected and coupled thereto as part of a treatment plan. The archforms can move toward a default position and move the patient's teeth from a first position to a second position. The archforms described herein can be installed in sequence to move the patient's teeth. The orthodontic brackets described herein can be bonded to the teeth of the patient in various orientations, which can include orienting the orthodontic bracket in a first gingival-occlusal orientation and reorienting the orthodontic bracket one hundred and eighty degrees to a second gingival-occlusal orientation (e.g., rotating the orthodontic bracket one hundred and eighty degrees).
Methods of using the orthodontic brackets and/or archforms (including device(s), apparatus(es), assembly(ies), structure(s) or the like) are included herein; the methods of use can include using or assembling any one or more of the features disclosed herein to achieve functions and/or features of the system(s) as discussed in this disclosure. Methods of manufacturing the foregoing system(s) are included; the methods of manufacture can include providing, making, connecting, assembling, and/or installing any one or more of the features of the system(s) disclosed herein to achieve functions and/or features of the system(s) as discussed in this disclosure.
Various other modifications, adaptations, and alternative designs are of course possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, it should be understood at this time that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. It is contemplated that various combinations or subcombinations of the specific features and aspects of the embodiments disclosed above may be made and still fall within one or more of the inventions. Further, the disclosure herein of any particular feature, aspect, method, property, characteristic, quality, attribute, element, or the like in connection with an embodiment can be used in all other embodiments set forth herein. Accordingly, it should be understood that various features and aspects of the disclosed embodiments can be combined with or substituted for one another in order to form varying modes of the disclosed inventions. Thus, it is intended that the scope of the present inventions herein disclosed should not be limited by the particular disclosed embodiments described above. Moreover, while the invention is susceptible to various modifications, and alternative forms, specific examples thereof have been shown in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not to be limited to the particular forms or methods disclosed, but to the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the various embodiments described and the appended claims. Any methods disclosed herein need not be performed in the order recited. The methods disclosed herein include certain actions taken by a practitioner; however, they can also include any third-party instruction of those actions, either expressly or by implication. For example, actions such as “tying a tie onto an orthodontic bracket” includes “instructing the tying of a tie onto an orthodontic bracket.” The ranges disclosed herein also encompass any and all overlap, sub-ranges, and combinations thereof. Language such as “up to,” “at least,” “greater than,” “less than,” “between,” and the like includes the number recited. Numbers preceded by a term such as “approximately”, “about”, and “substantially” as used herein include the recited numbers (e.g., about 10%=10%), and also represent an amount close to the stated amount that still performs a desired function or achieves a desired result. For example, the terms “approximately”, “about”, and “substantially” may refer to an amount that is within less than 10% of, within less than 5% of, within less than 1% of, within less than 0.1% of, and within less than 0.01% of the stated amount.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/247,986, filed Sep. 24, 2021, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Any and all applications, if any, for which a foreign or domestic priority claim is identified in the Application Data Sheet of the present application is hereby incorporated by reference under 37 CFR 1.57.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63247986 | Sep 2021 | US |
