Dentistry – Orthodontics – By device having means to apply outwardly directed force
Patent
1993-09-01
1995-01-24
Mancene, Gene
Dentistry
Orthodontics
By device having means to apply outwardly directed force
433 8, 433 23, A61C 300
Patent
active
053837843
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an auxiliary orthodontic appliance for human beings. This may be an auxiliary orthodontic or orthopaedic appliance for the maxilla or mandible. As used in technical terminology, such an auxiliary appliance is an article in the form of an expansion screw, a bracket, a buccal tube or a ring-shaped tooth band which remains in the mouth for a limited amount of time. Expansion screws are used for expanding the human jaw and also for correcting the position of one or several teeth. Brackets and buccal tubes also serve to correct the position of the teeth and are attached to the teeth, in the given circumstances, by means of a ring-shaped band which surrounds the pertinent tooth.
An expansion screw usually consists of two screw body parts and a threaded spindle which has threads running in opposite directions on either side of a spindle head at the center of the threaded spindle and engages corresponding threaded bores of the two screw body parts so that the two screw body parts are adjustable relative to one another by turning the threaded spindle. In the given circumstances, guide means, in particular, in the form of guide pins, can also be provided to prevent the two screw body parts from twisting in opposite directions when the threaded spindle is turned. The various parts of expansion screws known so far consist of stainless steel or nickel-silver alloys. Stainless steel was also used for the manufacture of brackets and buccal tubes, but ceramic and plastic brackets are also known, however, these are not fully satisfactory with respect to their strength.
Although it has been known for a long time that stainless steel and nickel-silver are not sufficiently resistant to corrosion for these purposes and, in particular, can cause allergic reactions on account of their nickel content, so far not a single manufacturer of such auxiliary appliances anywhere in the world has marketed expansion screws, brackets or buccal tubes which do not have the disadvantages explained above.
As the auxiliary appliances in question are worn in the mouth, the prevention of electrochemical corrosion of the auxiliary appliance constitutes quite a considerable problem. For example, in view of amalgam tooth fillings, the metallic auxiliary appliances known so far have also not proven fully satisfactory in this respect. In the case of expansion screws made of nickel-silver with guide pins and threaded spindles made of stainless steel, for example, the electrochemical corrosion can occur within a few days if the parts made of nickel-silver are not protected by a chrome or nickel coating.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object underlying the invention was to create auxiliary appliances of the kind in question which do not lead to problems even if the wearer has already undergone restorative dental treatment, and in accordance with the invention this object is accomplished by the auxiliary appliance consisting of titanium or an alloy on the basis of titanium and its surfaces being formed by a titanium oxide skin whose electrical breakdown potential in synthetic saliva with a pH value of 2.3 at 37.degree. C. is greater than 2000 mV.
Titanium and titanium alloys have been in use for a long time for high-quality technical parts such as, for example, watch cases, and owing to their biocompatibility also as materials for implants. However, in spite of the difficulties indicated hereinabove and known for a long time, so far expansion screws, brackets and buccal tubes have never been made of titanium or alloys on the basis of titanium anywhere in the world. These auxiliary orthodontic appliances are distinct mass-produced articles in the manufacture of which these materials have not gained access although titanium and its alloys can be worked in an absolutely economical way by the available cutting tools, titanium and its alloys are obtainable as fine powders so the auxiliarly appliances an question can also be manufactured economically by metal injection molds, and although molding materials a
REFERENCES:
patent: 4722689 (1988-02-01), Corbett
patent: 4818226 (1989-04-01), Berendt et al.
patent: 5066224 (1991-11-01), Block et al.
patent: 5167499 (1992-12-01), Arndt et al.
Dentaurum J. P. Winkelstroeter KG
Lucchesi Nicholas D.
Mancene Gene
Timmer Edward J.
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