Dentistry – Orthodontics
Patent
1989-04-13
1993-08-24
Wilson, John J.
Dentistry
Orthodontics
433 8, 291606, A61C 300
Patent
active
052384020
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to metallic orthodontic aid with an optically visible marking area.
The invention further relates to a method of applying to metallic orthodontic aids surface marking areas which are optically visible.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
On metallic orthodontic aids such as, for example, brackets, bands, buccal tubes etc., it is necessary to apply markings in order to clearly identify their orientation and allocation to individual types of teeth.
So far it is known to mark such orthodontic aids by, for example, a layer of color being applied or a mechanical identification, for example, in the form of a notch, being produced in the region of the marking area.
After use, the orthodontic aids may be made fit for use again by recycling processes. In these recycling processes, firstly the adhesive by means of which these were attached to the teeth is burned off, for example, pyrolitically, and secondly the entire orthodontic aid is subjected, for example, to electrolytic surface treatment in order to reproduce the original shining surface.
When orthodontic aids with color markings are subjected to such a recycling process, these color markings are later no longer visible. This has the advantage that it is proof that this aid has been subjected to a recycling process but also the disadvantage that this orthodontic aid then no longer bears any kind of identification and hence is no longer clearly identifiable.
The markings in the form of mechanically produced identifications withstand one or even several recycling processes but from these it is not possible to ascertain whether the respective orthodontic aid was subjected to a recycling process or not.
Furthermore, the markings in the form of mechanically produced identifications have the disadvantage that in comparison with color markings, they require a great deal of machine expenditure during manufacture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object underlying the invention is, therefore, to so improve an orthodontic aid of the generic kind that the marking is easy to apply and is also visible up to a definable number of recycling process cycles.
This object is achieved in accordance with the invention with an orthodontic aid of the kind described at the beginning by the marking area being a surface of an additionally produced layer with a remelt structure.
A layer with a remelt structure within the meaning of the inventive solution is to be understood as a layer in the metallic aid which is produced by melting a surface region of a molded or reshaped or otherwise manufactured metallic aid and the metallographic structure of which differs from the structure of the original metallic aid.
Such a layer with a remelt structure has the advantage of not becoming detached during the individual recycling process cycles but of being worn away substantially to the same extent as the remaining surface of the orthodontic aid. On the other hand, such a layer with a remelt structure can be produced with a defined thickness and, therefore, the number of recycling process cycles which this layer is to withstand can be fixed by the thickness of the layer with a remelt structure.
Particularly in view of manufacturing simplicity, it is advantageous for the layer with a remelt structure to be formed from the material of the orthodontic aid so application of an additional material can be dispensed with and only the orthodontic aid itself must undergo melting.
In order to make the optical difference from the remaining surface regions of the orthodontic aid particularly distinct, it has proven useful for the layer with a remelt structure to be roughened on the surface and, in particular, the layer with a remelt structure is conceived of as exhibiting a crater-like surface.
Furthermore, a distinct optical difference from the remaining surface regions of the orthodontic aid is achievable by the layer with a remelt structure exhibiting reaction products of the metal with an ambient medium. In the simplest case, these reaction products are metal oxides
REFERENCES:
patent: 2759265 (1956-08-01), Johnson
patent: 4120090 (1978-10-01), Kesling
patent: 4304981 (1981-12-01), Gappa
patent: 4626209 (1986-12-01), Tsai et al.
Rohlcke Friedrich-Wilhelm
Sernetz Friedrich
Dentaurum J. P. Winkelstroeter KG
Wilson John J.
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