Dentistry – Orthodontics – Bracket
Reexamination Certificate
2002-03-06
2004-05-11
Wilson, John J. (Department: 3732)
Dentistry
Orthodontics
Bracket
C433S013000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06733287
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates generally to a molar tube, and more particularly to a molar tube that is adapted to receive an archwire. More particularly still, the invention relates to a molar tube that facilitates the withdrawal or adjustment of an archwire after the archwire has been employed in an orthodontic treatment. The invention allows an archwire to be locked in the molar tube, thus preventing slippage.
BACKGROUND
During orthodontic treatment and the use of fixed appliances on the teeth, including brackets for receiving an archwire, molar tubes are employed to anchor the distal ends of the archwire. The molar tubes are mounted on molar teeth, which constitute the posterior teeth in the mouth. Following the placement of the distal ends of the archwire in molar tubes, it is customary to trim the ends of the wire and then bend the ends that protrude from the distal ends of the tubes to prevent the archwire from moving mesially through the tubes which could result in spaces opening mesial to the anchor molars. The archwire is otherwise secured to brackets on the adjacent posterior and anterior teeth, and therefore it is important not to allow mesial movement of the archwire when the fixed appliances are in place. Additionally, in prior art methods, the distal ends of the archwire are bent in a direction to prevent the ends from striking/irritating the patient's hard or soft tissues, the hard tissues being the enamel surfaces of the teeth, and the soft tissues being the gingiva or cheek.
During the course of treatment using molar tubes of the prior art, it is often necessary to remove and replace the archwires with the bent ends. Such a procedure requires straightening the bent ends as much as possible and then pulling those bent ends mesially through the molar tubes. Inasmuch as it is difficult, if not impossible, to completely straighten the ends of the wires, considerable forces are required to withdraw or pull the wires through the tubes. High amounts of force are first required to deflect the end of the wire so it can pass through the tube and second to overcome the friction created by drawing the deformed wire through the length of the tube. This is particularly the case where full size rectangular archwires are employed to fit rectangular tubes, wherein the tolerances are +−0.0.001 inch (0.025 mm). The application of the necessary forces to remove archwires having bent ends is often quite discomforting to the patient. It not only is discomforting by the force required but also because of the duration of that force as the archwire is pulled through the entire length of the tube. The well-being and comfort of a patient is particularly important as it can relate to the results achieved during orthodontic treatment.
Heretofore, there have been molar tubes for receiving archwires and having flared openings at the mesial end to facilitate the threading of the archwire into the tube, such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,556,277. There have also been a number of molar tubes for lip bumpers and head gear having the inlet mesial end enlarged to facilitate the mounting of a lip bumper or head gear, such as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,815,238; 4,963,092; 5,057,012; 5,151,028; and 5,292,248. It is also known to provide a bracket that permits limited tipping relative to the archwire, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,842,512; 4,859,179, and 4,877,398.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,355,975 teaches an orthodontic appliance that comprises a plate bonded to a tooth. The plate is connected to the main body of the bracket. The covering orthodontic cap for fixing the wire is connected to the main body of the bracket. The cap can be removed from the bracket since it is fixed and connected thereto with a connecting part and elastic connecting device. The bracket or the cap is provided with a shearing groove that prevents the caps from sliding off and provides for locking and removal of the cap by simple operations.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,424,032 discloses an orthodontic jaw correction appliance comprising a positioning means operatively disposed between the upper and lower dental arches. The positioning means includes a pair of cooperatively engaged elements, one of which is associated with one arch and the other of which is associated with the other arch. The elements are operable as the jaw closes to translate the natural jaw closure force into a corrective force component acting between the two arches. The improvement for operatively relating one element to its associated arch comprises a generally U-shaped splint comprising a generally U-shaped molded plastic body conforming to the general U-shape of the associated arch for application to the cusps of teeth thereof including molar teeth on laterally opposite sides and all teeth mesial to the molar teeth. There is bonding means disposed on the U-shaped molded plastic body for bonding the molded plastic body to the cusps of the teeth so that the splint acts through the bonding means stabilizes the molar teeth and all teeth mesial thereto as a unit to effect jaw correction. The one element and the splint have a point of operative coupling which is mesial to the point of bonding of the splint to at least some of the molar teeth.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,988,292 sets forth an abutment for an orthodontic anchorage that is mountable on an osseointegrated dental implant fixture in the same manner as are components which are used to support prosthodontic restorations. The abutment of the invention is adjustable around the axis of the implant fixture, and it supports a mount for holding an orthodontic anchor fixed to a buccal or a lingual side of the abutment. The mount is adjustable around an axis running between the buccal and lingual surfaces.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,057,012 describes a molar tube for a lip bumper or a face bow comprising: 1) a base having a lingually-facing attaching surface for attaching to a tooth; 2) an elongated, mesioldistally-extending tubular body projecting buccally from the base, wherein the body includes an opening therethrough for receiving the distal ends of a lip bumper or a face bow, and having an inside lingual wall and an outside buccal wall. The opening is flared from the distal end to the mesial end such that the mesial end is larger than the distal end, and of a size substantially larger than the distal end of a lip bumper or a face bow. The distal end of the opening is round and sized to closely receive the distal end of the lip bumper or face bow to provide lateral control. The mesial end is oval and has a vertical dimension adapted to closely receive the distal end of the lip bumper or face bow to control tipping, and the long axis of the oval mesial end extends generally horizontally, whereby insertion of a distal end of a lip bumper or a face bow is greatly enhanced.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,071,345 teaches a prefabricated dental crown analog having an exterior size and contour to approximate the dimensions and shape of a natural tooth at the site, and an orthodontic wire anchor consisting essentially of hollow tubular means providing an integral passage extending mesially-distally through the analog closer to one of the exterior buccal or lingual surfaces than to the center thereof, for passage of an orthodontic wire through the passage whereby the wire may be anchored with the crown analog. The crown of the invention is intended for use in the mouth of a patient having an endosseous dental implant fixture or the like installed in the patient's jawbone at an edentulous site.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,681,164 discloses and orthopaedic modular assembly comprising: 1) a housing component of rigid material providing a first passage; 2) a second component in the form of a lingual pad support having a first arm adapted to form a snug sliding fit within the first housing passage; 3) a second arm extending at an angle to the first arm, and adapted to conform to the line of one side of a patient's mouth; and 4) a latch means associated with the housing component, whereby the first arm of the second component is held within the first passage of
Western Patent Group
Whewell Christopher J.
Wilson John J.
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