Dentistry – Orthodontics – Bracket
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-19
2001-08-21
Wilson, John J. (Department: 3732)
Dentistry
Orthodontics
Bracket
Reexamination Certificate
active
06276930
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an orthodontic aid or bracket.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is known that the orthodontic aids used for correcting dental malformations basically consist of one or more bodies featuring seats for an orthodontic archwire in their inner part, which are wedded to a retention base, as to allow various operating orthodontic aids to be suitable for the same archiwire which extends along the arch subjected to therapeutical treatment.
The manufacturing of these orthodontic aids is diversified on account of the different shape of each tooth so that a single orthodontic aid corresponds to a respective tooth. For example, an orthodontic aid for the upper right eye-tooth is different from that for the upper left eye-tooth and so on.
At present, in order to identify orthodontic aids in relation to the teeth for which they are suitable, each orthodontic aid is usually marked with a corresponding sign which consists of a numerical abbreviation or of a colour dot positioned on the disto-gingival edge of the orthodontic aid as is clearly shown in
FIG. 1
of the enclosed drawings wherein said codes consist of a “2” and of black dot foreseen on the tie wings (A) of the bodies wedded to the retention base (B). However, an identification code positioned on this edge of the orthodontic aid consequently becomes less perceptible and recognizable, being the surface available, the area of which is generally about 1 square millimeter, quite limited, which can cause tiredness and mistakes on the part of the orthodontist.
The U.S. Pat. No. 5,326,259 describes a method of manufacturing orthodontic aids with identifying indicia which can be positioned on the upper area of the bodies wedded to the retention base. But, despite its complexity, this common operative method presents the above mentioned disadvantages. Another example of such device is found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,556,276.
The U.S. Pat. No. 5,622,494 relates to a plastic orthodontic appliance having projecting structure extending outwardly from a bonding base which is shaped to have a bonding area within the bonding base and the free edge of the projecting structure. A portion of the bonding base may be an open area without projections to allow for the molding of an identifying mark.
However, this known appliance doesn't allow for molding identifying marks easily recognizable by the orthodontist. In fact, by increasing the marking area the bonding area will be correspondingly reduced with a relevant bonding action reduction. Furthermore, the molding of identifying marks is cause for a limited possibility of choice for the appliance bonding structure, said molding technique being not utilizable, for example, in case of brackets having bonding net-like structure, which are greatly reliable and fully tested, due to the fact that the molding techinique would imply a deformation of such entity to functionally damage the bonding net-like structure.
The U.S. Pat. No. 5,595,484 describes a plastic aesthetical orthodontic bracket. The retention base may be provided with identification marks which are molded in small recessed portions of the retention base to be not noticeable when the bracket is bonded to the relevant tooth. The molding of the identification marks in the small recesses of the lingual surface of the bracket may involve an undue visual weariness by part of the orthodontist because said marks are too small. Even in this case a bracket having a retention base with net-like structure is not utilizable because the molding techinique would imply an untollerable deformation of the net-like structure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object underlying the present invention is to overcome the aforesaid disadvantages.
This object has been achieved in accordance with the invention by manufacturing an orthodontic bracket having a retention base for a respective tooth and identifying indicia in relation to the tooth for which the orthodontic aid is suitable. The indicia includes a sign provided on the back side of the retention base. The size of the indicia is at least 3 square millimeters. The indicia has substantially null depth with respect to the retention base, thus following the outer profile of the latter.
The present invention has the advantage of rendering the identification code more easily recognizable in every operative condition without modifying the structure of the orthodontic aid and improving its hold while it is being used, all this in an easy, reliable and inexpensive manner.
Furthermore, the anchorage of the retention base to the tooth is not adversely affected, contrarly to the case of brackets having molded identification marks, since the thickness of the identification marks according to the invention is substantially null when compared with the thickness of the retention base and, therefore, it follows the outer profile of the latter without adversely affecting the shape and operative efficiency thereof.
A further advantage lies in that the marking may be carried out even separately from the manufacturing or assemblage of the bracket. Said marking may be also performed with appropriate inks, even for aesthetical plastic brackets.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4068379 (1978-01-01), Miller et al.
patent: 4100678 (1978-07-01), Yatabe
patent: 4279593 (1981-07-01), Röhlcke
patent: 5326259 (1994-07-01), Röhlcke et al.
patent: 5556276 (1996-09-01), Roman et al.
patent: 5595484 (1997-01-01), Orikasa et al.
patent: 5622494 (1997-04-01), Andreiko et al.
Leone S.p.A.
McGlew and Tutle, P.C.
Wilson John J.
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