US3922786A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for forming and fitting orthodontic appliances
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1974-01-30
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Granted: 1975-12-02
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Expires: 1994-01-30
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus are disclosed for correcting malocclusions of a patient''s teeth by utilizing conventional archwires. The method basically involves: (a) mounting a set of archwire brackets on the patient''s teeth; (b) taking a negative impression in resilient material of the subject teeth and the brackets mounted thereto; (c) forming a replica working model from the negative impression with a second set of brackets located thereon in identical positions relative to corresponding brackets on the patient''s teeth; (d) constructing archwires to fit the brackets on the working model; and (e) fitting the constructed archwires to the patient''s malocclused teeth. The apparatus is basically comprised of a root stem and an adjustable interconnecting member affixed to the root stem. The connecting members serve to solidly anchor the brackets to the working model. The root stems enable separation of individual tooth dies from the working model, once an index has been poured around the ends of the root stems protruding from the working model. Such separation allows additional subsequent method steps in the correctional process, of forming a bite impression of the patient''s teeth. This is done at a time after the first archwire has been applied to the patient''s mouth and some correctional movement of the malaligned teeth is evident. The individual tooth dies are then placed in complementary tooth depressions formed in the bire impression. A progressive index is then poured about the exposed root stems. This step results in the forming of a progressive working model. The orthodontist may then repeat steps (d) and (e) above to continue a correctional process on the patient''s malaligned teeth. Several progressive working models may be utilized before the patient''s teeth are brought into proper alignment.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph L Lavin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 09:50
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C7/00; A61C7/12; A61C7/14; A61C7/146; A61C9/00; A61C9/002
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
In an orthodontic method for correcting a malocclusion of a patient''s teeth utilizing archwires; securing a first set of archwise brackets on the patient''s malocclused teeth at desired locations and orientations; forming a negative impression in resilient material of the patient''s malocclused teeth and the secured first set of archwire brackets to create (1) tooth depressions in the resilient material complementary to the patient''s malocclused teeth and (2) bracket recesses communicating with the tooth depressions complementary to the first set of archwire brackets; placing a second set of archwire brackets in the bracket recesses which are complementary to the bracket recesses; and forming a replica working model of the patient''s teeth from the negative impression with the second set of archwire brackets secured to the working model in corresponding locations and orientations as the first set of archwire brackets.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
139 words
In an orthodontic method for correcting a malocclusion of a patient''s teeth utilizing archwires; securing a first set of archwise brackets on the patient''s malocclused teeth at desired locations and orientations; forming a negative impression in resilient material of the patient''s malocclused teeth and the secured first set of archwire brackets to create (1) tooth depressions in the resilient material complementary to the patient''s malocclused teeth and (2) bracket recesses communicating with the tooth depressions complementary to the first set of archwire brackets; placing a second set of archwire brackets in the bracket recesses which are complementary to the bracket recesses; and forming a replica working model of the patient''s teeth from the negative impression with the second set of archwire brackets secured to the working model in corresponding locations and orientations as the first set of archwire brackets.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
66 words
In the method defined in claim 1, further comprising the steps of: forming an archwire to fit the second set of archwire brackets on the working model with the archwire exerting desired correctional forces on the brackets; transferring the formed archwire to the first set of archwire brackets on the patient''s teeth to apply the desired correctional forces to the patient''s teeth to correct the malocclusion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
In the method defined in claim 1 wherein the working model is formed with hard-setting dental die material having the second set of brackets secured thereto.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
72 words
In the method as defined in claim 3 wherein the second set of brackets have anchoring means thereon that project into the tooth depressions when the second set of brackets are placed in the bracket recesses and wherein the method further includes the steps of embedding the anchor means in the hard-setting dental die material as the working model is formed to secure the second set of brackets to the working model.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
In the method as defined in claim 3 further comprising the steps of embedding elongated root stems in the hard-setTing dental die material during the formation of the working model at orientations corresponding to the orientations of the patient''s teeth.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
85 words
In the method as defined in claim 5 wherein the root stems are embedded in the hard-setting dental die material by: supporting the root stems in the tooth depressions from the second set of brackets; orienting the root stems at orientations within the tooth depressions corresponding to the orientations of the patient''s teeth; pouring the hard-setting dental die material into the tooth depressions about the oriented root stem; allowing the hard-setting dental die material to harden to embed the root stems in the die material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
196 words
In the orthodontic method as defined in claim 1 wherein the working model is formed by: mounting root stems in corresponding tooth depressions at orientations corresponding to orientations of the patient''s malocclused teeth with ends of the root stems extending from the tooth depressions; filling the negative impression with a hard-setting dental die material to a level above the tooth depressions and below the ends of the root stems to form a working model having a row of interconnected tooth dies in which each die is comprised of a crown portion and a gingiva portion and having a root stem embedded therein with an end extending from the gingiva portion at an orientation corresponding to the orientation of the corresponding patient''s tooth and having a bracket of the second set secured thereto on the crown portion at a location and orientation corresponding to the location and orientation of the corresponding bracket on the patient''s teeth; and forming a working model index for supporting the teeth dies in which the index has sockets formed therein for receiving the ends of the root stems in which the sockets have orientations corresponding to the orientations of the patient''s teeth.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
61 words
In the orthodontic method as defined in claim 7 further comprising the steps of: separating the row of interconnected teeth dies into a plurality of individual tooth dies; removing die material from the gingiva portion of each die to reduce the circumference of the gingiva portion to enable the dies to be readily removed and reinserted into the working model index.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
In the orthodontic method as defined in claim 8 wherein sufficient die material is removed from the gingiva portion of each die to simulate the tooth root with the root stem extending along the root axis.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
88 words
In the orthodontic method as defined in claim 8 further comprising the steps of: forming an archwire to fit the second set of archwire brackets on the teeth dies when the dies are mounted in the index with the stem ends projecting into the corresponding index sockets wherein the archwire exerts desired correctional frces on the second set of brackets; and transferring the formed archwire to the first set of archwire brackets on the patient''s teeth to apply the desired forces to the teeth for correcting the malocclusion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
124 words
In the orthodontic method as defined in claim 10 further comprising the step of forming a progressive working model of the patient''s teeth in an advanced stage of malocclusion correction by: sequentially forming a progress bite impression of the crown of the patient''s teeth to form corresponding crown depressions of the teeth; mounting the tooth dies within the corresponding crown depressions with the root stems extending at orientations corresponding to the orientations of the teeth in the advanced stage of malocclusion corrections; forming a progressive index for supporting the tooth dies in which the progressive index has root stem sockets for receiving the root stems, the sockets being oriented in correspondence to the orientation of the teeth in the advanced stage of malocclusion correction.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
93 words
In the orthodontic method as defined in claim 11 further comprising the steps of: forming a second archwire to fit the second set of arChwire brackets on the tooth dies when the dies are mounted in the progressive index with the root stem ends projecting into the root stem sockets with the archwire exertng desired correctional forces on the second set of brackets; and transferring the formed second archwire to the first set of brackets on the patient''s teeth to apply the desired correctional forces to the teeth to further correct the malocclusion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
111 words
An orthodontic apparatus for connecting with an orthodontic bracket for use in the formation of orthodontic archwires, comprising: a root stem; and 1 a bendable interconnecting member affixed to one end of the root stem and extending outward therefrom terminating in a remote end for operatively interconnecting an orthodontic bracket to the root stem to enable the root stem to be angularly positional with respect to the orthodontic bracket to position the root stem along the axis of a tooth in the preparation of a working model; and said interconnecting member having an enlarged attachment fixture at the remote end for facilitating attachmet of the interconnecting member to the orthodontic bracket.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
111 words
An orthodontic apparatus for connecting with an orthodontic bracket for use in the formation of orthodontic archwires, comprising: a root stem; and 1 a bendable interconnecting member affixed to one end of the root stem and extending outward therefrom terminating in a remote end for operatively interconnecting an orthodontic bracket to the root stem to enable the root stem to be angularly positional with respect to the orthodontic bracket to position the root stem along the axis of a tooth in the preparation of a working model; and said interconnecting member having an enlarged attachment fixture at the remote end for facilitating attachmet of the interconnecting member to the orthodontic bracket.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein the bendable interconnecting member has a mounting fixture affixed to one end thereof for facilitating attachment of the orthodontic bracket to the interconnecting member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein the bendable interconnecting member is a bendable wire.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
73 words
An orthodontic apparatus for use in forming and fitting orthodontic archwires, comprising: an elongated root stem; an orthodontic bracket having a back surface; and a bendable interconnecting member interconnecting the root stem and the back surface of the orthodontic bracket enabling the root stem to be adjustable angularly positioned in relation to the orthodontic bracket to position the root stem along the axis of a tooth in the preparation of a working model.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
73 words
An orthodontic apparatus for use in forming and fitting orthodontic archwires, comprising: an elongated root stem; an orthodontic bracket having a back surface; and a bendable interconnecting member interconnecting the root stem and the back surface of the orthodontic bracket enabling the root stem to be adjustable angularly positioned in relation to the orthodontic bracket to position the root stem along the axis of a tooth in the preparation of a working model.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-12-01 | 1979-06-02 | 1979-12-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-01 | 1983-06-02 | 1983-12-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-01 | 1987-06-02 | 1987-12-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |