Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
215 words
In an orthodontic appliance for correcting dental malocclusion comprising a one-piece preshaped orthodontic wire, a plurality of brackets adapted to be affixed to the lingual surfaces of the teeth of the dental arch of a patient, said dental arch comprising central incisor, side incisor, canine, first premolar, second premolar and first molar teeth, said orthodontic wire being adapted to be secured to and apply force against said brackets so that said orthodontic wire is effective for changing the positions of the teeth, the improvement which comprises: said orthodontic wire comprises a central arch-shaped section having a substantially uniform curvature corresponding to the desired curvature of the central portion of the dental arch of the patient consisting of the lingual surfaces of the incisor and canine teeth, a pair of lateral sections, each lateral section being substantially linear and corresponding to a line extending between the lingual surfaces of the premolar and molar teeth with the respective ends of said central arch-shaped portion being horizontally transversely outwardly offset from the adjacent ends of said lateral sections, and a pair of connecting sections connecting the respective ends of said central arch-shaped portion with the adjacent ends of said lateral sections, each connecting section extending transversely inwardly toward the center of said central arch-shaped portion a short distance.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
215 words
In an orthodontic appliance for correcting dental malocclusion comprising a one-piece preshaped orthodontic wire, a plurality of brackets adapted to be affixed to the lingual surfaces of the teeth of the dental arch of a patient, said dental arch comprising central incisor, side incisor, canine, first premolar, second premolar and first molar teeth, said orthodontic wire being adapted to be secured to and apply force against said brackets so that said orthodontic wire is effective for changing the positions of the teeth, the improvement which comprises: said orthodontic wire comprises a central arch-shaped section having a substantially uniform curvature corresponding to the desired curvature of the central portion of the dental arch of the patient consisting of the lingual surfaces of the incisor and canine teeth, a pair of lateral sections, each lateral section being substantially linear and corresponding to a line extending between the lingual surfaces of the premolar and molar teeth with the respective ends of said central arch-shaped portion being horizontally transversely outwardly offset from the adjacent ends of said lateral sections, and a pair of connecting sections connecting the respective ends of said central arch-shaped portion with the adjacent ends of said lateral sections, each connecting section extending transversely inwardly toward the center of said central arch-shaped portion a short distance.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
An orthodontic appliance as claimed in claim 1 in which said central arch-shaped portion is bent slightly inwardly at locations corresponding to the surfaces of contact between the side incisor teeth and the canine teeth.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
An orthodontic appliance as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which said lateral sections are bent inwardly at locations corresponding to the surfaces of contact between the second premolar teeth and the first molar teeth.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
An orthodontic appliance as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which said lateral sections are located in a common plane which is vertically offset from the plane of said central arch-shaped portion and wherein said connecting sections also extend transversely between the planes of said central arch-shaped portion and said lateral sections.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
An orthodontic appliance as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which said brackets have slots opening toward the occlusion of the teeth of the upper and lower jaws of the patient, said orthodontic wire being received in said slots.