US4904183A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Orthodontic debonding method and tool
Assignee: 3M Unitek Corp
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Filing: 1988-03-23
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Granted: 1990-02-27
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Expires: 2008-03-23
Abstract
Abstract Debonding of cemented orthodontic brackets from teeth by application of a quick twisting force to fracture the adhesive bond. A torquing tool has slotted ends making a close slip fit over mesial and distal side surfaces of the bracket, and has a flattened center section providing a good tactile sense of applied force. The method and tool are especially useful with brackets made of brittle ceramic material.
Inventors
- 👤 Clarence W. Hannan
- 👤 Wilford A. Snead
- 👤 Jirina V. Pospisil
- 👤 Robert P. Eckert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 17:24
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C7/00; A61C7/02; A61C7/023
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A debonding tool for removing an adhesively bonded orthodontic bracket from a tooth, the bracket having a body with opposed noncircular surfaces of known contour and spacing, the tool comprising a central handle portion and a pair of fixed, spaced-apart tips having surfaces with a contour and spacing substantially identical to said known contour and said spacing of said opposed bracket surfaces, said tips extending from the central portion and being separated and contoured to define a slot in which the bracket body can be fitted with the tips in mating engagement with said bracket surfaces so the tool and bracket can be rotated together about an axis generally perpendicular to the tooth surface to break the adhesive bond.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
A debonding tool for removing an adhesively bonded orthodontic bracket from a tooth, the bracket having a body with opposed noncircular surfaces of known contour and spacing, the tool comprising a central handle portion and a pair of fixed, spaced-apart tips having surfaces with a contour and spacing substantially identical to said known contour and said spacing of said opposed bracket surfaces, said tips extending from the central portion and being separated and contoured to define a slot in which the bracket body can be fitted with the tips in mating engagement with said bracket surfaces so the tool and bracket can be rotated together about an axis generally perpendicular to the tooth surface to break the adhesive bond.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The tool defined in claim 1 wherein the central portion is elongated, and terminates in an end portion defining said tips and extending laterally away from a longitudinal axis of the central portion so the tips are offset from the central portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The tool defined in claim 2 wherein the central portion is elongated and generally rectangular in cross-section, the tool having end portions extending oppositely and laterally away from opposite ends of the central portion, each end portion terminating in said slot-defining tips.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The tool defined in claim 3 wherein the slots are of different widths.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The tool defined in claim 4 wherein the tool is made of stainless steel, and the tips are hardened to resist abrasion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The tool defined in claim 4 wherein the slots have longitudinal axes which are generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tool central portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The tool defined in claim 6 wherein said surfaces of said tips are flat and parallel to form a rectangular slot.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
The tool defined in claim 1 wherein said surfaces of the slot-defining tips include inwardly extending lands which are spaced apart to fit over and engage a base portion of the opposed bracket surfaces, the remainder of the slot being enlarged to form clearance spaces between the tips and tie-wing portions of the bracket.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
125 words
A debonding tool for removing an adhesively bonded ceramic bracket which is cemented to a tooth, the bracket having substantially flat and parallel spaced-apart mesial and distal sides, the tool comprising an elongated central handgrip portion, and a first end portion extending laterally from the central portion and terminating in a pair of tips having substantially flat and parallel inner facing surfaces which are spaced apart by a distance corresponding to the spacing of the bracket mesial and distal sides, whereby the tool tips can be fitted over the bracket in engagement with the mesial and distal sides to enable bracket debonding by rotary movement of the tool and bracket about an axis generally perpendicular to the tooth surface to which the bracket is secured.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
125 words
A debonding tool for removing an adhesively bonded ceramic bracket which is cemented to a tooth, the bracket having substantially flat and parallel spaced-apart mesial and distal sides, the tool comprising an elongated central handgrip portion, and a first end portion extending laterally from the central portion and terminating in a pair of tips having substantially flat and parallel inner facing surfaces which are spaced apart by a distance corresponding to the spacing of the bracket mesial and distal sides, whereby the tool tips can be fitted over the bracket in engagement with the mesial and distal sides to enable bracket debonding by rotary movement of the tool and bracket about an axis generally perpendicular to the tooth surface to which the bracket is secured.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
58 words
The tool defined in claim 9, and further comprising a second end portion extending laterally from the central portion, the end portions being positioned at opposite ends of the central portion, and the second portion having tips corresponding to those in the first portion, but with different tip spacing so the tool defines slots of two different widths.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The tool defined in claim 10 wherein the end portions and tips protrude sufficiently laterally from the handle portion to provide lip clearance for the handle portion when the tool is rotated in engagement with the bracket.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
57 words
The tool defined in claim 9 wherein the slot-defining tips have outer ends with inner surfaces defining inwardly extending lands which are spaced apart to fit over and engage a base portion of the opposed bracket surfaces, the remainder of the slot being enlarged to form clearance spaces between the tips and tie-wing portions of the bracket.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
94 words
A process for removing an orthodontic bracket having a base which is adhesively bonded to a tooth surface, comprising the steps of: fitting a debonding tool over the bracket so that a pair of fixed, spaced apart tips of the tool are in face-to-face, complemental engagement with opposed surfaces of the bracket; and rotating the tool to effect corresponding rotation of the bracket and base about an axis generally perpendicular to the tooth surface to which the bracket is bonded, and thereby fracturing the adhesive bond to release the bracket base from the tooth.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
94 words
A process for removing an orthodontic bracket having a base which is adhesively bonded to a tooth surface, comprising the steps of: fitting a debonding tool over the bracket so that a pair of fixed, spaced apart tips of the tool are in face-to-face, complemental engagement with opposed surfaces of the bracket; and rotating the tool to effect corresponding rotation of the bracket and base about an axis generally perpendicular to the tooth surface to which the bracket is bonded, and thereby fracturing the adhesive bond to release the bracket base from the tooth.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process defined in claim 13 wherein rotation is effected in a quick snap movement.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
The process defined in claim 13 wherein the bracket is made of a ceramic material, and wherein rotation of the tool and bracket is performed in a quick snap rotary movement around said axis generally perpendicular to said tooth surface.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process defined in claim 13 wherein the bracket has base and tie-wing portions, and the tool is engaged with only the base portion.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2602998A
Cited
US4553932A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-02-26 | 1993-08-28 | 1994-02-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-02-26 | 1997-08-28 | 1998-02-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-02-26 | 2001-08-28 | 2002-02-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |