Orthodontic apparatus having an improved base portion

Claim 2

A ceramic orthodontic apparatus having a base portion for attaching said apparatus to a tooth, wherein said base portion defines a tooth abutting surface shaped to fit generally the morphology of a tooth, said tooth abutting surface defining a plurality of spaced, radially contoured indentations therein for receiving adhesive material for attaching said apparatus to a tooth, each of said indentations defining a wide, shallow profile, said profile being defined by at least one radius of curvature centered over the tooth side of said tooth abutting surface, said indentations being closely spaced to one another so as to leave narrow transitional areas therebetween in comparison to the width of each of said indentations.

Claim 3

A ceramic orthodontic apparatus as defined in claim 1, said apparatus further comprising: at least one tie wing extending outwardly from said base portion; and said base portion further defines an archwire slot in a surface thereof to receive an archwire.

Claim 4

A ceramic orthodontic apparatus as defined in claim 2, said apparatus further comprising: a flange portion extending outwardly from said base portion along the bottom edge thereof, said flange portion extending substantially in the axial direction of said archwire slot beneath said tie wing, said flange portion preventing excess adhesive material from collecting beneath said tie wing.

Claim 5

A ceramic orthodontic apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein each of said indentations defines a circular shaped edge in said tooth abutting surface, the contours of each of said indentations being defined substantially by one radius of curvature.

Claim 6

A ceramic orthodontic apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said flange portion defines an outside face extending substantially in the axial direction of said archwire slot, said face being sloped inwardly toward said tooth abutting surface.

Claim 7

A ceramic orthodontic apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said apparatus comprises two of said flange portions, each of said flange portions being located on an opposite side of said base portion.

Claim 8

A ceramic orthodontic apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein the outside face of each of said flange portions is curved inwardly toward either end thereof to facilitate attaching ligature or elastomeric products to said apparatus.

Claim 9

A ceramic orthodontic apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said apparatus comprises an aluminum oxide ceramic material.

Claim 10

A ceramic orthodontic apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said radially contoured indentations are arranged in substantially parallel rows.

Claim 11

A ceramic orthodontic apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said apparatus defines approximately three rows of said indentations, each of said rows including approximately three of said indentations.

Claim 12

A ceramic orthodontic apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said tooth abutting surfaces and said indentations define substantially smooth surfaces.

Claim 13

A ceramic orthodontic bracket for attachment to a tooth, said bracket comprising: a base portion defining an archwire slot therein to receive an archwire, said base portion further defining a tooth abutting surface, said tooth abutting surface defining a plurality of spaced, radially contoured indentations therein for receiving adhesive material for attaching said bracket to a tooth, said indentations each being defined by a wide, low contour, the contour of each of said indentations being defined by at least one radius of curvature centered away from said tooth abutting surface, said indentations being closely spaced to each other so as to form narrow transitional areas therebetween relative to the widths of said indentations.

Claim 14

A ceramic orthodontic bracket for attachment to a tooth, said bracket comprising: a base portion defining an archwire slot therein to receive an archwire, said base portion further defining a tooth abutting surface, said tooth abutting surface defining a plurality of spaced, radially contoured indentations therein for receiving adhesive material for attaching said bracket to a tooth, said indentations each being defined by a wide, low contour, the contour of each of said indentations being defined by at least one radius of curvature centered away from said tooth abutting surface, said indentations being closely spaced to each other so as to form narrow transitional areas therebetween relative to the widths of said indentations.

Claim 15

An orthodontic bracket as defined in claim 12, said bracket further comprising: at least two flange portions, said flange portions extending outwardly from opposite sides of said base portion and each extending along a bottom edge thereof in substantially the axial direction of said archwire slot.

Claim 16

An orthodontic bracket as defined in claim 13, wherein an edge of each of said flange portions is curved so that the width of said base portion is narrower toward the ends of said bracket in the axial direction of said archwire slot to facilitate the attachment of ligature or elastomeric products to said bracket.

Claim 17

An orthodontic bracket as defined in claim 12, wherein each of said radially contoured indentations defines a circular shaped periphery in said tooth abutting surface, the contour of each of said indentations being defined substantially by one radius of curvature.

Claim 18

An orthodontic bracket as defined in claim 12, wherein said bracket is made of an aluminum oxide ceramic material.

Claim 19

An orthodontic bracket as defined in claim 12, wherein the opposite edges of said bracket extending in the axial direction of said archwire slot are substantially parallel and the other opposite edges of said bracket are substantially parallel, so that the planes of said edges extending in the axial direction of said archwire slot intersect the planes of said other edges so that said bracket edges form of substantially rhomboidal configuration.

Claim 20

An orthodontic bracket as defined in claim 12, wherein said tooth abutting surface is coated with a silane compound for improving the bond between said bracket and a tooth.

Claim 21

An orthodontic bracket as defined in claim 12, wherein said indentations are arranged in substantially parallel rows.

Claim 22

An orthodontic bracket as defined in claim 19, wherein said bracket defines approximately three of said rows with approximately three of said indentations in each of said rows.

Claim 23

A ceramic orthodontic apparatus comprising: a base portion defining a tooth abutting surface shaped to fit generally the morphology of a tooth, said tooth abutting surface defining a plurality of raised portions and adjacent lowered portions, each of said lowered portions defining a radially contoured indentation in said tooth abutting surface, each of said indentations defining a wide, shallow radial contour, said radial contour being defined by at least one radius of curvature centered above said tooth abutting surface, said indentations being closely spaced to each other so as to form narrow transitional areas therebetween in comparison to the width of each of said indentations, said transitional areas between said raised and lowered portions being rounded for receiving adhesive material for attaching said apparatus to a tooth.

Claim 24

A ceramic orthodontic apparatus comprising: a base portion defining a tooth abutting surface shaped to fit generally the morphology of a tooth, said tooth abutting surface defining a plurality of raised portions and adjacent lowered portions, each of said lowered portions defining a radially contoured indentation in said tooth abutting surface, each of said indentations defining a wide, shallow radial contour, said radial contour being defined by at least one radius of curvature centered above said tooth abutting surface, said indentations being closely spaced to each other so as to form narrow transitional areas therebetween in comparison to the width of each of said indentations, said transitional areas between said raised and lowered portions being rounded for receiving adhesive material for attaching said apparatus to a tooth.

Claim 25

A ceramic orthodontic apparatus as defined in claim 21, said apparatus further comprising: at least one tie wing projecting outwardly from said base portion; and said base portion further defines an archwire slot therein to receive an archwire.

Claim 26

A ceramic orthodontic apparatus as defined in claim 22, said apparatus further comprising: at least one flange portion projecting outwardly from said base portion along a bottom edge thereof and extending substantially in the axial direction of said archwire slot.

Claim 27

A ceramic orthodontic apparatus as defined in claim 23, wherein said at least one flange portion defines an outer face, said outer face extending substantially in the axial direction of said archwire slot and being sloped inwardly toward said tooth abutting surface.

Claim 28

A ceramic orthodontic apparatus as defined in claim 24, wherein each of said lowered portions defines a circular shaped edge in said tooth abutting surface, the contour of each of said lowered portions being defined substantially by a single radius of curvature.

Claim 29

A ceramic orthodontic apparatus as defined in claim 25, wherein said apparatus comprises two of said flange portions, each of said flange portions extending along an opposite side of said base portion.

Claim 30

A ceramic orthodontic apparatus as defined in claim 26, wherein said outer face of each of said flange portions is curved inwardly toward either end thereof to facilitate attaching ligature or elastomeric products to said apparatus.

Claim 31

A ceramic orthodontic apparatus as defined in claim 27, wherein the opposite sides of said base portion extending substantially in the axial direction of said archwire slot are substantially parallel, and the other opposite sides of said base portion are substantially parallel, the planes of said sides extending substantially in the axial direction of said archwire slot intersecting the planes of said other sides to form a substantially rhomboidal configuration.

Claim 32

A ceramic orthodontic apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein said lowered portions defining said radially contoured indentations are arranged in substantially parallel rows.

Claim 33

A ceramic orthodontic apparatus as defined in claim 29, wherein said apparatus includes about three of said rows with about three of said lowered portions in each of said rows.

Claim 34

A ceramic orthodontic bracket for attachment to a tooth, said bracket comprising: a base portion defining an archwire slot therein to receive an archwire, said base portion further defining a tooth abutting surface, said tooth abutting surface defining a plurality of spaced, radially contoured indentations therein to receive adhesive material to attach said bracket to a tooth; and at least two flange portions, each of said flange portions extending outwardly from opposite sides of said base portion and extending along a bottom edge of said base portion in the axial direction of said archwire slot, the outer face of each of said flange portions extending in the axial direction of said archwire slot being inclined inwardly toward said tooth abutting surface to retain excess adhesive material beneath or against said flange portions.

Claim 35

A ceramic orthodontic bracket for attachment to a tooth, said bracket comprising: a base portion defining an archwire slot therein to receive an archwire, said base portion further defining a tooth abutting surface, said tooth abutting surface defining a plurality of spaced, radially contoured indentations therein to receive adhesive material to attach said bracket to a tooth; and at least two flange portions, each of said flange portions extending outwardly from opposite sides of said base portion and extending along a bottom edge of said base portion in the axial direction of said archwire slot, the outer face of each of said flange portions extending in the axial direction of said archwire slot being inclined inwardly toward said tooth abutting surface to retain excess adhesive material beneath or against said flange portions.

Claim 36

A ceramic orthodontic bracket as defined in claim 31, said bracket further comprising: at least one tie wing extending outwardly from said base portion, wherein one of said flange portions is located beneath said tie wing to prevent adhesive material from collecting beneath said tie wing.

Claim 37

A ceramic orthodontic apparatus as defined in claim 32, wherein the outside face of each of said flange portions is curved inwardly toward either end thereof to facilitate attaching ligature or elastomeric products to said apparatus.

Claim 38

A ceramic orthodontic apparatus as defined in claim 33, wherein said apparatus includes an aluminum oxide ceramic material.

Claim 39

A ceramic orthodontic apparatus as defined in claim 31, wherein each of said radially contoured indentations is defined by a relatively wide, low contour, the contour of each of said indentation being defined by at least one radius of curvature centered over the tooth side of said tooth abutting surface, said indentations being closely spaced relative to each other so as to leave narrow transitional areas therebetween.

Claim 40

A ceramic orthodontic apparatus as defined in claim 35, wherein said indentations are arranged in substantially parallel rows.

Claim 41

A ceramic orthodontic apparatus as defined in claim 36, wherein said apparatus includes about three of said rows, with about three of said indentations in each of said rows.

Claim 42

A ceramic orthodontic appliance, said appliance comprising: a base portion and a tie wing projecting outwardly from said base portion, said base portion defining a slot arranged to receive an archwire and a tooth abutting surface shaped to substantially correspond to the morphology of a tooth, said tooth abutting surface defining a plurality of radially contoured indentations therein for receiving adhesive material to mount said appliance to a tooth, each of said indentations defining a wide, shallow profile, said profile being defined by at least one radius of curvature centered over said tooth abutting surface, said indentations being arranged in about three substantially parallel rows, each of the rows including about three of said indentations.

Claim 43

A ceramic orthodontic appliance, said appliance comprising: a base portion and a tie wing projecting outwardly from said base portion, said base portion defining a slot arranged to receive an archwire and a tooth abutting surface shaped to substantially correspond to the morphology of a tooth, said tooth abutting surface defining a plurality of radially contoured indentations therein for receiving adhesive material to mount said appliance to a tooth, each of said indentations defining a wide, shallow profile, said profile being defined by at least one radius of curvature centered over said tooth abutting surface, said indentations being arranged in about three substantially parallel rows, each of the rows including about three of said indentations.