Molar appliance

Claim 2

An orthodontic appliance for a molar comprising: a gingival portion defining a first tie-wing and a lip-bumper portion defining an opening for receiving a lip bumper, the first tie wing being wedge shaped; an occlusal portion defining a second tie-wing, the second tie-wing being wedge shaped; an arch-wire slot defining a base surface and extending substantially in the mesial-distal direction between the gingival and occlusal portions for receiving an arch wire; a distally-opening hook portion defining a base extending from the occlusal portion in the buccal direction and an arm portion coupled to the base portion extending distally from the base portion; and a base defining a tooth-abutting surface and coupled to the occlusal and gingival portions, the tooth-abutting surface being oriented at an acute angle relative to a plane of the base surface of the arch-wire slot for applying a torque to the molar through the tooth-abutting surface.

Claim 3

An orthodontic appliance as defined in claim 1, wherein the distally-opening hook portion extends a distance in the buccal direction less than the gingival portion in the buccal direction to prevent buccal irritation by the distally-opening hook portion.

Claim 4

An orthodontic appliance as defined in claim 1, wherein the base surface of the arch-wire slot is offset with respect to the mesial-distal axis of the appliance by a first acute angle in the distal direction, and the opening of the lip-bumper portion is offset with respect to the mesial-distal axis of the appliance by a second acute angle in the mesial direction.

Claim 5

An orthodontic appliance as defined in claim 3, wherein the first acute angle is approximately 4° and the second acute angle is approximately 5°.

Claim 6

An orthodontic appliance as defined in claim 1, wherein a surface defining the opening in the lip bumper portion is chamfered to facilitate insertion of a lip bumper.

Claim 7

An orthodontic appliance as defined in claim 1, wherein the surfaces defining the mesial end of the arch-wire slot are chamfered to facilitate insertion of an arch wire.

Claim 8

An orthodontic appliance as defined in claim 1, wherein the acute angle of the tooth-abutting surface relative to the plane of the base surface of the arch-wire slot is approximately 25°.

Claim 9

An orthodontic appliance comprising: a base portion defining an arch-wire slot formed by a base surface and two side walls located on either side of the base surface for receiving an arch wire, and further including a tooth-abutting surface oriented at an acute angle relative to a plane of the base surface of the arch-wire slot for applying a torque to the tooth through the tooth-abutting surface; a lip-bumper portion coupled to the base portion and defining a lip-bumper tube for receiving a lip bumper, an occlusal surface of the lip-bumper portion being oriented in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the base surface of the arch-wire slot to facilitate visual alignment of the appliance on the tooth; a hook portion located on the opposite side of the arch-wire slot relative to the lip-bumper portion for attaching an elastic or auxiliary appliance; at least one first tie wing extending gingivally from the base portion; and at least one second tie wing located on the opposite side of the arch-wire slot relative to the first tie wing, wherein the first and second tie wings each define a substantially wedge-shaped portion to facilitate the attachment of an elastic or ligature to the respective tie wing.

Claim 10

An orthodontic appliance comprising: a base portion defining an arch-wire slot formed by a base surface and two side walls located on either side of the base surface for receiving an arch wire, and further including a tooth-abutting surface oriented at an acute angle relative to a plane of the base surface of the arch-wire slot for applying a torque to the tooth through the tooth-abutting surface; a lip-bumper portion coupled to the base portion and defining a lip-bumper tube for receiving a lip bumper, an occlusal surface of the lip-bumper portion being oriented in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the base surface of the arch-wire slot to facilitate visual alignment of the appliance on the tooth; a hook portion located on the opposite side of the arch-wire slot relative to the lip-bumper portion for attaching an elastic or auxiliary appliance; at least one first tie wing extending gingivally from the base portion; and at least one second tie wing located on the opposite side of the arch-wire slot relative to the first tie wing, wherein the first and second tie wings each define a substantially wedge-shaped portion to facilitate the attachment of an elastic or ligature to the respective tie wing.

Claim 11

An orthodontic appliance as defined in claim 8, wherein the acute angle of the tooth-abutting surface relative to a plane of the base surface of the arch-wire slot is approximately 25°.

Claim 12

An orthodontic appliance as defined in claim 8, wherein an occlusal surface of each of the first and second tie wings is located in a plane substantially parallel to a plane of the base surface of the arch-wire slot to facilitate visual alignment of the appliance on a tooth.

Claim 13

An orthodontic appliance as defined in claim 8, wherein a plane of the base surface of the arch-wire slot is distally offset by a first acute angle, and the lip-bumper tube is mesially offset by a second acute angle.

Claim 14

An orthodontic appliance as defined in claim 11, wherein the first acute angle is approximately 4° and the second acute angle is approximately 5°.

Claim 15

An orthodontic appliance as defined in claim 8, wherein the lip-bumper portion extends further buccally than does the hook portion to prevent buccal irritation by the hook portion.

Claim 16

An orthodontic appliance as defined in claim 8, wherein the hook portion includes an arm portion extending substantially in the distal direction and the hook portion includes an enlarged ball portion positioned on the distal end of the arm portion for attaching an elastic or auxiliary appliance.

Claim 17

An orthodontic appliance for a molar comprising: a gingival portion defining a first tie-wing and a lip-bumper portion defining an opening for receiving a lip bumper, the first tie-wing being wedge shaped; an occlusal portion defining a second tie-wing, the second tie-wing being wedge shaped; an arch-wire slot defining a base surface and extending substantially in the mesial-distal direction between the gingival and occlusal portions for receiving an arch wire; a distally-opening hook portion defining a base extending from the occlusal portion in the buccal direction and an arm portion coupled to the base portion extending distally from the base portion, the arm portion including an enlarged end portion having the general shape of a ball; and a base defining a tooth-abutting surface and coupled to the occlusal and gingival portions, the tooth-abutting surface being oriented at an acute angle relative to a plane of the base surface of the arch-wire slot for applying a torque to the molar through the tooth-abutting surface.

Claim 18

An orthodontic appliance for a molar comprising: a gingival portion defining a first tie-wing and a lip-bumper portion defining an opening for receiving a lip bumper, the first tie-wing being wedge shaped; an occlusal portion defining a second tie-wing, the second tie-wing being wedge shaped; an arch-wire slot defining a base surface and extending substantially in the mesial-distal direction between the gingival and occlusal portions for receiving an arch wire; a distally-opening hook portion defining a base extending from the occlusal portion in the buccal direction and an arm portion coupled to the base portion extending distally from the base portion, the arm portion including an enlarged end portion having the general shape of a ball; and a base defining a tooth-abutting surface and coupled to the occlusal and gingival portions, the tooth-abutting surface being oriented at an acute angle relative to a plane of the base surface of the arch-wire slot for applying a torque to the molar through the tooth-abutting surface.

Claim 19

An orthodontic appliance comprising: a base portion defining an arch-wire slot formed by a base surface and two side walls located on either side of the base surface for receiving an arch wire, and further including a tooth-abutting surface oriented at an acute angle relative to a plane of the base surface of the arch-wire slot for applying a torque to the tooth through the tooth-abutting surface; lip-bumper portion extending gingivally from the base portion and defining a lip-bumper tube for receiving a lip bumper, an occlusal surface of the lip-bumper portion being oriented in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the base surface of the arch-wire slot to facilitate visual alignment of the appliance on the tooth; a hook portion located on the opposite side of the arch-wire slot relative to the lip-bumper portion such that the hook portion is located in an occlusal position relative to the arch-wire slot for attaching an elastic or auxiliary appliance; the hook portion including an enlarged end portion having the general shape of a ball; at least one first tie wing extending in an occlusal direction from the base portion; and at least one second tie wing located on the opposite side of the arch-wire slot relative to the first tie wing, wherein the first and second tie wings each define a substantially wedge-shaped portion to facilitate the attachment of an elastic or ligature to the respective tie wing.

Claim 20

An orthodontic appliance comprising: a base portion defining an arch-wire slot formed by a base surface and two side walls located on either side of the base surface for receiving an arch wire, and further including a tooth-abutting surface oriented at an acute angle relative to a plane of the base surface of the arch-wire slot for applying a torque to the tooth through the tooth-abutting surface; lip-bumper portion extending gingivally from the base portion and defining a lip-bumper tube for receiving a lip bumper, an occlusal surface of the lip-bumper portion being oriented in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the base surface of the arch-wire slot to facilitate visual alignment of the appliance on the tooth; a hook portion located on the opposite side of the arch-wire slot relative to the lip-bumper portion such that the hook portion is located in an occlusal position relative to the arch-wire slot for attaching an elastic or auxiliary appliance; the hook portion including an enlarged end portion having the general shape of a ball; at least one first tie wing extending in an occlusal direction from the base portion; and at least one second tie wing located on the opposite side of the arch-wire slot relative to the first tie wing, wherein the first and second tie wings each define a substantially wedge-shaped portion to facilitate the attachment of an elastic or ligature to the respective tie wing.