GB2491534A

GB2491534A - Positioning method for dental braces and structure thereof

Info

Publication number: GB2491534A
Application number: GB1217479.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Cheng-Ho Huang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-04-28
Filing date: 2010-12-29
Publication date: 2012-12-05
Anticipated expiration: 2030-12-29
Also published as: CN102232873A; DE112010005517B4; DE112010005517T5; RU2012146611A; RU2536414C2; KR20120130266A; GB201217479D0; WO2011134133A1; KR101437752B1; GB2491534B

Abstract

A positioning method for dental braces and structure thereof are provided. The structure is mainly provided with base units (1) formed by plastic injection molding process. During manufacture, cross-shaped reference lines (41) are drawn on a mold (4) of a patient's teeth firstly. After being heated, the braces (2) are embedded in the base units (1) and bound in position by flexible devices (3). Then each base unit (1) is attached to the teeth mold (4) along with a brace (2) and the position of the brace (2) is adjusted properly. And then photocurable resin (5) is adhered to each base unit (1) so that the base units (1) are connected with each other by the photocurable resin (5). After each brace (2) being gummed, the serially connected base units (1), along with the braces (2) bound to the multiple base units (1), are directly attached to the patient's respective teeth that need orthodontics so that the braces (2) installation is more convenient and more efficient.

Description

POSITIONING METHOD FOR ORTHODONTIC APPLIANCE AND

STRUCTURE THEREOF

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a positioning method for orthodontic appliance and structure thereof, and more particularly to a positioning method and structure which enables fitting of orthodontic appliances to be more convenient and more efficient, thereby reducing fitting cost.

(b) Description of the Prior Art

In general, when straightening crooked teeth, orthodontic appliances are normally attached to the surfaces the teeth, after which each of the orthodontic appliances are tightly connected. Traditional fitting methods of orthodontic appliances roughly follow the following steps: 1. First fabricating a dental mold according to the condition of the teeth of the patient.

2. Drawing a cross line on the dental mold, and coating the inner edge with wax material.

3. Aligning the orthodontic appliance with the inner edge of the dental mold according to the cross line, and then forming a basic unit for a single tooth using powder molding.

4. Binding the basic unit and the orthodontic appliance using a flexible member.

5. When fitting, applying an adhesive to the orthodontic appliances, and attaching one by one to the teeth of the patient.

6. Removing the flexible members and taking off the basic units, thereby enabling the orthodontic appliances to be fixed to the dental surface, and then connecting each of the orthodontic appliances to complete the fitting.

The aforementioned fitting method of orthodontic appliances of the prior art can only be used according to the teeth of an individual patient; moreover, a professional dental lab technician must match up and fabricate the basic units, and the entire fabricating and fitting process is labor intensive and time consuming, efficiency is poor, and cost of fitting is relatively high, thus increasing the economic burden on the patient. In light of this, the applicant, having accumulated years of experience in related arts, and through continuous research and experimentation, has endeavored to provide an improved positioning method for orthodontic appliance and structure thereof, with the intention of enabling fitting of orthodontic appliances to be more convenient and providing a more efficient fabricating process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a positioning method for orthodontic appliance and structure thereof, enabling fitting of the orthodontic appliance to be more convenient and more efficient, thereby reducing cost of fitting.

The positioning method of the aforementioned orthodontic appliance comprises the following steps: a. Fabricating a dental mold according to the dental profile of the patient, and drawing crossed reference lines on the dental mold of the patient using a specific instrument; b. Fabricating different base units based on different teeth portions and different forms of orthodontic appliance, with each of the basic units provided with a crosswise reference line, and each of the base units is assigned a serial number according to the different teeth portions; c. After heating, embedding the orthodontic appliance into the base unit, and using a flexible member to bind and fixedly position the orthodontic appliance, thereby enabling the base unit to form a stable base for the orthodontic appliance according to the shape of the orthodontic appliance; d. Attaching each of the aforementioned base units together with the orthodontic appliances bound to the base units to the dental mold, relying on the crosswise reference lines to align with the cross reference lines of the dental mold, and appropriately adjusting the position of the orthodontic appliances; e. Attaching light curing composite resin to each of the aforementioned base units to enable the inner edge of the light curing composite resin to form occlusal surfaces, and then mutually connecting each of the base units using the same light curing composite resin; f. Forming series connected base units after hardening the light curing composite resin; g. Taking off each of the series connected base units together with the orthodontic appliances bound to the base units from the dental mold; h. After applying an adhesive layer to each of the orthodontic appliances, directly attaching each of the series connected base units together with the corresponding orthodontic appliance bound to the base unit to each respective teeth portion of the patient requiring straightening, thereby enabling more convenient and more efficient installation of the orthodontic appliances; I. After the adhesive layer is fixed, prizing off the flexible member bound to each of the base units using a specific tool, and each of the base units is dismantled from the respective orthodontic appliance, thus the plurality of orthodontic appliances are respectively fixed to the surfaces of the teeth portions requiring straightening, and each of the orthodontic appliances are tightly connected, thereby completing the procedure for installing the orthodontic appliances.

The positioning method of the described orthodontic appliance, wherein plastic injection molding means is used to produce a plurality of the base units.

The positioning method of the described orthodontic appliance, wherein the plurality of base units comprise horizontal hook portions and vertical portions downwardly extending from the horizontal hook portions. The base units are hooked and held onto the dental mold and teeth portions of the patient by means of the horizontal hook portions.

The positioning method of the described orthodontic appliance, wherein the vertical portions of the plurality of base units are respectively provided with a transverse positioning channel and a vertical alignment groove to form a crosswise reference line.

The positioning structure of the aforementioned orthodontic appliance comprises a dental mold provided with cross reference lines and manufactured according to the dental profile of the patient, a flexible member and an orthodontic appliance, wherein the positioning structure comprises a plurality of base units respectively provided with a horizontal hook portion and a vertical portion. The vertical portions of the base units are respectively provided with a transverse positioning channel, and the central position is provided with a vertical alignment groove to form a crosswise reference line on the base unit, which is aligned with the respective cross reference lines of the dental mold to enable adjusting the positions of the orthodontic appliances. Flexible members are used to bind and fix the positions of the orthodontic appliances, and the orthodontic appliances are respectively embedded in the vertical portions of the base units, thereby enabling the base units to form a stable base for the orthodontic appliances according to the shape of the orthodontic appliances.

The positioning structure of the described orthodontic appliance, wherein the vertical portions of the plurality of base units are marked with serial numbers of the teeth portions.

The positioning structure of the described orthodontic appliance, wherein the positioning structure further comprises a light curing composite resin. The light curing composite resin is attached to each of the aforementioned base units, and the inner edge of the light curing composite resin is made to form an occiusal surface, and the same light curing composite resin is then used to further mutually connect each of the base units. The light curing composite resin is then made to solidify to form the series connected base units.

The positioning structure of the aforementioned orthodontic appliance, wherein plastic injection molding means is used to produce the plurality of the base units.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an implementation drawing depicting the fabricating process on a dental mold according to the present invention.

FIG. 1A is a flow chart depicting the fabricating process according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 and FIG. 2A are exploded elevational views of the present invention.

FIG. 3 and FIG. 3A are elevational views of an embodiment depicting a first step in the fabricating process according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the embodiment depicting a second step in the fabricating process according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the embodiment depicting a third step

S

in the fabricating process according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an implementation drawing depicting the fitting of a base unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an implementation drawing depicting an orthodontic appliance fixed to a teeth portion according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring together to FIG. 1 and FIGS. 1A to FIG. 7, which show the entire fabricating and fitting process of the present invention, primarily comprising the following steps: 1. Fabricating a dental mold 4 according to the dental profile of the patient, and drawing crossed reference lines 41 on the dental mold 4 of the patient (see FIG. 1) using a specific instrument.

2. Fabricating different base units 1 using plastic injection molding means based on different teeth portions and different forms of orthodontic appliance, wherein each of the base units 1 comprises a horizontal hook portion 11 and a vertical portion 12 extending downward from the horizontal hook portion 11, with the base unit 1 being hooked and held onto the teeth mold and teeth portion of the patient by means of the horizontal hook portion 11. In which the vertical portion 12 is provided with a transverse positioning channel 121 at an appropriate position thereof, and a vertical alignment groove 122 is provided in a central position of the vertical portion 12, thereby forming crossed reference lines. (see FIG. 2).

3. Allocating the vertical portion 12 of each of the base units 1 with a serial number 111 according to each of the different teeth portions (see FIG. 2).

4. After heating, embedding an orthodontic appliance 2 into a rear edge of the vertical portion 12 of the base unit 1, thereby enabling the base unit 1 to form a stabilizing base 123 for the orthodontic appliance 2 according to the shape of the orthodontic appliance 2, and a flexible member 3 is used to bind and fixedly position the orthodontic appliance 2 along the positioning channel 121 (see FIG. 2 and FIG. 2A).

5. Attaching each of the aforementioned base units 1 together with the respective orthodontic appliance 2 bound to the base unit 1 to the dental mold 4 (see FIG. 3 and FIG. 3A), respectively aligning with the crossed reference lines of the dental mold 4 using the crossed reference lines formed by the positioning channel 121 and the alignment groove 122 of the vertical portion 12, after which the positions of the orthodontic appliances 2 are appropriately adjusted.

6. Attaching light curing composite resin 5 to each of the aforementioned base units 1 to enable the inner edge of the light curing composite resin 5 to form occiusal surfaces, and then mutually connecting each of the base units using the same light curing composite resin 5 (see FIG. 4).

7. Series connected base units 1 are thus formed after the light curing composite resin 5 hardens.

8. Taking off each of the series connected base units together with the respective orthodontic appliance 2 bound to the base unit 1 from the dental mold 4 (see FIG. 5).

9. After applying an adhesive layer to each of the orthodontic appliances 2, directly attaching each of the series connected base units 1 together with the corresponding orthodontic appliance 2 bound to the base unit 1 to each respective teeth portion of the patient requiring straightening.

10. After the adhesive layer is fixed, the flexible member 3 bound to the each of the base units 1 is prized off using a specific tool, and each of the base units 1 is dismantled from the respective orthodontic appliance 2 (see FIG. 6).

11. After dismantling the base units 1, the orthodontic appliances 2 remain respectively fixed to the surfaces of the teeth portions requiring straightening (see FIG. 7), whereupon the dentist is able to tightly connect each of the orthodontic appliances 2, thus completing the fitting process of the orthodontic appliances 2.

For the implementation of the entire manufacture procedure and installation steps, the present invention further provides a positioning structure for an orthodontic appliance, comprising the dental mold 4 provided with cross reference lines and manufactured according to the dental profile of the patient, the flexible members 3 and the orthodontic appliances 2. In which the positioning structure comprises a plurality of the base units 1 respectively provided with the horizontal hook portion 11 and the vertical portion 12. The vertical portions 12 of the base units 1 are respectively provided with the transverse positioning channel 121, and the central position is provided with the vertical alignment groove 122 to form a cross reference line which is aligned with the respective crossed reference line 41 of the dental mold 4 to enable adjusting the position of the orthodontic appliances 2. The flexible members 3 are used to bind and fix the position of the orthodontic appliances 2 and the orthodontic appliances 2 are embedded in the vertical portions 12 of the base units 1, thereby enabling the base units 1 to form a stable base for the orthodontic appliances 2 according to the shape of the orthodontic appliances 2.

The vertical portions 12 of the plurality of base units 1 are respectively marked with the serial number 111 of the teeth portion (see FIG. 2).

The positioning structure further comprises the light curing composite resin 5. The light curing composite resin 5 is attached to each of the aforementioned base units 1, and the inner edge of the light curing composite resin 5 is made to form occlusal surfaces, and then the same light curing composite resin 5 is used to further mutually connect each of the base units 1. The light curing composite resin 5 is then made to solidify to form the series connected base units 1.

A plastic injection molding method is used to produce the plurality of base units 1.

The aforementioned positioning method for orthodontic appliance and structure thereof of the present invention is provided with at least the following advantages compared to traditional fitting methods: 1. Eliminates the troublesome matter of fabricating base units by a technician, enabling direct use by the dentist, thereby saving time on fitting, and increasing work efficiency.

2. Because the procedure of fabricating base units by a technician is eliminated, thus, cost of fitting and economic burden on the patient is reduced.

3. During fitting, the series connected base units 1 and the orthodontic appliances 2 are directly fitted to the teeth of the patient, thereby enabling fast and accurate fitting time.

In conclusion, the present invention uses prefabricated base units, in conjunction with orthodontic appliances bound to the base units, to enable fitting of orthodontic appliances to be more convenient and more efficient, thereby reducing fitting cost. The present invention provides a practical design, and is indeed a novel appliance. Accordingly, a new patent application is proposed herein.

It is of course to be understood that the embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the principles of the invention and that a wide variety of modifications thereto may be effected by persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is: 1. A positioning method for orthodontic appliance, comprising the steps of: a), fabricating a dental mold according to the dental profile of the patient, and drawing crossed reference lines on the dental mold; b), fabricating base units using orthodontic appliances, wherein each of the base units is provided with crossed reference lines, and each of the base units is allocated with a serial number; c), embedding the orthodontic appliance to the base unit after heating, and binding and fixedly positioning the orthodontic appliance using a flexible member, thereby causing the base unit to form a stabilizing base for the orthodontic appliance according to the shape of the orthodontic appliance; d), attaching each of the base units together with the respective orthodontic appliance bound to the base unit to the dental mold, aligning with the crossed reference lines of the dental mold, and adjusting the positions of the orthodontic appliances; e), attaching light curing composite resin to each of the base units to enable the inner edge of the light curing composite resin to form occlusal surfaces, and then mutually connecting each of the base units using the same light curing composite resin; f), forming series connected base units after coagulation of the light curing composite resin; g), taking off each of the series connected base units together with the respective orthodontic appliance bound to the base unit from the dental mold; h), directly attaching each of the series connected base units together with the corresponding orthodontic appliance bound to the base unit to each respective teeth portion of the patient requiring straightening after applying an adhesive layer to each of the orthodontic appliances; i), prizing off of the flexible member bound to each of the base units after the adhesive layer is fixed, and dismantling each of the base units from the respective orthodontic appliance, thereby enabling the orthodontic appliances to be respectively fixed to the surfaces of the teeth portions requiring straightening, whereupon each of the orthodontic appliances are tightly connected, thus completing the fitting process of the orthodontic appliances.
2. The positioning method for orthodontic appliance according to claim 1, wherein the base units are fabricated using plastic injection molding means.
3. The positioning method for orthodontic appliance according to claim 1, wherein the base unit comprises a horizontal hook portion and a vertical portion extending downward from the horizontal hook portion, thereby enabling the horizontal hook portion to be used to hold onto the dental mold and the teeth portion of the patient.
4. The positioning method for orthodontic appliance according to claim 3, wherein the vertical portion of the base unit is provided with a transverse positioning channel and a vertical alignment groove, thereby forming crossed reference lines.
5. The positioning structure for orthodontic appliance, comprising a dental mold provided with cross reference lines and manufactured according to the dental profile of the patient, and characterized in that: the positioning structure comprises a plurality of base units respectively provided with a horizontal hook portion and a vertical portion, the vertical portions of the base units are respectively provided with a transverse positioning channel, and the central position is provided with a vertical alignment groove to form a crosswise reference line which is aligned with the respective cross reference line of the dental mold to adjust the position of the orthodontic appliances; flexible members are used to bind and fix the positions of the orthodontic appliances, and the orthodontic appliances are embedded in the vertical portions of the base units, thereby enabling the base units to form a stable base for the orthodontic appliances according to the shape of the orthodontic appliances.
6. The positioning structure for orthodontic appliance according to claim 5, wherein the vertical portions of the plurality of base units are marked with serial numbers of the teeth portions.
7. The positioning structure for orthodontic appliance according to claim 5, wherein the positioning structure further comprises a light curing composite resin, and the inner edge of the light curing composite resin is made to form occlusal surfaces, the same light curing composite resin is then used to further mutually connect each of the base units; the light curing composite resin is then made to solidify to form the series connected base units.
8. The positioning structure for orthodontic appliance according to claim 5, wherein a plastic injection molding method is used to produce the plurality of base units.
9. Positioning structure for orthodontic appliance substantially as herein described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.