JP4868029B2 - Orthodontic appliance - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an orthodontic apparatus.

  Conventionally, there is an orthodontic apparatus using a wire, and there is an orthodontic apparatus that cures teeth alignment and occlusion by applying a constant force (static load) to the dentition with the return force of the wire. That is, when a constant force is applied to the dentition, the alveolar bone that supports the teeth in the gums is gradually deformed, thereby correcting the dentition.

  However, orthodontic treatment using wires takes a very long time (6 months at the earliest, usually several years), so it is particularly painful for children who are suitable for orthodontic treatment and should not last long. There are also many.

  In order to shorten such an orthodontic period, as shown in FIG. 17A, a sample A in which a constant force is applied to the dentition and a sample B in which a vibration force is applied to the dentition are compared. For example, studies have been made that sample B to which vibration force is applied is more effective in shortening the period (Non-patent Document 1).

  Similarly, as shown in FIG. 17B, when comparing the sample C in which a constant force is applied to the dentition and the sample D in which a constant force + vibration force is applied to the dentition, the constant force + vibration force is obtained. Studies have also been made that the added sample D is more effective in shortening the period (Non-patent Document 2).

According to these studies, the period of orthodontics is greatly reduced to about 1/2 to 1/3. Not only that, the non-patent document 1 only needs to give a vibration force for 1.5 hours per day, and the non-patent document 2 requires only 2 minutes once every two weeks. That is, in Non-Patent Document 1, it is only necessary to continue treatment for 1.5 hours per day, and in Non-Patent Document 2, it is only necessary to continue treatment for 2 minutes once every two weeks.

  From these studies, it can be understood that applying a vibration force is more effective in significantly shortening the orthodontic period than simply applying a constant force to the dentition with a wire or the like.

  Then, as an attempt to put these researches into practical use, an apparatus that imparts ultrasonic vibration to the surrounding tissue around the mouthpiece attachment site that promotes movement of the correction target tooth (Patent Document 1), and ultrasonic vibration to the correction target tooth Has been proposed (Patent Document 2).

JP 2002-102255 A JP 2004-201895 A

Shimizu: Japanese Journal of Dentistry 45: 56-72, 1986 Ohmae et al .: Journal of Japanese Orthodontic Society, 60 (4): 201, 2001

  However, in the techniques of Patent Documents 1 and 2, since the ultrasonic supply head is pressed against the skin surface of the cheek, for example, and the ultrasonic vibration is applied from the outside, the ultrasonic vibration is accurately applied only to the correction target tooth. There was a problem that it was difficult to give.

  In addition, since an ultrasonic generator is required, there is a problem that treatment cannot be continued without visiting a dental clinic equipped with this device.

  The present invention was made to solve the above problems, and can accurately apply vibration only to the correction target tooth and can easily and safely continue treatment without going to the dental clinic. An object of the present invention is to provide a correction device.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the present invention is an orthodontic apparatus for correcting an dentition including a tooth to be corrected, an actuator that generates mechanical vibration and applies this vibration to the correction target tooth. And a mouthpiece that stores the actuator and is mounted on the dentition in the retracted state. The mouthpiece has an outer mouthpiece that directly covers the dentition, and the outer mouthpiece has a seal. An orthodontic apparatus characterized in that a single-shaped inner mouthpiece, which is a material, is overlapped and joined inside, and the actuator is stored between the inner mouthpiece and the outer mouthpiece. is there.

  In order to make the actuator inexpensive, the actuator is preferably an electric motor.

  In order to make the actuator cheaper, it is preferable that the electric motor has a structure that generates a mechanical vibration with an eccentric weight attached to a rotating shaft.

  The actuator may be a linear motor having a mover that reciprocates.

  In order to improve vibration transmission efficiency, the electric motor or linear motor is preferably stored so that the vibration direction is substantially perpendicular to the dentition.

  In order to enable treatment even outdoors, the electric motor or linear motor is preferably a DC motor driven by a DC power source, and the power source is preferably a battery.

  In order to make it easy to carry, it is preferable that the battery is stored in an overlapping portion of the mouthpiece together with the electric motor or the linear motor.

  In order to make the mouthpiece compact, it is preferable that the actuator is a permanent magnet and has a structure that generates a mechanical vibration by a magnetic field generated by a magnetic field generation unit different from the mouthpiece.

  In order to increase the practical value, the mouthpiece preferably has a shape that imparts a correction force to the portion of the correction target tooth.

  In order to accurately position the actuator on the portion of the tooth to be corrected, the mouthpiece is preferably configured to be attached to the entire dentition.

  In order to make the mouthpiece compact, the mouthpiece is preferably shaped to be attached to a part of the dentition.

According to the present invention, since the actuator that generates mechanical vibration (mechanical stimulation) is stored in the mouthpiece , vibration can be accurately applied to the portion of the correction target tooth . Further, since the actuator is stored in the mouthpiece, the treatment can be continued easily and safely at any time, for example, at home without going to the dental clinic. Furthermore, since the mechanical vibration of the actuator is transmitted to the portion of the tooth to be corrected through the one-sided inner mouthpiece that is a sealing material, the tooth is caused by the mechanical vibration being directly transmitted to the tooth to be corrected. Can relieve pain. Furthermore, if the actuator is stored in a sealed state in the mouthpiece, it is hygienic and can be washed with water. In addition, if the one-sided inner mouthpiece itself, which is a sealing material, is made rigid, a constant force (correction force) can be applied to the portion of the tooth to be corrected by the pressing force of the inner mouthpiece. Even if a wire is not attached, since a constant force + vibration force can be applied to the portion of the tooth to be corrected, the practical value is increased.

It is a perspective view of a tooth type on the lower jaw side. It is the perspective view which mounted the mouthpiece of the reference example of this invention on the dentition. It is the disassembled perspective view which looked at the mouthpiece of FIG. 2 from the front side. It is the disassembled perspective view which looked at the mouthpiece of FIG. 2 from the back side. (A) is the II sectional view taken on the line of FIG. 2, (b) is the II-II sectional view of FIG. 2, (c) is the wiring diagram of an electric motor. It is the perspective view which mounted | wore the dentition with the mouthpiece of another reference example of this invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a mouthpiece of embodiment of this invention, (a) is a disassembled perspective view, (b) is sectional drawing equivalent to the III-III line of (a). It is a mouthpiece of another reference example of the present invention, and (a) and (b) are sectional views equivalent to the III-III line of Drawing 7 (a), respectively. It is the mouthpiece of another reference example of this invention, (a) is a perspective view, (b) is the IV-IV sectional view taken on the line of (a). It is a perspective view of the mouthpiece of another reference example of the present invention. It is the mouthpiece of another reference example of this invention, (a) is a perspective view, (b) is a top view of a user and a magnetic field generation coil, (c) is a front view of a user and a magnetic field generation coil. It is a system diagram of the process of manufacturing the mouthpiece of the reference example of the present invention. It is the 1st modification of the mouthpiece of the reference example of this invention, (a) is a perspective view, (b) is a principal part expanded sectional view. It is a 2nd modification of the mouthpiece of the reference example of this invention, (a) is a perspective view of an electric motor part, (b) is a principal part expanded sectional view of a mouthpiece. It is the connection structure of the tube using the mouthpiece of the 1st modification, (a) is a sectional view at the time of tube insertion, (b) is a sectional view at the time of tube welding, (c) is a sectional view after the tube welding is there. It is the connection structure of the tube using the mouthpiece of the 2nd modification, (a) is a sectional view before connector combination, and (b) is a sectional view after connector combination. (A) (b) is a graph for demonstrating the shortening effect of the period of an orthodontic, respectively.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tooth mold 1 on the lower jaw side. FIG. 2 is a perspective view in which the mouthpiece 7 of the reference example is mounted on the dentition 3 of the tooth mold 1.

  Brackets (wire locking metal fittings) 4 are fixed to the outer surface portions of the teeth 3b to 3m, excluding the back teeth 3a and 3n, of the teeth 3a to 3n in the tooth row 3 of FIG. The wire 5 is locked in series across the bridge. Then, by applying a constant force (static load) to the dentition 3 with the return force of the wire 5, it is possible to cure the tooth alignment and biting with these correction tools. In addition, the tooth | gear which fixes the bracket 4 and the bracket 4 which latches the wire 5 are not restricted to what was illustrated in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, the mouthpiece 7 of the present reference example is attached to the tooth row 3 to which the wire 5 is attached, for example.

  3 is an exploded perspective view of the mouthpiece 7 having a structure in which the inner and outer double layers are overlapped, and FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the mouthpiece 7 of FIG. 3 viewed from the back side.

  Referring to FIG. 5A, the mouthpiece 7 includes an inner mouthpiece 7A that directly covers the dentition 3 and an outer mouthpiece 7B that covers the outer side of the inner mouthpiece 7A.

  As the material of the inner mouthpiece 7A and the outer mouthpiece 7B, a material that is normally used as a mouthpiece (or mouthguard) material and in which sanitary safety is ensured, for example, EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) that is a polymer material is guaranteed. It is preferable to use a resin-molded sheet (a method for producing the mouthpiece 7 will be described later) because the effects of allergies to teeth and gums can be suppressed.

  Although the material is not limited to the EVA sheet, the EVA sheet is more preferable because it has electrical insulation and functions as a heat insulating material. In particular, when an EVA sheet is used for the inner mouthpiece 7A, the inner mouthpiece 7A can be made soft, and thereby, high-speed mechanical vibration transmitted from the electric motor 8 described later to the correction target teeth 3g and 3h. Since the relaxation action acts on the components, it is possible to prevent damage to the correction target teeth 3g and 3h.

  As shown in FIG. 5 (b), outwardly bulging portions 7a having an inner shape that is slightly larger than the outer shape of the electric motor 8 that is an actuator are provided on the correction target teeth 3g and 3h on the surface side of the outer mouthpiece 7B. Thus, the small and light electric motor 8 is stored in the gap in the bulging portion 7a in a lateral direction (so that the vibration direction is substantially perpendicular to the tooth row 3). The electric motor 8 has a structure that generates mechanical vibration with an eccentric weight attached to a rotating shaft, and is widely used as a vibrator function for a mobile phone or the like.

  Then, in a state where the inner mouthpiece 7A is put on the inner side of the outer mouthpiece 7B in which the electric motor 8 is stored in the bulging portion 7a, the outer surface of the inner mouthpiece 7A and the inner surface of the outer mouthpiece 7B are separated from the overlapping surface. In order to prevent saliva, washing water and the like from entering the bulging portion 7a, it is hermetically joined and integrated by ultrasonic welding or the like. Here, the airtightness may actually be at or above a level at which watertightness is maintained so that moisture does not enter.

  When the electric motor 8 is a direct current (DC) motor as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 5 (c), the feeder 9 is a through hole formed in the bulging portion 7a of the outer mouthpiece 7B [FIG. (See 7f of (b)), it is pulled out to the outside in an airtight manner, and further to the outside of the mouth from between the lips, and is connected to the battery (battery) 11 through the variable resistance volume 10 and the switch 12. The variable resistance volume 10 and the battery 11 are installed on a desk or the like near the user wearing the mouthpiece 7. By adjusting the DC voltage level supplied to the electric motor 8 by the variable resistance volume 10, the rotation speed, that is, the vibration frequency of the electric motor 8 can be adjusted. The vibration frequency (frequency) is preferably about several Hz to several hundred Hz. The electric motor 8 may be an alternating current (AC) motor.

  Next, the manufacturing method of the mouthpiece 7 is demonstrated. As shown in FIG. 12, in step S <b> 1, impression material is attached to the user's dentition 3, the mold is taken, removed from the dentition 3, and gypsum is poured into the impression material holding the dentition shape. By removing the gypsum after solidification, the user's dentition gypsum model E is completed in step S2.

  Here, when a corrector such as a bracket 4 or a wire 5 is attached to the dentition 3 of the user, when the inner mouthpiece 7A of the mouthpiece 7 is attached to the dentition 3, the inner mouthpiece 7A corrects. If caught on the edge of the tool, the inner mouthpiece 7A may be damaged, or the bracket 4 may come off the tooth surface. In order to prevent such inconvenience, it is possible to eliminate the edge by filling the gap between the bracket 4 portion and the wire 5 portion of the dentition gypsum model E with a wax agent or the like. According to this method, when the inner mouthpiece 7A is manufactured, before attaching the impression material to the dentition 3, the gap between the bracket 4 and the wire 5 is filled with a non-toxic wax agent that can be washed with water. The burden on the user is reduced compared to the case of taking an impression after the loss.

  The EVA sheet softened by heating is applied to the dental plaster model E, suction molded, and after cooling, the dental plaster model A is removed from the EVA sheet, thereby completing the inner mouthpiece 7A in step S3. . Up to this step S3, the conventional mouthpiece manufacturing method is the same.

  By changing the thickness of the EVA sheet, it is possible to manufacture the inner mouthpiece 7A having different thicknesses (thicknesses). When the inner mouthpiece 7A having a small thickness is used, the mounting feeling is improved and the electric motor 8 is provided. The transmission characteristics of mechanical vibrations from are improved. Further, by changing the thickness of the inner mouthpiece 7A for each of the teeth 3a to 3n, it is also possible to change the transmission characteristics of mechanical vibration for the individual teeth 3a to 3n.

  Then, in step S3, with the inner mouthpiece 7A fitted to the dentition gypsum model E, in step S4, a new mold is made using silicon resin or the like, and gypsum is poured into the completed silicon mold, By removing the gypsum after conversion, the inner mouthpiece gypsum model F is completed in step S5.

  In step S6, a gypsum model F ′ that becomes the bulging portion 7a of the outer mouthpiece 7B is bonded to the inner mouthpiece gypsum model F, and the EVA sheet softened by heating is applied to the inner mouthpiece gypsum model F. The outer mouthpiece 7B is completed in step S7 by removing the inner mouthpiece gypsum model F from the EVA sheet after suction molding and cooling.

  Thereafter, in step S8, the inner mouthpiece 7A is covered with the inner mouthpiece 7B on the inner side of the outer mouthpiece 7B in which the electric motor 8 is stored in the bulging portion 7a. The mouthpiece 7 is completed by airtightly joining and integrating with sonic welding or an adhesive. The total thickness of the mouthpiece 7 is preferably about 1 to 6 mm.

  Here, the outer face of the inner mouthpiece 7A and the inner face of the outer mouthpiece 7B may be joined only at the peripheral edge of the bulge 7a storing the electric motor 8 of the outer mouthpiece 7B. In order to prevent the outer periphery of the outer mouthpiece 7B from rolling up, it is preferable that the inner periphery of the inner mouthpiece 7A and the outer periphery of the outer mouthpiece 7B are joined in an airtight manner, and the mouthpiece 7 is washed and stored after use. This is also preferable.

According to the mouthpiece 7 of the present reference example , the electric motor 8 that generates mechanical vibration (mechanical stimulation) is formed on the correction target teeth 3g and 3h in the overlapping portion of the inner and outer double mouthpieces 7A and 7B. Since it is stored, vibration can be accurately applied only to the portions of the correction target teeth 3g and 3h.

  Further, since the electric motor 8 is stored in the mouthpiece 7, treatment can be continued easily and safely at an arbitrary time, for example, at home without going to the dental clinic.

  Further, since the mechanical vibration of the electric motor 8 is transmitted to the correction target teeth 3g and 3h via the inner mouthpiece 7A, the mechanical vibration is directly transmitted to the correction target teeth 3g and 3h. Can relieve tooth pain caused by

  Furthermore, if the electric motor 8 is stored in a sealed state in the mouthpiece 7, it is hygienic and can be washed with water.

  If the electric motor 8 is used as an actuator, it is inexpensive, and if it is a structure that generates mechanical vibrations with an eccentric weight attached to the rotating shaft of the electric motor 8, it is a small and lightweight that is widely used as a vibrator function for mobile phones and the like. Since things can be diverted, it is cheaper.

  If the electric motor 8 is stored in the mouthpiece 7 so that the vibration direction is substantially perpendicular to the dentition 3, in the case of a structure that generates mechanical vibration with an eccentric weight, Therefore, even if the electric motor 8 is of a type that is long in the direction of the rotation axis, the protruding height from the mouthpiece 7 is lowered, and the uncomfortable feeling is reduced. Moreover, since the vibration of the electric motor 8 can be directly applied to the correction target teeth 3g and 3h, the vibration transmission efficiency is improved.

  If the electric motor 8 is driven by a direct current (DC) power supply, the frequency (rotation speed) of the electric motor 8 can be easily adjusted by adjusting the DC voltage level by the variable resistance volume 10. In addition, if the DC power source is the battery 11, treatment can be performed even in a place where there is no AC outlet (for example, outdoors).

Mouthpiece 7, because it is shaped to be attached to the entire dentition 3, if mounted on the teeth 3, orthodontic dental object 3g, a portion of 3h, the electric motor 8 is a luer actuator generates mechanical vibrations Can be positioned accurately.

  The electric motor 8 is easily stored in a cover made of metal or resin (for example, ABS resin) in a state where the vibration force is not restrained because the vibration force is easily restrained when directly contacting the inner surface or the like of the bulging portion 7a. It is preferable to store the object in the gap in the bulging portion 7a.

  For example, as shown in FIGS. 13 (a) and 13 (b), a cover 20 made of a crested cylindrical metal or resin is fitted into the outer periphery of the casing of the electric motor 8, and the eccentric weight 8 a of the electric motor 8 is covered with this cover 20. What is necessary is just to store the electric motor 8 with the cover 20 in the space | gap in the swelling part 7a in the state surrounding the outer periphery.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B, a pair of power supply conductors 21 a and 21 b extending in the length direction is formed on a rectangular flexible printed circuit board 21, and on the back surface of the electric motor 8. A type in which power supply terminals (not shown) that can come into contact with the conductive wires 21a and 21b are formed so that the mounting position of the electric motor 8 along the conductive wires 21a and 21b of the flexible printed circuit board 21 can be considered. . In this type, after adjusting the mounting position of the electric motor 8, the electric motor 8 can be fixed to the flexible printed circuit board 21 by soldering the power feeding terminal of the electric motor 8 and the conducting wires 21a and 21b. In addition, a power feeding terminal (not shown) of a connector (for example, a male connector) 22 on one side can be soldered to the conducting wires 21 a and 21 b of the flexible printed circuit board 21.

  Then, a cover 24 made of a semicylindrical metal or resin is fitted on the outer periphery of the casing of the electric motor 8, and the cover 20 surrounds the outer periphery of the eccentric weight 8 a of the electric motor 8. The claw portion 24a may be locked and fixed in any of the locking holes 21c of the flexible printed circuit board 21, and the electric motor 8 together with the cover 24 may be stored in the gap in the bulging portion 7a.

  Further, a cover portion 7e that covers the outer periphery of the connector 22 on one side in an airtight manner is formed continuously with the bulge portion 7a, and the connector 22 in the cover portion 7e is externally connected to the connector on the other side (for example, a female connector). 23 can be detachably coupled from a perpendicular direction. When the connector 23 on the other side is coupled to the connector 22 on the one side, the outer periphery of the connector 23 on the other side is also air-tightly covered with the covering portion 7e. The power supply line 9 of the connector 23 on the other side is drawn out from the connector 23 in an airtight manner, and is drawn out of the mouth from between the lips.

  As shown in FIGS. 13 (a) and 13 (b), the power supply line 9 of the electric motor 8 is drawn out to the outside airtightly from the through hole 7f formed in the bulging portion 7a of the outer mouthpiece 7B. However, since the mouthpiece 7 is washed with water, it is preferable to make it completely waterproof.

  Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 15A, a tube 25 having an insertion hole 25 a for the feeder 9 is provided, and a flange portion 25 b is formed at the tip of the tube 25. As the material of the tube 25, the same EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate resin) as that of the mouthpiece 7 is optimal. The length of the tube 25 is preferably a length that can be sufficiently pulled out from between the lips to the outside of the mouth.

  Then, as shown by an arrow a, the feeder 9 is inserted into the insertion hole 25a from the flange portion 25b side, and as shown in FIG. 15B, the flange portion 25b is brought into close contact with the side surface of the bulging portion 7a. In this state, the outer surface of the bulging portion 7a and the outer surface of the tube 25 are covered with the heat insulating materials 26A and 26B, respectively, and only the vicinity of the flange portion 25b is exposed. When hot air is blown in the vicinity, the flange portion 25b is melted, so that the flange portion 25b is hermetically welded to the side surface of the bulging portion 7a as shown in FIG.

  In this way, the waterproof property of the lead-out portion of the feeder 9 is improved compared to the case where the feeder 9 is simply pulled out from the through hole 7f of the bulging portion 7a of the outer mouthpiece 7B. Can be achieved.

  In addition, since the feeder 9 is covered with the EVA tube 25, the feeder 9 made of polyvinyl chloride or the like does not touch the oral cavity, so that hygiene safety is also ensured. In addition, it looks good.

  As shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B, the power supply line 9 of the connector 23 on the other side is drawn out from the connector 23 in an airtight manner, but the mouthpiece 7 is washed with water. Therefore, it is preferable to make it completely waterproof.

  Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 16 (a), a tube 25 having an insertion hole 25a for the feeder 9 is provided, the outer periphery of the connector 23 on the other side is covered at the tip of the tube 25, and further forward A protruding cylindrical portion 25c is formed. As the material of the tube 25, the same EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate resin) as that of the mouthpiece 7 is optimal. The length of the tube 25 is preferably a length that can be sufficiently pulled out from between the lips to the outside of the mouth.

  Further, the covering portion 7e connected to the bulging portion 7a is formed in a cylindrical shape that allows the tubular portion 25c of the tube 25 to be fitted to the outer periphery in an airtight manner, and the tubular portion 25c of the tube 25 is airtightly fitted to the covering portion 7e. While matching, the connector 23 on the other side can be detachably coupled from the outside to the connector 22 of the covering portion 7e.

  In this way, the waterproof property of the lead-out portion of the power supply line 9 is improved as compared with the case where the power supply line 9 is simply pulled out from the connector 23 on the other side, so that complete waterproofing can be achieved.

  In addition, since the feeder 9 is covered with the EVA tube 25, the feeder 9 made of polyvinyl chloride or the like does not touch the oral cavity, so that hygiene safety is also ensured. In addition, it looks good.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the mouthpiece 7 may have a shape to be attached to a part of the dentition 3 (the correction target teeth 3 f to 3 h in the example of FIG. 6). In this case, the mouthpiece 7 It becomes compact and the burden at the time of a user's wearing comes to be reduced.

  Although the mouthpiece 7 usually covers the alveolar portion of the tooth mold 1, a portion corresponding to the alveolar portion may be cut in order to impart mechanical vibration only to the dentition 3. By such a cut, the mass of the mouthpiece 7 is reduced, vibrations are more easily propagated, and the mouthpiece 7 becomes compact.

The mouthpiece 7 is composed of an inner mouthpiece 7A that directly covers the dentition 3 and an outer mouthpiece 7B that covers the outer side of the inner mouthpiece 7A in order to be attached to the entire dentition 3, but FIG. ) As shown in the embodiment of (b), the inner mouthpiece 7A is formed in a square piece shape, and a square is formed so as to cover the opening of the bulging portion 7a inside the outer mouthpiece 7B storing the electric motor 8 in the bulging portion 7a. It is also possible to air-tightly join and integrate the one-piece inner mouthpiece 7A. In this case, the outer mouthpiece 7B is directly put on the tooth row 3, and the inner mouthpiece 7A is merely a sealing material for airtight joining.

The mouthpiece 7 of the present embodiment and each reference example is applied to the tooth row 3 to which the wire 5 is attached, thereby giving a constant force + vibration force. Only the vibration force can be applied by the electric motor 8 so as to be mounted.

  In this case, the mouthpiece 7 can be added with a shape that gives a constant force (correction force) to the correction target teeth 3g and 3h. For example, as shown in FIG. 8A, a hard bulge 7b is integrally formed on the inner surface of the inner mouthpiece 7A, and a constant force is applied to the correction target teeth 3g and 3h by the pressing force of the bulge 7b. (Correcting power) can be imparted. Further, as shown in FIG. 8 (b), a hard bulging sheet 7c is joined to the inner surface of the inner mouthpiece 7A, and the pressing force of the bulging sheet 7c causes a constant force (on the correction target teeth 3g and 3h). Correction power). Of course, if the correction target teeth 3g and 3h are different, the positions of the bulging portion 7b and the bulging sheet 7c are naturally different.

As shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b) , when the outer mouthpiece 7B is directly covered on the dentition 3, a hard bulge is integrally formed on the inner surface of the outer mouthpiece 7B. Alternatively, a hard bulging sheet can be joined. Further, as shown in the figure, if the square piece-shaped inner mouthpiece 7A itself is made hard, a constant force (correction force) is applied to the correction target teeth 3g and 3h by the pressing force of the inner mouthpiece 7A. You can also.

  If comprised in this way, even if it does not attach the wire 5 to the dentition 3, since a fixed force + vibration force can be provided to the part of the correction object teeth 3g and 3h, practical value will come to increase.

  If the power source for driving, control parts, etc. can be stored together with the electric motor 8 as the vibration means in the mouthpiece 7 having a structure in which the inner and outer layers are overlapped, the power supply line from the mouthpiece 7 is drawn out from between the lips to the outside of the mouth. This eliminates the need to connect external devices (batteries, control components, etc.).

  As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, if the battery 11 serving as the power source of the electric motor 8 is a small button battery 11 ′, the vicinity of the bulge portion 7a for storing the electric motor 8 formed on the outer mouthpiece 7B. In addition, a bulge portion 7d for storing the button battery 11 'can be formed, and the electric motor 8 and the button battery 11' can be directly joined to each other in the bulge portions 7a and 7d by a feeder line or the like. A switch 13 that is turned on / off by a push / push operation from the outer surface of the outer mouthpiece 7B can be incorporated in the power supply line or the like.

  The insulation between the electric motor (actuator) 8, the button battery 11 ′, the switch 13, etc. stored in the mouthpiece 7 may be subjected to normal insulation treatment, but the mouthpiece material itself as a structural material has an insulating effect. Therefore, the outer wall structure may be used.

  Further, when storing the flexible substrate for the control unit in the mouthpiece 7, by mounting them on the flexible substrate, the vibrating means, the driving power source, and the control are easily installed in the mouthpiece 7 that is more easily duplicated. Parts can be stored.

  By configuring in this way, the external appearance of the device is only a mouthpiece by removing the wiring and connecting part with the outside, the feeding wire 9 does not touch the inside of the oral cavity, and electrical safety is ensured and worn. An improvement in feeling can also be expected. In addition, carrying becomes convenient, and practical value increases. For the reasons described above, the power source to be stored is preferably a small and thin power source such as a button battery 11 '.

  In the above embodiment, the electric motor 8 is stored in the bulging portion 7a formed in one place (the correction target teeth 3g and 3h) of the outer mouthpiece 7B of the mouthpiece 7, as shown in FIG. The electric motor 8 can also be stored in the bulge portions 7a formed respectively at a plurality of locations (for example, the portions of the correction target teeth 3g and 3h and the correction target teeth 3c and 3d) of the outer mouthpiece 7B of the mouthpiece 7.

In the embodiment and each reference example , the outward bulge portion 7a is formed in the portion of the correction target teeth 3g and 3h on the surface side of the outer mouthpiece 7B, and the electric motor 8 is stored sideways in the bulge portion 7a. However, as shown in FIG. 10, an inwardly bulging portion 7a ′ is formed in the portion of the correction target tooth 3l on the back surface side of the outer mouthpiece 7B, and the electric motor 8 is placed vertically on the bulging portion 7a ′. It can also be stored.

The reference example is the double mouthpiece 7 including the inner mouthpiece 7A and the outer mouthpiece 7B. However, the mouthpiece need not necessarily be double, and may be a multiple mouthpiece such as triple or quadruple. .

In the embodiment and each reference example , the electric motor 8 is used as an actuator, but a linear motor having a mover that reciprocally vibrates may be used instead of the electric motor 8. In addition, a solenoid, a voice coil motor, or the like can be used.

  Further, as an actuator, a permanent magnet 15 can be used as shown in FIG. 11A instead of the electric motor 8. In this example, the permanent magnets 15 are respectively stored in the bulging portions 7a of the outer mouthpiece 7B formed in the portions of the correction target teeth 3f and 3i.

  Then, as shown in FIGS. 11B and 11C, a ring-shaped magnetic field generating coil (magnetic field generating means) 16 different from the mouthpiece 7 is fitted around the head of the user wearing the mouthpiece 7. (The magnetic field generating coil 16 is isolated from the user.) The mechanical vibration can be generated in the permanent magnet 15 by the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generating coil 16.

  If comprised in this way, since it is only necessary to store the permanent magnet 15 in the mouthpiece 7, the mouthpiece 7 becomes compact and the burden at the time of a user's mounting | wearing will be reduced. In addition, carrying becomes convenient and practical value is increased.

Before you facilities embodiments and reference examples, some storage position of the actuator (electric motor 8 or permanent magnet 15), not only correction target tooth portions of the storage position of the actuator, the whole row of teeth 3 teeth 3a~ Since mechanical vibration is transmitted to 3n, treatment of the entire teeth 3a to 3n of the dentition 3 is also possible.

1 Tooth type 3 Tooth row 5 Wire (correction tool)
7 Mouthpiece 7A Inner mouthpiece (sealant)
7B Outer mouthpiece 7a Swelling portion 8 Electric motor 11 Battery 15 Permanent magnet 16 Magnetic field generating coil

Claims (11)

An orthodontic apparatus for correcting an dentition including a correction target tooth,
An actuator that generates mechanical vibrations and applies the vibrations to the teeth to be corrected;
Storing the actuator, comprising a mouthpiece to be mounted on the dentition in the retracted state;
The mouthpiece has an outer mouthpiece that directly covers the dentition, and a single-shaped inner mouthpiece that is a sealing material is overlapped and joined to the outer mouthpiece, and the inner mouthpiece and the outer mouthpiece are joined together. An orthodontic apparatus in which the actuator is housed between a mouthpiece and the mouthpiece .   The orthodontic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is an electric motor.   The orthodontic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the electric motor has a structure that generates mechanical vibration with an eccentric weight attached to a rotating shaft.   The orthodontic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is a linear motor having a mover that reciprocally vibrates.   The orthodontic apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the electric motor or the linear motor is stored such that the vibration direction is substantially perpendicular to the dentition.   The orthodontic apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the electric motor or linear motor is a DC motor driven by a DC power source, and the power source is a battery.   The orthodontic apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the battery is stored in an overlapping portion of the mouthpiece together with the electric motor or the linear motor.   The orthodontic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is a permanent magnet and has a structure that generates mechanical vibration by a magnetic field generated by a magnetic field generating unit different from the mouthpiece.   The orthodontic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece has a shape that imparts an orthodontic force to a portion of the tooth to be corrected.   The orthodontic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece has a shape to be attached to the entire dentition.   The orthodontic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece has a shape to be attached to a part of the dentition.

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