Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61C—DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE
  • A61C7/00—Orthodontics, i.e. obtaining or maintaining the desired position of teeth, e.g. by straightening, evening, regulating, separating, or by correcting malocclusions
  • A61C7/02—Tools for manipulating or working with an orthodontic appliance
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61C—DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE
  • A61C7/00—Orthodontics, i.e. obtaining or maintaining the desired position of teeth, e.g. by straightening, evening, regulating, separating, or by correcting malocclusions
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61C—DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE
  • A61C8/00—Means to be fixed to the jaw-bone for consolidating natural teeth or for fixing dental prostheses thereon; Dental implants; Implanting tools
  • A61C8/0093—Features of implants not otherwise provided for
  • A61C8/0096—Implants for use in orthodontic treatment

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an orthodontic device and, more particularly, to an orthodontic device for correcting the irregularities of teeth, which can be installed in the gingiva or the alveolar bone without having to perform any oral and maxillofacial surgery.
• a conventional orthodontic device is installed within the oral cavity as shown in Fig. 1 in order to correct the irregularities of teeth.
• the orthodontic device includes a plate 2 and a screw 6.
• the plate 2 has a plurality of holes 4 and is formed into a double-staged cross shape.
• the screw 6 is inserted into one of the holes 4 of the plate 2 and fastened to a jaw bone, thereby fixing the plate 2 within the oral cavity.
• FIG. 2 illustrates a state in which the conventional orthodontic device shown in Fig. 1 is installed in place.
• the plate 2 is inserted under the oral cavity skin by incising the latter.
• the screw 6 is inserted into one of the holes 4 of the plate 2 and fastened to a jaw bone.
• a brace 8 is connected to the plate 2 after fastening the screw 6.
• Another object of the present invention is to provide an orthodontic device free from side effects, such as inflammation and the like, which would otherwise be caused by a steel wire or a brace.
• a further object of the present invention is to provide an orthodontic device which is structurally simple, easy-to-install, capable of shortening the operation time, less susceptible to detachment from the alveolar bone and free from a reoperation.
• an orthodontic device comprising: a plate designed to make contact with a gingiva and provided with a plurality of holes, the plate including a retainer portion extending from one side of the plate, the retainer portion having a hook for holding a correction member; fist screws inserted into the holes of the plate and implanted in an alveolar bone; and second screws tightened to the first screws to couple the plate and the first screws together.
• an orthodontic device comprising: a plate designed to make contact with a gingiva and provided with a plurality of holes, the plate including a retainer portion extending from one side of the plate, the retainer portion having a hook for holding a correction member; guide members fitted to the holes of the plate and implanted in the gingiva; and third screws inserted through the guide members and implanted in an alveolar bone.
• an orthodontic device comprising: a plate designed to make contact with a gingiva and provided with a plurality of holes, the plate including a retainer portion extending from one side of the plate, the retainer portion having a hook for holding a correction member; a fourth screw inserted into at least one of the holes of the plate and implanted in an alveolar bone; a fifth screw tightened to the fourth screw to couple the plate and the fourth screw together; a guide member fitted to the other of the holes of the plate and implanted in the gingiva; and a sixth screw inserted through the guide member and implanted in the alveolar bone.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional orthodontic device.
• Fig. 2 is a plan view illustrating a state in which the orthodontic device shown in Fig.
• FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an orthodontic device in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.
• Fig. 4 is a section view of the orthodontic device taken along line A-A in Fig. 3.
• Fig. 5 is a plan view showing an orthodontic device in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.
• Fig. 6 is a section view of the orthodontic device taken along line B-B in Fig. 5.
• Fig. 7 is a plan view showing an orthodontic device in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.
• Fig. 8 is a section view of the orthodontic device taken along line C-C in Fig. 7.
• Fig. 9 is a side view illustrating the orthodontic device of the first embodiment installed in place.
• Fig. 10 is a side view illustrating the orthodontic device of the second embodiment installed in place.
• Fig. 11 is a side view illustrating the orthodontic device of the third embodiment installed in place.
• Fig. 12 is a side view showing another method through which to install the present orthodontic device in place. Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention
• FIG. 3 there is shown an orthodontic device in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.
• the orthodontic device 10 of the first embodiment includes a plate 12, first screws 20 (see Fig. 4) and second screws 30.
• the plate 12 is a flat member and has a first hole 14 and a second hole 16, the first hole 14 being a slot.
• the plate 12 is provided with a retainer portion 18 extending from one end thereof.
• the retainer portion 18 is integrally formed with the plate 12 as a single piece.
• a hook 18a is formed at the free end of the retainer portion 18.
• a correction member 8 is attached to the hook 18a of the retainer portion 18 as illustrated in Fig. 9.
• the hook 18a generates a tensile force in the correction member 8. Under the tensile force thus generated, the correction member 8 is pressed against the teeth 1.
• the first screws 20 are inserted into the first and second holes 14 and 16 formed in the plate 12.
• a female thread hole 22 is formed at one end of each of the first screws 20.
• the second screws 30 are threadedly coupled to the female thread holes 22 of the first screws 20.
• the first screws 20 and the plate 12 are combined together by the second screws 30.
• the first and second screws 20 and 30 inserted into the first hole 14 are movable along the same so as to adjust the implanting position thereof.
• Each of the first screws 20 has a male thread formed along one end portion thereof and implanted into the alveolar bone. If necessary, each of the first screws 20 may have an additional male thread formed on the outer circumferential surface of the other end portion thereof. In this case, each of the second screws 30 may have a female thread to be coupled with the additional male thread.
• FIG. 4 shows an assembled state of the orthodontic device 10 of the first embodiment configured as above. As shown in Fig. 4, the first screws 20 are inserted into the first and second holes 14 and 16 of the plate 12. Then the second screws 30 are fastened to the first screws 20.
• FIG. 5 and 6 there is shown an orthodontic device 40 in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.
• the orthodontic device 40 of the second embodiment includes a plate 42, third screws 50 and guide members 60.
• the plate 42 has a pair of holes 44 formed at the opposite end portions thereof.
• the plate 42 includes a retainer portion 18 extending from the intermediate portion thereof at a generally right angle.
• the retainer portion 18 is integrally formed with the plate 42 as a single piece.
• a hook 18a is formed at the free end of the retainer portion 18.
• the retainer portion 18 has essentially the same configuration as that of the retainer portion described above in connection with the first embodiment. Therefore, the retainer portion 18 will be designated by the same reference numeral, with no description offered in that regard.
• Each of the guide members 60 has a cylindrical shape. The free end portion of each of the guide members 60 is sharpened so that each of the guide members 60 can be implanted into the gingiva. Each of the guide members 60 has a through-hole 62 into which each of the third screws 50 is inserted.
• the third screws 50 are inserted into the through-holes 61 of the guide members 60 and fixed to the alveolar bone through the gingiva.
• the third screws 50 press the plate 42 against the gingiva to fix it to the gingiva, while causing the guide members 60 to be implanted into the gingiva.
• Fig. 6 shows an assembled state of the orthodontic device 40 of the second embodiment configured as above.
• the guide members 60 are first fitted to the holes 44 of the plate 42.
• the guide members 60 thus fitted are integrally bonded to the plate 42 as by laser welding.
• the third screws 50 are inserted into the through-holes 62 of the guide members 60.
• the third screws 50 are driven into the alveolar bone, thereby pressing the plate 42 toward the gingiva.
• the guide members 60 are implanted into the gingiva.
• This configuration is advantageous in that the orthodontic device of the second embodiment is hardly detached from the gingiva and the alveolar bone.
• the orthodontic device of the second embodiment is structurally simple, thereby reducing the time required in attaching the orthodontic device.
• the orthodontic device 70 of the third embodiment includes a plate 12, a fourth screw 20, a fifth screw 30, a sixth screw 50 and a guide member 60.
• the orthodontic device 70 of the third embodiment is the combination of the orthodontic devices 10 and 40 described above.
• the plate 12 has the same configuration as that of the plate 12 of the first embodiment.
• the plate 12 has a first hole 14 and a second hole 16, the first hole 14 being a slot.
• the plate 12 includes a retainer portion 18 extending from one end thereof at a generally right angle.
• the plate 12 has essentially the same configuration as that of the retainer portion described above in connection with the first and second embodiments. Therefore, the retainer portion 18 will be designated by the same reference numeral, with no description offered in that regard.
• the fourth screw 20 and the fifth screw 30 are the same as the first screws 20 and the second screws 30 of the orthodontic device 10 of the first embodiment. Therefore, the fourth screw 20 and the fifth screw 30 will be designated by the same reference numerals, with no description offered in that regard.
• the sixth screw 50 and the guide member 60 are the same as the third screws and the guide members of the orthodontic device 40 of the second embodiment. Therefore, the sixth screw 50 and the guide member 60 will be designated by the same reference numerals, with no description offered in that regard.
• FIG. 9 there is illustrated the orthodontic device 10 of the first embodiment installed in place.
• the first screws 20 are inserted into the first hole 14 and the second hole 16 of the plate 12.
• the second screws 30 are tightened to the first screws 20.
• the plate 12 carrying the first and second screws 20 and 30 is placed on the gingiva to correct the irregularities of teeth.
• the first screw 20 inserted into the second hole 16 is first implanted in the alveolar bone.
• the first screw 20 inserted into the first hole 14 is moved along the first hole 14 into a desired implanting position and then implanted in the alveolar bone.
• one end of the correction member 8 is fixed to the hook 18a of the retainer portion 18.
• the other end of the correction member 8 is fixed to the hook of the retainer portion of another orthodontic device installed in a spaced-apart relationship with the previously installed orthodontic device 10.
• FIG. 10 there is illustrated the orthodontic device 40 of the second embodiment installed in place.
• the guide members 60 are first fitted to the holes 44 of the plate 42 and united with the plate 42 as by laser welding. Then the third screws 50 are inserted into the through-holes 62 of the guide members 60. In this state, the third screws 50 are driven into the alveolar bone through the gingiva.
• the plate 42 is pressed toward the gingiva so that the guide members 60 can be implanted in the gingiva.
• one end of the correction member 8 is fixed to the hook 18a of the retainer portion 18. The other end of the correction member 8 is fixed to the hook of the retainer portion of another orthodontic device installed in a spaced-apart relationship with the previously installed orthodontic device 40.
• the orthodontic device 70 of the third embodiment is the combination of the orthodontic devices 10 and 40 of the first and second embodiments.
• the process of installing the orthodontic device 70 of the third embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 11.
• the guide member 60 is fitted to the second hole 16 of the plate 12 and united with the plate 12 as by laser welding.
• the sixth screw 50 is inserted into the through-hole 62 of the guide member 60.
• the fourth screw 20 is inserted into the first hole 14 of the plate 12, after which the fifth screw 30 is tightened to the fourth screw 20.
• the sixth screw 50 is implanted in the alveolar bone, in which process the sixth screw 50 presses the plate 12 to fix the position of the orthodontic device 70.
• the guide member 60 is cut into the gingiva when implanting the sixth screw 50. Thereafter, the fourth and fifth screws 20 and 30 are moved along the first hole 14 into a position where the orthodontic device 70 can be strongly fixed in place. In this position, the fourth and fifth screws 20 and 30 are implanted in the alveolar bone. Then, one end of the correction member 8 is fixed to the hook 18a of the retainer portion 18. The other end of the correction member 8 is fixed to the hook of the retainer portion of another orthodontic device installed in a spaced-apart relationship with the previously installed orthodontic device 70.
• Fig. 12 there is illustrated another method through which to install the present orthodontic device in place.
• the orthodontic devices are installed in pair according to the installation methods illustrated in Figs. 9 through 11, only one orthodontic device is installed in case of the installation method shown in Fig. 12.
• One end of the correction member is fixed to the hook 18a of the retainer portion 18 of the orthodontic device, while the other end is fixed to the alveolar bone by a screw 80.
• this installation method it is possible to generate a tensile force in the correction member and to correct the irregularities of teeth 1.
• the present orthodontic device includes a hook and therefore prevents a correction member from making frictional contact with the skin, such as the gingiva, within the oral cavity. This keeps the orthodontic device free from side effects, which may otherwise be caused after the operation. Furthermore, the present orthodontic device is structurally simple, easy-to-install and capable of shortening the operation time. In addition, since the screws are directly fixed to the alveolar bone and are less susceptible to detachment from the alveolar bone. This eliminates the need to perform a reoperation and eventually shortens the time required in correcting the irregularities of teeth.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (AREA)
• Dentistry (AREA)
• Epidemiology (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Dental Tools And Instruments Or Auxiliary Dental Instruments (AREA)

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Cited By (5)

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Citations (4)

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• 2008
  • 2008-01-10 KR KR1020080003095A patent/KR100931256B1/ko not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2008-12-29 WO PCT/KR2008/007748 patent/WO2009088165A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (4)

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