WO2012113804A1

WO2012113804A1 - Modular orthodontic bracket system

Info

Publication number: WO2012113804A1
Application number: PCT/EP2012/052957
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ertan MUDERRIS
Original assignee: Muderris Ertan
Priority date: 2011-02-22
Filing date: 2012-02-21
Publication date: 2012-08-30
Also published as: TR201101724A2

Abstract

This invention is related to generally orthodontic devices and methodology and relates to brackets which are developed for being used in orthodontic odontotherapy. This invention especially relates to "Modular Orthodontic Bracket System" which is made of particularly modular pieces, which allows for changing of the dimension, position, number and angle of the arch wire slot without separating auxiliary elements from bracket base, and thus which allows a clinician for forming force systems which is able to move root and body of the tooth in every direction from the beginning of the treatment.

Description

DESCRIPTION

MODULAR ORTHODONTIC BRACKET SYSTEM Technical Field

This invention is generally related to orthodontic devices and methodology, and relates to brackets which are developed for being used in orthodontic tooth treatment. This invention relates to "Modular Orthodontic Bracket System" which is made of particularly modular pieces, which allows for changing of the dimension, position, number and angle of the arch wire slot without separating auxiliary elements from bracket base, and thus which allows a clinician for forming force systems which is able to move root and body of the tooth in every direction from the beginning of the treatment. Prior Art

The orthodontics, which is a speciality of dentistry, is a science dealing with tooth, jaw and face complex in terms of normal structure and development, abnormalities and treatment of the abnormalities. The systems of exerting force on the tooth in the orthodontic treatments are divided as moveable and fixed orthodontic apparatus.

Orthodontic treatment methods were recorded in written documents firstly by Dr. Norman Kingsley in 1850 in the U.S.A., and in the following years, modern orthodontics was founded by Dr. Edward Angle.

Fixed apparatus, in use today, are mostly the types of Edgewise apparatus system. Being faithful to the basic principles generating force systems ensuring parallel movement of tooth to the greatest extent by means of engaging Edgewise apparatus, in use today, inside edged recess of the rounded or edged sectioned wires, different variations are created. Differently from the Edgewise system aiming parallel movement, the Begg system which depends on overthrowing teeth firstly and then correcting the overthrowing movement is in use today. In the fixed treatments, forming the major part of the treatment protocols used in the orthodontics, besides ensuring the valid occlusion by moving the teeth gradually by means of making periodic adjustments, ensuring function, phonation, and aesthetics are also aimed. Generally, in the fixed orthodontic treatment methods, with the help of brackets and buccal tubes adhered on the tooth, by means of transferring the force created by wire, spring and elastic elements in different shapes to the teeth and teeth roots, teeth are aligned in the mouth firmly.

Available arch wires have circular or square sections, and are made of various materials having different elasticity and plastic deformation values. While the arch wires were connected to the teeth via simple connections in early times, later said arch wires were fixed to the tooth with the aid of brackets and tubes brazed on the steel bands which were wrapped around the tooth and cemented. Then without needing the band, the brackets which were able to be directly connected to the tooth with chemical agents, were developed. At the end of the process, aesthetic brackets, which were porcelain plastic and glass like, colour of which are close to the colour of the tooth or transparent, were also started to be produced.

At the early times of the bracket and tube production, the slots were produced parallel to the plane adhered to the tooth. Towards the end of the treatment, in the stages in which the dimension of the used arch wire was close to the slot dimension, for positioning the tooth appropriately, 1^st order bend moving the crown of the tooth in the buccal and lingual direction on the wire; 2^nd order bend angularizing the crown of the teeth in mesial and distal direction; 3^rd order bend positioning the roots of the tooth in buccal and lingual direction were made. In the straight wire technique started to be used later; 1 ^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd order bent values, which were done on the wire, were loaded separately for each tooth on the brackets prior to the production. Therefore, at the end of the treatment, it was aimed that straight arch wire, which has the same dimension with the slot dimension and does not include bend, is passed through the slot having predetermined angle and positioning, and the teeth are aligned at desired way. Since there are different views for the average position and angle values needed to be gained at the end of the treatment, brackets are produced in different prescriptions. Bracket systems are produced according to the dimension of the slot in different sizes such as 0,018 inch, 0,020 inch, and 0,022 inch and according to the connection way of the wire to the bracket.

In classical metal brackets, stainless steel wire or elastic ligatures are used for keeping the arch wires in the bracket slot. Said wire or elastic ligatures are placed around the arch wires and over the tie-wings on the bracket. Self-ligating brackets were created for the first time by Stolzenberg in 1935. There are many self-ligating bracket types nowadays. Self-ligating brackets generally includes openable and closable covers or their own mechanisms holding the wire in the bracket, and the latest brackets have great advantage with their sound and easy application feature. For instance, the American (US) patent no US6071 118 is related to the self-ligating orthodontic bracket. In said bracket application, it is seen that the cover on the bracket is moved by sliding. The patent no US2007/0148610 is related to an orthodontic appliance having a latch with at least one clip that ensures retaining an arch wire in a slot. Said latch comprises a first section, a second section opposed to the first section and a third section interconnecting the first section and the second section. The European patent no EP1723927 A1 is related to ligatureless self-ligating orthodontic bracket system which is slidingly openable and closable and comprises a ligating slide member, at least one resilient retention mechanism, mounting base, etc. The American patent no US2009/0325120 A1 relates to bracket which comprises a bracket base configured so as to receive at least one arch wire therein, and a movable ligation cover on the bracket base between a position in which the slideable slot remains in open state the and a closed state. The American patent no US2005/0255422 relates to an orthodontic bracket, which comprises a mounting portion for the attachment the tooth of a patient, and a plurality of arms for receiving a rectangular arch wire in a bracket slot, and clips provided in the bracket structure. The clip is engegeable and disengegeable along the axis of the bracket slot and the arch wire. Since the self ligating brackets eliminate ligaturization with elastic or wire ligature, they simplify the clinical trial; thus it is not required to call for the patient often for changing the ligature. As a result of various designs of said brackets and not using the wire ligation, food accumulation decreases; and therefore, it allows the patient to clean the bracket easily.

Such brackets are seen to be more advantageous than the classical bracket method because of the following reasons; better mouth hygiene since ligaturization is not applied, lower risk of soft tissue injuries, shortening the time spent for a patient, enabling to giving appointments to patients in longer intervals, ligating the entire arch from the beginning, creating a low friction force, completing the treatment in a shorter time than classical bracket method.

In the state of art, slot dimensions of the brackets in use are configured as fixed. Mostly, since the force amount to be exerted on the tooth at the beginning of the treatment must be more than the least amount which will give movement to the tooth and must be less than the amount which will not allow hyalinization in the bone tissue around the root of the tooth and not allow resorption in the root of the tooth, rounded or edged sectioned arch wires having smaller dimensions than slot dimension are used. Wires having smaller dimension than the slot dimension are able to move the crown of the tooth in every direction and the root in mesial distal direction within a certain tolerance interval. In order to be effective for the wire in these directions in exactly desired amounts, wire section in use must be able to contact with slot walls in all directions.

Said situation causes later reaction during the movement of the root of the tooth in buccolingual direction. Naturally, rounded sectioned wires placed in the edged sectioned slots are not able to exert said torque force on the tooth. Edged sectioned wires smaller than the slot dimension are not able to either exert any torque force or exert force in low efficiency because of the rotation freedom. Since the edged wires, contacting with at least three slot walls, exert mostly high amount of force, said wires are able to cause especially delay in the movement because of the hyalinization of the root in the buccolingual direction, and shortening in the root because of the resorption. Another problem encountered in the bracket applications in the state of art, during or at the end of the orthodontic treatment is that correction of the teeth at undesired position or angle because of the positioning of the brackets and/or insufficient preproduction values loaded on the bracket. In order to solve the case, either bending on the wire or changing the position or the type of the bracket by removing from the tooth surface or from the dental implant used in the patient is necessarily done. Bending on the wire causes problems in terms of time and manpower since said bending on the wires to be used in the following stages of the treatment must be repeated in the same way. Removing the brackets is a practice which comprises high cost and time consuming processes such as cleaning of the adhesives on the bracket and the teeth; re-etching, washing and re-bonding of the tooth, and which may give damages to the tooth surface unless done carefully.

Moreover, apart from the wire used during the treatment, another auxiliary arch wire, and parts exerting force or in which fixing elements are fixed to the bracket are sometimes required. In this case, either brackets having said required 2^nd wire slot or sections should be engaged during the treatment by calculating from the beginning of the treatment, which occupy unnecessary place in the mouth while not being used, or changes should be done in the bracket when necessary. In order to solve above mentioned problems in the state of art, "Modular Orthodontic Bracket System" which comprises 5 basic parts suitable for being applied modularly; which ensures adjustment of the dimension, position, number, and angle of the bracket slot, and auxiliary elements which may be on the bracket without separating the bracket base from the tooth surface; which exerts force on the root of the tooth in all directions from the beginning of the treatment; and thus which ensures shortening of the treatment process and reducing undesired side effects is developed.

Description of the Drawings

Description of the drawings related to the invention is as follows: Figure 1 : a perspective view of the modular orthodontic bracket system according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2: an upper cross section of the modular orthodontic bracket system, to which an arch wire is connected, according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 3: exploded-view of all modular parts according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 4: a perspective view of the bracket base according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 5: a perspective view of the body according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 6: a perspective view of the body lock according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 7: a perspective view of the connector according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 8: a frontal view of the connector according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 9: a perspective view of the connector shell according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 10: a perspective view of two modular bracket systems which are adhered on the tooth and to which arch wire are connected, according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 11 : a perspective view of the bracket system designed with torque in a state that the body and the body lock parts are connected, and the connector and the connector shell parts are connected, according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 12: a bracket system with a vertical slot provided on the connector shell, according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 13: a bracket system with a horizontal slot provided on the connector shell, according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 14: a bracket system with a body comprising vertical slot, according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 15: perspective views of the hook grooved bracket base comprising two lock recessions of the bracket system which comprises slide connector, hook grooved body and body lock, hook, and slide connector parts, according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 16: the bracket system to which two arch wires are connected, and which comprises slide connector in connection with the base, according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 17: perspective views of the bracket base, and hook grooved body and body lock of the bracket system comprising slide connector, according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 18: perspective view of the bracket system comprising slide connector in connection with the body and arch wire in connection with said connector, according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 19: the bracket systems in which two different slot dimensions and two arch wires are used, according to an embodiment of the invention.

References

1. Bracket system

2. Slot

3. Arch wire

4. Tooth

5. Bracket base

6. Base outer surface

7. Base inner surface 8. Base wall

9. Lock recession

10. Base cavity

15. Body

16. Body base

17. Body inner surface

18. Body upper surface

19. Body lower surface

20. Body side surface

21. Clasp

22. Torque applied body

25. Body lock

26. Lock outer surface

27. Lock inner surface

28. Lock element

30. Hook grooved body lock

35. Connector

36. Connector outer surface

37. Connector inner surface

38. Connector upper surface

39. Clip

40. Clip-Connector connection portion

45. Connector shell

46. Shell outer surface

47. Shell inner surface

48. Projection element

49. Tie-wing

50. Clip recession

51. Shell arms

52. Connector shell comprising horizontal slot

53. Connector shell comprising vertical slot

54. Body comprising vertical slot 55. Vertical slot provided in the body

56. Vertical slot

57. Horizontal slot

60. Hook grooved bracket base

61. Hook grooved body and body lock

62. Hook groove

63. Hook grooved body and hook grooved body lock

65. Hook

66. Lower arms

67. Mid arms

68. Upper arms

69. Hook body

70. Slide connector comprising channel and secondary slot

71. Slide connector arms

72. Slide connector clip

73. Secondary horizontal slot

74. Secondary horizontal slot base

75. Channel

76. Channel claw

80. Slide connector

Detailed Description of the Invention

Present invention generally relates to "Modular Orthodontic Bracket System" developed for using in orthodontic treatment related to a science generally dealing with orthodontic devices and methods.

Present invention is an orthodontic bracket system (1) ensuring solutions to said problems in the state of art. Accordingly, an embodiment of the present invention comprises a bracket base (5) designed so as to be adhered directly to the tooth surface or to be brazed to the band wrapping around the tooth; a body (15) designed so as to seat precisely in a base cavity (10) configured squarely on the bracket base (5); a body lock (25) which is able to be placed on the body (15) and designed so as to be used functionally together with the body (15); a connector (35) which is able to be seated in a cavity between the upper and lower (18, 19) surfaces of the body (15), which is able to be locked on the body (15) via clip (39) provided on the upper surface (38) of the connector (35), which thus helps the formation of the slot (2) section of the bracket (1), and which is able to be positioned so as to ensure adjustment of slot dimension inside said body (15); a connector shell (45) which is able to receive the connector (35) thanks to the recessed structure and be used in connection with the connector (35).

Advantageously, parts of said bracket (1 ) are shaped modularly such that the bracket (1) parts seat on one another precisely.

Said modular bracket base (5) is configured such that square base inner surface (7) and body base (16) overlap with each other face to face. The body (15) is placed between the bracket base walls (8) such that its movement is prevented.

Preferably, said bracket (1) parts are designed such that the body lock (25) and body (15) parts are able to be a single part or adjusted separately.

Accordingly said connector (35) part is also designed so as to form at least three wall of the slot (2) in which said orthodontic four edged arch wire (3) is placed.

In said connector (35) structure, it is shaped so as to comprise a clip (39) which ensures the connector (35) to be locked in the body lock (25) and body (15) parts and which is provided in the middle portion of the connector (35).

Advantageously, said modular connector shell (45) is designed such that the outer surface (36) of the connector (35) part overlap with the connector shell inner surface (47) face to face and so as to be able to receive the connector (35) part.

Said bracket (1) parts are designed so as to enable the connector (35) and connector shell (45) parts to be a single part or adjusted separately. Preferably said bracket parts are shaped so as to allow adjustment of the force exerted on the root of the tooth without requiring the removal of the bracket base (5) from the tooth surface during the treatment.

It is possible to made one part or all of said bracket (1) parts from metal, ceramic, plastic and composite strengthened by fiber, and similar materials.

Drawings, described for the complete understanding of the invention in detail, show examples of the invention. However, said drawings do not limit the scope of the invention.

In the following detailed description, some details are given for precise understanding of the invention. Apart from that men skilled in the art understand that said invention is able to be applied without said details, the invention is not limited to the embodiments, figures of which are given, and different alternative embodiments of the invention can be seen. For other states, explanations are not made in detail.

Practices made for explanation of the present invention will be described in stages. However, in the description it is not stated that the practices are in order and should be followed.

Figure 1 comprises perspective view of the modular orthodontic bracket system (1 ), according to an embodiment of the invention. Said modular orthodontic bracket (1) comprises a bracket base (5) designed for being connected to the tooth surface; a bracket slot (2) being formed between the connector (35) and body (15) parts by the connection of them; connector shell (45) which receives the connector (35) and thus ensures the connection to the body (15) together with the connector (35).

As shown in figure 1 , by the connection of the modular parts to each other, a cavity extending along the horizontal axis in the middle portion of the bracket (1) is formed and said cavity is defined as slot (2) into which arch wire (3) is positioned. It is seen that the connector (35) part is seated precisely in the connector shell (45). It is possible to reach a clip (39), which ensures the connector (35) part to connect to the body (15) and to separate from the body (15), from a clip recession (50) between two tie-wings (49) provided in the upper section of the connector shell (45).

Figure 2 comprises upper cross section view of the modular orthodontic bracket system (1 ) to which arch wire (3) is connected, according to an embodiment of the invention. In the figure, the connector (35) disposed in the connector shell (45), the clip (39) which is positioned in the middle section of the connector (35) upper surface (38) and ensures locking with the body (15), clasps (21) which ensure placement of the connector (35) in the body (15) by clutching the clip (39) and are disposed in the inner section of the body upper surface (18) are seen. It is possible to separate the connector (35) and the body (15) parts from each other by ensuring disengagement of the clip (39) from the clasps (21) by means of compressing to the clip (39) from the clip recession (50) on the connector shell (45).

Figure 2 also shows a lock element (28) which ensures the connection of the body (15) and the bracket base (5) by being attached on the body (15) and ensures the disengagement from each other. It is possible to ensure disengagement of the bracket base (5) and the body (15) by means of compressing on the lock element (28) by reaching said lock element (28) from the lock recession (9) which is configured between the bracket base walls (8). In the figure, the bracket slot (2) which is formed along the horizontal axis as a result of the connection between the connector (35) and the body (15) is seen.

Figure 3 shows exploded view of all modular bracket parts according to said described bracket application. The figure shows the bracket base (5), the body (15), the body lock (25), the connector (35), and the connector shell (45). Demounted state of each part is shown, the parts are aligned so as to be applied to the tooth during the treatment, and also in the figure, lock members which are important for the assembly of the part to one another are seen.

Figure 4 shows the bracket base (5), one of the parts of the modular orthodontic bracket system. Said bracket base (5) ensures the connection of the modular bracket (1) to the tooth surface. The bracket base (5) is designed concave in order to be adapted to the convex structure of the tooth. A square base wall, which surrounds the bracket base (5) and rises upwards from the base inner surface (7) line, is provided. In the middle of an edge of the wall (8), a lock recession, which ensures the body lock (25) to engage to and disengage from the bracket base (5), is configured. Figure 5 shows a body part of a modular orthodontic bracket system (1). The body (15) connects to the bracket base (5) by coupling to the body lock (25). Said body (15) has a body base (16) having the same dimension with the inner surface (7) of the bracket base. Reciprocally positioned at the sides of lower and upper surfaces (18, 19), having cornered C shape, facing body inner surface (17), totally four clasps (21) by twos are positioned. It is ensured that the body (15) and the connector (35) are locked in each other by engaging clip (39) element of the connector (35) part to the cavity section being formed between said clasps (21).

Figure 6 shows body lock (25) part of said bracket system. The body lock (25) element is used together with the body (15) in said bracket system. The connection of the parts is ensured by means of seating the lock inner surface (27) on the body inner surface (17). The lock element (28), configured at the edge of the body lock (25), is designed for ensuring that the body (15) is coupled to the bracket base (5) by means of being placed in the lock recession (9) provided in the bracket base (5) after the body lock (25) is coupled to the body (15).

Figure 7 shows the connector (35), one of the parts of said bracket system (1). Locking of the connector (35) in the body (15) is ensured by means of engaging the clip (39) element, which are configured at the middle portion of the connector (35), to the body clasps (21 ). The cavity section, which is formed along the horizontal axis between the connector inner surface (37) and the lock outer surface (26) by locking of the body (15), the body lock (25), and the connector (35) parts to one another, is used as a slot (2) in which the arch wire is placed.

Figure 8 is the frontal view of the connector (35) part of the modular orthodontic bracket system (1). Figure 9 shows the connector shell (45), another part of the modular orthodontic bracket system (1). The connector shell (45) comprises shell arms (51) which ensure receiving of the connector (35) therein, and projection elements (48) which prevent the connector (35) from leaving the shell (45) as a result of ensuring the face to face contact of the connector outer surface (36) with the shell inner surface (47). The connector shell (45) usage is not compulsory for said bracket embodiments. Four shell arms (51) provided in the shell (45) structure firstly clutch the wire (3) during the connection of the arch wire (3) to the bracket (1); when the wire (3) is placed among the arms (51), easily locking of said parts in the body (15) is ensured by forming a complete part with the connector (35), the connector shell (45) and the arch wire (3).

Moreover, the projection elements (48), clearly seen in figure 9, are configured in the upper sections of the open ends of the shell arms (51). Four tie-wings (49) by twos, which ensure the connection of ligatures, are seen at the lower and upper sections of the shell outer surface (46). Among the tie-wings (49), the clip recession (50), which is designed for reaching to the clip (39) element, ensuring the separation of the connector (35) from the body (15), is provided.

Figure 10 shows two modular bracket system (1) which is adhered to the tooth (4) and to which the arch wire (3) is connected. It is seen that the brackets which are configured according to an embodiment of the modular orthodontic bracket system (1 ) are mounted on the labial surface of the upper front teeth and the arch wire is connected to them. The arch wire (3) used in the embodiment is edged sectioned and usages of the rounded sectioned arch wires are considered in the other embodiments of the invention.

Figure 1 1 shows a bracket system (1) in which the body (22) and the body lock (25) parts are connected, and the connector (35) and the connector shell (45) parts are connected, and which is designed so as to be with torque, according to another embodiment of the invention. The torque values of the bracket system to be applied on the tooth are able to be adjusted according the treatment. Figure 12 shows a bracket system in which a vertical slot (56) configured on the connector shell (53) is provided according to another embodiment of the invention. The connector shell

(53) , one of the modular parts comprised by the invention, is designed so as to comprise a slot (56) configured vertical under the lower section of the clip recession (50). Thanks to said vertical slot (56), the bracket system (1) comprises two slots in the structure. Thus, it allows for doing a second arch wire (3) application on the bracket without requiring the separation of bracket parts from one another for a change, to be necessary during the treatment.

Figure 13 shows a bracket system comprising a horizontal slot (57) configured on a connector shell (52), according to another embodiment of the invention. The embodiment of the connector shell (52), comprising the horizontal slot (57) configured so as to be parallel with the slot (2) in the lower section of the connector shell (52), is an embodiment to be used within the bracket system (1). The connector shell (52) comprising said horizontal slot (57) is able to be produced so as to be one with the horizontal slot (57) positioned at the lower section of the shell.

Figure 14 shows a bracket system (1) comprising a vertical slot (54) in the body, according to another embodiment of the invention. In said embodiment of the bracket system, the body

(54) is provided so as to comprise a vertical slot (55). The vertical slot (55) is vertically positioned in the slot (2) which is formed as a result of the connection of the connector (35) and the body (54) to the middle section of the body (54). The vertical slot (55) is provided in the middle of the body (54), and the bracket base (5) of the modular parts is designed so as to comprise more than one recession thereon. Thanks to said embodiment of the invention, the bracket system (1) is able to be used with two arch wires (3), and by means of connecting the second arch wire (3) to the vertical slot

(55) provided on the body without the requirement of changing the modular parts in the desired stage of the treatment, the shortening of the treatment process is ensured. Figure 15 shows a hook grooved bracket base (60), a hook grooved body and body lock (61), a hook (65), and a slide connector (80) parts in the bracket system comprising a slide connector (80), according to another alternative embodiment of the invention. Said bracket parts are used in the slide connector (80) in connection with the base embodiments of an alternative embodiment of the invention. In the figure, in the hook grooved bracket base (60) structure, apart from a lock recession (9), a hook groove (62) designed for making the hook connection is seen.

Said hook groove (62) ensures the placement of the hook (65) part comprising six arms, which are upper arms (68), mid arms (67), and lower arms (66), into the hook grooved bracket base (60). Said hook (65) part comprises six arms by twos intermittently in the lower, mid and upper sections of the hook body (69). Said arms and distances between the arms ensure interlocking of the bracket parts to one another. The lower arms (66) of the hook (65) part is engaged to the inner section, the portion between the lower arms (66) and the mid arms (67) is placed in the hook groove (62) section of the base, thus the connection of said two parts with each other is ensured.

The hook grooved body and body lock (61) part of the parts shown in the figure is designed for ensuring the usage of hook grooved body and body lock (61) in the embodiment of the slide connector (80) in the presence of the hook (65) part engaged to the hook grooved bracket base (60) in the embodiment of the slide connector (80).

The hook grooved body and body lock (61) comprises a hook groove (62) in the body base (16) in its structure. The hook groove (62) receives the lower hook arms (66) inside, remaining in the hook grooved bracket base (60).

The remaining portions of the hook grooved body and body lock (61) part are the same as the body (15) portions in the sections of the invention described in detail.

Figure 15 shows also the slide connector section (80). The slide connector (80) is engaged on the hook (65) so as to comprise the upper hook arms (68). With the help of upper arms (68), a second slot (2) is defined in the slide connector (80) structure, thus using two arch wires (3) within a bracket system is able to be ensured.

Two slide connector arms (71) designed for clutching the slide connector (80) and one slide connector clip (72) inside said arms (72) are provided. Slide connector clips (72) ensure locking of the hook (65) in the slide connector (70).

Figure 16 shows a bracket system (1) which comprises a slide connector (80) in connection with the base and to which two arch wires (3) are connected, according to an alternative embodiment of the invention.

In the bracket system (1), the connection of the hook grooved bracket base (60) and the hook grooved body and body lock (61) is made; for the slot (2) portion inside the bracket, the connector (35) and the connector shell (45) are locked in the hook grooved body and body lock (61).

By means of using the hook groove (62) provided in the structure of the hook grooved body and body lock (61) and the hook groove (62) in the hook grooved bracket base (60), the connection of the hook (65) part to the base (60) and to the body (61) is ensured.

Thanks to the slide connector (80) whose connection with the hook (65) is ensured by clutching the upper hook arms (68), the connection of the second arch wire (3) to the bracket system is shown in the figure. Figure 17 shows perspective views of the bracket base (5), the hook grooved body and hook grooved body lock (63), the hook (65) and the slide connector (70) of the bracket system (1) comprising the slide connector (80) in connection with the body according to an alternative embodiment of the invention. Among the parts to be used in this embodiment, the hook (65) is the same of the part shown in the figure 16, and the bracket base (5) is the same of the part shown in the figure 4. In the figure, differently from the other embodiments of the invention, a hook grooved body and a hook grooved body lock (63) are used. In the structure of the hook grooved body and the hook grooved body lock (63), the hook groove is provided in the body inner surface (17). The hook groove (62) is configured so as to receive the hook lower arms (66), and thus locking of the hook grooved body and the hook grooved body lock (63) and the hook (65) parts to each other is ensured.

The slide connector comprising channel and secondary slot (70) shown in the figure comprises a secondary horizontal slot (73), and two tie-wings (49) at the lower and upper sections of the secondary horizontal slot (73); thanks to the tie-wings (49), using ligature in the slide connector (70) application is possible.

Thanks to the channel claws (76) configured at the end and inner sections of the channel (75), forming of the channel, in which the arch wire (3) is able to pass, is ensured.

Figure 18 shows a perspective view of a bracket system (1) comprising a slide connector (70) in connection with the body and an arch wire (3) connected to the connector (70), according to an embodiment of the invention. Thanks to modular parts used with said embodiment, forming the second slot (2) in the treatment allows for using a second arch wire (3). In the figure, a connection between the bracket base (5) and the hook grooved body and the hook grooved body lock is made, then the hook lower arms (66) is placed in the hook groove (62) in the structure of the hook grooved body and the hook grooved body lock (63), and the hook grooved body lock (30) part adapted into the hook grooved body and the hook grooved body lock (63) is locked in the body (63). After the connection of said parts, the connection of the hook grooved body and the hook grooved body lock (63), and the connector (35) and the connector shell (45) is made. Then, by the clutching of the slide connector arms (71) to the upper hook arms (68), the connection of the slide connector, comprising the channel and the secondary slot, to the hook part is made; and thanks to the slide connector clips (72) provided on the slide connector arms (71), locking of the hook (65) in the slide connector (70) comprising the channel and the secondary slot is ensured. The figure shows a second slot (2) defined in a portion between upper hook arms (68) and a channel back wall (74). In the slide connector (70) comprising the channel and the secondary slot, when compressed on the tie-wings (49) configured in the lower and upper section of the channel (73), the arch wire (3) engaged to the slot (2) is able to be disengaged.

Figure 19 shows two different slot dimensions, and bracket systems in which two arch wires are used. The figure shows the usability of sectioned arch wires (3) having two different dimension in the same bracket system (1). Within the scope of the invention, described above in detail, the connector (35) and the connector shell (45) parts are able to be made so as to change the dimensions of the slot (2), at least three walls of which are defined by the connector (35) and the connector shell (45).

As a result of the contact of the edged sectioned arch wires (3), used in said embodiment, with all of the slot (2) walls, desired force is able to be exerted on the root of the tooth, thus exerting less or more force than desired is able to be prevented. Thus ensures the prevention of problems such as not moving of the root because of exerting low force, or delay in the movement because of the hyalinization of the root in buccolingual direction as a result of exerting high force, or shortening in the root because of the resorption.

Moreover, the production and the usage of the bracket base (5) and the body (15), which are among the parts of said bracket system, in one single part must be considered in the context of the invention. When the bracket base, shown in figures, is connected to the labial surface of the tooth, it is preferred that the outer surface (6) of the base (5) is positioned so as to be in parallel position with the arch wire (3) which is positioned parallel to the occlusal plane.

In said bracket system, the production of the lock element (25), which ensures the connection of the body (15) and the bracket base (5) with each other, in assembly with the body (15) or the bracket base (5) parts, is within the alternative embodiment of the production. In this way, the body (15) and the body lock (25) parts placed on the body, or the base lock and the bracket base (5) parts, which are able to be produced in assembly with the bracket base, are able to be made in a complete part as well as being able to make the parts separately and of different materials. In the modular orthodontic bracket system of the invention, all the features and variations of the bracket system (1) described in the detailed description of the invention, are able to be adapted to the bracket systems which are applied by means of the slide connector (80) and the slide connector (70) comprising the channel and the secondary slot. Another advantage of the hook usage in said modular bracket system is the usability of the bracket systems comprising hook by engaging attachments such as springs and elastics.

In said bracket system, it is possible to define said bracket system by using only the bracket base and body parts; and the bracket system of the invention is able to be applied as a conventional or a self ligating system.

The body (15) and the base (5) parts, whose connection is ensured by the lock element (25) in the bracket system of the invention, are able to be alternatively configured so as to define slot within the self-ligating bracket system of the state of art, and without requiring the connector (35) and the connector shell (45) mentioned in the detailed description of the invention.

The connector (35) and the connector shell (45) parts in the bracket system of the invention are able to be made in separate parts and of different materials as well as being made in a complete part.

In said bracket system, the clip (39), ensuring the attachment of the connector (35) and the connector shell (45) parts to the body (15) part, is able to be made so as to be in connection with the connector (35), the connector shell (45), or the body (15) parts.

In said bracket system, among the parts described in the invention, the portion of the body (15) facing the arch wire (3), for the cases used single or in connection with the body lock (25), is able to be produced in all positions, in all angles and in all dimensions. It is possible to configure the portions of the connector (35) and the connector shell (45) parts facing the arch wire (3) in all positions, in all angles and in all dimensions in a single state or in a state of comprising the lock elements.

Since the parts are able to be produced in all positions and in all angles, it is ensured that the desired movement is given to the root and body of the tooth without removing the bracket base (5) from the surface of the tooth and requiring any adjustment on the arch wire (3). Moreover, in the bracket system of the invention, the sectional geometry of the slot (2); defined by the usage of the connector (35), the body (15) or both of them; can be rectangular, polygonal, and ellipsoid apart from tetragon.

The principles, preferred embodiment, and operation way of the present invention are described by above description. Besides, it should not be interpreted as the subject matter of the invention of "Modular Orthodontic Bracket System", the protection of which is aimed, comprises only the modular parts such as the bracket base (5), the body (15), the body lock (25), the connector (35), and the connector shell (45); the systems, which comprise modular parts operating according to the principles of the invention in different numbers and positions, should be considered within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An orthodontic bracket system (1), which is designed for being used in orthodontic treatments, characterized by;

- being able to be produced such that materials in use are able to be changed as well as dimension of a slot, in which arch wire is placed, a slot position, a slot angle, slot number, and/or an auxiliary element connection units are able to be changed.

2. A bracket system (1) according to claim 1 characterized by comprising;

a bracket base (5, 60) which is able to be fixed to a tooth (4);

a body (15, 54, 63) which is in connection to said bracket base (5, 60); a connector (35) which forms a slot (2) which is able to be seated in a cavity between a body upper surface (18) and a body lower surface (19) of the body (15, 54, 63), and in which an arch wire (3) is placed.

3. A bracket system (1 ) according to claim 2 characterized by comprising a connector shell (45, 52, 53) on said connector (35).

4. A bracket system (1 ) according to claim 3 characterized in that said connector shell (45, 52, 53) comprises shell arms (51) and projection elements (48) together which said shell (45, 52, 53) is connected to the connector (35),.

5. A bracket system (1 ) according to claim 3 characterized in that said connector shell (45, 52, 53) and the connector (35) are in uniform structure.

6. A bracket system (1) according to claim 2 characterized in that said body (15, 54, 63) comprises a body lock (25) for being engaged to the bracket base (5, 60).

7. A bracket system (1) according to claim 6 characterized in that said body lock (25) comprises at least one lock element (28) which is able to be placed in at least one lock recession (9) provided in the bracket base (5, 60).

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8. A bracket system (1) according to claim 6 or 7 characterized in that the body lock (25) is an external element engaged to the bracket base (5, 60) over the body (15, 54, 63).

9. A bracket system (1) according to claim 6 or 7 characterized in that the body lock (25) and the body (15, 54, 63) are in uniform structure.

10. A bracket system (1) according to claim 2 characterized by comprising a clip (39) which is located in said connector (35), and ensures the engagement of the connector

(35) to the body (15, 54, 63) and disengagement from the body (15, 54, 63).

11. A bracket system (1) according to claim 2 characterized by comprising clasps (21) which ensure the placing of the connector (35) inside the body (15, 54, 63) by clutching the clip (39), and provided in the inner section of a body upper surface (18) of the body (1).

12. A bracket system (1 ) according to claim 2 characterized in that said slot (2) is in the structure compatible for placing a four edged arch wire (3).

13. A bracket system (1 ) according to claim 12 characterized in that the connector (35) is in a structure of defining at least three walls of the slot (2) in which said four edged arch wire (3) is placed.

14. A bracket system (1) according to claim 13 characterized in that the dimensions of the slot (2) is changeable by changing the dimensions of said walls.

15. A bracket system (1) according to claim 13 characterized in that force exerted on the root of the tooth is adaptable by means of ensuring the contact of said arch wire (3) to said walls.

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16. A bracket system (1 ) according to claim 2 characterized in that the bracket base (5, 60) is in such a structure that is able to be adhered directly to the surface of said tooth (4).

17. A bracket system (1 ) according to claim 2 characterized in that the bracket base (5,

60) is in a structure which is able to be brazed to a band wrapping around said tooth.

18. A bracket system (1) according to claim 2 characterized in that said shell (45, 52, 53) comprises four tie-wings (49) by twos, which ensure the connection of ligatures at the lower and upper sections of the shell outer surface (46).

19. A bracket system (1 ) according to claim 18 characterized by comprising a clip recession (50) which allows for reaching to a clip (39), which is located among the tie- wings (49), and which is provided in the connector (35).

20. A bracket system (1) according to claims 2 to 19 characterized in that the bracket system (1) is in a structure that is designed with torque.

21. A bracket system (1) according to claim 20 characterized in that the torque value which is exerted by the bracket system (1) to the tooth (4) is able to be adjusted.

22. A bracket system (1) according to claim 3 characterized in that said shell (52) comprises a vertical slot (56), the axis of which is perpendicular to the axis of said slot (2).

23. A bracket system (1) according to claim 3 characterized in that said shell (52) comprises a horizontal slot (57), the axis of which is parallel to the axis of said slot (2).

24. A bracket system (1 ) according to claim 2 characterized in that the body (54) comprises a vertical slot (55), the axis of which is perpendicular to the axis of said slot (2).

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25. A bracket system (1) according to claim 2 characterized by comprising at least one hook (65) which is connected to the bracket base (60) from one side, and which is connected to a slide connector (80) from another side.

26. A bracket system (1) according to claim 25 characterized in that said hook comprises a hook body (69), and upper arms (68), mid arms (67) and lower arms (66) extending from said hook body (69).

27. A bracket system (1) according to claim 25 characterized in that said bracket base (60) comprises a hook groove (62) for placing the hook (65) in the bracket base (60).

28. A bracket system (1) according to claim 25 characterized by comprising connector arms (71) located in the slide connector (80) and a connector clip (72) located at inner sections of each one of said arms, in order to connect said slide connector (80) to the hook (65).

29. A bracket system (1) according to claim 25 characterized in that said slide connector (80) is in a structure which is suitable for the connection of another arch wire (3).

30. A bracket system (1) according to claim 25 to 29 characterized in that said slide connector (80) is in a structure which is able to disengage from the bracket system (80).

31. A bracket system (1) according to claim 2 characterized by comprising at least one hook (65) which is connected to the body (63) from one side and which is connected to a slide connector (70) from another side.

32. A bracket system (1) according to claim 31 characterized in that said hook (65) comprises a hook body (69), and upper arms (68), mid arms (67) and lower arms (66) extending from said hook body (69).

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33. A bracket system (1) according to claim 31 characterized in that said body (63) comprises a hook groove (62) for placing the hook (65) in the body (63).

34. A bracket system (1) according to claim 31 characterized by comprising connector arms (71) located in the slide connector (70) and a connector clip (72) located at inner sections of each one of said arms, in order to connect said slide connector (70) to the hook (65).

35. A bracket system (1) according to claim 31 characterized in that said slide connector (70) comprises a channel (75) for the connection of another arch wire (3).

36. A bracket system (1) according to claim 31 characterized in that said slide connector (70) comprises a secondary horizontal slot (73) which is suitable for the multi-use.

37. A bracket system (1) according to claim 36 characterized by comprising two tie- wings (49) which ensures the ligature usage of the slide connector (70) and located in the upper and lower sections of said secondary horizontal slot (73).

38. A bracket system (1) according to claim 31 to 37 characterized in that said slide connector (70) is in a structure which is able to disengage from the bracket system

(1 ).

39. A bracket system (1 ) according to claim 2 characterized in that the bracket base (5, 60) and the body (15, 54, 63) are in a uniform structure.

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