초록 ▼

A method and apparatus is provided for precisely positioning and bonding orthodontic appliances such as brackets and buccal tubes to a patient's teeth. The method and apparatus includes the use of a transfer tray and arms that are connected to the transfer tray. Orthodontic appliances are releasably

A method and apparatus is provided for precisely positioning and bonding orthodontic appliances such as brackets and buccal tubes to a patient's teeth. The method and apparatus includes the use of a transfer tray and arms that are connected to the transfer tray. Orthodontic appliances are releasably connected to the arms and detached from the arms once the adhesive used for bonding the appliances to the tooth surfaces has sufficiently hardened. In certain embodiments, the transfer tray has a shape that helps hold the tray immobile relative to the patient's teeth also facilitates clean-up of any adhesive extruded from the base of the appliances during bonding. In other embodiments, fixture components are connected to the tray and include analogs for each orthodontic appliance. In certain embodiments, the tray is made by placing matrix material over arms for supporting orthodontic appliances or appliance analogs.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method of bonding an orthodontic appliance to a tooth comprising the steps of:creating a replica of a patient's tooth structure;releasably connecting at least one fixture component to the replica, wherein each fixture component includes an orthodontic appliance analog a

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method of bonding an orthodontic appliance to a tooth comprising the steps of:creating a replica of a patient's tooth structure;releasably connecting at least one fixture component to the replica, wherein each fixture component includes an orthodontic appliance analog and an arm connected to the appliance analog, and wherein each appliance analog is positioned on the replica at a location corresponding to a location on the patient's tooth structure where an orthodontic appliance is to be received;making a transfer tray by placing matrix material over at least a portion of the replica;detaching the transfer tray from the replica;replacing each appliance analog with an orthodontic appliance;applying an orthodontic adhesive on at least one of the patient's tooth structure and each orthodontic appliance;placing the transfer tray over the tooth structure; andmoving each arm relative to the transfer tray in order to bring each orthodontic appliance into contact with the patient's tooth structure.