초록 ▼

Micro-regional force application improves the control of the orthodontic movement of teeth in all six degrees of freedom. Micro regional force application utilizes an elastic repositioning appliance, a tooth positioner, a polymeric shell, or preprogrammed series of polymeric shells. The key componen

Micro-regional force application improves the control of the orthodontic movement of teeth in all six degrees of freedom. Micro regional force application utilizes an elastic repositioning appliance, a tooth positioner, a polymeric shell, or preprogrammed series of polymeric shells. The key components of the invention are the envelope of freedom, the force applicators, force couplers, counterpart coupling, vector modifiers, seating guides, decouplers, and forced balance points. Further, computerized finite element analysis determines the center of resistance and the center of rotation for each tooth to be moved. The present invention gently rotates and translates one or more teeth to a desired straight position within a treatment plan.

대표청구항 ▼

I claim: 1. An orthodontic appliance for translating and rotating at least one tooth having a root within a gum and a gum line separating the root from the visible portion of a tooth, comprising; at least one shell, fitting over at least one tooth on at least two sides above the gum line; said shel

I claim: 1. An orthodontic appliance for translating and rotating at least one tooth having a root within a gum and a gum line separating the root from the visible portion of a tooth, comprising; at least one shell, fitting over at least one tooth on at least two sides above the gum line; said shell having at least two of said applicators located integrally upon the interior of said shell and contacting the same side of the perimeter of the tooth and at least two of said couplers located integrally upon the interior of said shell opposite said applicator and contacting the opposite side of the perimeter of the tooth; each of said applicators protruding generally parallel to the gum line inwards from said shell and adapting to contact the tooth at a point of minimum surface area, each of said applicators distending said shell away from the tooth leaving a gap between the tooth and said shell, said gap extending completely around the tooth; each of said couplers protruding generally parallel to the gum line inwards from said shell in opposition to said applicator and adapting to contact the tooth at a point of minimum surface area, each of said couplers producing a force and moment to cooperate with movement of the tooth induced by said applicators; and, one of said applicators and one of said couplers locating opposite said applicator and rotating at least one tooth about any spatial axis for a limited amount of rotation with a desired moment; thus at least one tooth meets a goal of an orthodontic plan. 2. The orthodontic appliance of claim 1 further comprising: one of said applicators and one of said couplers being mutually parallel and spaced apart upon the perimeter of the tooth and locating opposite said applicator thereby rotating at least one tooth without translation. 3. The orthodontic appliance of claim 1 further comprising: at least one decoupler, locating proximate the gum line and opposite said applicator on the same side of said appliance as said at least one coupler, said decoupler adapting to contact a tooth at a point of minimum surface area and limiting rotation of at least one tooth a certain amount once the tooth reaches an orthodontic goal. 4. The orthodontic appliance of claim 1 further comprising: said shell having a lingual surface and an opposite buccal surface at least two of said applicators being mutually parallel upon the perimeter of the tooth and locating diagonally upon said lingual surface and said buccal surface thereby rotating the at least one tooth axially. 5. The orthodontic appliance of claim 4, further comprising: said applicators locating mesial distally opposite an intended direction of movement plane buccal and lingually; and, said couplers locating mesial distally to receive said tooth during movement thereof buccal and lingually thus producing a planned translation and controlled rotation of said tooth. 6. The orthodontic appliance of claim 4 further comprising: at least one modifier adapting to bond to the at least one tooth, said modifier having a planar shape with a flat edge perpendicular to one of said applicators and to one of said couplers, one of said applicators and one of said couplers pressing upon said modifier and rotating the at least one tooth incrementally either about the tooth's longitudinal axis or about an axis perpendicular to the jawbone. 7. The orthodontic appliance of claim 6 further comprising: a plurality of said modifiers adapting to bond to the tooth inducing a progressive rotation of the tooth by a series of said appliances. 8. An orthodontic appliance for translating and rotating at least one tooth having a root within a gum and a gum line separating the root from the visible portion of a tooth, comprising; at least one shell, fitting over at least one tooth on at least two sides above the gum line; said shell having at least two applicators located integrally upon the interior of said shell, each of said applicators mutually spaced apart upon the perimeter of the tooth and contacting the same side of the tooth and at least two couplers located integrally upon the interior of said shell opposite said applicator, each of said couplers mutually spaced apart upon the perimeter of the tooth and contacting the opposite side of the tooth; each of said applicators protruding generally parallel to the gum line inwards from said shell and adapting to contact the tooth at a point of minimum surface area, each of said applicators distending said shell away from the tooth leaving a gap between the tooth and said shell, said gap extending completely around the tooth; each of said couplers protruding generally parallel to the gum line inwards from said shell in opposition to said applicator and adapting to contact the tooth at a point of minimum surface area, each of said couplers producing a force and moment to cooperate with movement of the tooth induced by one of said applicators; and, each of said applicators and each of said couplers being mutually parallel and spaced apart upon the perimeter of the tooth and one of said couplers locating opposite one of said applicators thereby rotating at least one tooth without translation; thus at least one tooth meets a goal of an orthodontic plan. 9. An orthodontic appliance for translating and rotating at least one tooth having a root within a gum and a gum line separating the root from the visible portion of a tooth, comprising; at least one shell, fitting over at least one tooth on at least two sides above the gum line; said shell having at least two applicators located integrally upon the interior of said shell, each of said applicators mutually spaced apart upon the perimeter of the tooth and contacting the same side of the tooth, at least two couplers located integrally upon the interior of said shell opposite said applicator, each of said couplers mutually spaced apart upon the perimeter of the tooth and contacting the opposite side of the tooth, and at least two decouplers; each of said applicators protruding generally parallel to the gum line inwards from said shell and adapting to contact the tooth at a point of minimum surface area, said applicator distending said shell away from the tooth leaving a gap between the tooth and said shell, said gap extending completely around the tooth; each of said couplers protruding generally parallel to the gum line inwards from said shell in opposition to said applicator and adapting to contact the tooth at a point of minimum surface area, said coupler producing a force and moment to cooperate with movement of the tooth induced by said applicator; and, at least one decoupler locating proximate the gum line and opposite one of said applicators on the same side of said appliance as one of said couplers, each of said at least one decoupler adapting to contact a tooth at a point of minimum surface area and limiting rotation of at least one tooth a certain amount; thus at least one tooth meets a goal of an orthodontic plan.