초록 ▼

Coordinated metal and ceramic orthodontic bracket systems (100) allow a practitioner to insert one or more ceramic brackets (102, 104, 106, 108) into a metal bracket system (1001), replacing selected metal brackets (102′, 1041, 106′, 108′) with ceramic brackets (102, 104, 106, 108), and vice-versa.

Coordinated metal and ceramic orthodontic bracket systems (100) allow a practitioner to insert one or more ceramic brackets (102, 104, 106, 108) into a metal bracket system (1001), replacing selected metal brackets (102′, 1041, 106′, 108′) with ceramic brackets (102, 104, 106, 108), and vice-versa. Thus, both a ceramic bracket system (100) and a metal bracket system (1001) are provided, in which corresponding brackets of each system include substantially identical “in-out” slot floor cross-sectional thicknesses so that corresponding brackets are interchangeable with each other, without any need for compensating bends or later treatment to correct unintended buccal-lingual tooth movement.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A coordinated metal and ceramic orthodontic bracket system configured for interchangeable placement of individual orthodontic brackets into a bracket system for placement on a single dental arch, comprising: a ceramic orthodontic bracket system comprising a plurality of orthodontic bracket bodies

1. A coordinated metal and ceramic orthodontic bracket system configured for interchangeable placement of individual orthodontic brackets into a bracket system for placement on a single dental arch, comprising: a ceramic orthodontic bracket system comprising a plurality of orthodontic bracket bodies formed of ceramic, each ceramic orthodontic bracket being configured for placement on a selected tooth of a dental arch, each ceramic orthodontic bracket including: a ceramic bracket bonding pad;a ceramic bracket body fixedly attached to and extending labially away from the bonding pad; andan arch wire slot formed within the ceramic bracket body;wherein the ceramic orthodontic bracket has a buccal-lingual slot floor cross-sectional thickness defined from a tooth attachment surface of the ceramic bracket bonding pad to a lingual floor of the arch wire slot; anda metal orthodontic bracket system comprising a plurality of orthodontic brackets formed of metal, each metal orthodontic bracket being configured for placement on a selected tooth of the dental arch, each metal orthodontic bracket including: a metal bracket bonding pad;a metal bracket body fixedly attached to and extending labially from the metal bracket bonding pad; andan arch wire slot formed within the metal bracket body;wherein a buccal-lingual slot floor cross-sectional thickness of each metal orthodontic bracket defined from a tooth attachment surface of the metal bracket bonding pad to a lingual floor of the arch wire slot is substantially equal to the buccal-lingual slot floor cross-sectional thickness of a corresponding ceramic orthodontic bracket configured for placement on a same tooth as the corresponding metal orthodontic bracket so that an entire ceramic orthodontic bracket is interchangeable with an entire corresponding metal orthodontic bracket. 2. A coordinated metal and ceramic orthodontic bracket system as recited in claim 1, wherein the ceramic orthodontic bracket system includes ceramic orthodontic brackets configured for placement on the incisors and canines. 3. A coordinated metal and ceramic orthodontic bracket system as recited in claim 1, wherein the metal bracket system includes metal orthodontic brackets configured for placement on the first and second bicuspids. 4. A coordinated metal and ceramic orthodontic bracket system as recited in claim 1, wherein the ceramic orthodontic brackets are machined. 5. A coordinated metal and ceramic orthodontic bracket system as recited in claim 4, wherein the ceramic orthodontic brackets comprise a material selected from the group consisting of polycrystalline alumina, monocrystalline alumina, and zirconia. 6. A coordinated metal and ceramic orthodontic bracket system as recited in claim 4, wherein the ceramic orthodontic brackets comprise translucent or transparent polycrystalline alumina. 7. A coordinated metal and ceramic orthodontic bracket system as recited in claim 1, wherein the metal orthodontic brackets are machined. 8. A coordinated metal and ceramic orthodontic bracket system as recited in claim 4, wherein the metal orthodontic brackets comprise a material selected from the group consisting of 17-4 stainless steel and 17-7 class stainless steel. 9. A coordinated metal and ceramic orthodontic bracket system as recited in claim 1, wherein the metal orthodontic bracket system and ceramic orthodontic bracket system include corresponding orthodontic brackets configured for placement on an upper central incisor, the buccal-lingual slot floor cross-sectional thickness of both corresponding orthodontic brackets being about 1.041 mm ±10 percent. 10. A coordinated metal and ceramic orthodontic bracket system as recited in claim 1, wherein the metal orthodontic bracket system and ceramic orthodontic bracket system include corresponding orthodontic brackets configured for placement on an upper lateral incisor, the buccal-lingual slot floor cross-sectional thickness of both corresponding orthodontic brackets being about 1.219 mm ±10 percent. 11. A coordinated metal and ceramic orthodontic bracket system as recited in claim 1, wherein the metal orthodontic bracket system and ceramic orthodontic bracket system include corresponding orthodontic brackets configured for placement on an upper canine, the buccal-lingual slot floor cross-sectional thickness of both corresponding orthodontic brackets being about 0.533 mm ±10 percent. 12. A coordinated metal and ceramic orthodontic bracket system as recited in claim 1, wherein the metal orthodontic bracket system and ceramic orthodontic bracket system include corresponding orthodontic brackets configured for placement on an upper first bicuspid, the buccal-lingual slot floor cross-sectional thickness of both corresponding orthodontic brackets being about 0.737 mm ±10 percent. 13. A coordinated metal and ceramic orthodontic bracket system as recited in claim 1, wherein the metal orthodontic bracket system and ceramic orthodontic bracket system include corresponding orthodontic brackets configured for placement on an upper second bicuspid, the buccal-lingual slot floor cross-sectional thickness of both corresponding orthodontic brackets being about 0.737 mm ±10 percent. 14. A coordinated metal and ceramic orthodontic bracket system as recited in claim 1, wherein the metal orthodontic bracket system and ceramic orthodontic bracket system include corresponding orthodontic brackets configured for placement on a lower incisor, the buccal-lingual slot floor cross-sectional thickness of both corresponding orthodontic brackets being about 1.524 mm ±10 percent. 15. A coordinated metal and ceramic orthodontic bracket system as recited in claim 1, wherein the metal orthodontic bracket system and ceramic orthodontic bracket system include corresponding orthodontic brackets configured for placement on a lower canine, the buccal-lingual slot floor cross-sectional thickness of both corresponding orthodontic brackets being about 0.508 mm ±10 percent. 16. A coordinated metal and ceramic orthodontic bracket system as recited in claim 1, wherein the metal orthodontic bracket system and ceramic orthodontic bracket system include corresponding orthodontic brackets configured for placement on a lower first bicuspid, the buccal-lingual slot floor cross-sectional thickness of both corresponding orthodontic brackets being about 0.762 mm ±10 percent. 17. A coordinated metal and ceramic orthodontic bracket system as recited in claim 1, wherein the metal orthodontic bracket system and ceramic orthodontic bracket system include corresponding orthodontic brackets configured for placement on a lower second bicuspid, the buccal-lingual slot floor cross-sectional thickness of both corresponding orthodontic brackets being about 0.864 mm ±10 percent. 18. A coordinated metal and ceramic orthodontic bracket system configured for interchangeable placement of individual orthodontic brackets into a bracket system for placement on a single dental arch, comprising: a ceramic orthodontic bracket system comprising a plurality of orthodontic brackets formed of ceramic, each ceramic orthodontic bracket being configured for placement on a selected tooth of a dental arch, including ceramic orthodontic brackets configured for placement on the incisors and canines, each ceramic orthodontic bracket including: a ceramic bracket bonding pad;a ceramic bracket body fixedly attached to and extending labially away from the bonding pad; andan arch wire slot formed within the ceramic bracket body;wherein the ceramic orthodontic bracket has a buccal-lingual slot floor cross-sectional thickness defined from a tooth attachment surface of the ceramic orthodontic bracket bonding pad to a lingual floor of the arch wire slot; anda metal orthodontic bracket system comprising a plurality of orthodontic brackets formed of metal, including metal orthodontic brackets configured for placement on the first and second bicuspids, each metal orthodontic bracket being configured for placement on a selected tooth of the dental arch, each metal orthodontic bracket including: a metal bracket bonding pad;a metal bracket body fixedly attached to and extending labially from the metal bracket bonding pad; andan arch wire slot formed within the metal bracket body;wherein a buccal-lingual slot floor cross-sectional thickness of each metal orthodontic bracket defined from a tooth attachment surface of the metal bracket bonding pad to a lingual floor of the arch wire slot is substantially equal to the buccal-lingual slot floor cross-sectional thickness of a corresponding ceramic orthodontic bracket configured for placement on a same tooth as the corresponding metal orthodontic bracket so that an entire ceramic orthodontic bracket is interchangeable with an entire corresponding metal orthodontic bracket.