3m Innovative Properties Company

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

James D Christoff

David K Cinader, Jr

Joan V Brennan

Evangelos G Georgakis

Joel D Oxman

Richard E Raby

Bruce R Broyles

Paul E Hansen

Russell A Jordan

John S Kelly

Darin J Meyertholen

Paul A Burgio

John W Dubbe

Frederick J Turk

Kevin L Black

Robert L Erickson

David K Cinader

An orthodontic article is provided for bonding to a tooth structure comprising an orthodontic appliance, a layer of partially hardened hardenable composition adjacent the appliance, and a bonding adhesive adjacent the partially hardened hardenable composition. A method of making an orthodontic article for orthodontic bonding is provided, comprising partially hardening a hardenable composition adjacent the base of an orthodontic appliance.

Orthodontic article having partially hardened composition and related method

A series of polymeric orthodontic appliances is made by providing a set of tooth analogs, each having a model crown that represents the shape of a corresponding tooth of the patient. The tooth analogs are moved along respective guides as needed in order to bring the associated model crown an incremental step toward or away from its desired position. The polymeric appliance is formed by placing a sheet of polymeric material over the model crowns after at least one tooth analog has been moved to create a desired model tooth arrangement.

Methods and apparatus for making a polymeric orthodontic appliance

A packaged assembly includes a container with a chamber and an orthodontic appliance received in the chamber. The assembly also includes a quantity of orthodontic adhesive material that is received on a release surface in the chamber. The appliance is detachably mounted on a support and is relatively movable when desired in order to bring a base of the appliance into contact with the adhesive material for transfer of the adhesive material to the appliance.

Packaged orthodontic appliance with user-applied adhesive

A packaged orthodontic assembly includes a container with a chamber and an orthodontic appliance received in the chamber. A quantity of a first orthodontic adhesive material is applied by the manufacturer to the base of the orthodontic appliance. A second orthodontic adhesive material is also received in the chamber in initially spaced relationship to the first orthodontic adhesive material. The practitioner can elect to bring the first orthodontic adhesive material into contact with the second orthodontic adhesive material when desired.

Packaged orthodontic appliance and adhesive material

An insert is removably received in a channel of an orthodontic appliance. The insert substantially prevents sections of the appliance from moving toward each other a distance that would otherwise be sufficient for debonding the appliance from the associated tooth. The insert may be used with the appliance alone, or in combination with the appliance and a positioning tray. The insert may also be advantageously employed during manufacture, shipping, patient set-up or other handling, and may also be used in the course of treatment. Additionally, the insert may be provided with structure for serving as a positioning jig.

Orthodontic appliance with removable insert

A hand instrument for debonding orthodontic brackets has a shield that extends around the bracket during a debonding procedure. In certain embodiments, the shield is connected to a vacuum source for carrying away any loose fragments or sections. In another embodiment, the debonding tool has at least one resilient surface for engagement with sides of the bracket to facilitate the application of uniform pressure on the bracket. Additional embodiments include a shield having at least one resilient outer edge for contact with the tooth surface.

Hand instrument for debonding orthodontic brackets

A self-ligating orthodontic bracket has a latch that is movable from a slot-open position to a first closed position or a second closed position. In the first closed position of the latch, the latch engages an archwire with sufficient force to provide active orthodontic therapy. In the second closed position, the effective labial-lingual dimension of the archwire slot is somewhat greater than the overall labial-lingual dimension of the archwire such that the bracket provides passive orthodontic therapy.

Dual mode self-ligating orthodontic bracket

A device for consolidating compositions contained in partially filled dual chamber dispensing cartridges includes a body having a pair of passages, and first and second couplers for connecting the body to first and second dual chamber dispensing cartridges. Once the device is connected to two cartridges, an applicator is connected to one of the cartridges and is used to expel any remaining compositions in such cartridge to chambers of the other cartridge. The contents of several partially empty cartridges can be consolidated in this manner so that a subsequent dispensing operation need not be interrupted to replace cartridges.

Dual chamber dispensing cartridge refilling device

A dental isolation dam has a plurality of elastic fibers arranged in a rectangular, crisscrossed pattern between impervious films. The fibers enable the dam to be easily placed, and, once released, clinch around necks of isolated teeth to provide enhanced moisture and infection control.

Growing community of inventors

Birchwood, MN, United States of America

James D Christoff