Dentsply International Inc.

Gac International, Inc.

John F Bozman

Michael C Anderson

Mike Anderson

Thermoforming of plastic sheets over a model includes varying the thickness in the area that is stretched over the model so that when it thins it becomes more uniform in thickness. The plastic sheet is fabricated in a substantially uniform thickness but with a preformed a complex profile or 3D area that partially builds in part of the area that would be stretched so that it thins much less than a flat sheet. Combinations of these elements may also be made.

Straight 'N' clear thermoforming plastic

A bracket container is provided for storing a plurality of orthodontic brackets having bases coated with a light curable adhesive. The container includes a housing and a tray slidably mounted in the housing. The tray includes an upper surface having a plurality of recesses, each for receiving one of the brackets. The tray is movable between a closed position in which the housing covers the recesses in the tray and an open position in which at least some of the recesses are not covered by the housing. The housing comprises substantially opaque material to limit exposure of the brackets to light when the tray is in the closed position. A method of bonding orthodontic brackets to a patient's teeth is also provided. In accordance with the method, a set of orthodontic brackets suitable for bonding on the patient's teeth is first selected. Then, a light curable cement is applied on a rear bonding surface of the base of each bracket to prepare the bracket for bonding at a predetermined later time. Each bracket is then placed in a tray that is inserted into a container housing to significantly limit exposure of the brackets to light. Next, the teeth of the patient are prepared for bonding. Each bracket is then retrieved from the container tray and placed on the tooth on which it is to be bonded. A curing light is then applied on the brackets to cure the cement on each bracket to bond the bracket on the tooth.

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Bradenton, FL, United States of America

John F Bozman