3m Innovative Properties Company

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Other

Cadent, Inc.

Joseph M Caruso

James D Hansen

Russell A Jordan

John S Kelly

Baruch Nissenbaum

Patrick B Dufour

Jirina V Pospisil

Jerold S Horn

Matthew David Young

Max Crigger

A computer implemented method includes providing a first set of digital data corresponding to an upper arch image of at least a portion of an upper dental arch of a patient, providing a second set of digital data corresponding to a lower arch image of at least a portion of a lower dental arch of the patient, providing bite alignment data representative of the spatial relationship between the upper dental arch and the lower dental arch of the patient, and aligning the upper and lower arch images relative to one another based on the bite alignment data until an aligned upper and lower arch image is attained. The aligned upper and lower arch images are moved towards each other until a first contact point is detected and at least one of the upper and lower arch images is moved relative to the other in one or more directions to a plurality of positions for determining optimal occlusion position of the lower and upper dental arches.

Methods for use in dental articulation

A radiopaque diagnostic kit, tool and method for helping a practitioner define an optimal anatomical location of a patient to perform diagnostic and interventional procedures.

Diagnostic kit, device, and method of using same

An orthodontic bracket assembly includes a bracket and latch coupled to the bracket. The latch is movable between a slot-open position to enable removal or insertion of an archwire in an archwire slot of the bracket, and a slot-closed position to retain the archwire in the archwire slot. The latch includes a first portion that is received in a passage that extends in a generally occlusal-gingival direction through a body of the bracket, and a second portion that is received lingually of at least one bracket tiewing when the latch is in the slot-closed position.

Orthodontic bracket and latch assembly

A computer implemented method of creating a dental model for use in dental articulation includes providing a first set of digital data corresponding to an upper arch image of at least a portion of an upper dental arch of a patient, providing a second set of digital data corresponding to a lower arch image of at least a portion of a lower dental arch of the patient, and providing hinge axis data representative of the spatial orientation of at least one of the upper and lower dental arches relative to a condylar axis of the patient. A reference hinge axis is created relative to the upper and lower arch images based on the hinge axis data. Further, the method may include bite alignment data for use in aligning the lower and upper arch images. Yet further, the method may include providing data associated with condyle geometry of the patient, so as to provide limitations on the movement of at least the lower arch image when the arch images are displayed. Further, a wobbling technique may be used to determine an occlusal position of the lower and upper dental arches. Various computer implemented methods of dental articulation are also described. For example, such dental articulation methods may include moving at least one of the upper and lower arch images to simulate relative movement of one of the upper and lower dental arches of the patient, may include displaying another image with the upper and lower dental arches of the dental articulation model, and/or may include playing back recorded motion of a patient's mandible using the dental articulation model.

Method for use in dental articulation

Orthodontic brackets made of a light-transmissive material such as plastic or ceramic have a removable, water-based colorant to facilitate identification of the bracket and alignment of the bracket on the patient's tooth. The colorant is received in a ligature channel of the bracket and is visible through adjacent tiewings of the bracket. The colorant is protected by the overlying tiewings from inadvertent damage or removal as might otherwise occur during initial handling and placement of the bracket.

Light-transmissive orthodontic bracket wth alignment and indentification

An orthodontic bracket, such as a bracket made of ceramic material, is provided with a liner that enhances sliding mechanics between the bracket and an archwire. A portion of the liner projects beyond the bracket body and optionally includes an occlusal, gingival or lingual section that extends over a mesial or distal side of the bracket body. A bottom surface of the liner is located a distance from a bottom wall of a channel receiving the liner, and the distance optionally varies along the length of the archwire slot in order to urge the attached tooth to rotate as needed about its long axis. The liner is bonded to the bracket body in such a manner that the bracket body is thereafter held by the liner in compression.

Orthodontic bracket with archwire slot liner

An orthodontic bracket has been designed which can be made of ceramic material. The bracket can be used for correcting Class II and Class III malocclusions without the use of a Kobiashi tie, ball hook, or power hook, which had previously been used to make such corrections. This invention, on the other hand, employs an integral hook design, which makes use of the same mechanics, but without requiring any brazing or welding of the hook to the body of the bracket.

Growing community of inventors

Agua Dulce, CA, United States of America

Joseph M Caruso