Gac International, Inc.

Tomy Incorporated

Tomy K.k.

Kozo Kawaguchi

Masaaki Orikasa

Kiyoshi Shiga

Kenji Nagase

An orthodontic appliance comprises a base, a main body equipped on one side of the base, an archwire slot furnished to the main body, a convertible cap closing the archwire slot along the length direction, and stepwise portions provided at ends of the archwire slot for receiving ends of the convertible cap. The convertible cap is fixedly soldered with a silver soldering material containing Ag 90% or more.

Orthodontic appliance

An orthodontic bracket is provided including a plastic bracket main member (1) having a wire slot (2) and tie-wings (3). A reinforcing member (11) having a retention groove (14) is embedded in the bracket main member (1) such that the wire slot (2) is reinforced by the retention groove (14) of reinforcing member (11). An orthodontic arch wire used in orthodontic treatment is retained by the retention groove (14) of the reinforcing member (11). The reinforcing member (11) also includes a groove (16) delineating a vertical slot for receiving auxiliary apparatuses such as uprighting springs and rotation springs such that orthodontic treatment requiring such apparatuses can be suitably performed using plastic brackets.

Orthodontic bracket

An orthodontic bracket is provided including a plastic bracket body and a metal reinforcement member partly embedded in the bracket body. The bracket body includes a slot extending substantially along a mesial-distal axis of the bracket body for receiving an arch wire. The reinforcement member includes a holding notch having a width that is smaller than that of the slot of the bracket body. The holding notch is positioned inside the slot and spaced-apart from the slot surfaces to form an arch wire holding mechanism for engaging the arch wire and to substantially avoid contact between the arch wire and the surfaces of the slot. The bracket body may further include removable markings on the lingual and/or labial surfaces to facilitate positioning of the bracket.

An orthodontic bracket is provided including a plastic bracket body and a metal reinforcement member partly embedded in the bracket body. The bracket body includes a slot extending substantially along a mesial-distal axis of the bracket body for receiving an arch wire. The reinforcement member includes a holding notch having a width that is smaller than that of the slot of the bracket body. The holding notch is positioned inside the slot and spaced-apart from the slot surfaces to form an arch wire holding mechanism for engaging the arch wire and to substantially avoid contact between the arch wire and the surfaces of the slot.

A method of bonding ceramic brackets to teeth using silane coupling where the bond strength can be controlled by the application of a layer of organic paint. The method comprises the application of a silane coupling agent to the base surface of a bracket and the application of an organic paint to the entirety or a portion of the silane coupling agent such that when an organic adhesive is applied to the base surface of the bracket, the organic paint partially shields the silane coupling and thereby lowers the bond strength. The organic paint can be applied in different configurations to the silane coupling agent on the base surface of the bracket such that bond strength is decreased only over select areas of the base surface.

Ceramic bracket with coated base

An orthodontic device comprises a bracket formed of a sintered polycrystal of alumina exhibiting light transmittance of 70 to 80% and an auxilliary bonding member formed of a soft, transparent or translucent, thin, synthetic resin plate having a mounting aperture formed therein for mounting the bracket therein and a plurality of graduations drawn thereon for indicating the depth from a reference point on the free end of a tooth being subjected to orthodontic treatment to the center of the bracket.

Orthodontic device

An orthodontic appliance has a base portion having formed on one side thereof a tooth-abutting surface and a bracket portion defining an archwire slot therein. Two tie-wings project outwardly from the bracket portion and extend along one side of the archwire slot. Two hooked tie-wings extend along the other side of the archwire slot and project outwardly therefrom. Each hooked tie-wing defines on an interior side thereof a hook-shaped surface. The hook-shaped surfaces are provided for mounting auxiliary force transmitting members thereto.

Orthodontic appliance with hook

A ceramic orthodontic apparatus for attachment to a tooth has a base portion with a tooth abutting surface. The tooth abutting surface is shaped to fit generally the morphology of a tooth and defines a plurality of spaced, radially contoured indentations for receiving adhesive material for attaching the apparatus to a tooth.

Orthodontic apparatus having an improved base portion

An orthodontic coil spring is made of a shape-memory alloy wire which is wound into a coil and heat treated into a superelastic state. The coil spring imparts a predetermined spring force within a superelastic zone of deflection.

Orthodontic coil spring and method of making the same

An orthodontic appliance is disclosed which is suitable for supporting a wire during treatment. The appliance is adapted to be directly adhered to the surface of the patient's tooth and includes on the base thereof a plurality of indentations which have the surfaces thereof roughened so as to provide a mechanical lock with the adhesive and facilitate direct adherence of the appliance to the tooth's surface with a superior bonding action.

Growing community of inventors

Fukushima-ken, Japan

Kozo Kawaguchi