Other

Lewis Klapper

Richard W George

An orthodontic device is worn in the mouth of a patient and is attached between an upper attachment means secured to the maxillary teeth and a lower attachment means secured to the mandibular teeth such that the device is proximal a cheek of the patient. The device is formed from a flexible resilient spring element having a generally curved body portion configured to be inserted in the patient's mouth so as to lie in a plane defined by the cheek of the patient. The spring element has first and second oppositely disposed end portions where the first end portion is configured to be directly attached to corresponding upper or lower attachment means so as to preclude relative movement between the first end portion and the attachment means. The second end portion is configured to be directly attached to the other of the corresponding attachment means. The spring element is operative to produce a pushing force between the upper and lower attachment means when attached thereto where the body portion is configured to be shaped so as to vary the effective length of the spring element to vary the pushing force directed to the maxillary and mandibular teeth so as to displace the maxillary teeth relative to the mandibular teeth. The second end portion terminates in a loop portion configured to attach to the other of the corresponding attachment means.

Orthodontic device for correcting overbite and underbite

An orthodontic device is worn in a mouth of a patient and is attached between an upper attachment portion secured to the maxillary teeth and a lower attachment portion secured to the mandibular teeth such that the device is proximal a cheek of the patient. The device is formed from a single flexible resilient spring element having a generally curved body portion where the body portion is defined to lie in a plane relative to a plane defined by the cheek of the patient. The spring element has first and second oppositely disposed end portions where the first end portion is configured to directly attach to the upper attachment portion. The second end portion is configured to directly attach to the lower attachment portion. The spring element produces an applied force between the upper and lower attachment portion operative to displace the maxillary teeth relative to the mandibular teeth. The first end portion includes a primary bend that is disposed substantially within the plane of the body portion and operative to vary the effective length of the spring element where the variation in the effective length of the spring element varies the applied force directed to the maxillary and mandibular teeth. The second end portion terminates in a loop configured to attach to the lower attachment portion.

An orthodontic device is worn in a mouth of a patient and is attached between an upper attachment portion secured to the maxillary teeth and a lower attachment portion secured to the mandibular teeth such that the device is proximal a cheek of the patient. The device is formed from a single flexible resilient spring element having a generally curved body portion where the body portion is defined to lie in a plane relative to a plane defined by the cheek of the patient. The spring element has first and second oppositely disposed end portions where the first end portion is configured to directly attach to the upper attachment portion. The second end portion is configured to directly attach to the lower attachment portion. The spring element produces an applied force between the upper and lower attachment operative to displace the maxillary teeth relative to the mandibular teeth. The first end portion includes a primary bend that is disposed substantially within the plane of the body portion and operative to vary the effective length of the spring element where the variation in the effective length of the spring element varies the applied force directed to the maxillary and mandibular teeth. The second end portion terminates in a loop configured to attach to the lower attachment portion.

Orthodontic device and method for correcting overbite and underbite

A palatal expander which is used for expanding the upper jaw and for moving the maxillary teeth including a rotatable adjusting member and inner and outer expansion members. The adjusting member has an outer sleeve and an inner sleeve disposed partially within the outer sleeve. The expansion members are telescopically and threadedly received by the adjustable member whereby selective rotation of the adjusting member causes the outer and inner expansion members to move away from or toward each other.

Palatal expander

An adjustable orthodontic bracket assembly that avoids the need to twist and bend arch wire to correct the position of a malposed tooth. The assembly includes a base member attached directly to a tooth, a bracket holder and interfitting means for engagement with the base member which is adjustable relative to the longitudinal axis of the arch wire, and passive fastening means that connects the assembly together without creating frictional forces that could cause disassembly of the component parts. The mechanism is adaptable to control separately vertical, angular and torque adjustments of a tooth by the use of cooperative, interchangeable, adjustable, component parts within the assembly.

Growing community of inventors

Lake Forest, IL, United States of America

Lewis Klapper