Ormco Corporation

Ronald M Malerstein

Farrokh Farzin-Nia

Albert Ruiz-Vela

Luminescent orthodontic appliances, such as brackets, archwires, bands and the like, having a luminescent pigment or mixture of luminescent pigments are described. In a preferred form, the luminescent pigment is a phosphorescent pigment comprising zinc sulfide doped with copper. The pigment gives the appliance a natural appearance in daylight and causes it to emit a greenish-white light in the dark after having been energized by an excitation light source. If desired, the luminescent orthodontic appliance may be made with a fluorescent pigment or a combination of fluorescent and phosphorescent pigments. If a fluorescent pigment is used, the bracket will exhibit a luminescence in daylight; whereas if a mixture of fluorescent and phosphorescent pigments are used, the appliance will luminesce in the dark after having been exposed to a light source, in addition to exhibiting a luminescence in the daylight. The luminescent appliances of this invention provide a fun alternative to traditional orthodontic appliances, particularly for younger patients, who can 'show off' their braces to their families and friends.

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Huntington Beach, CA, United States of America

Ronald M Malerstein