Tomy Incorporated

Shingo Katayose

Masaaki Orikasa

Kousei Endo

Kosei Endo

Perry Opin

Tomohiko Kawasaki

An orthodontic bracket is provided. The orthodontic bracket includes a base part; a bracket body mounted on the base part and having a retaining projection provided on an upper face thereof; a clip having a U-shaped cross-section, the clip being mounted on the bracket body and including an upper part along the upper face of the bracket body, a lower part along a lower face of the bracket body, a curved part therebetween, and an engaging hole provided in the upper part of the clip in a position that corresponds to a position of the retaining projection of the bracket body such that the retaining projection projects through the engaging hole when the clip is in an open position thereon; and an archwire slot in the upper face of the bracket body that extends perpendicular to a moving direction of the clip.

Orthodontic bracket

A bracket bodyis fixed to a base part, and a clipis mounted on the bracket bodyso as to move. An archwire slotis provided on an upper face of the bracket body. A guide groovefor guiding a lower extended partof the clipis formed on a lower face of the bracket body, and provided at a position below the archwire slot. In a state where the slot is closed, an endof the lower extended partdoes not pass through the bracket bodyup to a side face at an opposite side to a curved part of the bracket body. It is possible to provide an orthodontic bracket which has a lower height and has less possibility that a clip may be detached.

A clip release tool with a first and second projection, for releasing a clip from a main bracket body of an orthodontic bracket while regulating movement or deformation of the clip, and a related method, and a method of attaching a clip to an orthodontic bracket main body using a clip release tool.

Orthodontic bracket and clip release tool

An orthodontic bracket has a clip which is curved substantially in U-shape as covering at least one part of an opposite side to a base in an arch wire slot. Catching end portions which are provided at an upper end part of the clip may be caught to enable to creep under a cover portion supported by the bracket main body. The clip is formed at the upper end part thereof with a concave portion as a recess portion which enables to catch a clip release tool for releasing the clip.

Growing community of inventors

Fukushima, Japan

Shingo Katayose