WO2017048188A1

WO2017048188A1 - 3d printed fixed-removable orthodontic appliance

Info

Publication number: WO2017048188A1
Application number: PCT/SG2016/050162
Authority: WO
Inventors: Fung Ki WONG
Original assignee: Wisebrace Pte. Ltd.
Priority date: 2015-09-17
Filing date: 2016-03-31
Publication date: 2017-03-23
Also published as: SG10201507738SA

Abstract

An orthodontic aligner system comprises a plurality of fixing members having a head portion and a stalk portion by which they can be firmly attached to a patient's teeth and a force applying portion comprising a band of resilient, flexible plastics material contoured such that it can be snap-fitted over the head portions of the fixing members to contact and apply an adjusting force directly to the teeth of the patient that are to be realigned.

Description

3D PRINTED FIXED-REMOVABLE ORTHODONTIC APPLIANCE

FD2LD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to orthodontic aligners, more particularly provides a novel method for the production of aligners.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Many forms of orthodontic aligners have been proposed and used since cosmetic dental treatment became regarded as a social necessity. Among the commonly used forms of orthodontic aligners are those incorporating arch wires.

These involve the use of lengths of metal wire that has been bent to a particular shape decided by the orthodontic surgeon and which is held in position in the mouth by "U" or "L"- shaped brackets having that are cemented or otherwise affixed to the teeth and apply force to the teeth via the brackets to alter the position of the teeth in the mouth of the patient.

With this system the wire is positioned a few millimeters away from the surface of the teeth and hence the realignment force is applied remotely to the teeth. This, coupled with the fact that there is leeway between the wire and the fixing bracket, means that the application of force to the teeth is imprecise.

A further problem is that if the wire is removed from the brackets it requires an orthodontia surgeon to replace it,_ because the- various bends in the wire must-be correctly positioned. Thus, removal of the device, by the patient to ease eating and/or tooth cleaning is virtually precluded.

One such arrangement is the subject of US 8057226. A further drawback of this and other prior systems is that the wires and usually the brackets are not made of transparent material and this may cause embarrassment for some users. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides an orthodontic aligner that can solve at least the majority of problems associated with the prior used wire aligners. According to the invention, an orthodontic aligner system comprises a plurality of fixing members having a head portion and a stalk portion by which they can be firmly attached to a patient's teeth and a force applying portion comprising a band of resilient plastics material contoured such that it can be snap-fitted over the head portions of the fixing members to contact and apply an adjusting force directly to the teeth of the patient that are to be realigned.

The fixing members may be attached to the patient's teeth in any desired manner, for example by cementing them or pinning them in position. The positioning of the fixing means may be retained throughout the entire alignment operation since the band may, in many cases, be contoured to suit their position.

The force applying portion is preferably produced by 3-D scanning of the patient's dentition and using the scan to to build-up the portion. The material used to produce the fixing members and the force applying portion is preferably a a colourless, transparent or translucent plastics material so that they are not so noticable when worn.

Suitable plastics materials for the aligners of the invention are polytelraeethylene glygol or other resilient polyester.

Ther are a number of advantages that the aligners of the invention have over the metallic wire prior art aligners. First, the aligner band can easily be removed and replaced by the patient without recourse to an orthodontist so that tooth cleaning becomes easier. To aid the patient in replacement of the aligner positional markings may be placed on some or all of the fixing members and on the band. Secondly, the material of the aligner band may be thicker than the prior art wires so that eating becomes easier. Moreover because the plastics band is in contact with the patient's teeth there are no gaps in which food particles can be trapped.

Thirdly, it is possible to provide the patient with a set of bands, optionally with different contours' for the patient to use sequentially as the treatment proceeds without having a need to visit the orthodontist. Fourthly, the amount of activation can be precisely controlled to optimise progress of the treatment with maximum comfort for the patient.

Finally, and most importantly, the aligner force applying portion does not have to be formed using an intricate wire bending operation that must be changed every time the the aligner format is changed. It can be produced by a simple 3-D scanning of the teeth of the patient and moulding the aligner band using the scan as a blueprint.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which

Fig. 1 is a front view of a patient's lower teeth with a realignment band according to the invention in position; and-

Fig. 2 is a side view of a single tooth with an aligner of the invention attached.

As shown in the drawings, the aligner system of the invention comprises a plurality of mushroom- shaped fixing members 1 (only one is shown) for attachment to a tooth 2 and comprising a stalk portion 3 and a head portion 4.

One surface 5 of a band 6 of resilient and flexible polytetraethylene glycol is contoured to form a number of indentations 7 corresponding to the shape of fixing members 1 and the band 6 is connected to the fixing members 1 by pushing their head portions 4 into indentations 7 of band 6 and to bring surface 5 of band 6 into contact with, and to exert force on, teeth 2.

Claims

An orthodontic aligner system comprising a plurality of fixing members having a head portion and a stalk portion by which they can be firmly attached to a patient's teeth and a force applying portion comprising a band of resilient, flexible plastics material contoured such that it can be snap-fitted over the head portions of the fixing members to contact and apply an adjusting force directly to the teeth of the patient that are to be realigned.

2. An orthodontic aligner according to claim 1, wherein the fixing members and the force applying portion are formed from a colourless, transparent or translucent plastics material.

3. An orthodontic aligner according to claim 2, wherein the fixing members and the force applying portion are formed from polytetraeethylene glycol.

4. An orthodontic aligner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which has been formed by 3-D scanning of the patient's dentition and using the scan to build-up the portion.

5. A method for forming an orthodontic aligner according to any one of claims 1 to 4 which comprises scanning of the patient's dentition and using the scan to buildup the portion.