Orthodontic bracket packaging kits and systems

Abstract

An orthodontic bracket packaging kit and system includes a base tray, a plurality of pedestals for supporting individual orthodontic brackets, and a protective lid. The kit may also include a blister cover fitting over the orthodontic brackets, helping to hold them in place on top of the individual pedestals. The base tray may have an undulating profile defining a lower level and an upper level, along with a tongue raised towards the lower level. The upper level may be used for placement of maxillary brackets, while the lower level may hold mandibular brackets. The pedestals may be arranged along the base tray in a staggered, radial arc arrangement to facilitate manual retrieval of the brackets. The protective cover may be substantially opaque to curing light wavelengths to protect light curable adhesive pre-applied to the individual brackets.

1 . A packaging kit for orthodontic brackets comprising: 
 a base tray;    a plurality of pedestals formed on said base tray, each pedestal configured to support an orthodontic bracket; and    a protective lid for covering said base tray and said plurality of pedestals.    
   
   
       2 . A packaging kit as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a blister cover configured to be placed over said orthodontic brackets so as to further retain said orthodontic brackets on top of said pedestals.  
   
   
       3 . A packaging kit as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said base tray includes an undulating profile so as to define an upper level for maxillary brackets and a lower level for mandibular brackets.  
   
   
       4 . A packaging kit as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said base tray further includes a replica tongue.  
   
   
       5 . A packaging kit as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of pedestals are positioned in a staggered, radial arc arrangement to facilitate manual retrieval of individual orthodontic brackets.  
   
   
       6 . A packaging kit as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said protective lid is substantially opaque to curing light wavelengths.  
   
   
       7 . A packaging kit as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said blister cover is substantially opaque to curing light wavelengths.  
   
   
       8 . A packaging kit as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of orthodontic brackets, each bracket supported on top of one of said pedestals.  
   
   
       9 . A packaging kit as recited in  claim 8 , each orthodontic bracket being temporarily bonded to one of said pedestals with a pre-applied adhesive.  
   
   
       10 . A packaging kit as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said pre-applied adhesive is light curable.  
   
   
       11 . A packaging kit for orthodontic brackets comprising: 
 a base tray;    a plurality of pedestals formed on said base tray, each pedestal configured to support an orthodontic bracket;    a protective lid for covering said base tray and said plurality of pedestals;    a blister cover configured to be placed over said orthodontic brackets so as to further retain said orthodontic brackets on top of said pedestals; and    wherein at least one of said protective lid or said blister cover is substantially opaque to curing light wavelengths.    
   
   
       12 . A packaging kit for orthodontic brackets comprising: 
 a base tray;    a plurality of pedestals formed on said base tray, each pedestal configured to support an orthodontic bracket;    a protective lid for covering said base tray and said plurality of pedestals;    a plurality of orthodontic brackets, each bracket supported on top of one of said pedestals, each bracket being temporarily bonded to one of said pedestals with a pre-applied light curable adhesive.    
   
   
       13 . A method of installing one or more orthodontic brackets comprising: 
 providing a packaging kit for orthodontic brackets comprising: 
 a base tray;  
 a plurality of pedestals formed on said base tray, each pedestal configured to support an orthodontic bracket;  
 a protective lid for covering said base tray and said plurality of pedestals; and  
 a plurality of orthodontic brackets, each bracket supported on top of one of said pedestals;  
   retrieving one or more of said orthodontic brackets from said pedestals; and    bonding said one or more orthodontic brackets to a patient's teeth.    
   
   
       14 . A method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein each orthodontic bracket includes a pre-applied light curable adhesive.  
   
   
       15 . A method as recited in  claim 14 , further comprising curing said light curable adhesive.