Orthodontic bracket

Abstract

An orthodontic bracket that includes a body having a lingual surface for attachment to a tooth and an archwire slot. At least two tie wings extend from the body and define a space directly therebetween. The orthodontic bracket further includes a locking shutter having a stem. A portion of the stem is positioned in the space directly between the tie wings. The locking shutter is movable between an open position, in which access to the archwire slot is permitted and a closed position where access to the archwire slot is inhibited.

1 . An orthodontic bracket comprising: 
 a body including a lingual surface for attachment to a tooth and having an archwire slot;    at least two tie wings extending from the body and defining a space directly therebetween; and    a locking shutter having a stem, a portion of the stem being positioned in the space directly between the tie wings, the locking shutter being movable between an open position, in which access to the archwire slot is permitted, and a closed position, in which access to the archwire slot is inhibited.    
   
   
       2 . An orthodontic bracket as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the tie wings are gingival tie wings.  
   
   
       3 . An orthodontic bracket as claimed in  claim 3 , further comprising at least two occlusal tie wings.  
   
   
       4 . An orthodontic bracket as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the shutter further includes an arm coupled to the stem, wherein the arm is wider than the stem to form a T-shaped locking shutter, and wherein the arm is positioned in the archwire slot when the locking shutter is in the closed position.  
   
   
       5 . An orthodontic bracket as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the arm includes an end having a labial surface that is concave.  
   
   
       6 . An orthodontic bracket as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the archwire slot includes a notch, and wherein the shutter includes an end that is positioned in the notch when the shutter is in the closed position.  
   
   
       7 . An orthodontic bracket as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the notch is a first notch, and wherein the body and the tie wings collectively form a second notch in the labial surface that extends mesio-distally across the body substantially the same length as the archwire slot.  
   
   
       8 . An orthodontic bracket as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the locking shutter is pivotally coupled to the body.  
   
   
       9 . An orthodontic bracket comprising: 
 a body including a lingual surface for attachment to a tooth and having an archwire slot;    at least two tie wings extending from the body and defining a space directly therebetween; and    a locking shutter having a stem, a portion of the stem being positioned in the space directly between the tie wings, the stem being movable between an open position, in which access to the archwire slot is permitted, and a closed position, in which access to the archwire slot is inhibited, wherein the shutter includes an end that is positioned in the archwire slot when the shutter is in the closed position, the end including a labial surface that is concave about an axis that is parallel to a mesio-distal axis.    
   
   
       10 . An orthodontic bracket as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the tie wings are gingival tie wings.  
   
   
       11 . An orthodontic bracket as claimed in  claim 10 , further comprising at least two occlusal tie wings.  
   
   
       12 . An orthodontic bracket as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the shutter further includes an arm coupled to the stem, wherein the arm is wider than the stem to form a T-shaped locking shutter, and wherein the arm is positioned in the archwire slot when the locking shutter is in the closed position.  
   
   
       13 . An orthodontic bracket as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the archwire slot includes a notch, and wherein the end of the shutter is positioned in the notch when the shutter is in the closed position.  
   
   
       14 . An orthodontic bracket as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the notch is a first notch, and wherein the body and the tie wings collectively form a second notch in the labial surface that extends mesio-distally across the body substantially the same length as the archwire slot.  
   
   
       15 . An orthodontic bracket as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the locking shutter is pivotally coupled to the body.  
   
   
       16 . An orthodontic bracket comprising: 
 a body including a lingual surface for attachment to a tooth and having an archwire slot having a sidewall;    a notch formed into the sidewall of the archwire slot and extending mesio-distally across the body substantially the same length as the archwire slot;    at least two tie wings extending from the body and defining a space directly therebetween; and    a locking shutter having a stem, a portion of the stem being positioned in the space directly between the tie wings, the stem being movable between an open position, in which access to the archwire slot is permitted, and a closed position, in which access to the archwire slot is inhibited, wherein the shutter includes an end that is positioned in the notch when the shutter is in the closed position.    
   
   
       17 . An orthodontic bracket as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the tie wings are gingival tie wings.  
   
   
       18 . An orthodontic bracket as claimed in  claim 17 , further comprising at least two occlusal tie wings.  
   
   
       19 . An orthodontic bracket as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the shutter further includes an arm coupled to the stem, wherein the arm is wider than the stem to form a T-shaped locking shutter, and wherein the arm is positioned in the archwire slot when the locking shutter is in the closed position.  
   
   
       20 . An orthodontic bracket as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the locking shutter is pivotally coupled to the body.