Shape memory self-ligating orthodontic brackets

Abstract

Self-ligating orthodontic brackets, each of which is formed of materials exhibiting shape memory and includes a base from which extend at least one tie wing. The tie wing includes a pair or tie wing posts which are normally spaced to retain an archwire within the guide slot. At least one of each pair of opposing tie wings is flexible and/or yieldable relative to the other to permit insertion and/or removal of the archwire relative to the guide slot. Portions of the brackets may be coated to reduce friction between the archwire slot and the archwire and to promote aesthetics and overall bracket appearance.

1 . A self-ligating orthodontic bracket comprising: a unitary body structure including a bracket base having front and rear surfaces and at least one tie wing, said at least one tie wing having a base portion extending from said front surface of said bracket base and at least one pair of opposing tie wing posts, said at least one pair of opposing tie wing posts defining an archwire guide slot therebetween of a first dimension to slidingly receive an archwire therein, each tie wing post of said at least one pair of opposing tie wing posts including a head portion, at least one head portion having an outwardly extending flange and at least one head portion having an inwardly extending flange, said inwardly extending flange being in a predetermined position relative to an opposing tie wing post to retain an archwire within said archwire guide slot, wherein at least a portion of the bracket being formed of a material such that at least one tie wing exhibits flexibility and shape memory effect allowing movement of said at least one tie wing to permit insertion or removal of an archwire relative to said archwire guide slot, afterwhich said at least one tie wing returns to the predetermined position.  
   
   
       2 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of spaced opposing tie wings, each of said opposing tie wings exhibits flexibility and shape memory effect.  
   
   
       3 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 1 , wherein each head portion of said at least one pair of opposing tie wing posts includes an inwardly extending flange.  
   
   
       4 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 1 , wherein said bracket base and said at least one tie wing are formed of a material which exhibits shape memory effect.  
   
   
       5 . The self-ligating orthodontic brackets of  claim 3 , wherein said material is a nickel-titanium material.  
   
   
       6 . The self-ligating orthodontic brackets of  claim 2 , wherein said material is a nickel-titanium material.  
   
   
       7 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 1 , wherein said material is a nickel-titanium material.  
   
   
       8 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 1 , further comprising an area of reduced thickness adjacent to said base portion of at least one of said opposing tie wing posts of said at least one tie wing to facilitate flexing.  
   
   
       9 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said opposing tie wing posts has an area of reduced thickness to promote flexing of said at least one tie wing.  
   
   
       10 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 1 , further comprising an alignment recess formed centrally in said front surface of said bracket base.  
   
   
       11 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 1 , further comprising a horizontal alignment recess formed centrally in said front surface of said bracket base.  
   
   
       12 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 1 , further comprising a vertical alignment recess formed centrally in said front surface of said bracket base.  
   
   
       13 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 2 , wherein said pair of spaced opposing tie wings are aligned with one another and spaced adjacent a gingival edge of said bracket base.  
   
   
       14 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 13 , further comprising an alignment recess formed centrally in said front surface of said bracket base.  
   
   
       15 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 13  further comprising a horizontal alignment recess formed centrally in said front surface of said bracket base.  
   
   
       16 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 1 , wherein said bracket base and said at least one tie wing are coated with a coating material selected from a group of materials consisting of metallic materials, non-metallic materials, and polymers.  
   
   
       17 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 16 , wherein said non-metallic polymers are thermosetting polymers.  
   
   
       18 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 16 , wherein said coating material includes a coloring agent.  
   
   
       19 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 1 , wherein at least one archwire guide slot is coated with a coating material selected from a group of materials exhibiting a low coefficient of friction consisting of metallic materials and non-metallic polymers.  
   
   
       20 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 19 , wherein said non-metallic polymers are thermosetting polymers.  
   
   
       21 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 19 , in which said coating material includes a coloring agent.  
   
   
       22 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 19 , wherein the coating material is a material applied by electroplating.  
   
   
       23 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 1 , wherein said material is selected from a group of materials exhibiting shape memory consisting of metallic materials and non-metallic materials.  
   
   
       24 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 1 , further comprising an auxiliary attachment.  
   
   
       25 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 24 , wherein the auxiliary attachment is selected from the group consisting of Kobayashi hooks, removeable hook pins, hooks, uprighting springs, pins, metal ligatures, directional force elastics, elastomeric ligatures, and elastomeric power chains.  
   
   
       26 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 2 , further comprising an auxiliary attachment.  
   
   
       27 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 26 , wherein the auxiliary attachment is selected from the group consisting of Kobayashi hooks, hooks, removeable hook pins, uprighting springs, pins, metal ligatures, directional force elastics, elastomeric ligatures, and elastomeric power chains.  
   
   
       28 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one identification recess.  
   
   
       29 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 28 , wherein said at least one identification recess is color-coded.  
   
   
       30 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 1 , further comprising a platform located between said bracket base and said base portion of said at least one tie wing.  
   
   
       31 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 30 , wherein the platform includes a vertical slot therethrough.  
   
   
       32 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 31 , further comprising an area of reduced thickness adjacent to said base portion of at least one of said opposing tie wing posts of said at least one tie wing to facilitate flexing.  
   
   
       33 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 2 , further comprising a platform located between said bracket base and said base portion of said at least one tie wing, said platform including a vertical slot therethrough.  
   
   
       34 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 33 , further comprising an area of reduced thickness adjacent to said base portion of at least one of said opposing tie wing posts of said at least one tie wing to facilitate flexing.  
   
   
       35 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the bracket is a Lewis-type bracket.  
   
   
       36 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 35 , further comprising an area of reduced thickness adjacent to said base portion of at least one of said opposing tie wing posts of said at least one tie wing to facilitate flexing.  
   
   
       37 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the bracket is a Lang-type bracket.  
   
   
       38 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 37 , further comprising an area of reduced thickness adjacent to said base portion of at least one of said opposing tie wing posts of said at least one tie wing to facilitate flexing.  
   
   
       39 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the bracket is a Creekmore-type bracket.  
   
   
       40 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 39 , further comprising an area of reduced thickness adjacent to said base portion of at least one of said opposing tie wing posts of said at least one tie wing to facilitate flexing.  
   
   
       41 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the bracket is a hybrid bracket.  
   
   
       42 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 41 , further comprising an area of reduced thickness adjacent to said base portion of at least one of said opposing tie wing posts of said at least one tie wing to facilitate flexing.  
   
   
       43 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the bracket is of a torque-in-base configuration.  
   
   
       44 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 43 , wherein the bracket is of a slot angulation configuration.  
   
   
       45 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the bracket is of a torque-in-slot configuration.  
   
   
       46 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 45 , wherein the bracket is of a slot angulation configuration.  
   
   
       47 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 2 , wherein the bracket is a Lewis-type bracket.  
   
   
       48 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 47 , further comprising an area of reduced thickness adjacent to said base portion of at least one of said opposing tie wing posts of said at least one tie wing to facilitate flexing.  
   
   
       49 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 2 , wherein the bracket is a Lang-type bracket.  
   
   
       50 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 49 , further comprising an area of reduced thickness adjacent to said base portion of at least one of said opposing tie wing posts of said at least one tie wing to facilitate flexing.  
   
   
       51 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 2 , wherein the bracket is a Creekmore-type bracket.  
   
   
       52 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 51 , further comprising an area of reduced thickness adjacent to said base portion of at least one of said opposing tie wing posts of said at least one tie wing to facilitate flexing.  
   
   
       53 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 2 , wherein the bracket is of a torque-in-base configuration and of a slot angulation configuration.  
   
   
       54 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket-of  claim 2 , wherein the bracket is of a torque-in-slot configuration and of a slot angulation configuration.