Aesthetic self-ligating orthodontic bracket

Abstract

A self-ligating orthodontic bracket for captivating an archwire with a tooth. The bracket includes a bracket body mountable to a tooth and a self-ligating mechanism having an archwire slot and a ligating slide. The ligating slide is movable between an open position in which an archwire is insertable into the archwire slot and a closed position in which the archwire is retained in the archwire slot. The bracket body may be formed from a non-metallic material, such as a polymer, a filled polymer composite, or a ceramic, and the self-ligating mechanism may be formed from a metal. The bracket may include a resilient engagement member with a detent positioned to engage an aperture or throughhole extending through the ligating slide when the ligating slide is in the closed position.

1 . A self-ligating orthodontic bracket for coupling an archwire with a tooth, comprising:
 a bracket body configured to be mounted to a tooth, said bracket body including an archwire slot;   a ligating slide carried by said bracket body for movement between an open position in which an archwire is insertable into said archwire slot and a closed position in which said ligating slide retains the archwire in said archwire slot, said ligating slide including a throughhole extending through a thickness of said ligating slide; and   a resilient engagement member including a detent positioned to engage said throughhole by a cantilevering action when said ligating slide is in said closed position for constraining movement of said ligating slide relative to said bracket body.   
   
   
       2 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 1  wherein said ligating slide includes a groove with a closed end, said resilient engagement member moving within said groove as said ligating slide is moved between said open and closed positions such that said resilient engagement member engages said closed end when said ligating slide is in said open position. 
   
   
       3 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 1  wherein said resilient engagement member comprises a spring arm coupled with said bracket body and having a free end carrying said detent. 
   
   
       4 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 1  wherein said resilient engagement member provides positive stops for said ligating slide in said open and closed positions without overcoming a biasing force of said resilient engagement member during transitions between said open and closed positions. 
   
   
       5 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 1  wherein said resilient engagement member locks said ligating slide in at least one of said open position or said closed position independent of a biasing force applied to said ligating slide by said resilient engagement member. 
   
   
       6 . A self-ligating orthodontic bracket for coupling an archwire with a tooth, comprising:
 a ligating slide;   a bracket body configured to be mounted to a tooth, said bracket body including an archwire slot and a pair of opposed guides supporting said ligating slide, said pair of opposed guides guiding said ligating slide for movement between an open position in which an archwire is insertable into said archwire slot and a closed position in which the archwire is retained in said archwire slot, at least one of said pair of opposed guides including a recess; and   a resilient engagement member positioned to engage said recess when said ligating slide is in said closed position for constraining movement of said ligating slide relative to said bracket body.   
   
   
       7 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 6  wherein said resilient engagement member comprises a bendable wire having a first end engaging said recess in said closed position and a second end affixed to said ligating slide, said bendable wire being movable by a force sufficient to remove said first end from said recess in order to release said ligating slide for movement from said closed position to said open position. 
   
   
       8 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 7  wherein said ligating slide includes a throughhole positioned for accessing said bendable wire to cause movement. 
   
   
       9 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 7  wherein first end of said bendable wire is capable of reengaging said recess when said force is removed. 
   
   
       10 . An apparatus for coupling an archwire with a tooth, comprising:
 a bracket body configured to be mounted to a tooth, said bracket body including an archwire slot;   a ligating slide carried by said bracket body for movement between an open position in which an archwire is insertable into said archwire slot and a closed position in which said ligating slide retains the archwire in said archwire slot, said ligating slide including a rear surface facing the tooth, a front surface opposite to said rear surface, and a throughhole extending from said front surface to said rear surface;   a resilient engagement member capable of engaging said ligating slide in said closed position for constraining movement of said ligating slide relative to said bracket body; and   a tool including a shoulder and a tip projecting from said shoulder by a distance sufficient to deflect said resilient engagement member so that said ligating slide may be moved from said closed position to said open position when said shoulder contacts a portion of said ligating slide surrounding said throughhole.   
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said distance is greater than or equal to a thickness of said ligating slide between said front surface and said rear surface. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said distance is insufficient to apply a stress exceeding the elastic limit of the resilient engagement member. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said resilient engagement member protrudes into said aperture for constraining movement of said ligating slide relative to said bracket body, and said tip of said tool deflects said resilient engagement member sufficiently to displace said resilient engagement member from said throughhole. 
   
   
       14 . A self-ligating orthodontic bracket for coupling an archwire with a tooth in conjunction with a tool, comprising:
 a bracket body configured to be mounted to a tooth, said bracket body including an archwire slot; and   a ligating slide carried by said bracket body for movement between an open position in which an archwire is insertable into said archwire slot and a closed position in which said ligating slide retains the archwire in said archwire slot, said ligating slide including a rear surface facing the tooth, a front surface opposite to said rear surface, and a tool-engaging element accessible from said front surface, and said front surface including a channel effective for guiding the movement of the tool toward said tool engaging element when the tool contacts said front surface.   
   
   
       15 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 14  wherein said channel on said front surface is tapered. 
   
   
       16 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 15  wherein said channel on said front surface converges toward said aperture. 
   
   
       17 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 14  wherein said tool-engaging element is a throughhole extending from said front surface to said rear surface. 
   
   
       18 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 17  further comprising:
 a resilient engagement member positioned to engage said throughhole when said ligating slide is in said closed position for constraining movement of said ligating slide relative to said bracket body, said resilient engagement member capable of being removed from said throughhole by a force applied by the tool so that said ligating slide may be moved from said closed position to said open position.   
   
   
       19 . A self-ligating orthodontic bracket for coupling an archwire with a tooth, comprising:
 a bracket body configured to be mounted to a tooth, said bracket body including an archwire slot;   a ligating slide carried by said bracket body for movement between an open position in which an archwire is insertable into said archwire slot and a closed position in which said ligating slide retains the archwire in said archwire slot, said ligating slide including a peripheral edge; and   a deflecting element on said bracket body that deflects objects in a patient's oral cavity away from said peripheral edge of said ligating slide when said ligating slide is in said closed position and said bracket body is mounted to the tooth.   
   
   
       20 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 19  wherein said peripheral edge has a length, and said deflecting element comprises a continuous ridge overlying said peripheral edge along said length. 
   
   
       21 . The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of  claim 19  wherein said deflecting element is a smoothly-curving ridge.