Low profile self-ligating orthodontic appliance with clip

Abstract

An orthodontic appliance includes a body and at least one clip connected to the body for retaining an archwire in an archwire slot. The body and each clip have matching, generally oval-shaped external profiles that present a compact, low-profile configuration. Each clip includes at least one prong that engages a tab for helping to retain the clip in connected relationship to the body. Each tab is connected to the body by a protrusion that has a top surface coplanar with a bottom wall of the archwire slot.

1 . A self-ligating orthodontic appliance comprising:
 a base;   a body connected to the base, the body including an elongated archwire slot extending in a generally mesial-distal direction;   a protrusion extending outwardly from the body adjacent the archwire slot, the protrusion including a top surface; and   a clip connected to the protrusion, wherein the clip includes a region next to the archwire slot for receiving an archwire, wherein the clip includes arm portions next to the region that are movable away from each other in order to admit an archwire into the archwire receiving region, wherein the clip also includes a recess that receives the protrusion and a prong extending between the recess and the archwire-receiving region, wherein the prong extends along the top surface of the protrusion, and wherein the protrusion includes a tab that is located next to the prong and extends in a direction toward the archwire-receiving region in order to help retain the clip in connected relationship with the protrusion.   
     
     
         2 . A self-ligating orthodontic appliance according to  claim 1  and including a second protrusion and a second clip connected to the protrusion. 
     
     
         3 . A self-ligating orthodontic appliance according to  claim 1  wherein the protrusion includes a second tab, and wherein the tabs are spaced apart from each other in directions generally along a facial-lingual reference axis. 
     
     
         4 . A self-ligating orthodontic appliance according to  claim 1  wherein the body presents a generally oval-shaped external profile when viewed in directions along the longitudinal axis of the archwire slot, and wherein the clip presents a generally oval-shaped external profile that is complemental to and aligned with the generally oval-shaped external profile of the body. 
     
     
         5 . A self-ligating orthodontic appliance according to  claim 1  wherein the generally oval-shaped external profiles presented by the body and each clip include a short axis and a long axis, and wherein the long axis is oriented in a direction generally perpendicular to an occlusal plane of the patient's dental arch. 
     
     
         6 . A self-ligating orthodontic appliance according to  claim 1  wherein the generally oval-shaped external profiles presented by the body and each clip include aligned openings for admitting an archwire in the archwire slot. 
     
     
         7 . A self-ligating orthodontic appliance according to  claim 1  wherein the outer surface of the base has a configuration that matches the configuration of the lingual tooth surface. 
     
     
         8 . A method of making a self-ligating orthodontic appliance having at least one ligating clip comprising:
 constructing an appliance preform that includes a body and at least one protrusion extending outwardly from the body in a direction generally along a mesial-distal reference axis;   advancing a cutting tool into the preform in order to cut an archwire slot having two sidewalls and a bottom wall in the body, wherein the act of advancing the cutting tool into the preform also includes the act of cutting a portion of the protrusion in order to form a top surface of the protrusion that is coplanar with the bottom wall of the archwire slot.   
     
     
         9 . A method of making a self-ligating orthodontic appliance according to  claim 8  and including the act of connecting a ligating clip to each protrusion. 
     
     
         10 . A method of making a self-ligating orthodontic appliance according to  claim 8  wherein the cutting tool is a wire electrical discharge machining tool. 
     
     
         11 . A method of making a self-ligating orthodontic appliance according to  claim 8  wherein the act of constructing an appliance preform includes the act of constructing two protrusions that extend outwardly from the body in opposite directions generally along the mesial-distal reference axis. 
     
     
         12 . A method of making a self-ligating orthodontic appliance according to  claim 8  wherein the act of constructing an appliance preform includes the act of constructing the body with a generally oval-shaped external profile when viewed in directions along the longitudinal axis of the archwire slot. 
     
     
         13 . A method of making a self-ligating orthodontic appliance according to  claim 12  and including the act of connecting a ligating clip to each protrusion, wherein each ligating clip presents a generally oval-shaped external profile that is complemental to and aligned with the generally oval-shaped external profile of the body.