Bracket Extension System

Abstract

An orthodontic bracket extension system for orthodontic braces, the orthodontic bracket extension system including a plurality of bracket base extensions adapted for coupling one each to a corresponding plurality of brackets to increase a bracket bonding surface area for greater securement of each of the plurality of brackets to each of a corresponding plurality of teeth.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An orthodontic bracket extension system comprising:
 a) a plurality of brackets of an orthodontic appliance, each of said brackets including:
 i) a bracket base having opposed bracket base first and second surfaces delimited by a bracket base periphery which defines a bracket base surface area of said bracket base first and second surfaces; and 
 ii) a bracket body having a bracket body length disposed between bracket body first and second ends, said bracket body first end coupled to said bracket base second surface, said bracket body second end terminating in an archwire slot configured to receive an archwire of said orthodontic appliance; and 
   b) a plurality of bracket base extensions each having opposed bracket base extension first and second surfaces delimited by a bracket base extension periphery which defines a bracket base extension surface area of said bracket base extension first and second surfaces, said bracket base extension first surface configured to fixedly mount to a corresponding one of a plurality of teeth in a dental arch, said bracket base extension second surface configured to fixedly couple to said bracket base first surface;   wherein said bracket base extension surface area of said bracket base extension first surface substantially greater than said bracket base surface area of said bracket base first surface.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , said bracket base extension first surface configured to directly bond to a lingual surface of one of said plurality of teeth. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , said bracket base extension first surface configured to directly bond to a facial surface of one of said plurality of teeth. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , said bracket base extension further including a partial band having at least one partial band element configured to extend about at least a portion of a tooth to which said bracket base extension fixedly mounts. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , said bracket base extension further including a mesial-distal band configured to extend mesially-distally about a tooth to which said bracket base extension fixedly mounts. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , said bracket base extension further including a coronal band configured to extend over a coronal portion of a tooth to which said bracket base extension fixedly mounts. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a bonding adhesive fixedly couples said bracket base extension second surface to said bracket base first surface. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , said bracket base and said bracket base extension formed from a weldable metal, wherein said bracket base extension second surface fixedly couples to said bracket base first surface by welding. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , said bracket base extension further comprising a chemical bond enhancement element. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , said bracket base extension further comprising a mechanical bond enhancement element. 
     
     
         11 . A method of producing an orthodontic bracket extension system, said method comprising:
 a) providing a bracket for an orthodontic appliance, said bracket including:
 i) a bracket base having opposed bracket base first and second surfaces delimited by a bracket base periphery which defines a bracket base surface area of said bracket base first and second surfaces; and 
 ii) a bracket body having a bracket body length disposed between bracket body first and second ends, said bracket body first end coupled to said bracket base second surface, said bracket body second end terminating in an archwire slot configured to receive an archwire of said orthodontic appliance; 
   b) providing a bracket base extension having opposed bracket base extension first and second surfaces delimited by a bracket base extension periphery which defines a bracket base extension surface area of said bracket base extension first and second surfaces, said bracket base extension first surface configured to fixedly mount to a tooth in a dental arch, said bracket base extension surface area of said bracket base extension first surface substantially greater than said bracket base surface area of said bracket base first surface; and   c) coupling said bracket base first surface to said bracket base extension second surface;   whereby said bracket fixedly mounts to said tooth in said dental arch by said bracket base extension first surface.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising configuring said bracket base extension first surface to directly bond to a lingual surface of one of said plurality of teeth. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising configuring said bracket base extension first surface to directly bond to a facial surface of one of said plurality of teeth. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising coupling a partial band to said bracket base extension, said partial band having at least one partial band element configured to extend about at least a portion of a tooth to which said bracket base extension fixedly mounts. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising coupling a mesial-distal band to said bracket base extension, said mesial-distal band configured to extend mesially-distally about a tooth to which said bracket base extension fixedly mounts. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising coupling a coronal band to said bracket base extension, said coronal band configured to extend over a coronal portion of a tooth to which said bracket base extension fixedly mounts. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising fixedly coupling said bracket base extension second surface to said bracket base first surface with a bonding adhesive. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising forming said bracket base and said bracket base extension from a weldable metal, further comprising fixedly coupling said bracket base extension second surface to said bracket base first surface by welding. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising providing said bracket base extension with a chemical bond enhancement element. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising providing said bracket base extension with a mechanical bond enhancement element. 
     
     
         21 . A method of using an orthodontic bracket base extension system, said method comprising:
 a) selecting a bracket for an orthodontic appliance, said bracket including:
 i) a bracket base having opposed bracket base first and second surfaces delimited by a bracket base periphery which defines a bracket base surface area of said bracket base first and second surfaces; and 
 ii) a bracket body having a bracket body length disposed between bracket body first and second ends, said bracket body first end coupled to said bracket base second surface, said bracket body second end terminating in an archwire slot configured to receive an archwire of said orthodontic appliance; 
   b) selecting a bracket base extension having opposed bracket base extension first and second surfaces delimited by a bracket base extension periphery which defines a bracket base extension surface area of said bracket base extension first and second surfaces, said bracket base extension first surface configured to fixedly mount to a tooth in a dental arch, said bracket base extension surface area of said bracket base extension first surface substantially greater than said bracket base surface area of said bracket base first surface; and   c) coupling said bracket base first surface to said bracket base extension second surface; and   d) fixedly mounting said bracket base extension first surface to said tooth in said dental arch.