Method and apparatus for orthodontic treatment

Abstract

After securement of brackets of novel design to teeth of a patient to be treated, impression is taken of the mouth. The impression is removed, replicas of brackets are inserted in impression and casting made of teeth which are then separated and positioned in ideal location in a model. Arch wires are then preformed to fit brackets on ideal model and after preforming, arch wire transferred to mouth of patient. Brackets have groove to receive arch wire which is locked in place by follower and snap ring.

I claim: 
     
       1. An orthodontic arch wire bracket for attachment to a tooth band and for connection to an arch wire means of predetermined thickness comprising: a body member including a base portion having a base surface for attachment to a tooth band, a head portion having a labial surface,   said head portion having a horizontal groove therein opening to said labial surface for receiving an arch wire, said groove having a depth greater than the said arch wire thickness,   said head portion having a first vertical groove therein opening to said labial surface and having a depth relative to the depth of said horizontal groove by an amount substantially no less than said arch wire thickness,   said base portion having a second vertical groove therein,   said head portion having a notch therein extending between said first and second vertical grooves and opening to said labial surface of said head portion,   a follower member comprising a base portion adapted slidably to engage within said second vertical groove, an arm portion adapted to be received within said notch, and a finger portion adapted to be received in said first vertical groove and to extend over an arch wire engaged within said horizontal groove,   and lock means for releasably engaging said follower to prevent accidental removal of the same form from said body member.   
     
     
       2. A bracket as set forth in claim 1 wherein said body member comprises a shank portion between said base and head portions of reduced cross-sectional dimension relative to said base and head portions, said lock means comprising a snap ring adapted to be received about said shank. 
     
     
       3. A bracket as set forth in claim 2 wherein the bottom of said horizontal groove is spaced from said base portion by the thickness of said snap ring. 
     
     
       4. A bracket as set forth in claim 1 wherein said notch is of lesser width than said vertical grooves. 
     
     
       5. A bracket as set forth in claim 2 wherein said snap ring is formed with wings projecting horizontally therefrom. 
     
     
       6. A bracket as set forth in claim 2 wherein said follower member base portion is formed with indentations on each of its opposite sides for receiving the ends of said snap ring during insertion or demounting of said follower. 
     
     
       7. A bracket as set forth in claim 2 wherein said follower member is provided with means releasably to engage the ends of snap snap ring at a predetermined position of said follower member so as to retain said follower member in a partially demounted position. 
     
     
       8. A bracket as set forth in claim 2 wherein said snap ring is of a diameter greater than the horizontal extent of said head portion. 
     
     
       9. An orthodontic arch wire bracket for attachment to a tooth band and for connection to an arch wire comprising: a body member including a base portion having a base surface for attachment to a tooth band, a head portion having a labial surface, and a shank portion positioned between said base and head portions and being of reduced cross-sectional dimension relative to said base and head portions,   said head portion having a horizontal groove therein opening to said labial surface for receiving an arch wire,   said head portion having a first vertical groove therein opening to said labial surface of the same depth as said horizontal groove,   said base and shank portions having a second vertical groove therein,   said head portion having a notch therein extending between said first and second vertical grooves and opening to the surface of said head portion,   a follower member comprising a base portion adapted slidably to engage within said second vertical groove, an arm portion adapted to be received within said notch, and a finger portion adapted to be received in said first vertical groove and to extend over an arch wire engaged within said horizontal groove,   and a snap ring adapted to be received about said shank and to engage said follower to prevent accidental removal of the same from said body member. .Iadd. 10. In combination:   a body having a guideway and also being provided with an opening for receiving a member to be locked to the body,   the body also having a retaining portion adjacent the guideway,   a locking member having a slide portion slidable in the guideway and a locking portion movable between first and second positions relative to the body,   the locking member having a first snap ring engaging means and a second snap ring engaging means spaced from the first snap ring engaging means,   and a snap ring on the retaining portion having end portions adapted to engage the first snap ring engaging means and hold the locking member in said first position,   the end portions of the snap ring being separable to release the same from the first snap ring engaging means and also being adapted releasably to engage the second snap ring engaging means to hold the locking member in said second position. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 11. In an orthodontic arch wire bracket,   a body having a base attachable to a tooth band and also including a head having a horizontal groove for receiving an arch wire and open at the side thereof more remote from the base,   the body having a guideway offset laterally from and extending at right angles to the groove,   a generally U-shaped follower having a slide arm slidable in the guideway and a locking portion extending across the open side of the groove when the follower is in a locking position thereof and clearing the open side of the groove when the follower is in an open position thereof,   and a snap ring on the body releasably holding the follower relative to the body selectively in either the locking position or the open position thereof,   the follower having shoulder portions engaged by the end portions of the snap ring when the follower is in the locking position thereof and also having recessed portions receiving the end portions of the snap ring member when the follower is in the open position thereof. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 12. In an orthodontic arch wire bracket,   a body having a base attachable to a tooth band and also including a head having a horizontal groove for receiving an arch wire and open at the side thereof more remote from the body,   the base having a guideway extending at right angles to and offset laterally from the groove,   a generally U-shaped follower member having a slide arm fitting closely and slidably in the guideway between a closed position and an open position and also having a locking portion adapted to extend over an arch wire positioned in said groove when the follower is in the closed position thereof and clearing the groove when the follower is in the open position thereof,   and retaining means releasably holding the follower against movement relative to the body when in the closed position and releasable to permit the follower to be moved to the open position thereof and to hold the follower in the open position thereof. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 13. In an orthodontic arch wire bracket for attachment to a tooth band and for connection to an arch wire,   a body including a base having a base surface for attachment to a tooth band and a head attached to the base,   the head having a horizontal arch wire receiving groove open at the side thereof more remote from the base,   the body also having a guideway extending at right angles to and laterally offset from the groove,   and a follower having a slide portion fitting closely and slidably in the guideway and also having a locking portion extending across the arch wire,   the follower being vertically slidable between a closed position in which the locking portion extends across the arch wire and an open position in which the locking portion clears the arch wire,   the follower and the end of the head being blended together and shaped to form a rounded, labial surface when the follower is in its closed position. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 14. In an orthodontic arch wire bracket for attachment to a tooth band and for connection to an arch wire,   a body including a base having a base surface for attachment to a tooth band and a head attached to the base,   the head having a horizontal arch wire receiving groove opening away from the base and also having a notch,   the body also having a vertical guideway intersecting the notch,   and a follower having a slide portion fitting closely and slidably in the guideway, an arm portion fitting closely in and extending through the notch and a locking portion over the arch wire and blending with the head to form therewith a labial surface. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 15. In an orthodontic arch wire bracket for attachment to a tooth band and for connection to an arch wire,   a body including a base having a base surface for attachment to a tooth band and a head attached to the base,   the head having a horizontal arch wire receiving groove open at the side thereof more remote from the base,   the body also having a guideway,   and a follower having a slide portion fitting slidably in the guideway between a closed position and an open position and also having a locking portion extending across the arch wire when the follower is in its closed position and clearing the arch wire receiving groove when the follower is in its open position,   an end portion of the locking portion being inclined to cam the arch wire into the groove when the follower is moved from its open position to its closed position. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 16. In an orthodontic arch wire bracket for attachment to a tooth band and for connection to an arch wire,   a body including a base having a base surface for attachment to a tooth band and a head attached to the base,   the head having a horizontal arch wire receiving groove open at the side thereof more remote from the base,   the body also having a guideway,   a follower having a slide portion fitting slidably in the guideway and also having a locking portion extending across the arch wire,   the follower being slidable between a closed position in which the locking portion extends across the arch wire and an open position in which the locking portion clears the groove,   and a member on the body having outboard portions spaced beyond the ends of the groove for engaging the inner side of the arch wire and transmitting pivotal force from the arch wire to the body. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 17. In an orthodontic arch wire bracket, body means attachable to a tooth and having a horizontal groove having an open side and a guideway extending transversely of and offset laterally from the groove;   a locking member having a locking portion and a slide portion slidable in the guideway between a closed position in which the locking portion closes the open side of the groove and an open position in which the locking portion opens the open side of the groove to permit an arch wire to be moved laterally into the groove;   and a generally C-shaped spring;   the body means having a portion entraping the spring;   the locking member having a pair of shoulder portions engaged by the end portions of the spring when in said closed position and held thereby in said closed position;   the locking member also having a pair of indentations engaged by the end portions of the spring when in said open position and held thereby in said open position. .Iaddend.