Buccal end tube

Abstract

Two spaced substantially parallel tabs are supported on a mounting portion which may be in the form of a welding flange connectable to a tooth band. According to the presently preferred embodiment, each of the tabs is provided with a plurality of apertures. At least the wire receiving ends of the apertures are tapered to facilitate location and entry of the arch wire into the respective apertures. By selectively passing the arch wire through preselected apertures, the wire can either be passively positioned in the buccal end tube device wherein it does not exert any forces on the tooth or, alternately, it can engage the device actively wherein rotating as well as tipping forces can be applied to the tooth on which the end tube device is mounted. An end tube device is also described wherein a buccal tube is mounted adjacently to the end tube device and is provided with a slot through which an arch wire can pass interiorly of the tube. When so used, the buccal tube replaces one of the apertured tabs and offers greater versitility for applying forces to the tooth than provided by the two apertured tabs.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A buccal end tube device for selectively orienting and orthodontic arch wire relative to a tooth, the device comprising two spaced tabs, each of said tabs being provided with arch wire positioning means in the form of at least one aperture, .[.said.]. at least one .[.apertures in.]. .Iadd.of said tabs having at least two apertures .Iaddend..[.said tabs being.]. spaced from each other in the buccal-lingual direction .[.and.]..Iadd., said tabs being .Iaddend.adapted to receive spaced portions of the arch wire, whereby the arch wire may be disposed in a predetermined orientation within a buccal-lingual plane by positioning the arch wire in said at least one aperture in each of said two spaced tabs and maintained in the selected orientation against the action of external forces applied both to the arch wire and to the buccal end tube device. 
     
     
       2. A buccal end tube device as defined in claim 1, wherein one of said tabs is provided with one aperture, and wherein the other tab is provided with two spaced apertures. 
     
     
       3. A buccal end tube device as defined in claim 1, wherein said tabs are spaced from one another, and further comprising connecting means extending between said tabs for fixing the spaced relationship between the latter. 
     
     
       4. A buccal end tube device as defined in claim 3, wherein said connecting means comprises a substantially flat strip adapted to be connected to an associated tooth. 
     
     
       5. A buccal end tube as defined in claim 4, wherein ach tab projects from said flat strip in a direction substantially normal to the latter. 
     
     
       6. A buccal end tube device as defined in claim 2, wherein two apertures, one in each of said respective tabs, are aligned with each other along a first line directed along a predetermined direction relative to an associated tooth, while another aperture in said other flat tab is aligned with said one aperture in said one flat tab along a second line inclined relative to said predetermined direction, whereby an arch wire may be selectively passed through said apertures to selectively orient the arch wire relative to a tooth. 
     
     
       7. A buccal end tube device as defined in claim 1, further comprising a substantially flat mounting strip extending between said tabs, each of said tabs extending substantially normally from said mounting strip. 
     
     
       8. A buccal end tube device as defined in claim 7, wherein a plurality of apertures are provided in each of said tabs, at least two apertures, one in each tab, being aligned with each other along a line substantially parallel to said flat strip. 
     
     
       9. A buccal end tube device as defined in claim 7, wherein said apertures are rectangular in configuration. 
     
     
       10. A buccal end tube device as defined in claim 7, wherein said flat strip is curved to correspond to the curvature of an associated tooth on which said strip is mounted. 
     
     
       11. A buccal end tube device as defined in claim 1, wherein one tab is arranged to normally first receive the arch wire in an aperture thereof, and another tab is arranged to normally receive the arch wire in an aperture thereof subsequently to the latter having been received in said one tab, said apertures in said other tab facing said one tab being provided with tapered portions, whereby location and entry of the arch wire into one of the apertures of said other tab is facilitated. 
     
     
       12. A buccal end tube device as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said apertures has an end portion normally first approached by an arch wire successively passing through said respective apertures, each of said apertures being provided with tapered portions at said end portions, whereby location and entry of the arch wire into said apertures is facilitated. 
     
     
       13. A buccal end tube device as defined in claim 1, wherein said apertures are provided at each end thereof with tapered portions, whereby location and entry of the arch wire into one of the apertures of each of said tabs is facilitated irrespective of the order of successive entry of the arch wire into said tabs. 
     
     
       14. A buccal end tube device comprising a substantially flat U-shaped strip having a transverse mounting portion defining one plane and two spaced apertured portions defining substantially parallel planes substantially normal to the plane defined by said mounting portion, one of said apertured portions being provided with at least one aperture while the other of said apertured portions being provided with at least two spaced apertures, at least two apertures, one in each respective apertured portion, being aligned with the other along a line substantially parallel with said mounting portion, while another aperture in said other portion being aligned with an aperture in said one portion along a line inclined at a predetermined angle to said mounting portion, whereby an arch wire may be passed selectively through said aperture to orient the arch wire either parallel or at an incline to said mounting portion; and an extra-oral end tube mounted on said welding flange adjacent to said flat U-shaped strip, said tube having an axis substantially parallel to said mounting portion. 
     
     
       15. A buccal end tube device as defined in claim 14, further comprising a welding flange connected to said mounting portion, said welding flange being configurated to conform to a tooth on which the buccal end tube device is to be mounted. 
     
     
       16. A buccal end tube device as defined in claim 14, wherein a portion of the periphery of said tube is disposed adjacent to said flat U-shaped strip and is provided with a longitudinal slot substantially extending the length between said two spaced apertures portions, said slot being arranged to receive an arch wire which passes through only one of said apertured portions, whereby said slot in said extra-oral device can be utilized in place of one of said apertured portions. 
     
     
       17. A buccal end tube device for selectively orienting an orthodonic arch wire relative to a tooth, the device comprising two spaced tabs, each of said tabs being provided with arch wire positioning means in the form of at least one aperture, said at least one aperture being adapted to receive spaced portions of the arch wire, whereby the arch wire may be selectively oriented by positioning the arch wire in said at least one aperture in each of said two spaced tabs and maintained in the selected orientation against the action of external forces applied both to the arch wire and to the buccal end tube device; and guard means disposed on one side of said tabs for preventing accumulation of material in the space between the latter. 
     
     
       18. A buccal end tube device for selectively orienting an orthodontic arch wire relative to a tooth, the device comprising two spaced substantially flat tabs, each of said tabs being provided with arch wire positioning means in the form of at least one aperture, at least two apertures being provided in one of said tabs spaced from each in a buccal-lingual direction when mounted on a tooth, said apertures being adapted to receive spaced portions of the arch wire in one of two general orientations in a buccal-lingual plane, whereby the arch wire may be selectively oriented in the buccal-lingual plane by positioning the arch wire portions in selected ones of said apertures and maintained in the desired orientation against the action of external forces applied both to the arch wire and to the buccal end tube device. .Iadd. 19. A buccal end tube device for selectively orienting an orthodontic arch wire relative to a tooth, the device comprising two spaced arch wire positoning means, one of said arch wire positioning means defining at least one arch wire receiving aperture and the other of said arch wire positioning means defining at least two arch wire receiving apertures which are spaced from each other in the buccal-lingual direction, said two arch wire positioning means being adapted to receive spaced portions of the arch wire is selected arch wire receiving apertures, whereby the arch wire may be disposed in a selected one of a plurality of orientations within a buccal-lingual plane by positioning the arch wire in selected ones of said arch wire receiving apertures of said spaced arch wire positioning means and maintained in said selected orientation against the action of external forces applied both to the arch wire and to the buccal end tube device. .Iaddend..Iadd. 20. A buccal end tube device as defined in claim 19, wherein said apertures are provided at each end thereof with tapered portions, whereby location and entry of the arch wire into one of the apertures of each of said arch wire positioning means is facilitated irrespective of the order of successive entry of the arch wire into said apertures of said arch wire positioning means. .Iaddend..Iadd. 21. A buccal end tube device as defined in claim 19 wherein each of said arch wire positioning means defines at least two arch wire receiving apertures, the apertures of each arch wire positioning means being spaced from each other in the buccal-lingual direction. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 22. A buccal end tube device for selectively orienting an orthodontic arch wire relative to a tooth, the device comprising two spaced arch wire positioning means, each of said arch wire positioning means defining at least one aperture, said at least one aperture being adapted to receive spaced portions of the arch wire, whereby the arch wire may be selectively oriented by positioning the arch wire in said at least one aperture in each of said two spaced arch wire positioning means and maintained in the selected orientation against the action of external forces applied both to the arch wire and to the buccal end tube device; and guard means disposed on one side of said arch wire positioning means for preventing accumulation of material in the space between said arch wire positioning means. .Iaddend..Iadd. 23. A buccal end tube device as defined in claim 22 wherein at least one of said arch wire positioning means defines at least two arch wire receiving apertures which are spaced from each other in the buccal-lingual direction. .Iaddend.