A debonding tool for removal of orthodontic brackets includes a handle. An arm extends from the handle. The debonding tool includes first and second opposed fingers. A collar is translatable along the arm and operates to effect relative movement of the first and second opposed fingers between the open and closed positions.

Provided is a zirconia sintered body having both high translucency and high strength. The zirconia sintered body includes crystal grains that include a cubic domain and a tetragonal domain, wherein a stabilizer and lanthanum is dissolved as a solid solution therein. The sintered body can be obtained by a manufacturing method including: a mixing step of obtaining a mixed powder by mixing a zirconia source, a stabilizer source, and a lanthanum source; a molding step of obtaining a green body by molding the obtained mixed powder; a sintering step of obtaining a sintered body by sintering the obtained green body at a sintering temperature of 1650° C. or higher; and a temperature lowering step of lowering the temperature from the sintering temperature to 1000° C. at a temperature lowering rate exceeding 1° C./min.

Provided is a zirconia sintered body having both high translucency and high strength. The zirconia sintered body includes crystal grains that include a cubic domain and a tetragonal domain, wherein a stabilizer and lanthanum is dissolved as a solid solution therein. The sintered body can be obtained by a manufacturing method including: a mixing step of obtaining a mixed powder by mixing a zirconia source, a stabilizer source, and a lanthanum source; a molding step of obtaining a green body by molding the obtained mixed powder; a sintering step of obtaining a sintered body by sintering the obtained green body at a sintering temperature of 1650° C. or higher; and a temperature lowering step of lowering the temperature from the sintering temperature to 1000° C. at a temperature lowering rate exceeding 1° C./min.

Disclosed is a self-ligating crossed buccal tube comprising a bracket body frame structure and a cover plate detachably installed on the bracket body frame structure, which includes four wings, and a first tube cavity for accommodating an archwire is formed by the four wings. Limiting structures are arranged below the first and fourth wings and on a side wall of a first groove. The first tube cavity used for accommodating a thick round wire or square archwire is formed through the four wings. The three limiting structures form two limiting channels used for accommodating a thin round wire. The limiting structures are used for providing a backward tilting moment for teeth, and the problem that the archwire cannot be inserted into the buccal tube after the distal end of the archwire is bent is solved by the sliding cover plate design.

Disclosed is a self-ligating crossed buccal tube comprising a bracket body frame structure and a cover plate detachably installed on the bracket body frame structure, which includes four wings, and a first tube cavity for accommodating an archwire is formed by the four wings. Limiting structures are arranged below the first and fourth wings and on a side wall of a first groove. The first tube cavity used for accommodating a thick round wire or square archwire is formed through the four wings. The three limiting structures form two limiting channels used for accommodating a thin round wire. The limiting structures are used for providing a backward tilting moment for teeth, and the problem that the archwire cannot be inserted into the buccal tube after the distal end of the archwire is bent is solved by the sliding cover plate design.

The invention relates to an orthodontic device which is particularly economical and as small as possible, and which has hooks and a small tube, produced from a sheet metal plate using stamping and bending techniques and without the use of welding or soldering. The orthodontic device comprises a base plate having a flat region with a gingival and an occlusal edge. An occlusal rolling forms the small tube. The gingival edge has a counter-directional rolling. Concave cuts are formed in the side edges in order to form wing-shaped hooks. Both rollings can hold an applicator/protector, with which the orthodontic device is protected during adhesion, and can then be applied to a tooth in the correct orientation.

A dual-purpose aligner which can serve as both an engager template and an aligning appliance includes is used for treating a patient according to a predetermined orthodontic treatment plan. The dual-purpose aligner can be seated on the teeth of the patient as an engager template having an engager void which is filled with a predetermined composite for bonding to a tooth of a patient. The engager template aligns the engager void with a corresponding tooth. A light-curing process cures the predetermined composite in the engager void through the dual-purpose aligner appliance to fabricate the engager and attach the engager to the corresponding tooth. The dual-purpose aligner can also be seated on the teeth of the patient as an aligner appliance for moving the teeth of the patient from a first position to a second position according to the predetermined orthodontic treatment plan.

A dual-purpose aligner which can serve as both an engager template and an aligning appliance includes is used for treating a patient according to a predetermined orthodontic treatment plan. The dual-purpose aligner can be seated on the teeth of the patient as an engager template having an engager void which is filled with a predetermined composite for bonding to a tooth of a patient. The engager template aligns the engager void with a corresponding tooth. A light-curing process cures the predetermined composite in the engager void through the dual-purpose aligner appliance to fabricate the engager and attach the engager to the corresponding tooth. The dual-purpose aligner can also be seated on the teeth of the patient as an aligner appliance for moving the teeth of the patient from a first position to a second position according to the predetermined orthodontic treatment plan.

A method of assembling a distalizer is provided. An arm is provided including a mesial element at one end of the arm, and a ball member at another end of the arm. The mesial element has a first base for attachment to a canine or bicuspid. A distal element is also provided having a second base for attachment to a molar. To assemble the distalizer, the ball member of the arm is enclosed in the distal element without deformation of the distal element. For instance, the ball member is inserted into a first portion of the distal element, and a second portion of the distal element is joined together with the first portion to form a receptacle for the ball member. The ball member is thus enclosed in the distal element without reducing an opening of a receptacle in the distal element. Thus, improved distalizer assembly and operation may result.

A method of assembling a distalizer is provided. An arm is provided including a mesial element at one end of the arm, and a ball member at another end of the arm. The mesial element has a first base for attachment to a canine or bicuspid. A distal element is also provided having a second base for attachment to a molar. To assemble the distalizer, the ball member of the arm is enclosed in the distal element without deformation of the distal element. For instance, the ball member is inserted into a first portion of the distal element, and a second portion of the distal element is joined together with the first portion to form a receptacle for the ball member. The ball member is thus enclosed in the distal element without reducing an opening of a receptacle in the distal element. Thus, improved distalizer assembly and operation may result.