An orthodontic bracket assembly may include a mounting plate configured to be coupled to a tooth. A bracket member may include a single tie-wing having a superior tie-wing portion, an inferior tie-wing portion, and a slot defined between planar side walls of the superior and inferior tie-wing portions. Each of the superior and inferior tie-wing portions may include a curved surface extending at a mesial end of the tie-wing portion and a distal end of the tie-wing portion.

An orthodontic bracket apparatus and method for treating a malocclusion includes a bracket base having an angulated posterior facing surface and which is matingly and releasably positioned adjacent to an anterior facing surface of a patient's tooth; a multiplicity of bracket bodies releasably and adjustably engageable with the bracket base; and an arch wire simultaneously engageable within an arch wire slot defined in each of the bracket bodies to exert first, second and third order movements to the maloccluded tooth; and wherein the bracket base remains affixed to the patient's tooth throughout the multiple step orthodontic treatment regimen selected by the treating clinician.

The reinforced ceramic orthodontic bracket is a ceramic bracket reinforced with a metal base. The bracket is bonded to a user's tooth and accepts an alignment wire for adjusting an orientation of the tooth based on forces provided by the alignment wire. A tooth-contacting side of the bracket includes a metal base to counteract the relatively low tensile strength and ductility of the ceramic. An opaque layer is included between the ceramic and metal base for masking the color of the metal so that the bracket blends in with the natural color of the tooth.

A method for altering an orthodontic archwire of a unitary piece of shape memory alloy having a composition and generally uniformly formed properties along its length to different stiffness profiles along the length of the archwire. In one embodiment, the method includes determining a stress profile for teeth at a location. The method may include calculating a force the archwire is to produce on the teeth to satisfy the determined stress profile and determining an altered stiffness of a section of the archwire based on the calculated force. The method may include changing the composition of the section based on the determined altered stiffness. The method may include determining a load for teeth and calculating a force the archwire is to produce on the teeth to satisfy the determined load.

An orthodontic bracket includes a platform base having a posterior facing surface and is matingly and releasably positioned adjacent to an anterior facing surface of a patient's tooth. The patient's tooth is subject to a multiple step orthodontic treatment regimen. The platform base remains affixed to the patient's tooth throughout the multiple step orthodontic treatment regimen selected by the treating clinician.

Systems and methods for moving a tooth using a light, continuous force are disclosed. In examples, a bracket has a surface which is mounted to a tooth, and a pair of wings defining a slot having oppositely disposed upper and lower surfaces that converge at an apex. A wire runs through the slot at a distance from the apex. And a tensioning device presses the wire against a surface of the slot, the system is configured so that the wire gradually moves toward the apex of the slot.

A method of manufacturing customized ceramic labial/lingual orthodontic brackets by digital light processing, said method comprises measuring dentition data of a profile of teeth of a patient, wherein measuring dentition data is performed using a CT scanner or intra-oral scanner, based on the dentition data, creating a three dimensional computer-assisted design (3D CAD) model of the patient's teeth using reverse engineering, and saving the 3D CAD model on a computer, designing a 3D CAD bracket structure model for a single labial or lingual bracket structure, importing the 3D CAD bracket structure model into a Digital Light Processing (DLP) machine, directly producing the bracket by layer manufacturing.

An orthodontic bracket extension system for orthodontic braces, the orthodontic bracket extension system including a plurality of bracket base extensions each having an aperture in which a corresponding one of a plurality of bracket base can be disposed 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.

The invention relates to a bracket for correcting the position of a tooth, comprising a bracket base of a bracket body, which bracket base can be fastened to a tooth, and which bracket body has a slot, extending in the mesiodistal direction, and also a fourth slot portion that narrows by a predetermined amount () in a predetermined region, so as preferably to form a snug fit for an inserted archwire, wherein the fourth slot portion is designed running in the longitudinal direction substantially parallel to the bracket base.

An orthodontic bracket is provided including a hollow housing defining a cavity and having windows for accessing the cavity to allow an archwire to pass through the housing. One or more, and preferably at least two sets of rollers are provided within the hollow housing for reducing the friction on the archwire as it passes through the windows and the cavity of the housing. The orthodontic bracket preferably includes a first set of rollers located adjacent a first or entrance window and a second set of rollers located adjacent a second or exit window. Guide blocks are provided between the sets of rollers to prevent the archwire from kinking or binding within the housing. A mounting block or mesh pad is provided on a rear of the housing to attach the housing to a tooth and a cover is provided on a front of the housing to secure the sets of rollers within the housing. An external hook may be provided on the housing for attaching rubber bands or other tensioning devices to the orthodontic bracket.