Dental attachment placement apparatuses with one or more replacement attachment systems for providing one or more replacement dental attachments. The replacement attachment systems may include a body that is configured to orient and align the apparatus with respect to the teeth. The apparatus may include one or more primary dental attachments coupled to the body, where the body is configured to position the primary dental attachments adjacent to the teeth for bonding. The replacement system can be configured to replace the primary dental attachments and align replacement dental attachments with respect to the teeth.

An orthodontic bracket is provided, comprising a bracket body configured to couple to an arch member and a first bracket footing disposed adjacent the bracket body. The first bracket footing has at least one major surface that is configured to mate with a receptacle formed from a bracket base, and extends beyond a plane formed by a major surface of the bracket body. In an embodiment, the base can be configured as a polymeric shell portion that is part of a removable dental appliance, wherein the polymeric shell portion can have one or more cavities shaped to receive one or more teeth.

The present invention discloses a clear orthodontic tray system and methods of making and using the same. The clear orthodontic tray system comprises pre-fabricated attachment device.

Disclosed is a system and method for treating mal-alignment of teeth using super-elastic nickel titanium, heat activated nickel titanium coated or uncoated orthodontic wires with composite resins in order to effectuate desired tooth alignment. The composite resin is formed into beads that hold the wire in place preferably on the lingual surface of the teeth. Alternate embodiments using composite brackets are disclosed. The overall purpose of this invention is to provide a close contact, low profile orthodontic system, in particular, a lingual orthodontic system that is significantly more comfortable than existing orthodontic systems, completely concealed and effective.

The present technology comprises methods of manufacturing an orthodontic appliance. For example, a method can include forming an orthodontic appliance in an intermediate configuration by a casting process. The method can further include securing the appliance to a shape forming fixture such that the appliance assumes a desired configuration. The shape forming fixture can comprise a gingiva portion including a surface having a shape corresponding at least in part to a gingiva of a patient and a securing portion carried by the gingiva portion and configured to releasably secure to a portion of the appliance. The method can further include setting a shape of the appliance while the appliance is secured to the shape forming fixture.

Systems and methods of repositioning teeth, using one or more appliances for installing on a patient's teeth are described. The appliance includes an arch shaped member; a plurality of spring members coupled to or provided on the arch shaped member; and a plurality of securing members for securing to a corresponding plurality of the patient's teeth on a one-to-one basis, the securing members being supported by the arch shaped member. The arch shaped member and the plurality of springs, together, comprise a two dimensional structure having a length dimension and a width dimension with varying widths along the length dimension, that is bent into a three dimensional structure.

An overbite correction device for use on an upper incisor or canine tooth is provided. The device has a bracket body including two rounded lingual protrusions, and a vertical slot therebetween; and a base for bonding to the upper incisor or canine tooth at a lingual side thereof by means of a bonding pad. The two curved lingual protrusions feature a curved lower-facing surface for receiving an incisor, to prevent incisor interference during grinding. The device may feature an aperture for receiving an elastic thread or metal ligature to tie multiple overbite correction devices together. Advantageously, if one device breaks off from a tooth, it is not ingested.

An orthodontic bracket that forms a slot for receiving an archwire. The slot extends through the orthodontic bracket along an archwire axis. The slot is delimited in directions radially of the archwire axis by a slot base surface, an opposite slot cover surface and two opposite slot side surfaces. Further, the slot has an open side that is provided by a gap within one of the slot side surfaces in a dimension along the archwire axis.

A detachable orthodontic bracket and wire system includes bracket bases, brackets, and an arch wire for guiding alignment of teeth. The bracket bases are positioned on a lingual surface and/or a facial surface of the teeth. Each bracket base includes a first surface, a second surface, and at least one first interlocking element. The first surface is rigidly attached to the lingual surface and/or the facial surface of the teeth. The second surface opposes the lingual surface and/or the facial surface of the teeth. The first interlocking element is attached to and positioned in a direction substantially perpendicular to or parallel to the second surface of each bracket base. The brackets include at least second interlocking element that interlocks with the first interlocking element. The arch wire is inserted through a slot channel of each bracket. The bracket and the arch wire are infused and rigidly anchored within enclosing layers.

An aligner including a feature positioned on or in at least one of the buccal sidewall or lingual sidewall of the aligner that is configured to attach to an elastic member. The aligner applies a greater corrective force to a patient's dentition when the elastic member is attached. The feature may include a protrusion in the sidewall with an opening to a space configured to receive and attach to an elastic member hook coupled to the elastic member. The feature may include a through-bore in the sidewall that is configured to receive and attach to the elastic member. The feature may include an add-on hook on the sidewall that is configured to receive and attach to the elastic member. The add-on hook may be positioned on a protrusion in the sidewall. The protrusion may receive and engage with a dental attachment positioned on a surface of a patient's tooth.