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.

Various embodiments of an orthodontic appliance and method of forming such appliance are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, the orthodontic appliance can include an arch member including an arch member body and an arch member coupling connected to the body. The orthodontic appliance can also include an anchor including an anchor coupling and a base adapted to connect the anchor to a surface of a tooth. The arch member coupling can be releasably connectable to the anchor coupling, and the anchor can be adapted for displacement relative to the arch member body when the anchor is connected to the surface of the tooth and the arch member coupling is connected to the anchor coupling.

Various embodiments of an orthodontic appliance and method of forming such appliance are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, the orthodontic appliance can include an arch member including an arch member body and an arch member coupling connected to the body. The orthodontic appliance can also include an anchor including an anchor coupling and a base adapted to connect the anchor to a surface of a tooth. The arch member coupling can be releasably connectable to the anchor coupling, and the anchor can be adapted for displacement relative to the arch member body when the anchor is connected to the surface of the tooth and the arch member coupling is connected to the anchor coupling.

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.

A computer system and computerized method in which orthodontic treatment, including midcourse correction of one or more teeth in a dental arch fitted with a dental appliance, comprises a virtual simulation of a dental arch fitted with a virtual dental appliance in which each of the one or more teeth can be discretely moved from an initial position to a final position allowing modification of the fitted dental appliance by computerized selection of one or more brackets and production of a bonding tray adapted to hold the selected brackets in correspondence to determined bracket bonding locations in the virtual simulation of dental arch.

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.

A computer system and computerized method in which orthodontic treatment, including midcourse correction of one or more teeth in a dental arch fitted with a dental appliance, comprises a virtual simulation of a dental arch fitted with a virtual dental appliance in which each of the one or more teeth can be discretely moved from an initial position to a final position allowing modification of the fitted dental appliance by computerized selection of one or more brackets and production of a bonding tray adapted to hold the selected brackets in correspondence to determined bracket bonding locations in the virtual simulation of dental arch.

A method of fabricating a customized orthodontic appliance includes a setup model forming step of preparing a setup model corresponding to teeth after ideal orthodontic treatment for a patient, an arch wire forming step of preparing an arch wire corresponding to a dental arch of the setup model while being disposed to closely approach tooth surfaces of teeth of the setup model, and an orthodontic bracket forming step of forming a bracket body corresponding to each of the teeth with reference to the arch wire. Through this, the customized orthodontic appliance capable of minimizing the distance between the tooth surface and the arch wire to accurately perform the ideal orthodontic treatment is fabricated. Also, convenience and accuracy of procedure is improved, and irritating sensation in the oral cavity is minimized.

A method for treating orthodontitis (i.e., gingivitis caused by malpositioned teeth). The process includes evaluating improper morphologies of alveolar bone in the horizontal dimension (i.e., orthodontosis) caused by displaced root(s) of a tooth, uprighting the root of the malpositioned tooth utilizing an orthodontic bracket system thereby causing the alveolar bone to be restored, which in-turn alleviates the orthodontitis. An orthodontic bracket is provided for use with an arch wire to apply corrective forces to a tooth. The bracket includes a vertical member having a slot formed therein for receiving the arch wire and a wide base horizontal member connected to the vertical member. The vertical member is positioned gingivally with respect to the horizontal member. The horizontal member includes opposing first and second ends that extend away from the vertical member and define a pair of spaced-apart wire engaging points engageable with the arch wire during treatment.

An orthodontic appliance, includes a crimpable tubular shaped portion having at least three walls selected from the group consisting of a lingual wall, a buccal or labial wall, an occlusal wall and a gingival wall, the at least three walls defining and opening configured to receive an archwire therethrough in a mesial-distal direction. The appliance includes at least one wing joined to the tubular shaped portion, the at least one wing extending longitudinally in the mesial-distal direction. A slot is provided in the at least one wing open to an end of the wing in the mesial or distal direction and having a depth in the mesial distal direction and a height in a gingival-occlusal direction configured to receive a ligature wire or elastic.