A dental (orthodontic) wire cap 10 that is intended to receive the end portion 11 of a dental wire. The end portion 12 is intended to have its end extremity located internally of the cap 10 so that the end extremity of the end portion 11 is located internally of the cap 10 to thereby minimise risk of irritation to the cheek of the user.

A mandibular repositioning device having a lower assembly having a buccal tube having a slot opening formed therein with the tube being connected to a molar bracket that fits over a molar, a lower wedge having a head portion having an inner contact surface, and an integral extension portion with the extension portion being adapted for insertion into the slot opening for adjustment purposes, and an upper assembly having a buccal tube having a slot opening formed therein with the tube being connected to a molar bracket that fits over a molar, an upper wedge having a head portion having an outer rounded contact surface, and an integral extension portion, the extension portion being adapted for insertion into the slot opening for adjustment purposes. Set screws are adapted for contacting the extension portions for holding the upper wedge and lower wedge in place with the outer rounded contact surface bearing against the inner contact flat surface for repositioning a mandibular jaw.

The present invention relates to an orthodontic device including: a unit wire positioned on a labial or lingual side of a tooth to be corrected of an upper teeth group or a lower teeth group; an adhesive adhered to the corresponding tooth while covering the unit wire, and fixed by curing; a soluble substance formed at the unit wire to prevent the unit wire from being adhered to the adhesive and dissolved afterwards; and an arch wire inserted into the adhesive from which the unit wire containing the soluble substance in a dissolved state has been removed and moving in an axial direction to move the entire teeth. Unlike the prior art, according to the present invention, a unit wire with a soluble substance applied thereto or a soluble substance covered by an adhesive at a circumferential surface thereof is attached to each of a plurality of teeth to be corrected, and then an arch wire is inserted via a space of the adhesive, formed as the soluble substance is dissolved. Thus, aesthetically pleasing appearance may be achieved due to the adhesive compared to existing brackets, inconvenience of individuals undergoing orthodontic treatment may be reduced due to decreased size of the orthodontic device, and the occurrence of cavities may be prevented.

The bony bracket screw has a cross-slot head or a Phillips head and a shank extending from the head, the shank having a smooth upper portion, a threaded lower portion, and a self-tapping or self-drilling tip. The screw has an annual flange defining a stop disposed between the smooth upper shank and the threaded lower shank. The stop may have a larger diameter than the head. The screw has a bracket arm extending from the smooth upper shank at an oblique angle. The free end of the bracket arm has a round retainer, which may be circular or cylindrical and defines a smooth bore adapted for supporting a distractor or other dental appliance. The screw may be made from stainless steel or other noncorrosive, biocompatible material.

Provided are dental articles, and methods of making articles, having an aesthetic inorganic coating based on zirconia at least partially stabilized with yttrium oxide, calcium oxide, cerium oxide, or magnesium oxide. Stabilized zirconia coatings were found to provide a smooth, low friction surface having high abrasion resistance. These coatings are particularly applicable to orthodontic appliances. While virgin stabilized zirconia coatings can often have an undesirable color cast, it was discovered that this color cast can be substantially eliminated by heat treating the coated appliance in an oxygenated environment. The combination of depositing a stabilized zirconia coating and subsequently heat treating to decolorize the coating provides a surprisingly robust, stable, low-friction coating that is also aesthetic.

Aerogel, calcined articles, and crystalline articles comprising ZrO.sub.2. Exemplary uses of the crystalline metal oxide articles include dental articles (e.g., restoratives, replacements, inlays, onlays, veneers, full and partial crowns, bridges, implants, implant abutments, copings, anterior fillings, posterior fillings, and cavity liner, and bridge frameworks) and orthodontic appliances (e.g., brackets, buccal tubes, cleats, and buttons).

Force modules and assemblies for use in orthodontic corrections include an elongate hollow outer body extending between proximal and distal ends, a plunger, biasing member (e.g. spring), and push rod. The plunger and push rod are slidably received within different ends of the hollow outer body. The biasing member is positioned within the hollow outer body and provides an expansion force, which provides a desired corrective force. The outer body, plunger, biasing member, and push rod can be configured in a telescoping relationship in order for the components to be telescopically compressed and expanded during use. The distal end can include a bendable pin or latch mechanism for attachment to a buccal tube. The push rod can include a hook, hole, or slot for attachment to an archwire. Various connectors for coupling an orthodontic force module to a buccal tube portion of a molar bracket are also disclosed.

The present disclosure relates to an orthodontic system and a method of using the same to perform orthodontics. In one example, an orthodontic system is presented. The orthodontic system includes a tube having at least one sidewall and two opening ends, and a luting agent. The luting agent is disposed on at least a portion of one or more of the at least one sidewall of the tube and a portion of a surface of a tooth onto which the tube is directly attached or adhered. The two opening ends of the tube remain substantially open so that a wire can move along the tube.

Disclosed are a dental wire supporter, which supports an orthodontic wire and limits the movement of the orthodontic wire in a predetermined direction, and an orthodontic device (orthodontic system) having the same. The dental wire supporter includes a limiter having a wire hole into which an orthodontic wire is inserted, and a support base provided at the limiter in order to fix the limiter to a tooth. One side of the wire hole is blocked and an opposite side of the wire hole is open so that the limiter supports the end of the orthodontic wire in a longitudinal direction of the orthodontic wire.

Orthodontic force modules and assemblies for use in correcting class II and/or class III malocclusions include an elongate hollow outer body extending between proximal and distal ends, a plunger, spring, and push rod. The plunger and push rod are slidably received within different ends of the hollow outer body. The spring is positioned within the hollow outer body and provides an expansion force which provides a desired corrective force. The outer body, plunger, spring, and push rod can be configured in a telescoping relationship in order for the components to be telescopically compressed and expanded during use. The distal end can include a bendable pin or latch mechanism for attachment to a buccal tube. The push rod can include a hook, hole, or slot for attachment to an archwire. Various connectors for coupling an orthodontic force module to a buccal tube portion of a molar bracket are also disclosed.