A cover device formed of a plastic or similar composition is structured for removable attachment over a bracket of an orthodontic appliance to conceal the bracket from view. The cover device includes a main plate with an outer front face, and top and bottom claws integrally formed with the main plate, curling behind the main plate, and each terminating at distal ends in spaced, opposing relation to each other behind the main plate. The front face includes an ornamental design or other indicia that is applied by polymer fusion technology to significantly reduce the risk of exposing the user to inks and pigment compositions, particularly if the cover device is accidentally swallowed. The application of the indicia by polymer fusion technology also increases the structural integrity of the cover device; mechanically strengthening the cover device at its point of greatest flexure.

Orthodontic arch wires with specific shapes and bends designed to encourage expansion of the posterior teeth while preventing the flaring of anterior teeth during the alignment phase. The arch wires divide the dentition into sections and treat each section differently so as to minimize undesirable effects during the alignment process. While the arch wires of the present invention are used to improve mechanics with non-extraction, they can also be used in extraction cases to avoid round tripping and some iatrogenic side effects that can occur by engaging all the teeth at the same time. The arch wires of the present invention can be preformed or customized to each case. The arch wires of the present invention are generally of two types referred to as sectional (S-RA) wires and consolidation (C-RA) wires.

A series of appliances including a first shell and a second shell can be designed to incrementally implement a treatment plan. The first and second shells can have cavities designed to receive teeth of a jaw. The first shell can be designed to interface with a first surface of a plurality of surfaces of an attachment structure to provide a first engagement force specific to a first stage of the treatment plan. The second shell can be designed to interface with a second surface of the plurality of surfaces of the attachment structure attached to the at least one tooth of the first jaw to provide a second engagement force specific to a second stage of the treatment plan.

A series of appliances including a first shell and a second shell can be designed to incrementally implement a treatment plan. The first and second shells can have cavities designed to receive teeth of a jaw. The first shell can be designed to interface with a first surface of a plurality of surfaces of an attachment structure to provide a first engagement force specific to a first stage of the treatment plan. The second shell can be designed to interface with a second surface of the plurality of surfaces of the attachment structure attached to the at least one tooth of the first jaw to provide a second engagement force specific to a second stage of the treatment plan.

An aligner assembly for facilitating an alignment of one or more teeth is disclosed. The aligner assembly includes a shell adapted to receive the one or more teeth. The aligner assembly further includes one or more engagement structures configured to be coupled to one of the one or more teeth or the shell. Each engagement structure includes a slot and adapted to engage with the shell for facilitating a reposition of the one or more teeth.

A system and method of forming a coated orthodontic wire for use in an orthodontic wire alignment system. The coating is designed to be applied to a conventional orthodontic wire, typically made of nickel titanium, and stable at storage and during clinical insertion to the patient, does not affect the elastic properties of the nickel titanium wire and which dissolves, after a predetermined period of time, when the coated wire is placed in the patient's mouth. The dissolvability feature of the coating is important to form an aperture in a composite bead that adheres to the tooth. The created aperture allows the nickel titanium wire to displace through the composite bead, without disengaging from the composite bead, and thereby effectuate tooth movement. As such, the coating must also be edible in nature.

A system and method of forming a coated orthodontic wire for use in an orthodontic wire alignment system. The coating is designed to be applied to a conventional orthodontic wire, typically made of nickel titanium, and stable at storage and during clinical insertion to the patient, does not affect the elastic properties of the nickel titanium wire and which dissolves, after a predetermined period of time, when the coated wire is placed in the patient's mouth. The dissolvability feature of the coating is important to form an aperture in a composite bead that adheres to the tooth. The created aperture allows the nickel titanium wire to displace through the composite bead, without disengaging from the composite bead, and thereby effectuate tooth movement. As such, the coating must also be edible in nature.

A brace cap is disclosed, and a method for using such. The brace cap has an annular design with an asymmetric c-shape rotated around a central axis, configured to surround a brace bracket to prevent the brace bracket from irritating adjacent surfaces within a mouth of a user. The asymmetric c-shape has a first arm and a second arm, where the first arm is longer than the second arm.

An orthodontic appliance may include an archwire and multiple orthodontic brackets. The archwire may fit within a human mouth and contain multiple male connectors. Each orthodontic bracket may have a configuration that facilitates attaching the orthodontic bracket to a single tooth. Each orthodontic bracket may allow one of the male connectors to be locked into the orthodontic bracket with a snapping action. The male connector may be unable to slide with respect to the orthodontic bracket after being locked in the orthodontic bracket. A manual unlocking action may allow the male connector to disengage from the orthodontic bracket.

A series of appliances including a first shell and a second shell can be designed to incrementally implement a treatment plan. The first and second shells can have cavities designed to receive teeth of a jaw. The first shell can be designed to interface with a first surface of a plurality of surfaces of an attachment structure to provide a first engagement force specific to a first stage of the treatment plan. The second shell can be designed to interface with a second surface of the plurality of surfaces of the attachment structure attached to the at least one tooth of the first jaw to provide a second engagement force specific to a second stage of the treatment plan.