An instrument for facilitating opening of a ligating member for an orthodontic bracket. The instrument includes one tip designed to engage an opening feature on a labial side of a ligating door of the orthodontic bracket, and another tip designed to sit underneath a tie wing formed on a body of the orthodontic bracket. When the instrument is in position against the orthodontic bracket, squeezing together the handles results in the tips applying a reciprocal force on the ligating door and the bracket body to open the ligating door along the occlusal direction.

The invention relates to an orthodontic device which is particularly economical and as small as possible, and which has hooks and a small tube, produced from a sheet metal plate using stamping and bending techniques and without the use of welding or soldering. The orthodontic device comprises a base plate having a flat region with a gingival and an occlusal edge. An occlusal rolling forms the small tube. The gingival edge has a counter-directional rolling. Concave cuts are formed in the side edges in order to form wing-shaped hooks. Both rollings can hold an applicator/protector, with which the orthodontic device is protected during adhesion, and can then be applied to a tooth in the correct orientation.

According to an embodiment, a device for tightening an article includes a housing, a spool rotatably positioned within the housing, a knob operably coupled with the spool to cause the spool to rotate within the housing, and a stop mechanism. The device is configured so that incremental rotation of the knob in a first direction causes a corresponding incremental rotation of the spool within the housing that incrementally tensions a tension member and thereby tightens the article. The device is also configured so that incremental rotation of the knob in a second direction causes a corresponding incremental rotation of the spool that incrementally loosens the tension member's tension. The stop mechanism is configured to prevent rotation of the spool in the second direction when the tension member's tension achieves or falls below a tension threshold.

According to an embodiment, a device for tightening an article includes a housing, a spool rotatably positioned within the housing, a knob operably coupled with the spool to cause the spool to rotate within the housing, and a stop mechanism. The device is configured so that incremental rotation of the knob in a first direction causes a corresponding incremental rotation of the spool within the housing that incrementally tensions a tension member and thereby tightens the article. The device is also configured so that incremental rotation of the knob in a second direction causes a corresponding incremental rotation of the spool that incrementally loosens the tension member's tension. The stop mechanism is configured to prevent rotation of the spool in the second direction when the tension member's tension achieves or falls below a tension threshold.

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for processing wire which prevents the z-axis bending of the wire, and more particularly, to an apparatus for processing wire which is capable of further maximizing the effect of preventing the z-axis bending of the wire by minimizing wire exposure out of the apparatus.

According to an embodiment, a device for tightening an article includes a housing, a spool rotatably positioned within the housing, a knob operably coupled with the spool to cause the spool to rotate within the housing, and a stop mechanism. The device is configured so that incremental rotation of the knob in a first direction causes a corresponding incremental rotation of the spool within the housing that incrementally tensions a tension member and thereby tightens the article. The device is also configured so that incremental rotation of the knob in a second direction causes a corresponding incremental rotation of the spool that incrementally loosens the tension member's tension. The stop mechanism is configured to prevent rotation of the spool in the second direction when the tension member's tension achieves or falls below a tension threshold.

An enhanced plier including a first handle and a second handle, a first tip and a second tip; and a hinging assembly, the first handle and the second handle connected to the hinging assembly and the first tip and the second tip connected to the hinging assembly, wherein pressing the first handle and the second handle to cause the first tip to move towards the second tip. The enhanced plier further includes a gearing assembly, the gearing assembly coupled to the first handle or the second handle. The enhanced plier further includes a lever assembly, the lever assembly coupled to the gearing assembly, wherein a movement in a first direction of the lever assembly causes engagement of the gearing assembly and rotation of gears in the gearing assembly, which causes the enhanced plier to rotate about a rotation axis.

A wire bending apparatus includes a base portion, a supplying portion configured to move the orthodontic wire along a length direction of the orthodontic wire, a bushing holding portion configured to hold at least a portion of a distal end of the supplied orthodontic wire to restrict the orthodontic wire from moving in a width direction of the orthodontic wire, and a bending portion which is positioned on the base portion so as to be rotatable about a rotation center axis and bends the portion of the distal end of the orthodontic wire held by the bushing holding portion to a predetermined angle with respect to a supply direction of the orthodontic wire as the bending portion is rotated.

A twisting-action, sliding bracket-door opening tool including a ceramic blade for opening self-ligating brackets, particularly ceramic self-ligating brackets with ceramic doors. The ceramic tool blade allows for opening of the ceramic bracket sliding door without significant wear or function loss, as compared to a similar tool made of stainless steel.

According to an embodiment, a device for tightening an article includes a housing, a spool rotatably positioned within the housing, a knob operably coupled with the spool to cause the spool to rotate within the housing, and a stop mechanism. The device is configured so that incremental rotation of the knob in a first direction causes a corresponding incremental rotation of the spool within the housing that incrementally tensions a tension member and thereby tightens the article. The device is also configured so that incremental rotation of the knob in a second direction causes a corresponding incremental rotation of the spool that incrementally loosens the tension member's tension. The stop mechanism is configured to prevent rotation of the spool in the second direction when the tension member's tension achieves or falls below a tension threshold.