RETENTION DEVICE COMPRISING A RETENTION APPARATUS AND POSITIONING CLIPS, AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SUCH A RETENTION DEVICE

Abstract

Disclosed is a retention device including at least one retention apparatus, designed to be bonded on a portion of a dental arch, and at least two clips, positioned apart from one another; each clip being a rigid hook and rigidly attached to the retention apparatus, and configured to fasten to the dental arch. Also disclosed is a method for producing such a retention device.

Claims

1. A retention device including at least one retention apparatus configured to be bonded on a portion of a dental arch, wherein the retention apparatus is configured to cover at least two teeth, the retention device further comprising at least two clips, positioned apart from one another, each clip being a rigid hook and rigidly attached to the retention apparatus, and configured to fasten to the dental arch.

2. The retention device according to claim 1, wherein the retention apparatus has an average thickness of at least 0.3 mm.

3. The retention device according to claim 1, wherein the retention apparatus is a ribbon and has a shape corresponding to a set of back faces, also called posterior faces, of the teeth of the portion of the dental arch which the retention device is configured to cover.

4. The retention device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one breakable rupture primer located at an intersection between one of the clips and the retention apparatus in order to facilitate a removal of the clip.

5. The retention device according to claim 1, wherein at least the retention apparatus is produced in a composite polymer material including an amorphous crosslinked polymer composite material.

6. A method for producing a retention device according to claim 1 including: modeling the retention device supplying a model of the retention device, the step including: modeling the retention apparatus depending on a digital model of the portion of the dental arch supplying a digital model of the retention apparatus, and modeling clips depending on the digital model of the portion of the dental arch and on the digital model of the retention apparatus machining a wafer of material configured to produce at least a portion of the retention device and/or a step of three-dimensional printing of at least a portion of the retention device depending on the model of the retention device supplied by the step of modeling the retention device.

7. The retention device according to claim 1, wherein the retention apparatus has an average thickness of between 0.5 mm and 0.9 mm.

8. The retention device according to claim 1, wherein the retention apparatus has an average thickness of approximately 0.8 mm.

9. The retention device according to claim 2, wherein the retention apparatus is a ribbon and has a shape corresponding to a set of back faces, also called posterior faces, of the teeth of the portion of the dental arch which the retention device is configured to cover.

10. The retention device according to claim 2, further comprising at least one breakable rupture primer located at an intersection between one of the clips and the retention apparatus in order to facilitate a removal of the clip.

11. The retention device according to claim 3, further comprising at least one breakable rupture primer located at an intersection between one of the clips and the retention apparatus in order to facilitate a removal of the clip.

12. The retention device according to claim 2, wherein at least the retention apparatus is produced in a composite polymer material including an amorphous crosslinked polymer composite material.

13. The retention device according to claim 3, wherein at least the retention apparatus is produced in a composite polymer material including an amorphous crosslinked polymer composite material.

14. The retention device according to claim 4, wherein at least the retention apparatus is produced in a composite polymer material including an amorphous crosslinked polymer composite material.

15. A method for producing a retention device according to claim 2 including: modeling the retention device supplying a model of the retention device, the step including: modeling the retention apparatus depending on a digital model of the portion of the dental arch supplying a digital model of the retention apparatus, and modeling clips depending on the digital model of the portion of the dental arch and on the digital model of the retention apparatus machining a wafer of material configured to produce at least a portion of the retention device and/or a step of three-dimensional printing of at least a portion of the retention device depending on the model of the retention device supplied by the step of modeling the retention device.

16. A method for producing a retention device according to claim 3 including: modeling the retention device supplying a model of the retention device, the step including: modeling the retention apparatus depending on a digital model of the portion of the dental arch supplying a digital model of the retention apparatus, and modeling clips depending on the digital model of the portion of the dental arch and on the digital model of the retention apparatus machining a wafer of material configured to produce at least a portion of the retention device and/or a step of three-dimensional printing of at least a portion of the retention device depending on the model of the retention device supplied by the step of modeling the retention device.

17. A method for producing a retention device according to claim 4 including: modeling the retention device supplying a model of the retention device, the step including: modeling the retention apparatus depending on a digital model of the portion of the dental arch supplying a digital model of the retention apparatus, and modeling clips depending on the digital model of the portion of the dental arch and on the digital model of the retention apparatus machining a wafer of material configured to produce at least a portion of the retention device and/or a step of three-dimensional printing of at least a portion of the retention device depending on the model of the retention device supplied by the step of modeling the retention device.

18. A method for producing a retention device according to claim 5 including: modeling the retention device supplying a model of the retention device, the step including: modeling the retention apparatus depending on a digital model of the portion of the dental arch supplying a digital model of the retention apparatus, and modeling clips depending on the digital model of the portion of the dental arch and on the digital model of the retention apparatus machining a wafer of material configured to produce at least a portion of the retention device and/or a step of three-dimensional printing of at least a portion of the retention device depending on the model of the retention device supplied by the step of modeling the retention device.

19. The retention device according to claim 7, wherein the retention apparatus is a ribbon and has a shape corresponding to a set of back faces, also called posterior faces, of the teeth of the portion of the dental arch which the retention device is configured to cover.

20. The retention device according to claim 8, wherein the retention apparatus is a ribbon and has a shape corresponding to a set of back faces, also called posterior faces, of the teeth of the portion of the dental arch which the retention device is configured to cover.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0089] The invention, according to one exemplary embodiment, will be better understood and its advantages will be better revealed upon reading the detailed description that follows, given by way of indication and in no way limiting, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0090] FIG. 1 shows a digital model of a dental arch;

[0091] FIG. 2 illustrates an extract of the geometries of the posterior faces of the teeth on which a retention apparatus is to be placed;

[0092] FIG. 3 shows a digital model of a retention device according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

[0093] FIG. 4 shows schematically a positioning of the clips on a dental arch;

[0094] FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a retention device according to the invention, including a retention apparatus and three clips;

[0095] FIG. 6 illustrates an anterior view of the retention device of FIG. 5;

[0096] FIG. 7 shows an example of positioning of the retention device of FIG. 5 on a dental arch;

[0097] FIG. 8 illustrates, in section view, placement of the retention device for a positioning as illustrated in FIG. 7;

[0098] FIG. 9 shows a section view of FIG. 7; and

[0099] FIG. 10 illustrates schematically the retention apparatus derived from the retention device shown in FIG. 5 on a dental arch as illustrated in FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0100] Identical elements shown in the aforementioned figures are identified by identical numerical references.

[0101] FIG. 1 show a three-dimensional digital model of a dental arch 10′.

[0102] A three-dimensional digital model of a dental arch 10′ of this type is for example produced by means of an intrabuccal scan, for example by means of a CONDOR® camera.

[0103] The digital file of the imprint thus obtained is possibly taken up in a program, for example the Dental-Wings® program.

[0104] A modeling of a retention apparatus 20 can then be performed.

[0105] It is then a matter of defining a geometry of the retention device, i.e. of the retention apparatus and of the clips.

[0106] To this end, a step of modeling the retention apparatus includes a step of identifying the geometries of the posterior faces of the teeth on which the retention apparatus is to be placed.

[0107] In FIG. 2, this step appears in the definition of the hashed surface 20″, which serves to define a contour of the retention apparatus.

[0108] The method then include s a step of defining the thickness of the retention apparatus.

[0109] This thickness (“e,” indicated in FIG. 8 for example) can be constant for the retention apparatus, but is is preferably variable to better adapt the retention apparatus to the shape of the dental arch, for better comfort of the wearer for example, and/or depending on the forces that the retention apparatus must tolerate.

[0110] Thus, the average thickness is for example comprised between 0.5 mm and 0.9 mm, and at all points, the thickness is preferably at least equal to 0.3 mm and at most equal to 3 mm.

[0111] The thickness e being considered very small relative to a height h (defined according to the height of the teeth) and a length L (defined according to the number of teeth covered by the retention apparatus) of the retention apparatus, the retention apparatus being considered here to be a ribbon.

[0112] The retention apparatus is configured here to cover 6 teeth; for example, this involves covering a sector from one canine to the other canine of the same dental arch, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 7.

[0113] The step of modeling the retention device also includes a step of modeling the clips, shown for example in FIG. 3.

[0114] Here, the device includes three clips.

[0115] The clips are modeled to be positioned at an interface between two consecutive teeth. Thus, in the present exemplary embodiment, two clips are located between one incisor and the adjacent canine, and one clip is positioned between the two central incisors.

[0116] Their geometry is defined according to the shape of the dental arch.

[0117] The geometry of the clips is adapted and templated to that of the teeth so as to generate only an intimate contact.

[0118] Thus the absence of stress generated by the clips allows the retention device to be able to be applied perfectly to the faces of the teeth and to be able to monitor their passivity.

[0119] As shown in FIG. 4, each clip preferably extends at a maximum until the equator of the outer face of the teeth to facilitate the positioning of the device on a dental arch.

[0120] For example, the length of the clips is configured to ensure sufficient stability to the retention device and avoid a tilting phenomenon. The length of a clip is generally sufficient when it arrives at the level of half the height of the retention apparatus.

[0121] Moreover, the clips are configured so that a retention force allows intimate contact between the retention device and the dental arch in order not to generate the tilting phenomenon, i.e. the clips are preferably not exerting stress on the teeth so as not to induce a force which would hamper the positioning of the device and a bonding of the retention apparatus on the back faces of the teeth.

[0122] The method also includes a step of defining a breakable rupture primer at an intersection between one of the clips, preferably each of the clips, and the retention apparatus in order to facilitate the subsequent removal of the clip.

[0123] A breakable rupture primer of this type is for example a notch and/or a narrowing of the cross section of the clip.

[0124] FIG. 3 shows a digital model of a retention device 20′ according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, including a digital model of the retention apparatus 21′ and a digital model of the clips 22′ (three in number).

[0125] FIGS. 5 and 6 show by way of illustration a retention device 20 obtained from the digital model of a retention device 20′ of FIG. 3 for example.

[0126] The retention device 20 includes a retention apparatus 21 and clips 22, three clips here.

[0127] For producing at least one retention device 20 as described above, a CAD file, for example a file in the STL format, having at least one retention device 20 and preferably more, is transferred for example to a machining preparation program, for example the program Work-NC®, and/or a three-dimensional printing program.

[0128] Production by machining and/or by three-dimensional printing is advantageous because there can thus be no discontinuity in the geometry of the retention apparatus and even of the retention device.

[0129] In a preferred implementation example, the machining is carried out in a wafer of crosslinked amorphous polymer composite. A material of this type is for example marketed under the reference Bredent HIPC® (High Impact Polymer Composite).

[0130] For example, machining is carried out with a so-called “laboratory” machine, such as those marketed under the designation Roland DWX 510® or IMES-ICORE CORITEC 350i®, for example.

[0131] The retention apparatus 20 can also be at least in part produced by three-dimensional printing.

[0132] It is thus possible to produce several retention devices together, each retention device being specific for a different dental arch.

[0133] In one exemplary embodiment, the retention apparatus 20 thus produced is then polished and cleaned.

[0134] The placement of the retention device 20 is typically accomplished vertically, as illustrated in FIG. 8, without forcing, without deformation of the retention device, while taking into account a natural undercut of the portion of the dental arch considered, on the vestibular and palatal or lingual face.

[0135] For example, the adhesive is applied to the teeth and/or the anterior face of the retention apparatus 21.

[0136] An adhesive of this type is for example marketed under the designation Panavia V5 KURARAY®.

[0137] The adhesive is then photo-polymerized.

[0138] It is then possible to withdraw the clips, for example by simple breakable action or for example by milling, directly in the mouth of the individual.

[0139] By way of illustration, FIG. 10 shows the retention apparatus 21, in place on a dental arch 10, which then corresponds to the digital model of a dental arch 10′ illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4.