A METHOD OF MANUFACTURING AN ORTHODONTIC SYSTEM
20210251730 · 2021-08-19
Assignee
Inventors
- Bruno CURIEL (Raanana, IL)
- Benjamin COUDRIN (Leguevin, FR)
- Didier ERNENWEIN (Vaucresson, FR)
- Jacques HARVENT (Le Perreux sur Marne, FR)
Cpc classification
A61C7/12
HUMAN NECESSITIES
B33Y80/00
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
A61C5/007
HUMAN NECESSITIES
International classification
A61C7/00
HUMAN NECESSITIES
Abstract
A method of manufacturing an orthodontic system for the orthodontic treatment of a patient's teeth, including a printing step wherein the orthodontic system is made by three dimensional printing. A method for the placement of an appliance for the orthodontic treatment of patient's teeth, and the use of the appliance of such an orthodontic system.
Claims
1-14. (canceled)
15. A method of manufacturing an orthodontic system for the orthodontic treatment of a patient's teeth, the orthodontic system comprising an appliance and a jig, wherein the appliance comprises pearls which are each provided with a slot into which an orthodontic wire can be inserted, wherein the pearls are interconnected by means of the jig and wherein the jig comprises separated caps, said caps being shaped individually to the shape of the teeth, the method comprising a digital setup of the orthodontic treatment made in order to get a simulation of the corrected position of the teeth performed on the basis of a malocclusion model, digitally designing the pearls and digitally positioning the pearls on said digital setup, and a printing step wherein the orthodontic system is made by three dimensional printing.
16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the caps are interconnected.
17. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the jig further includes a master-jig, the caps being interconnected by means of the master-jig.
18. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the pearls are each detachable from the jig.
19. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the caps are connected to the pearls.
20. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the pearls are each detachable from caps.
21. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the orthodontic system further comprises at least one mark.
22. The method according to claim 15, wherein at said printing step, said orthodontic system is formed in one piece.
23. The method according to claim 15, wherein prior said printing step, a digital initial malocclusion model is obtained directly from the output of an intraoral scanner.
24. The method according to claim 16, wherein prior said printing step, a digital initial malocclusion model is obtained from the scan of an imprint of the patient's teeth.
25. The method according to claim 15, wherein the archwire is designed digitally and positioned digitally on said digital setup.
26. The method according to claim 15, wherein the archwire is placed in the pearls after printing and prior the orthodontic system is placed in the mouth of a patient.
27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the jig further includes a master-jig, the caps being interconnected by means of the master-jig, wherein the caps are provided with connectors and arms and wherein the caps, the master-jig, the arms and the connectors are manufactured in the initial position thereby forming the jig.
28. The method according to claim 26, wherein the orthodontic system is cleaned in isopropanol, the orthodontic system is further dunk into an ultrasonic bath and then the orthodontic system is cured again with UVs to fix and solidify definitely.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0057] Further features and advantages of the disclosure will emerge in the course of the following description of one of the embodiments thereof, given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the drawings attached. In the various figures, the same references denote identical or similar elements.
[0058] In the drawings:
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE
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[0078] Generally, as disclosed in document U.S. Pat. No. 8,678,817 B2,such a bracket includes a mounting base for attachment to a tooth surface and an archwire slot formed upon the base and sized for receiving an orthodontic archwire (or orthodontic wire).
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[0080] Due to their geometry and/or dimensions, such known brackets 516 are easily visible, that make the brackets 516 unaesthetic. Furthermore, and especially when the brackets are placed on the lingual surface of a tooth (not depicted on the figs.), the brackets as already known could cause a discomfort, when, for example, the tongue touches the brackets.
[0081] The patient prefers for this reason to have an appliance 10 according to the disclosure and described hereinafter.
[0082]
[0083] This embodiment consists of a lingual version, wherein pearls 15 that replace the brackets 16 and bases 14 are arranged on the inner (lingual) surface 11B of the teeth 11. The pearls 15 are then outwardly invisible. The disclosure is however not limited to such a version, the labial version being also part of the disclosure although not depicted on the figures.
[0084] In both versions (lingual or labial), the placement of the appliance would be a difficult procedure should it be necessary to position each pearl 15 individually; the pearl 15 is generally bonded onto the tooth 11. However, according to the disclosure, this difficulty is overcome thanks to the orthodontic system and to the fact that the pearls are linked and placed together optimally on each tooth 11 to be treated.
[0085] Such a pearl allows notably being blended with the tooth. More precisely, with a pearl defined in the disclosure, the patient does not feel (or barely) it in his/her mouth. Besides, such a pearl is very aesthetic since it is little or no visible. The pearl 15 has the function of a bracket for the orthodontic wire 12. In addition the pearl 15 can be generally smaller than the brackets known from the prior art. Therefore, the pearls according to the disclosure are less incommoding. In addition, with the appliance of the disclosure no base is needed on the contrary to the appliance known from the prior art, where a base is placed between the tooth and the bracket.
[0086] As for embodiments known from the prior art, the embodiment in the lingual version (
[0087] As seen more clearly in
[0088] The pearls 15 may be of any shape, they may for example include wings, an intermediate part for optionally receiving chains or a second slot. The pearls 15 are attached to the teeth 11 using known attachment means, for example by bonding.
[0089] A first embodiment of the pearl according to the disclosure is depicted on
[0090] In addition, the surface has a domed shape. As depicted in
[0091] With reference to
[0092]
[0093] The whole could obviously be arranged on the side of the outer face 11A of the teeth 11. The cap 24 is arranged on a tooth 11. In this position, the pearl 15 is correctly positioned on the tooth 11.
[0094] In this embodiment, the master-jig 26 is situated above the arms 25, but it could be arranged to the front, on the side of the outer face 11A of the teeth 11 (or on the lingual side 11B when the appliance is placed on the outer face 11A of the teeth 11).
[0095] Advantageously, according to the tooth onto which it will be placed, the dimensions of the pearl is comprised between 2.0 mm and 3.0 mm in width W and between 3.0 mm and 4.0 mm in length L. Preferably, the volume is comprised between 2.0 mm.sup.3 (cubic millimeter) and 25.0 mm.sup.3. The pearl 15 has thus a particular compact size relative to a tooth. For example, on an adult tooth, the pearl 15 occupies between 20% and 99% of the lingual surface of the tooth. The pearl may have a shape that is anatomic and/or isomorphic with the teeth. In other words, for a tooth that is wider on its top free end than on its base, the shape of the pearl can also be wider toward the top free end of the tooth than toward the base of the tooth.
[0096] In addition, the pearl weights between 1 g (gram) and 10 g.
[0097] The pearl 15 is for example made of ceramic material. Ceramic has a similar color to the one of a tooth, which improves the aesthetic property of the pearl 15. In addition, ceramic is biocompatible, which means that it is compatible with an utilization for a human body. Ceramic is also a material resistant to load, which provides a good bearing of the pearl 15 regarding the load applied by the orthodontic wire 12 on the pearl 15. However, the pearl 15 may be made of other materials such as biocompatible resins.
[0098] These particular dimensions of the pearls provide an aesthetic result of the pearl. In addition, when a person runs his/her tongue over his/her tooth, he/she does not have the feeling the tooth comprises a foreign connector on its surface. Due to the small dimensions of the pearl, the tongue does not hook on the pearl, or is not skinned when running over the pearl.
[0099] Regardless of the version (lingual or labial), the appliance 10 may be placed on the lower jaw (mandible) or on the upper jaw (maxilla).
[0100] Furthermore, regardless of the version, the appliance 10 may include the same number of pearls 15 as teeth 11 in the mandible or indeed a lower number. Indeed, not all the teeth 11 in a jaw necessarily need to be treated and, in this case, it is appropriate to only place pearls on the teeth to be treated. As such, the appliance 10 may include pearls which are not all arranged in succession from one tooth to the adjacent tooth. In the example illustrated in
[0101] In order to facilitate the placement of an orthodontic appliance 10 as described above and ensure correct positioning of each of the pearls 15 on the relevant tooth 11, the disclosure relates to a placement method wherein the set of pearls 15 is manufactured in one piece. Such a manufacture is made using a three dimensional printing.
[0102] With an orthodontic appliance 10 manufactured in one piece, the pearls 15 can be positioned simultaneously on the teeth 11 without any possible error as illustrated in
[0103] Besides, the pearl can be coated. More precisely, the external surface of the pearl 15 can be coated. In fact, the pearl 15 could be manufactured in metal for technical or economic reasons and coated with a smooth material at its surface to increase the patient's comfort. Likewise, the pearl 15 can be made of a smooth material; in that case, the slot 18 can be in metal in order to facilitate the insertion of the wire and to reduce the friction between the wire and the slot.
[0104] A smooth material is for instance a ceramic material or a plastic material.
[0105] The method according to the disclosure is described with reference to the appliance 10 illustrated in
[0106] According to the disclosure, the simultaneous positioning of the pearls 15 is carried out using a single assembly or device 11, where all the pearls 15 are interconnected by means of connectors. These connectors have a rigidity that avoids the pearls to be unintentionally displaced one with regard to the other prior the placement in the mouth. In this instance, as illustrated in
[0107] The connectors may have a bridge function, forming a link between one or more pearls 15. The bridges may form a link between one or a plurality of pearls 15 and the master-jig 26. The bridges may also form a link between one or a plurality of caps 24 and one or a plurality of pearls 15.
[0108] The caps 24 are preferably shaped individually to the shape of the teeth 11. As such, by way of example, the cap 24′ is shaped to the tooth 11′, whereas the adjacent cap 11″ is shaped to the adjacent tooth to be treated 11″.
[0109] In order to facilitate the placement of an orthodontic appliance 10 as described above (first embodiment or second embodiment) and ensure correct positioning of each of the pearls 15 on the relevant tooth 11, at least one mark 15′ may be provided on the orthodontic system 13. Such a mark 15′ facilitates the placement of the orthodontic system 13 and more precisely the appliance 10 on the correct tooth, especially when not all the teeth are treated. For instance, each pearl or preferably each cap 24 is provided with a mark 15′. Not each pearl or cap needs to be provided with a mark 15′, actually only one is enough on one of the pearl or cap. For instance, the mark 15′ may correspond to the tooth number onto which the corresponding pearl is to be placed (see
[0110] Besides, the jig 22 comprises the caps 24 and the master-jig 26. In order to obtain a single assembly, the caps 24 may be interconnected by means of the master-jig 26. The master-jig 26 may be rigid such that the rigidity of the assembly is increased.
[0111] Each of the caps 24 may be connected to the master-jig 26 by means of an arm 25. In the absence of arms 25, the caps 24 are directly connected to the master-jig 26 as depicted on
[0112] Besides, should the orthodontic system 13 have arms 25 or not, the caps 24 may be connected to a pearl 15 via a connector 27. Actually, each cap 24 may be connected to a corresponding pearl 15 via a connector 27. However, several pearls 15 may be connected to a sole cap 24 as depicted on
[0113] Besides, as depicted on
[0114] As such, by way of example, the cap 24′ is connected on one hand to the master-jig 26 and on the other to a pearl 15′; similarly, the cap 24″ is connected on one hand to the master-jig 26 and on the other to a pearl 15″. More specifically, the cap 24′ is connected on one hand to the master-jig 26 by the arm 25′ and on the other to a pearl 14′ by the connector 27′; similarly, the cap 24″ is connected on one hand to the master-jig 26 by the arm 25″ and on the other to a pearl 14″ by the connector 27″. However, according to the disclosure, there is no need to have an arm and a connector between the corresponding cap and pearl. Actually, one or more pearls may be connected to a same cap 24 via corresponding connectors 27.
[0115] When the appliance 10 is lingual, as illustrated in
[0116] The design of the jig 22 is customised such that during the placement of the appliance 10, each pearl 15 is positioned exactly where needed on the relevant tooth 11.
[0117] In order to use the jig 22 and so as to position the pearls 15 and/or the orthodontic archwire 12 correctly, a digital setup of the orthodontic treatment is required. The digital setup is a simulation of the corrected position of the teeth performed on the basis of the malocclusion. The digital initial (malocclusion) model is obtained directly from the output of an intraoral scanner or from the scan of an imprint (for example in silicone) of the patient's teeth.
[0118] Once this simulation has been carried out, the corrected position of the teeth is used to design and position the orthodontic archwire 12 and the pearls 15 correctly.
[0119] Subsequently, the caps 24, the master-jig 26, the arms 25, and the connectors 27 are manufactured in the initial position (i.e. malocclusion) thereby forming the jig 22 so as to be able to place correctly the orthodontic system 13 and especially the appliance 10, in the mouth.
[0120] Manufacture in one piece makes it possible to do away with any assembly problems associated with manual handling.
[0121] To position the appliance 10 on the patient's teeth 11, the method according to the disclosure consists of simultaneously arranging the pearls 15. In this instance, the jig 22 is inserted into the patient's mouth, moved closer to the teeth of the jaw (inferior or superior) to be treated, until the caps 24 come into contact with the respective teeth 11; at this time, the pearls 15 are in contact with the relevant teeth 11 and are correctly positioned.
[0122] Once the pearls 15 are attached to the teeth 11 using attachment means, the jig 22 is separated from the pearls 15. For instance, the separation may occur in breaking the connectors 27 located between the pearls 15 and the caps 24. The rigidity of the connectors is chosen such that, on one hand, the jig 22 and especially the pearls 15 are rigidly maintained together and, on the other hand, it is easy to break the connectors. Such a break may be done manually (i.e. without any tool) or not (cut). In order to be easily breakable, each rib can have a fracture zone near the pearl; such a breakable zone allows a complete separation of the pearl from the rib.
[0123] After separation, only the appliance 10 remains in the mouth, each pearl being separated from the jig and maintained in place on the relevant teeth.
[0124] According to one embodiment of the disclosure, the archwire 12 can be placed in the slots 18 of the pearls 15 just after manufacturing. This placement can occur prior the orthodontic system 13 is placed in the mouth of a patient, i.e. in the manufacturing plant. In that case, the orthodontic wire 12 may be inserted into the slot of each of the pearls prior to positioning the jig 22 on the teeth 11, i.e. prior to placing the pearls 15 on the teeth 11. In this case, once the jig 22 has been placed on the teeth 11 and the pearls 15 attached, the jig is detached from the pearls and the appliance 10 is then correctly placed in the mouth. More precisely, the connectors 27 are separated from the pearls 15.
[0125] According to another embodiment of the disclosure, the archwire 12 can be placed in the slots 18 of the pearls 15 by the practitioner itself. The orthodontic wire 12 may be inserted into the slot 18 of each of the pearls after positioning the jig 22 on the teeth 11, i.e. after simultaneously placing the pearls 15 on the teeth 11. In this case, once the jig 22 has been placed on the teeth 11 and the pearls 15 attached, it is appropriate to insert the orthodontic wire 12 into the slots 18 of the pearls 15, then the jig 22 may be detached from the pearls 15; the appliance 10 is then correctly placed in the mouth.
[0126] When inserting the wire 12 into the slot of each of the pearls 15 prior positioning the jig 22 on the teeth 11, the wire 12 takes the shortest path between adjacent pearls.
[0127] When comparing the two different techniques (inserting prior to positioning or after positioning the jig 22) the orthodontic wire 12 will follow two different paths. In the first case the path will eventually go through a tooth 11 while in the second technique it will not. In other words, there is a need to add extra features. Supplementary parts are added to the jig 22 to drive the wire 12 correctly, thus allowing the jig 22 to be placed on the teeth 11. These parts may be either guides or contours of teeth 11 and are removed after the pearls 15 once detached.
[0128] Actually, the operator does not necessarily know the position of the teeth when he/she physically places the orthodontic wire 12 in the laboratory. The path of the orthodontic wire 12 may then not take into account the geometry of the teeth. When the device will have to be positioned in the mouth, the orthodontic wire 12 will block the insertion since it may arrive physically in the same place as a tooth as depicted schematically in
[0129] In order to overcome this problem, skirt elements 100 allowing the operator to position well physically the orthodontic wire 12 can be further provided on the jig 22, as depicted in
[0130] The orthodontic wire 12 is suitable for being deformed between an initial position wherein the patient's teeth 11 exhibit an alignment defect and a final position wherein the position of the patient's teeth 11 is corrected.
[0131] According to the disclosure another use of the appliance 10 than the orthodontic treatment described above, is for a contention treatment. Such a contention treatment is generally made during the entire life of the patient. After orthodontic treatment as disclosed above, the appliance is not removed from the mouth of the patient, but maintained in order to avoid any future teeth displacement.
[0132] The material used for the three dimensional printing may comprise a biocompatible resin sensitive to UVs. Three dimensional printing polymerizes liquid resin, layer by layer, with UV projection. Ceramics or other kinds of materials may however be used for the 3D printing of the entire orthodontic system 13 or at least a part of it. The orthodontic system 13 may be printed in one element or in separated elements. When in separated elements, each of them or at least one of them are/is manufactured by 3D printing. Besides, when manufactured in separated elements, the orthodontic system 13 is prior being put in the mouth of the patient assembled together.
[0133] The manufacture according to one embodiment of the disclosure, using a three dimensional printing may require the addition of supports 200 for the good construction of the orthodontic system 13 as depicted on
[0134] The manufacture according to another embodiment of the disclosure, as depicted on
[0135] The connectors 27 may then be detached from the pearls in the manufacture plant or by the practitioner itself. To this end, the connectors 27 can be easily and manually (without any tool) detached from the pearls and from the jig 22. Such a manufacture without supports 200 is possible without leading to a bad product because the printing begins on a face 22A of the orthodontic system 13 that is not used; in other words, although this face 22A will be rough and irregular, since it is a face of the jig 22 that do not need to be precise, there will be no impact on the quality of the orthodontic system 13. The connectors 27 may extend straight from jig 22 as depicted on