Abstract
A pocket orthodontic bonding pad for attaching orthodontic attachments to teeth wherein the orthodontic attachment is mechanically secured within a bonding pad pocket with a design that allows a slight buffering flexibility under masticatory stress and ease of removal of the orthodontic attachment. Upon removal of locking tabs the orthodontic attachment may be removed with minimal force, and the remaining bonding pad polished from the teeth with ease, which is most advantageous for brackets that tend to break upon removal and create high stress forces upon tooth structure. The ease of removing orthodontic attachments allows maximum bonding strengths.
Claims
1.-25. (canceled)
26. A pocket orthodontic bonding pad comprising: a four-sided pad with a top occlusal side, a bottom gingival side, left and right sides, a front and a back and retentive aspects, wherein the retentive aspects are attached on three of the top occlusal side, the left side, the bottom gingival side, and the right side of the four-sided pad, such that one of the top occlusal side, the left side, the bottom gingival side, and the right side is a side to which no retentive aspect is attached, and the retentive aspects can receive a base of an orthodontic attachment a protruding surface located on one of the top occlusal side, the left side, the bottom gingival side, or the right side of the four-sided pad, the location of the protruding surface being on the side on which there is no retentive aspect, the protruding surface protruding toward the front of the four-sided pad, wherein the protruding surface encloses the side to which no retentive aspect is attached and to which the protruding surface is attached such as to prevent removal of a base of an orthodontic attachment from the retentive aspects during orthodontic treatment, the removal of the protruding surface permitting the base of the orthodontic attachment to be removed from the pocket orthodontic bonding pad with minimal pressure, and the more that the protruding surface encloses the base of the orthodontic attachment the greater the force that must be applied to remove the orthodontic attachment and a bonding surface on the back of the four-sided pad wherein the bonding surface is irregular in order to enhance the bonding strength to the enamel surface of a tooth; wherein the removal of the base of the orthodontic attachment is dependent upon prior removal of the protruding surface or upon prior removal of a retentive aspect wherein the pocket orthodontic bonding pad comprises a shape comprising occlusal-gingival, mesial-distal, and lingual-labial dimensions that are customizable via three-dimensional printing to (1) fit the enamel surface of a tooth such that the bonding surface cooperatively engages dental anatomical contours of enamel of an individual patient's individual tooth, and (2) vary thickness and angulation of the pad such that the orientation of the orthodontic attachment is positioned at a customized specific pre-determined occlusal-gingival, mesial-distal, lingual-labial position and torque when the orthodontic attachment base is received by the retentive aspects of the pocket orthodontic bonding pad.
27. A pocket orthodontic bonding pad as in claim 26, wherein the retentive aspects are attached on the left, bottom gingival, and right sides of the four-sided pad, and the four-sided pad is open to the top occlusal side, and the protruding surface is located on the top occlusal side of the four-sided pad, the protruding surface protruding toward the front of the four-sided pad, and wherein the protruding surface encloses the top occlusal side such as to prevent removal of the base of the orthodontic attachment from the retentive aspects during orthodontic treatment.
28. An orthodontic attachment received by the pocket orthodontic bonding pad of claim 26, comprising: the base that cooperatively engages the retentive aspects of the four-sided pad of the pocket orthodontic bonding pad, wherein the base has a back and a front and left and right sides and top and bottom sides and the base may be removed from the retentive aspects of the pocket orthodontic bonding pad on the top occlusal side of the pocket orthodontic bonding pad with minimal pressure, removal of the base from the retentive aspects of the pocket orthodontic bonding pad dependent upon prior removal of the protruding surface or a retentive aspect a stem attached to the front of the base; and a head attached to the end of the stem opposite the end of the stem attached to the front of the base, the head optionally receiving an archwire or other orthodontic device.
29. An orthodontic attachment as in claim 28 wherein the base left and right sides taper wider to the occlusal, facilitating removal of the orthodontic attachment to the occlusal.
30. An orthodontic attachment as in claim 28 wherein the base left and right sides taper wider to the gingival, facilitating removal of the orthodontic attachment to the occlusal.
31. An orthodontic attachment as in claim 28 wherein the orthodontic attachment is an orthodontic bracket or tube.
32. An orthodontic attachment as in claim 28, wherein the back of the base has a smooth surface, facilitating easy removal of the orthodontic attachment from retentive aspects of the pocket orthodontic bonding pad.
33. An orthodontic attachment as in claim 28 further comprising a relief channel in the orthodontic attachment base and stem from the top occlusal side to the bottom side, the orthodontic attachment to which mesial-distal pressure can be applied to collapse the orthodontic attachment base and remove the orthodontic attachment from the retentive aspects of the pocket orthodontic bonding pad.
34. An orthodontic attachment as in claim 28 further comprising a relief channel in the orthodontic attachment base and stem from the left side to the right side, the orthodontic attachment to which occlusal-gingival pressure can be applied to collapse the orthodontic attachment base and remove the orthodontic attachment from the retentive aspects of the pocket orthodontic bonding pad.
35. An orthodontic attachment as in claim 28 wherein the base provides rigidity to the bonding surface of the pocket orthodontic bonding pad when the base is locked within the pocket orthodontic bonding pad, and wherein the rigidity of the bonding surface is decreased upon removal of the base.
36. A pocket orthodontic bonding pad as in claim 26, wherein the retentive aspects attached on the left and right sides of the four-sided pad taper wider to the occlusal, facilitating removal of the orthodontic attachment to the occlusal following the removal of the protruding surface using a device such as a dental drill, the removal of the orthodontic attachment with the use of an orthodontic instrument such as band removing pliers.
37. A pocket orthodontic bonding pad as in claim 26, wherein the retentive aspects attached on the left and right sides of the four-sided pad taper wider to the gingival, facilitating removal of the orthodontic attachment to the occlusal following the removal of the protruding surface using a device such as a dental drill, the removal of the orthodontic attachment with the use of an orthodontic instrument such as band removing pliers.
38. A pocket orthodontic bonding pad as in claim 26 wherein the retentive aspects are a hollow pocket that is enclosed on the left, bottom gingival, and right sides, and open to the top occlusal side, and that can receive the orthodontic attachment.
39. A pocket orthodontic bonding pad as in claim 26 wherein the retentive aspects are tabs attached on the bottom gingival, and optionally the left and right sides of the four-sided pad, and that can receive the orthodontic attachment.
40. A pocket orthodontic bonding pad as in claim 26 wherein the pocket orthodontic bonding pad is a plastic/polymer or similar material suitably forming a strong bond with orthodontic bonding materials and such that the bonding surface can be easily removed from a tooth with a device such as a dental drill.
41. A pocket orthodontic bonding pad as in claim 26 wherein the front has a smooth surface.
42. A pocket orthodontic bonding pad as in claim 26 wherein the protruding surface is a tab.
43. A pocket orthodontic bonding pad as in claim 26 wherein the bonding strength between the bonding surface of the pocket orthodontic bonding pad and a tooth is at least 12 MPa.
44. A pocket orthodontic bonding pad as in claim 26, further comprising a spine in the middle of the front side of the four-sided pad from the top occlusal side to the bottom side, the spine protruding outward from the four-sided pad of the pocket orthodontic bonding pad, the spine filling a relief channel in an orthodontic attachment with a relief channel, the orthodontic attachment received in the retentive aspects of the pocket orthodontic bonding pad, and the spine diverting the orthodontic attachment with the relief channel outward or away from the pocket orthodontic bonding pad upon application of mesial-distal pressure to the orthodontic attachment with the relief channel.
45. A pocket orthodontic bonding pad as in claim 26 further comprising a spine in the middle of the front side of the four-sided pad from the left side to the right side, the spine protruding outward from the four-sided pad of the pocket orthodontic bonding pad, the spine filling a relief channel in an orthodontic attachment with a relief channel, the orthodontic attachment received in the hollow pocket of the pocket orthodontic bonding pad, and the spine diverting the orthodontic attachment with the relief channel outward or away from the pocket orthodontic bonding pad upon application of occlusal-gingival pressure to the orthodontic attachment with the relief channel.
46. A pocket orthodontic bonding pad as in claim 26 wherein the protruding surface is made of a thickness, shape, and surface area such that pressure released upon the removal of the closed pocket top is less than the bond strength of the adhesive between the four-sided pad and a tooth.
47. A pocket orthodontic bonding pad as in claim 26 wherein the protruding surface is made of a thickness, shape, and surface area such as to control or direct the occlusal-gingival, mesial-distal, and lingual-labial force vectors and affect removal of an orthodontic attachment in a pre-determined direction without prior removal of the protruding surface or prior removal of a retentive aspect.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the pocket orthodontic bonding pad.
[0023] FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the pocket orthodontic bonding pad with the upper part hinged open.
[0024] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an orthodontic attachment with a female receptacle in the base.
[0025] FIG. 3 is a frontal view of the orthodontic attachment stem wherein the base is locked within the pocket orthodontic bonding pad with protruding surfaces and a central protruding surface;
[0026] FIG. 4 is a cross-section of FIG. 3 through D-D showing a cross-section of the orthodontic bracket;
[0027] FIG. 5 is a cross-section of FIG. 3 through C-C.
[0028] FIG. 6 is a frontal view of the orthodontic attachment stem wherein the base is locked within the pocket orthodontic bonding pad with protruding surfaces.
[0029] FIG. 7 is a cross-section of FIG. 6 through E-E showing a cross-section of the orthodontic attachment.
[0030] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the pad wherein the attachment-containing pad is attached to a tooth and a dental drill is used to remove the protruding surfaces.
[0031] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an orthodontic band remover removing the orthodontic attachment from the bonding pad.
[0032] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a dental handpiece with a grinding stone removing the bonding pad from the surface of the tooth.
[0033] FIG. 11 is a rear view of an orthodontic attachment embodiment with a relief channel.
[0034] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the orthodontic attachment shown in FIG. 11.
[0035] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the orthodontic attachment with a relief channel with mesial-distal pressure exerted such that the bracket is compressed inward into the relief channel
[0036] FIG. 14 is a top cross-section view of an orthodontic attachment with a relief channel reversibly received into a pocket orthodontic bonding pad with a spine.
[0037] FIG. 15 is a top cross-section view showing application of mesial-distal pressure to an orthodontic attachment with a relief channel reversibly received into a pocket orthodontic bonding pad with a spine.
[0038] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of an orthodontic bonding pad attached to a tooth.
[0039] FIG. 17A is a perspective view of an orthodontic attachment that has reversibly received the orthodontic bonding pad of FIG. 16.
[0040] FIG. 17B is a perspective view showing a dental drill removing a protruding surface from the orthodontic bonding pad in FIG. 17A.
[0041] FIG. 17C is a perspective view showing an orthodontic band remover removing the orthodontic attachment from the bonding pad in FIG. 17A.
[0042] FIG. 17D is a perspective view showing the bonding pad of FIG. 17A after the protruding surface has been removed and the orthodontic attachment lifted off
[0043] FIG. 17E shows showing a dental handpiece with a grinding stone removing the bonding pad of FIG. 17D from the surface of the tooth.
[0044] FIG. 18A is an occlusal-gingival cross-section of an alternative embodiment of an orthodontic bonding pad with a living hinge that has been reversibly received by an orthodontic attachment.
[0045] FIG. 18B is an occlusal-gingival cross-section showing the movement of the orthodontic bonding pad of FIG. 18A when open, the bonding surface of the orthodontic bonding pad not bonded to the enamel of a tooth.
[0046] FIG. 18C is a mesial-distal cross-section of the orthodontic attachment in FIG. 18A that has reversibly received the orthodontic bonding pad.
[0047] FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing an alternative embodiment of an orthodontic bonding pad with a living hinge on the bonding surface.
[0048] FIG. 20 is a perspective view of an orthodontic attachment that has reversibly received the orthodontic bonding pad of FIG. 19.
[0049] FIG. 21 is a lingual-labial cross-section of an alternative embodiment of an orthodontic bonding pad that has received an orthodontic attachment.
[0050] FIG. 22 shows a single tooth of a replica of an individual patient's tooth.
[0051] FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the single tooth shown in FIG. 22.
[0052] FIG. 24 is a back view of an embodiment of an orthodontic bonding pad that has received an orthodontic attachment.
[0053] FIG. 25 is a back view of an alternative embodiment of the orthodontic bonding pad shown in FIG. 24.
[0054] FIG. 26 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the tooth shown in FIG. 23.
[0055] FIG. 27 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an orthodontic bonding pad with an occlusal index attached.
[0056] FIG. 28 is a frontal view of a tooth of a patient with the orthodontic bonding pad of FIG. 27 that has reversibly received an orthodontic attachment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0057] The present invention relates to an orthodontic attachment bonding pad that contains retentive aspects that receive an orthodontic attachment and has a bonding surface that bonds to a tooth. The design of the pocket is to allow the removal of the attachment with minimal pressure. The pocket orthodontic bonding pad is comprised of a polymer/plastic material that is comprised of a highly bondable material that is of a hardness such that it can be easily removed from a tooth with a dental drill. The material and the design of the pocket orthodontic bonding pad are intended to produce a shock absorbing effect. The x-, y-, and z-directional axes are subsequently referred to and claimed by reference to mesial-distal, occlusal-gingival, and lingual-labial axes for relation to human anatomical dimensions, without respect to corresponding axes; no representation is made, for example, that the x-axis need be limited to specifically correspond to one of mesial-distal, occlusal-gingival, or lingual-labial over either of the others two. Additionally, torque refers to the rotation of a tooth on its long axis, especially the movement of the apical portions of the teeth by use of orthodontic appliances. Angulation refers to the deviation of a tooth from a straight line, i.e. an occlusal-gingival axis. Tipping refers to forcibly pivoting a tooth so that its crown is moved labially or lingually.
[0058] FIG. 1A shows an embodiment of the pocket orthodontic bonding pad 1 with retentive aspects consisting of an internal pocket 2 defined by optionally tapered sides 3 and a top occlusal side 4 and lower gingival side 5. The top occlusal side 4 partially or fully encloses the internal pocket 2 with one or more locking tabs 6a.
[0059] FIG. 1B shows an embodiment of the pocket orthodontic bonding pad 1 wherein the back of the pad 15 is tipped to open at the top occlusal side 4 of the internal pocket 2, hinged by the living hinge 6b. The top occlusal side 4 faces the chewing surfaces of the teeth. The top occlusal side 4 also contains a male surface 6c that protrudes into the internal pocket 2 area. Once the pocket orthodontic bonding pad 1 is closed and is bonded to the enamel surface of a patient's tooth, the living hinge 6b is irreversibly closed over an orthodontic attachment due to the contact with the enamel surface of a patient's tooth, and the orthodontic attachment is retained in the internal pocket 2 until the male surface 6c or top occlusal side 4 is removed. Brackets tend to debond from masticatory shear forces from the occlusal direction because there is no shock-absorbing effect to the enamel/bonding pad interface.
[0060] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of an orthodontic attachment 6e with a stem 7 attached to a base 8. The base 8 has a bottom gingival side, 9, an upper occlusal side 11, and left and right sides 12. The left and right sides 12 may optionally be tapered, and widen towards the upper occlusal side 11. Alternatively, the left and right sides 12 may optionally be tapered, and widen towards the bottom gingival side 9. The orthodontic attachment 6e of FIG. 2 inserts within the internal pocket 2 of FIG. 1A wherein A1 aligns with A2 and B1 aligns with B2.
[0061] FIG. 3 shows the base 8 within the internal pocket 2, the stem 7 centrally, and the male surface 6c seated within the female receptacle 6d. The male surface 6c and female receptacle 6d are optional features and neither the pocket orthodontic bonding pads nor orthodontic attachments of the present invention are limited to embodiments including a male surface 6c and/or female receptacle 6d.
[0062] FIG. 4 shows a cross-section through D-D of FIG. 3. A male surface 6c locks the base 8. The bonding surface 13 of the pocket orthodontic bonding pad 1 is irregular, which enhances the strength of the bond. Because the pocket orthodontic bonding pad 1 is not forcibly removed from a tooth, but instead polished off of a tooth, the irregularity of the bonding surface 13 is limitless, thus enhancing the mechanical retention of the adhesive to the bonding pad.
[0063] FIG. 5 is a cross-section of FIG. 3 through C-C. The top occlusal side 4 of the pocket orthodontic bonding pad 1 wherein the locking tabs 6a enclose the base 8. The front side 16 of the pocket orthodontic bonding pad 1 completes the enclosure of the base 8. It is desirable that the pocket orthodontic bonding pad 1 have a shock-absorbing effect in order to resist the chewing forces. The shock-absorbing effect is determined by the material and the design of the pocket orthodontic bonding pad 1. The break-away release force of the orthodontic attachment 6e is the force required to dislodge the orthodontic attachment 6e from the pocket orthodontic bonding pad 1. The break-away force is determined by the locking tabs 6a or top occlusal side 4, the optional male surface 6c engaging the optional female receptacle 6d or upper occlusal side 11 of the base 8, and the front of the pocket orthodontic bonding pad 1. It is important that the break-away force to intentionally release the attachment from the bonding pad is less than the force to remove enamel from a tooth. The ability to keep the orthodontic attachment 6e on a tooth is only compromised when the locking tabs 6a, top occlusal side 4, or male surface 6c is removed. Conversely, it is important that the retention force be great enough to retain the orthodontic attachment 6e for the duration of the treatment. Besides being time-consuming to replace an orthodontic attachment 6e, modern orthodontics is turning to computer-positioned attachments and 8-10 week appointment intervals, where it is virtually impossible to replace an attachment in its original computer-selected position.
[0064] FIG. 6 discloses another embodiment wherein the pocket orthodontic bonding pad 1 has a tab 17 at the top occlusal side 4 that encloses the base 8 as shown in FIG. 7.
[0065] FIG. 7 shows a cross-section of FIG. 6 through E-E wherein the occlusal portion of the base 8 is enclosed by the tab 17.
[0066] FIG. 8 discloses the pocket orthodontic bonding pad 1 bonded to a tooth 20 with the tooth occlusal 21 facing upwards and the pocket orthodontic bonding pad 1 upper occlusal side 11 facing upwards. A dental drill 22 attached to a dental handpiece 23 is used to remove the locking tabs 6a and the male surface 6c. The orthodontic attachment 6e is now open to the upper occlusal side 11. The optionally tapered sides 3 and left and right sides 12, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 6, further facilitate the removal in an occlusal 21 direction with minimal pressure. The orthodontic attachment 6e may be removed without breakage to the orthodontic attachment 6e or tooth 20. This is particularly advantageous for removing attachments, which are prone to breakage during removal. Pieces of a broken bracket left on a tooth frequently have to be ground off, using very aggressive cutting instruments and/or diamonds, which is difficult due to hardness of the material. The grinding process with these aggressive cutting instruments and/or diamonds may also inadvertently remove underlying tooth 20 enamel
[0067] FIG. 9 shows an orthodontic band-removing pliers 24 used to remove the orthodontic attachment 6e from the pocket orthodontic bonding pad 1 in an occlusal 21 direction. This removal requires minimal pressure, which is comfortable for the patient and does not run the risk of breaking the orthodontic attachment 6e. The lack of breakage of the orthodontic attachment 6e is especially advantageous as brackets are very prone to breakage during removal.
[0068] FIG. 10 shows a dental handpiece 23 with a polisher 22 removing the remainder of the pocket orthodontic bonding pad 1 from the tooth 20. The pocket orthodontic bonding pad 1 is comprised of a material softer than tooth enamel, which allows easy removal. The pocket orthodontic bonding pad 1 is comprised of a polymer or acrylic, which is firm enough to retain the orthodontic attachment 6e, flexible enough to allow some flexion of the orthodontic attachment 6e, flexible enough to allow some flexion of the orthodontic attachment 6e within the pocket orthodontic bonding pad 1, and soft enough to allow the pocket orthodontic bonding pad 1 to be easily polished off the tooth 20 as shown in FIG. 10.
[0069] FIG. 11 shows the rear view of an orthodontic attachment 6f with a stem 26 attached to a base 25 with an upper occlusal side 25a and a lower gingival side 25b. The base 25 is bifurcated along the occlusal-gingival axis, with a relief channel 6g between the halves of the bracket base 25, and extending into the stem 26, as seen in FIG. 12. The base 25 has a smooth outer surface 27.
[0070] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the orthodontic attachment 6f with mesial-distal pressure 28 applied such that the halves of base 25 are compressed inward into the relief channel 6g. The compression allows the orthodontic attachment 6f to be removed from a pocket orthodontic bonding pad with minimal pressure, by removing the periphery of the base from the retentive aspects of the bonding pad.
[0071] FIG. 14 is a top-cross-section view of an orthodontic attachment 6f with a relief channel 6g reversibly received into a pocket orthodontic bonding pad 30 with a spine 29 and internal pocket 31. The bifurcated halves of the bracket base 25 flank the sides of the spine 29. The spine 29 is an optional feature of pocket orthodontic bonding pad 30 and is by no means intended to limit the presently claimed inventions to the currently described embodiment.
[0072] FIG. 15 shows the application of mesial-distal pressure to an orthodontic attachment 6f reversibly with a relief channel 6g reversibly received into a pocket orthodontic bonding pad 30 with a spine 29. The spine 29 diverts the compressed halves of the base 25 outward away from the pocket orthodontic bonding pad 30, allowing the orthodontic attachment 6f to be removed with minimal pressure. The spine 29 is an optional feature of pocket orthodontic bonding pad 30 and is by no means intended to limit the presently claimed inventions to the currently described embodiment.
[0073] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an orthodontic bonding pad 31 bonded to a tooth 20. The orthodontic bonding pad 31 has a top occlusal side 35 and a bottom gingival side 36. The stem 32 is in the shape of a female depression attached to the front of the bonding pad base 39. The head 33 is attached to the end of the stem 32 opposite that attached to the base 39. A protruding surface 34 is attached centrally on the top occlusal side, preferably flush with the bonding surface, and can lock an orthodontic attachment received by the orthodontic bonding pad 31 in place until the protruding surface 34 is removed.
[0074] FIG. 17A is a perspective view of an embodiment of an orthodontic attachment 37 that has reversibly received the head 33 of the orthodontic bonding pad 31 shown in FIG. 16. The orthodontic attachment has a top occlusal side 38 that is locked in receiving position by protruding surface 34. The orthodontic attachment 37 cannot be removed from the orthodontic bonding pad 31 until the male tab 34 on the orthodontic bonding pad 31 has been removed. FIG. 17B shows a dental handpiece 23 with a drill 22 removing the protruding surface 34 from orthodontic bonding pad 31. The orthodontic attachment 6e may be removed without breakage to the orthodontic attachment 37 or tooth 20. This is particularly advantageous for removing attachments, which are prone to breakage during removal. Pieces of a broken bracket left on a tooth frequently have to be ground off, using very aggressive cutting instruments and/or diamonds, which is difficult due to hardness of the material. The grinding process, using very aggressive cutting instruments and/or diamonds, may also inadvertently remove underlying tooth 20 enamel.
[0075] FIG. 17C shows an orthodontic band-removing pliers 24 used to remove the orthodontic attachment 37 from the pocket orthodontic bonding pad 31 in an occlusal direction. This removal requires minimal pressure, which is comfortable for the patient and does not run the risk of breaking the orthodontic attachment 37. The lack of breakage of the orthodontic attachment 37 is especially advantageous as brackets are very prone to breakage during removal. FIG. 17D shows the orthodontic bonding pad 31 after the orthodontic attachment 37 has been removed. The protruding surface 34 in FIG. 16 had to be removed in order to remove the orthodontic attachment 37. FIG. 17E shows a dental handpiece 23 with a polisher 22a removing the remainder of the orthodontic bonding pad 31 from the tooth 20. The pocket orthodontic bonding pad 31 is comprised of a material softer than tooth enamel, which allows easy removal. The orthodontic bonding pad 31 is comprised of a polymer or acrylic, which is film enough to be locked in the orthodontic attachment 37, flexible enough to allow some flexion of the orthodontic attachment 37 around the orthodontic bonding pad 31, and soft enough to allow the orthodontic bonding pad 31 to be easily polished off the tooth 20. The orthodontic bonding pad 31 and orthodontic attachment 37 may each be optionally tapered to the occlusal or gingival for resistance from and path of draw in removal.
[0076] FIG. 18A shows an occlusal-gingival cross-section of the orthodontic bonding pad 39 that has reversibly received an orthodontic attachment. The bonding surface has a a mesial-distal living hinge 40 on the bonding surface such that the top occlusal side and protruding surface 41 can reversibly engage the upper occlusal side of an orthodontic attachment 37, and the living hinge 40 is locked, and cannot be opened, upon bonding of the bonding surface of the orthodontic bonding pad 39 to the enamel of a tooth such that the head of the orthodontic bonding pad 39 is locked inside the retentive aspects of the orthodontic attachment 37 until the protruding surface 41 is removed. FIG. 18B shows the movement of living hinge 40 of FIG. 18A when the bonding surface of orthodontic bonding pad 39 is not bonded to the enamel of a tooth. Orthodontic attachment 37 can reversibly receive the head of orthodontic bonding pad 39 when the bonding surface of orthodontic bonding pad 39 is not bonded to the enamel of a tooth. FIG. 18C shows a mesial-distal cross-section of the embodiment of FIG. 18A, with the retentive aspects 44, shown here in the form of rails, of the orthodontic attachment 37 receiving the head 43 of the orthodontic bonding pad 39 by sliding into the stem 42, shown here in the form of female depressions, of the orthodontic bonding pad 39. The protruding surface 41 is an occlusal aspect of the living hinge 40 on the top occlusal side, and locks the orthodontic attachment 37 in place until the protruding surface 41 or top occlusal side is removed.
[0077] FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the orthodontic bonding pad 39 shown in FIGS. 18A, 18B, and 18C. The orthodontic bonding pad 39 has a protruding surface 41 that eclipses the top occlusal side 45 when the living hinge 40 is closed.
[0078] FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the orthodontic bonding pad 39 shown in FIG. 19 bonded to a tooth 20, the orthodontic bonding pad 39 locked inside an orthodontic attachment 37 until the protruding surface 41 is removed.
[0079] FIG. 21 shows a lingual-labial cross-section view of an orthodontic bonding pad 47 that has received the base 48 of an orthodontic attachment with stem 52. This alternative embodiment has retentive aspects in the form of tab 51 on the bottom gingival side and protruding surface 49 on the top occlusal side, and optional tabs 50 on the left and right sides.
[0080] FIG. 22 shows a replica tooth 53, preferably a three-dimensionally printed replica of a patient's tooth. Computer software determines the locations of positional markers 54, which will cooperatively engage an orthodontic bonding pad such that the orthodontic bonding pad is appropriately positioned in the desired location on the tooth 53, as indicated by silhouette 55.
[0081] FIG. 23 shows the replica tooth 53 of FIG. 23, with orthodontic bonding pad 56, which will be preferably three-dimensionally printed to cooperative engage the positional markers 54, and which will reversibly receive orthodontic bonding pad 57.
[0082] FIG. 24 shows the back view of the bonding surface of orthodontic bonding pad 56, which has reversibly received orthodontic attachment 58. The bottom gingival side of the orthodontic bonding pad 56 is specifically shaped with notches 59 to cooperatively engage the two positional markers 54 on replica tooth 53. By pre-determining positions of orthodontic bonding pads 56, an orthodontist's assistant can prepare entire upper and lower jaw sets of properly positioned orthodontic bonding pads 56 on printed models, with positional markers 54 of the individual patient's dentition for the fabrication of indirect bonding trays, by matching up positional markers 54 to notches 59. This is particularly advantageous because a doctor need only select positions of orthodontic attachments, and the replica tooth 53 and orthodontic bonding pad 56 are preferably three-dimensionally printed and positioned for quick bonding by an assistant, saving an orthodontist time.
[0083] FIG. 25 shows an alternative embodiment of orthodontic bonding pad 56 with a specifically shaped singular bottom gingival side with irregular notch 59, which identically matches the singular positional marker allowing occlusal-gingival, mesial-distal, and lingual-labial positioning of bracket to tooth.
[0084] FIG. 26 shows an alternative embodiment to the replica tooth 53 of FIG. 23, wherein a male-projection hash mark 61 is matched to a female similar mark 63 on the orthodontic bonding pad 62 for proper positioning. The advantage of the female similar mark 63 on the orthodontic bonding pad 62 is that it allows a defined hollow in the orthodontic bonding pad 62 to be filled with adhesive, ensuring a very thin coat of adhesive so that there will be minimal adhesive flash to clean up around the periphery of the orthodontic bonding pad 62 and orthodontic attachment 57 once attached. The orthodontic bonding pad 62 can reversibly receive orthodontic attachment 57.
[0085] FIG. 27 shows an orthodontic bonding pad 57 with an integrated index 64 attached on the top occlusal side. Ideally, the entire orthodontic bonding pad 57 and integrated index 64 assembly are three-dimensionally-printed in combination with orthodontic bonding pad 57 and integrated index 64 assemblies for an entire upper jaw or lower jaw set. The specific distance and projectional path between the integrated index 64 and the orthodontic bonding pad 57 reflects the calibrated positioning of the orthodontic bonding pad 57 in order to control occlusal-gingival, mesial-distal, and lingual-mesial positioning of the orthodontic bonding pad 57 on the patient's tooth. This is particularly advantageous because the anatomy of the tooth is captured in the integrated index 64 such that when the integrated index 64 is applied to the comparable tooth of the patient, the orthodontic bonding pad 57 will be bonded in the pre-selected position. This saves an orthodontist time in positioning orthodontic bonding pad 57 and the need to create a transfer or indirect bonding tray.
[0086] FIG. 28 shows a front view of a patient's tooth 20. The integrated index 64 has cooperatively engaged the occlusal surface of the tooth such that the orthodontic attachment 65, and the orthodontic bonding pad 57 (not shown) that has reversibly received the orthodontic attachment 65, will be placed in the pre-selected position on the tooth 20. Subsequent to bonding, orthodontic device 66 is used to cut the integrated index 64 from the orthodontic bonding pad 57 (not shown).
[0087] While the invention has been illustrated by a description of various embodiments and while these embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of the applicants to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative methods, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventive concept.
