SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MORE DIRECTLY VIBRATING AN ORTHOPEDIC-ORTHODONTIC DEVICE

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and system for applying localized vibration directly to particular teeth with the upper and lower jaws. A headgear using an inner bow comprising at least two arms that inserts into the upper first molars and an elastic-type headgear strap attaches to the back of the neck and to the outside, or outer bow also having at least two arms. The inner bow and outer bow are coupled together generally in the center (or alternatively with at least one lateral extension that is off-centered) by an external extension. The external extension may further have a protrusion, that inserts into a corresponding orifice within a vibrating orthodontic device.

Claims

1-6. (canceled)

7. An orthopedic treatment headgear, comprising: a vibrating orthodontic device; an inner bow comprising at least two molar arms each configured to insert into a molar tooth; another bow coupled to the inner bow at or near a center portion thereof by at least one external extension; an attachment for coupling the vibrating orthodontic device to the inner bow; wherein the vibrating orthodontic device is positioned in front of a patient's mouth such that vibrating forces generated by the vibrating orthodontic device are directly transmitted to the molar tooth via the inner bow for faster molar movement in a distal direction.

8. The orthopedic treatment headgear of claim 7, wherein the vibrating orthodontic device has an orifice, and wherein the attachment comprises a protrusion on the at least one external extension, the protrusion being sized to fit into the orifice for coupling the vibrating orthodontic device to the inner bow.

9. The orthopedic treatment headgear of claim 8, wherein the at least one external extension and protrusion are made of metal.

10. The orthopedic treatment headgear of claim 8, wherein the at least one external extension and protrusion are made of a semi-rigid material.

11. The orthopedic treatment headgear of claim 10, wherein the semi-rigid material is one of: polyurethane and acrylic.

12. The orthopedic treatment headgear of claim 7, wherein the other bow comprises an outer bow.

13. The orthopedic treatment headgear of claim 12, further comprising a headgear strap attached to the outer bow.

14. The orthopedic treatment headgear of claim 7, wherein the headgear comprises a facemask in which the other bow comprises a vertical bow connected with the vibrating orthodontic device and configured to be anchored to a human face.

15. The facemask headgear of claim 14, wherein the vertical bow is configured to be anchored to the human face by means of forehead anchor and a chin anchor connected at distal ends of the vertical bow.

16. The facemask headgear of claim 15, wherein the forehead anchor is adhered to the forehead of the human face by adhesive means, and the chin anchor is adhered to the chin of the human face by adhesive means.

17. A functional orthodontic appliance, comprising: an upper retainer component; a lower retainer component; an inner bow comprising at least two arms; a vibrating orthodontic device connected to the an inner bow via an extension and engaging the upper retainer component for transmitting vibrations produced by the vibrating orthodontic device to an upper first molar; and a vibrating orthodontic device connected to the lower retainer component.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] An embodiment will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached figures, wherein:

[0012] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a headgear;

[0013] FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the headgear coupled to a vibrating device;

[0014] FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of the headgear coupled to the vibrating device;

[0015] FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of a facemask coupled to the vibrating device; and

[0016] FIG. 5 is a side view of the headgear coupled to the vibrating device and applying vibration to an upper first molar tooth.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

[0017] It is an object of this invention to at least provide a novel method and system for applying localized vibration directly to particular teeth and jaws. This invention seeks to extend the benefits of vibration to orthopedic devices such as headgear for patients with large overjets resulting from a small lower jaw size or large protrusive upper jaw, or a combination thereof as in a Class II skeletal malocclusion for example. It may also be useful in orthopedic reverse-pull headgears using a facemask-type headgear in Class III underbite treatments. The headgear and Class II functional appliance are two of the most used orthopedic appliances during reverse-pull. Facemasks are also more commonly used along with retainers, than other positioners, or chin cups.

[0018] As depicted in FIGS. 1 to 3, orthopedic treatment headgear 10 includes an inner bow 1 comprising at least two molar arms that insert into the upper first molars (not shown). The headgear 10 also comprises an elastic-type headgear strap (not shown) attached to the outside, or outer bow 2 also having at least two arms. The headgear 10 with elastic strap, which often goes around the back of the neck or top of the head for anchorage, is used to restrict further upper jaw growth. The inner bow 1 and outer bow 2 are coupled together generally at the center (or alternatively off-center laterally) by at least one external extension 3. The external extension 3 may further have a protrusion 4 that inserts into a corresponding orifice within a vibrating orthodontic device 5. Alternatively, the external extension 3 may have another type of attachment for coupling the vibrating orthodontic device 5 to the inner bow 1. The orthopedic headgear 10 allows the lower jaw to continue to grow forward in patients that have a small lower jaw or receding chin in a Class II jaw relationship, as the upper jaw is restricted for relative correction of the overjet and skeletal dysplasia of the jaws.

[0019] There is an indication to vibrate the headgear 10 in order to move the upper first molars by applying a vibrating device 5 connected to the orthopedic headgear 10 using a protrusion 4. In contrast to prior art vibrating devices which only direct the vibrating forces through a mouthguard-like tray directly to the teeth, the present orthopedic headgear 10 localizes the vibration directly to the upper first molars for faster molar movement in a posterior (distal) direction, in addition to rotating them distally. The vibrating forces generated by the vibrating device 5 are transmitted to the upper first molars more directly via the inner bow 1. There is also an indication that the vibration may also reduce patient discomfort with orthopedic headgear treatment that is often painful for patients.

[0020] The vibration of the orthopedic Class II correction headgear 10 may also affect the restriction of the upper jaw itself since vibration increases bone-removing cells in the dental regions and thus the vibration may act similarly in the skeletal jaw bone region.

[0021] This vibration in the upper jaw and molar region may also refer vibration to the lower jaw growth center called the condyle where bone forming cells are modified positively to possibly permit the lower jaw to grow forward.

[0022] A facemask (shown in FIG. 4) to advance the upper jaw, or a chin-cup orthopedic headgear device 10 to restrict the lower jaw (as part of the facemask shown), may also be used to correct a Class III underbite relationship, where the vibrating device 5 may be attached to each appliance used separately to produce faster orthopedic treatment and less discomfort. The Class III correction may be facilitated by activating upper jaw bone-forming cells by advancing the upper jaw with facemask therapy, and conversely restricting bone forming cells in the lower jaw with chin-cup therapy.

[0023] The external attachment 3 and internal protrusion 4 may be made of metal for the headgear 10 and may also be made of the semi-rigid mouthguard-like material, polyurethane, acrylic, or other materials for the functional appliance, facemask, chin-cup, retainers, and positioner.

[0024] Overall, headgears 10, that are high-pull, low-pull, straight-pull (combination of the latter), Class II Functional appliances, Facemasks, Chin-cups, Retainers may also have external extensions and internal protrusions located centrally or laterally thereon to allow vibration similarly.

[0025] Although the embodiments herein describe the extension 3 being used on the headgear 10, the same type of extension 3 may be used in the prior art positioner to attach to the vibrating device 5.

[0026] In yet another embodiment, in the case of patients with a small lower jaw the bite may be taken with the lower jaw in the forward edge-to-edge incisors position to make a type of specialized positioner called a functional appliance. In a functional appliance the vibration may assist in modifying the bone forming cells at the lower jaw growth centre called the condyle. Other functional appliances that allow the lower jaw to separate from the upper and thereby open and close more freely, may also benefit from direct placement of the vibrator 5 more closely and directly to the jaws. This is distinct from prior art appliances that direct the forces to the dental arches and the teeth though the dental arch, and where the mouthguard material is being vibrated.

[0027] With reference to FIG. 4, the Class III facemask headgear device is shown anchored to a human face by means of central bow 11 and forehead and chin anchors 12. Forehead and chin anchors 12 may be adhered to the forehead and chin by adhesive means. Alternatively (not shown), the anchors may be strapped around the head. Vertical bow 11 may be connected to vibration device 5 by suitable means at a generally central region thereof. Vertical bow may be connected to anchors 12 at distal ends thereof. Vibrating device 5 may be held by the inner bow 1 directly and the vertical bow 11 indirectly in front of a patient's mouth such that inner bow 1 may engage the upper first molars using two stretched elastics to the upper molars bilaterally.

[0028] Turning now to FIG. 5, which is a side sectional view showing the vibrating device 5 applied to a functional appliance composed of two retainers, an upper and a lower. Vibrating device 5 is connected to functional appliance via extension 3 and protrusion 4 as described earlier. Inner canine bow 1 is shown engaging into acrylic to transmit vibration along acrylic (cross-hatched) for transmitting vibrations produced by vibrating device 5 to the upper first molar. Similarly, the Vibrating device 5 can be inserted into the extension 4 of the lower retainer component of the functional appliance.

[0029] The above-described embodiments are intended to be examples of the present invention and alterations and modifications may be effected thereto, by those of skill in the art, without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined solely by the claims appended hereto.