GB2353221A - Orthodontic device for expanding the maxillary arch - Google Patents

Abstract

An orthodontic device for expanding the maxillary arch comprises first and second forward orthodontic bands (152,154), rod means such as a wire (159) connecting these bands, first and second rear orthodontic bands (170, 172) and a first spring-loaded rod and tube assembly (164,178,180) connecting the first forward and first rear bands and a second spring-loaded rod and tube assembly connecting the second forward and second rear bands. Preferably the device also includes a palate plate (162) between the first and second forward bands. Another claimed orthodontic device comprises first forward and first rear orthodontic bands (103, 113) connected by a rod (125), a first palate plate (130) between these bands comprising a U-shaped rod (135) having a pair of spaced apart legs each carrying a coil spring (138,140) extending out of the plate at right angles to it, second forward and second rear orthodontic bands (105,115) connected by a rod (127), a second palate plate 132) between these bands comprising a pair of tubes (142,144) extending out of the plate at right angles to it and aligned with the legs on the other plate. The legs cooperate with the tubes and the springs urge the palate plates apart.

Description

2353221 ORTHODONTIC DEVICE Backeround or- the [rvention This inventior,

relates generally to orthodontic devices and. more specifically. to fixed t..a.,id.ibular arch and maxillary arch expanjers.

Orthodontists.treatine, children of-n reed to gai:i space for unerupted r,iaiidibula:- lincisors and Increase intercanine distance for narrow arc,, .-7or.,rs as well as distalize mandibular Srst nicial-S so that a total increase of arch lenath is available in the lower dental arch frorn first molar to first molar. Furthermore, the orthodontist also may want to exparid Lie pa[ate cor-,--soop.dincly. Often there is a need for tooth extraction or permanent teeth due to crowdina.

klandibular and maxillary arch expanders are known to the art. Howeve.

1 such bular arch expanders are rather bulky design, tongue mobili rna, ity. are id:l u!icor.-,.fort.-.ble to wear and interil.'re with good oral hygiene. The devices must be substantial in design to resist torquing or leverage mechanics during. chewing. Summary of the Invention

It is wrnang the objects of the present invention to provide a mandibular arch expander to develop narrow forming mandibular or maxillary arches in growing children.

Another object of the present invention is to provide annandibular or maxillary arch expander that prevents the need for ex:rac-Lion of pernnanent teeth due to crowding, It is another object of the invention to provide a rnL-,illary arch expander to expand the maxillary arch and palate in growing children.

2 Still another object of the present inverrillor, is to provide a mandibular or maxillary expander that can be preset at the desired terisior prior to cernenting 'L,-,c appliance into place.

Yet another object ofthe present invention is to provide a maxi: Ilary arch c,.-,pander thacan be easily adjusted after cementIng into place.

1 L Aiiollie,7 object of the present invennon is to provide a mnandilbular or. maxillary expande- that is lean in design. comfortable, and allo-ws good oral hygiene.

z Yet another object ofthe present InvC-1t1Or. 15 tO provide a m,.i. ridibilar or rriaxillary arch expander that resists torquing or ',eve.age mechanics acralnst, teeth during chewlp..c,;,.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a mandibular or maxillary arch ex,jander that has no tissue supported components, does not irripinge on gum tissue, and does nozimpede tongue mobility. be present invention, a rriandibular or maxillary In accordance -with the principles of ti expander Ls provided havinz a midarch Jackscr-w complex for intercanine arch length develo-omer.c and bilateral spring-loaded telescopic rod and tube assemblies for molar distalization and added arch length development in the rriandibularbicuspid areas. The appliance has four orthodontic bands, one at each comer, to attached to selected teeth to.stabilize and secure the appliance in place. The appliance is fixed to the lower arch by first molar orthodontic bands and to r-he rriandibular deciduous rst ano tars with bicuspid bands. The midarch jackscrew fthe mandibular arch coniplex is positioned between che front bands. The lateral development cl results frorn timely activation of the midarch screw. A spring-loaded telescopic rod and tube tween the flont band and rcar band on assembly excEends bet each side. The spring. loa ed c-liescocic rod and tube design a[lows the orthodontist to preset the desired tension by rreasurt".ric 3 =ression. The spring I L 11 1 1 SiD 7; - - -loaded telescopic rod and tube assernblies inc-zease mes'al dis inccm 1 tal ext pport to th t c p r d arch length. There are occlusal rests on each tube to provI Lra sL e eles 0 ic C) an-,d tube assembly.

In ar.i alternative embodiment, the midarcin Jac',-,s-.rt,,v complex is replac.-d Witil a third d'ded telescopic rod and tube asst-nbly which ext nds between the two front bands. The sonrig-lo. d. I I, C thi-d spring-loaded ttlescopic rod and tube assembly has a prest, spring tersion.

A novel maxlllari palatal expander employing a paii.- offspring loaded rods and, tubes is also provided for use with the mandibular arch expander.

In other embodiments, the orthodontic bands are connected to various divided se2ments of a molded palate plate and dae jackscrew or the springloaded telescopic rod and tube assem,blies are positioned between the palate plate segments.

The mandibular appliance is used to gain space for unerupted mandibular incisors and increase intercanine distance for narrow archforms and to diszalize mandibular first molars so that the total increase in arch length becomes available ir the lower dental arch firorn first molar to first molar. The device is used in conjunction with the novel maxillary palatal expander when the maxilla is being developed and the mandibular arch needs to be expanded to maintain coordinated archforrns. The appliance allows '1or simultaneous alignment of the mandibular incisors by allowing bonded rackets to be added and arch wires place,,, during. the expan'sion.

The mandibular appliances are totally tooth supported and, due to the four band, four corrier design, are stable and resl= torquing 4 Brief Description of the Drawings

FIG. 1 is a bottom plan of an maxillary palatal expander of the present invention shown attached to a mould of the maxillary arch to demonstrate environment; and FIG. 2 is another bottom plan of the maxillary palatal expander, disassembled; FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of an orthodontic appliance of the present invention attached to a mould of the maxillary arch; and FIG. 4 is another perspective view of the orthodontic appliance of FIG. 3.

Corresponding reference figures indicate corresponding elements throughout the various drawings.

The maxillary palatal expander of the present invention is indicated generally by reference numeral 100 in FIGS. 1 and 2. Expander 100 is shown, in FIG. 1, attached to a conventional dental mould M of the upper teeth. Appliance 100 has a pair of spaced apart forward orthodontic bands 103 and 105. Bands 103 and 105 can be conventional bicuspid bands adapted to attach to the maxillary molars. Band 103 has a boss 106 and band 105 has a boss 107 both positioned on the lingual side of the bands. The respective bosses are integrally formed on the respective bands. There is an integral curved member or hook 109 on boss 106 and an integral curved member or hook 111 on boss 107.

Appliance 100 has a pair of spaced apart rear orthodontic bands 113 and 115. Ban 113 has an integral boss 117 and band 115 has an integral boss 119, both on the lingual side of the respective bands. Boss 117 has an integral curved member or hook 121 and boss 119 has an integral curved member or hook 123.

The for-ward orthodontic bands are connected to the rem orthodontic bands as follows: a an rod 125 extends between boss 7,06 and boss I IT A second rod 127 extends between boss 107 and boss 119. Furthermore. Hooks 109 and 121 are embedded in a plast ic plate 130. Hook I I I and 123 are embedded in a plastic plate 132.

The respee6ve Vasic plates are W. to fit the patienCs palate. Each plate, with the associated Irward and rearward bands, comprises halfof the appliance. The halves of the appliance is biased away from each other to widen the maxillary arch. There is a substantially Ushaped rod 135 imbedded in plate 130. Legs 136 and 137 &rod 135 emend out On and at substantially right angles to, the plastic plate. There are coil springs 138 and 140 around legs 136 and 13 7 respectively. There is a first short tube 142 and a second short. tube 144, ernbedded in plate 132. The tubes extend out of the palate plate at subst=tially right angles to the palate plate. The tubes 142 and 10 are on complementary alignment with the legs 136 and 137. The tubes 142 and 144 are slightly oversized so that the Ags 13 6 and 13 7 can slide into the tubes. The springs 138 and 140 abut the ends of the tubes and exert tension force to urge the halves of the applimce apar-,. The appropriate tension can be exerted by selecting springs with the appropriate terision.

Anodaer embodiment of the orthodontic aupHance of the present invention is ii1dicated -enerslly by reference numeral 150 in FIGS. 13 and 14. Appliance 150 includes a pair- of spaced g 5 apart, forward orthodontic bands 152 arid 154. Bands 152 and 154 include bosses 156, 158 6 integrally formed thereon. The bosses are positioned on the lingual side of the bands. There is a connecting wire 159 extending between the bosses connecting band 152 and band 154. It will be appreciated that the length of wire 159 is dictated by the width of the mandibular arch A. Wire 159 includes a bend or bow 160. Wire 159 can be embedded in a piece of plastic 162 or acrylic nance button other material that fits in arch A for anchorage. A hollow tube 164 extending from boss 156 and a hollow tube 166 extending from boss 158. The angles at which the respective tubes extend from the respective bosses depends upon the morphology of arch A.

Apparatus 150 also includes a pair of spaced apart rear orthodontic bands 170 and 172. Band 170 includes an integral boss 174 and band 172 includes boss 176. A rod 178 is integrally connected to boss 174 and slidingly engages in tube 164. There is a coil spring 180 around rod 178 and fixed between boss 174 and the end of tube 164. Spring 180 is sized to abut the end of tube 164 and not slip over the tube and is constructed from nickel titanium to deliver low continuous force. Thus, spring 180 urges band 170 away from band 152. Spring 180 has a predetermined force to be delivered between the teeth to distalize maxillary molars.

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Claims (5)

7 CLAIMS

1. An orthodontic appliance for expanding the maxillary arch comprising: a first forward orthodontic band; a second forward orthodontic band, rod means connecting between said first and second orthodontic bands; a first rear orthodontic band; a spring-loaded rod and tube assembly connecting said first forward orthodontic band and said first rear orthodontic band; a second rear orthodontic band; and a spring-loaded rod and tube assembly connecting said second forward orthodontic band and said second rear orthodontic band.

2. The orthodontic appliance of claim 1 and including palate plate means connectincr intermediate said first and second orthodontic bands.

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3. A maxillary arch expansion appliance comprising:

a first forward orthodontic band; a first rear orthodontic band; a rod between said first front and rear orthodontic bands; a first palate plate between said first front and rear bands; a generally U-shaped rod within said palate plate having a pair of spaced apart legs extending out of said first palate plate at substantially right angles to said palate plate; first and second coil springs on said legs; a second forward orthodontic band; a second rear orthodontic band; a rod between said second front and rear orthodontic bands; a second palate plate between said second front and rear orthodontic bands;

8 a pair of tubes within said second palate plate and extending out of said second palate plate at substantially right angles to said second palate plate and in complementary alignment with said pair of spaced apart legs wherein said legs are introduced into said tubes and said first and second coil springs urge said palate plates apart.

4. An orthodontic appliance for expanding the maxillary arch, substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

5. A maxillary arch expansion appliance substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

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