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EP-4267035-B1 - INDIRECT BONDING DEVICE

EP4267035B1EP 4267035 B1EP4267035 B1EP 4267035B1EP-4267035-B1

Inventors

  • PAEHL, Ralf M.
  • RABY, RICHARD E.
  • Blees, Dietmar
  • CINADER, DAVID K., JR.

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20211221

Claims (9)

  1. An indirect bonding device comprising: a first tray (110) configured to be detachably coupled to a tooth having a tooth surface, the first tray comprising: a first inner surface (112) at least partially conforming to the tooth surface; a first outer surface (114) opposite to the first inner surface; and a cavity (116) at least partially extending from the first inner surface to the first outer surface along a longitudinal axis; an orthodontic appliance (130) at least partially and detachably received within the cavity, the orthodontic appliance comprising: a base surface (132); and an adhesive layer (140) disposed on the base surface, wherein the adhesive layer is configured to bond the orthodontic appliance to the tooth; wherein a minimum gap (GA) is provided between the adhesive layer (140) and the first inner surface (112) of the first tray (110); and a second tray (120) configured to be detachably coupled to the first tray (110); wherein: upon detachable coupling of the first tray (110) to the tooth with the second tray (120) detached from the first tray (110), the minimum gap (GA) provided between the adhesive layer (140) and the first inner surface (112) of the first tray (110) remains unchanged; and upon detachable coupling of the second tray (120) to the first tray (110), the second tray (120) engages the first tray (110) to move the orthodontic appliance (130) towards the tooth surface, such that the adhesive layer (140) is at least flush with the first inner surface (112) of the first tray (110); wherein the first tray (110) comprises a first material having a first elastic modulus, wherein the second tray (120) comprises a second material having a second elastic modulus, and wherein the second elastic modulus is greater than the first elastic modulus, wherein the second tray is configured to at least partially deform the first tray upon engagement with the first tray.
  2. The indirect bonding device of claim 1, wherein the first tray further comprises a cavity protrusion extending into the cavity, and wherein the cavity protrusion engages the orthodontic appliance, such that the orthodontic appliance is retained within the cavity.
  3. The indirect bonding device of claim 1, wherein: upon receipt of the orthodontic appliance (130) within the cavity (116) of the first tray (110) with the second tray (120) detached from the first tray (110), the base surface (132) of the orthodontic appliance (130) and the first inner surface (112) of the first tray (110) define a first gap (G1) therebetween along the longitudinal axis; and the adhesive layer (140) disposed on the base surface (132) partially fills the first gap (G1), such that the minimum gap (GA) provided between the adhesive layer (140) and the first inner surface (112) of the first tray (110) remains unchanged upon detachable coupling of the first tray (110) to the tooth with the second tray (120) detached from the first tray (110).
  4. The indirect bonding device of claim 1, wherein: the first tray further comprises a tray protrusion disposed on the first outer surface and extending away from the first inner surface of the first tray along the longitudinal axis; the second tray comprises a second inner surface; and upon detachable coupling of the second tray to the first tray, the second inner surface of the second tray engages the tray protrusion and at least partially deforms the tray protrusion to move the orthodontic appliance towards the tooth surface along the longitudinal axis, such that the adhesive layer contacts the tooth surface.
  5. The indirect bonding device of claim 1, wherein: the second tray comprises a second inner surface and a projection disposed on the second inner surface, the projection extending towards the first outer surface of the first tray; and upon detachable coupling of the second tray to the first tray, the projection at least partially deforms the first tray to move the orthodontic appliance towards the tooth surface along the longitudinal axis, such that the adhesive layer contacts the tooth surface.
  6. The indirect bonding device of claim 1, wherein: the cavity extends from the first inner surface to the first outer surface of the first tray; the second tray comprises a second inner surface; upon receipt of the orthodontic appliance within the cavity with the second tray detached from the first tray, the orthodontic appliance at least partially extends through the first outer surface of the first tray; and upon detachable coupling of the second tray with the first tray, the second inner surface of the second tray engages the orthodontic appliance and moves the orthodontic appliance towards the tooth surface along the longitudinal axis, such that the adhesive layer contacts the tooth surface.
  7. The indirect bonding device of claim 1, wherein the first tray further comprises: a first portion at least partially conforming to the tooth surface and configured to be detachably coupled to the tooth; a second portion comprising the cavity that at least partially and detachably receives the orthodontic appliance therein; and a living hinge connecting the first portion to the second portion, the living hinge defining a hinge axis; wherein: the second portion of the first tray is configured to pivot about the hinge axis with respect to the first portion; and the second tray is configured to engage the first tray to pivotally move the second portion about the hinge axis towards the tooth surface, such that the adhesive layer contacts the tooth surface.
  8. The indirect bonding device of claim 7, wherein: the second portion is pivotable between a first position and a second position, the second portion being spaced apart from the tooth surface in the first position, and the second portion engaging the tooth surface in the second position; upon detachable coupling of the first tray to the tooth with the second tray detached from the first tray, the second portion is at the first position, such that the adhesive layer is spaced apart from the tooth surface; and upon detachable coupling of the second tray to the first tray, the second portion pivots about the hinge axis to the second position, such that the adhesive layer contacts the tooth surface.
  9. The indirect bonding device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of the orthodontic appliances corresponding to the plurality of teeth, wherein the first tray comprises a plurality of the cavities corresponding to a plurality of teeth, and wherein each orthodontic appliance is at least partially and detachably received within a corresponding cavity from the plurality of the cavities.

Description

Technical Field The present disclosure relates generally to a bonding device and a method, and in particular, to an indirect bonding device and a method for a plurality of teeth. The method may be used for bonding orthodontic appliances to the plurality of teeth using the indirect bonding device. Background Orthodontic appliances, such as orthodontic brackets, may be used in orthodontic treatments by dental practitioners for moving one or more teeth of a patient from a malposition to a desired position in the patient's dentition. The orthodontic treatments may improve the patient's facial appearance. In some cases, the orthodontic treatments may also improve function of the teeth by providing improved occlusion during mastication. Orthodontic treatment involves movement of malpositioned teeth to desired locations in the oral cavity. Orthodontic treatment can improve the patient's facial appearance, especially in instances where the teeth are noticeably crooked or where the upper and lower teeth are out of alignment with each other. Orthodontic treatment can also enhance the function of the teeth by providing better occlusion during mastication. One common type of orthodontic treatment involves the use of tiny, slotted appliances known as brackets. The brackets are fixed to the patient's teeth and an archwire is placed in the slot of each bracket. The archwire forms a track to guide movement of teeth to desired locations. The ends of orthodontic archwires are often connected to small appliances known as buccal tubes that are, in turn, secured to the patient's molar teeth. In many instances, a set of brackets, buccal tubes and an archwire is provided for each of the patient's upper and lower dental arches. The brackets, buccal tubes and archwires are commonly referred to collectively as "braces". In many types of orthodontic techniques, the precise position of the appliances on the teeth is an important factor for helping to ensure that the teeth move to their intended final positions. For example, one common type of orthodontic treatment technique is known as the "straight-wire" technique, where the archwire lies in a horizontal plane at the conclusion of treatment. Consequently, the brackets must be correctly positioned at the beginning of treatment so that the teeth are properly aligned once the archwire straightens and lies in the horizontal plane. If, for example, a bracket is attached to the tooth at a location that is too close to the occlusal or outer tip of the tooth, the orthodontist using a straight-wire technique will likely find that the tooth in its final position is unduly intruded. On the other hand, if the bracket is attached to the tooth at a location closer to the gingiva than is appropriate, it is likely that the final position of the tooth will be more extruded than desired. One technique for bonding orthodontic appliances to teeth is known as an indirect bonding technique. In the past, known indirect bonding techniques have often used a placement device or transfer apparatus having a shape that matches a configuration of at least part of the patient's dental arch. One type of transfer apparatus is often called a "transfer tray" or "indirect bonding tray" and typically has a cavity for simultaneously receiving a number of teeth. A set of appliances such as brackets are releasably connected to the tray at certain, predetermined locations. During the use of a bonding tray for indirect bonding, an adhesive is typically applied to the base of each appliance by the orthodontist or a staff member. The tray is then placed over the patient's teeth and remains in place until such time as the adhesive hardens. Next, the tray is detached from the teeth as well as from the appliances, with the result that all of the appliances previously connected to the tray are now bonded to respective teeth at their intended, predetermined locations. Conventional orthodontic adhesives are typically highly filled, which results in an adhesive with a white or tooth color. It is desirable that a sufficient but not an excess amount of adhesive is used to bond the bracket to the tooth structure. Excess adhesive on the tooth structure can eventually be a site for bacteria accumulation and/or staining from food or drink. Because orthodontic treatment can last from 18 to 36 months or more, bacteria accumulation can damage the tooth structure and may lead to discoloration of the adhesive, both of which are undesirable. Identifying and removing excess adhesive from tooth structure can be difficult if there is similarity in the adhesive color and the tooth color, i.e., due to a lack of a contrasting color in the adhesive. DE 10 216 011720 A1 discloses an indirect bonding device comprising: a tray configured to be detachably coupled to a tooth having a tooth surface, the first tray comprising: an inner surface at least partially conforming to the tooth surface; an outer surface opposite to the first inner surface; and a cavit