Substitute Speci-ficatiog (Marked-up Copy)
`
`TITLE OF THE INVENTION
`
`W2323US_Amendment
`
`ORTHODONTIC APPLIANCE
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`The present invention relates to an orthodontic appliance.
`
`BACKGROUND ART
`
`An orthodontic appliance equipped with an orthodontic wire
`
`to be mounted on
`
`teeth has been conventionally known.
`
`An
`
`elastic restoring force of
`
`the orthodontic wire acts
`
`as
`
`a
`
`constant static load on the teeth to correct
`
`teeth malalignment
`
`or crossbite.
`
`In other words,
`
`the orthodontic appliance is
`
`based on
`
`the principle of aligning the teeth by gradually
`
`deforming an alveolar bone supporting the teeth in the gum (bone
`
`remodeling)
`
`through the application of a constant
`
`force to the
`
`teeth.
`
`However,
`
`the teeth alignment using the orthodontic wire
`
`takes
`
`a very long time
`
`(fastest six months, normally several
`
`years) until an orthodontic treatment
`
`is finished. This becomes
`
`a
`
`large
`
`burden
`
`on patients.
`
`Further,
`
`since
`
`this dental
`
`alignment
`
`is accompanied by pains, many patients do not wish
`
`such a treatment.
`
`In order
`
`to shorten a period of
`
`such an orthodontic
`
`treatment,
`
`technology of giving a vibration force to the teeth
`
`has been studied.
`
`For example,
`
`a study result
`
`to the effect
`
`
`
`TITLE OF THE INVENTION
`
`W2323US_Amendment
`
`ORTHODONTIC APPLIANCE
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`The present invention relates to an orthodontic appliance.
`
`BACKGROUND ART
`
`An orthodontic appliance equipped with an orthodontic wire
`
`to be mounted on
`
`teeth has been conventionally known.
`
`An
`
`elastic restoring force of
`
`the orthodontic wire acts
`
`as
`
`a
`
`constant static load on the teeth to correct
`
`teeth malalignment
`
`or crossbite.
`
`In other words,
`
`the orthodontic appliance is
`
`based on
`
`the principle of aligning the teeth by gradually
`
`deforming an alveolar bone supporting the teeth in the gum (bone
`
`remodeling)
`
`through the application of a constant
`
`force to the
`
`teeth.
`
`However,
`
`the teeth alignment using the orthodontic wire
`
`takes
`
`a very long time
`
`(fastest six months, normally several
`
`years) until an orthodontic treatment
`
`is finished. This becomes
`
`a
`
`large
`
`burden
`
`on patients.
`
`Further,
`
`since
`
`this dental
`
`alignment
`
`is accompanied by pains, many patients do not wish
`
`such a treatment.
`
`In order
`
`to shorten a period of
`
`such an orthodontic
`
`treatment,
`
`technology of giving a vibration force to the teeth
`
`has been studied.
`
`For example,
`
`a study result
`
`to the effect
`
`
`
`W2323US_Amendment
`
`The braces
`
`according to the present
`
`invention are not
`
`limited to those comprised of
`
`the orthodontic wire 5
`
`and the
`
`brackets 4,
`
`and any braces will do provided they can apply a
`
`suitable tooth aligning force to the teeth 3.
`
`An exemplary construction of
`
`the dental mouthpiece 7
`
`is
`
`described with reference to FIGS.
`
`3 to 5.
`
`FIG.
`
`3 shows a state
`
`where the dental mouthpiece 7
`
`shown in FIG.
`
`1 is mounted on the
`
`teeth 3
`
`shown in FIG. 2.
`
`The dental mouthpiece 7
`
`shown in FIG.
`
`3 is so shaped as to be mountable on the entire teeth 3, and the
`
`permanent magnets
`
`8
`
`are mounted
`
`at parts
`
`of
`
`the
`
`dental
`
`mouthpiece 7
`
`located at the outer sides of the second teeth 3f,
`
`3i
`
`to right and left from the center.
`
`The permanent magnets 8
`
`vibrate by the action of the alternating current magnetic field
`
`generated by the coil 20 and apply the resulting vibration to
`
`the teeth 3.
`
`FIG.
`
`4
`
`is an exploded perspective view showing the dental
`
`mouthpiece 7 when viewed from topside, and FIG.
`
`5 is an exploded
`
`perspective view showing the dental mouthpiece 7
`
`from underside.
`
`The dental mouthpiece
`
`7
`
`has
`
`an
`
`inner
`
`and outer overlaid
`
`structure. Specifically,
`
`the dental mouthpiece 7
`
`is comprised
`
`of an inner layer 7A to be directly mounted on the teeth 3 and
`
`an outer layer 7B mounted on the outer side of the inner layer
`
`7A.
`
`The dental mouthpiece 7
`
`is formed by placing these layers
`
`7A, 7B43 inside out.
`
`The material of the inner layer 7A and the outer layer 7B
`
`12
`
`
`
`W2323US_Amendment
`
`are not particularly limited, but preferably a material normally
`
`used for mouthpieces and having guaranteed hygienic safety. The
`
`use of, e.g. an EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate), which is a polymer
`
`material, a thermoplastic,
`
`a thermoplastic elastomer,
`
`a silicone
`
`rubber is preferable because it can suppress the side effects on
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`teeth and=gums or gingival tissues such as allergy.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Particularly,
`
`an EVA sheet
`
`is preferable since it has high
`
`electrically insulating property and heat
`
`insulating property.
`
`If this EVA sheet
`
`is used for the inner layer 7A,
`
`the softness
`
`of
`
`the EVA sheet can alleviate the transmission of vibration
`
`from the permanent magnets
`
`8
`
`to the teeth 31,
`
`3f,
`
`thereby
`
`preventing damages near
`
`the teeth 3i,
`
`3f
`
`resulting from the
`
`vibration.
`
`As
`
`shown in FIG.
`
`5,
`
`the outer
`
`layer
`
`7B is formed with
`
`outward bulging projecting portions 7a,
`
`and the inner layer 7A
`
`is bonded to the outer
`
`layer
`
`7B with the permanent magnets
`
`8
`
`placed inside the projecting portions 7a.
`
`In this way,
`
`the
`
`permanent magnets 8 are built
`
`in the dental mouthpiece 7.
`
`The
`
`outer layer 7B and the inner layer 7A are preferably joined and
`
`united with each other airtight,
`
`for
`
`example,
`
`by means of
`
`ultrasonic welding.
`
`The airtight state mentioned here means a
`
`state where the entrance of moisture between the two layers 7A,
`
`7B;—43 is hindered (i.e. watertightness can be maintained). The
`
`joining of
`
`the outer layer 7B and the inner layer 7A bringing
`
`about
`
`such an airtight state hinders the entrance of moisture
`
`13
`
`
`
`W2323US_Amendment
`
`such as saliva and cleaning liquid into the inner sides of the
`
`two
`
`layers7A,
`
`7B;—43
`
`(particularly inside the projecting
`
`portions
`
`7a),
`
`thereby effectively protecting the
`
`permanent
`
`magnets 8
`
`from the moisture.
`
`The
`
`inner
`
`spaces
`
`of
`
`the projecting portions
`
`7a
`
`are
`
`preferably larger than the outer shapes of the permanent magnets
`
`8.
`
`The perfectly close contact of
`
`the inner surfaces of
`
`the
`
`projecting portions 7a and the inner surface of the inner layer
`
`JA with the permanent magnets 8 might restrict the vibration of
`
`the permanent magnets 8.
`
`Therefore,
`
`the inner
`
`spaces of
`
`the
`
`projecting portions
`
`7a are preferably dimensioned to such a
`
`degree as to permit
`
`the vibration of the permanent magnets 8.
`
`As a means of forming in a dental mouthpiece 7 a storage space
`
`larger
`
`than the size of
`
`the permanent magnet
`
`8
`
`in order
`
`to
`
`increase
`
`the
`
`load for
`
`imparting stimuli,
`
`for
`
`example,
`
`the
`
`permanent magnet
`
`8
`
`is stored in a capsule
`
`larger
`
`than the
`
`permanent magnet 8, and the capsule is placed in the mouthpiece
`
`7.
`
`FIG.
`
`6 is a block diagram showing an exemplary construction
`
`of
`
`the alternating current
`
`signal generating unit 30.
`
`This
`
`alternating current
`
`signal
`
`generating unit
`
`30
`
`includes
`
`a
`
`controller 31, a D/A converter 32 and an amplifier 33.
`
`The controller 31 is constructed by a personal computer,
`
`generates a digital alternating current signal and outputs it to
`
`the D/A converter 32.
`
`The personal computer includes a display
`
`14
`
`
`
`W2323US_Amendment
`
`mouthpiece 7.
`
`The dental mouthpiece according to the present invention is
`
`not
`
`limited to the one to be so mounted as to cover the entire
`
`teeth as shown in FIG.
`
`3 and,
`
`for example, may be of such a size
`
`as to be mounted only on a specific part of the teeth including
`
`the tooth to be aligned or may be of
`
`such a size as
`
`to be
`
`mounted on the tooth to be aligned.
`
`The dental mouthpiece 7 may be so shaped as to fulfill the
`
`orthodontic function itself.
`
`This eliminates the need for the
`
`exclusive braces including the orthodontic wire 5 and the like.
`
`Such a dental mouthpiece may have a shape in conformity with the
`
`teeth 3
`
`to be aligned or may have a shape slightly different
`
`from the teeth before teeth alignment and in conformity with a
`
`targeted shape of
`
`the teeth 3
`
`to be aligned.
`
`The latter shape
`
`enables
`
`an elastic force of
`
`the dental mouthpiece
`
`7
`
`to be
`
`utilized as an aligning force.
`
`The number and arranged positions of the permanent magnets
`
`8 are not restricted, either. Although the appliance in which
`
`the two permanent magnets 8 are arranged for the right and left
`
`teeth 3gf, 3i
`
`is shown in FIG. 3, one,
`
`three or more permanent
`
`magnets 8 may be arranged. Further,
`
`the permanent magnets 8 may
`
`be mounted on the back side (tongue side) of the teeth 3 or may
`
`be so mounted on the top of
`
`the dental mouthpiece 7 as to be
`
`located at the crown portions of the teeth.
`
`The structure of the dental mouthpiece 7 is not
`
`limited to
`
`19
`
`
`
`W2323US_Amendment
`
`teeth 3c, 3d to be aligned,
`
`the teeth 3g, 3h to be aligned and
`
`the teeth 3k 31 to be aligned.
`
`The dental mouthpiece
`
`7-7
`
`according to this
`
`eleventh
`
`embodiment can also achieve functions
`
`and effects similar
`
`to
`
`those of the dental mouthpieces 7-1, 7-2, 7-3, 7-4, 7-5 and 7-6.
`
`The dental mouthpiece 7-7 is divided into a plurality of
`
`(three in this example) mutually independent
`
`segments by the
`
`cutoff portions
`
`(dividing portions) 7v.
`
`In this construction,
`
`the direction and intensity of the vibration to be applied can
`
`be
`changed
`for
`each segment, which
`various
`teethes and bites.
`Further,
`
`enables
`adaptations
`to
`one or more permanent
`
`magnets 8 can be stored for each segment.
`
`Since the parts before and after the divided sections are
`
`integrally connected to each other in the dental mouthpieces 7-1
`
`to
`
`7-4
`
`according
`
`to
`
`the
`
`fifthninth
`
`to
`
`eightheieventh
`
`embodiments,
`
`each dental mouthpiece
`
`is entirely formed by a
`
`single segment, but
`
`the parts before and after
`
`the dividing
`
`portions can be seen as the mutually independent segments since
`the respective dividing portions suppress
`the transmission of
`
`the mechanical vibration. Accordingly,
`
`in a construction in
`
`which the permanent magnets 8 are stored in the segments before
`
`and after the dividing portions similar to the dental mouthpiece
`
`7-7 according to the eleventh embodiment,
`
`the direction and
`
`intensity of the vibration to be applied can be changed for each
`
`segment,
`
`thereby enabling adaptations
`
`to various
`
`teethes and
`
`45
`
`
`
`W2323US_Amendment
`
`bites.
`
`Further,
`
`it
`
`is also possible to store one or more
`
`magnetic elements in each segment.
`
`Since the dividing portions are the cutout portions 7p,
`
`the
`
`slit portions 7s or the cut portions 7t
`
`in the dental mouthpiece
`
`7-1
`
`to 7-4
`
`according to the
`
`fifthninth to eightheteventh
`
`embodiments,
`
`the segments unnecessary for
`
`the treatment by a
`
`treatment plan or
`
`the segments having used for
`
`the already
`
`finished orthodontic treatment can be locally removed by being
`
`cut at the dividing portions if the magnetic elements are stored
`
`in the
`
`respective
`
`segments before
`
`and after
`
`the dividing
`
`portions.
`
`It
`
`is more preferable to have such a construction
`
`that the parts cut at the dividing portions can be reconnected.
`
`This construction can be
`
`realized,
`
`for
`
`example,
`
`by mounting
`
`fittings attachable to and detachable from each other, magnetic
`
`elements attracting each other, adhesive materials or the like
`
`at the cut positions.
`
`The dental mouthpieces 7-1 to 7-7 according to the above
`
`embodiments are not
`
`limited to those having an inner and outer
`
`overlaid structure comprised of the inner layer 7A and the outer
`
`layer 7B.
`
`In short,
`
`it
`
`is sufficient
`
`to store the magnetic
`
`element at the part corresponding to the tooth to be aligned.
`
`FIG.
`
`29
`
`is a perspective view showing a state where
`
`a
`
`dental mouthpiece
`
`according to a
`
`twelfth embodiment of
`
`the
`
`invention is mounted on the lower dental arch of a user,
`
`and
`
`FIG. 30 is a section along the line 40-40 of FIG. 29.
`
`46
`
`
`
`W2323US_Amendment
`
`In this embodiment,
`
`the direction of the play (direction of
`
`the clearance)
`
`coincides with a direction conforming to the
`
`aligning direction of
`
`the teeth 3g,
`
`3h to be aligned in the
`
`storage space 7b. This largely contributes to the promotion of
`
`the orthodontic effect.
`
`For example,
`
`in the case of retracting a tooth sticking out
`
`forward and in the case of pulling a retracted tooth forward,
`
`the direction of
`
`the clearance may coincide with forward and
`
`backward directions. Further,
`
`in the case of aligning a twisted
`
`tooth,
`
`the direction of
`
`the clearance may coincide with a
`
`direction in which the tooth should be twisted back and which is
`
`substantially normal
`
`to the tooth surface.
`
`In an example shown
`
`in FIG.
`
`33,
`
`the direction of
`
`the
`
`clearance
`
`is
`
`set
`
`to be
`
`substantially normal
`
`to the right half of the tooth surface of
`
`the tooth 3g to be aligned, which is supposed to be twisted in
`
`counterclockwise direction when viewed from above.
`
`A vibration effect utilizing such a clearance enables the
`
`application of the vibration load having high directivity to the
`
`teeth.
`
`A
`
`thirteenth embodiment
`
`of
`
`the present
`
`invention is
`
`described with reference to FIG. 34.
`
`FIG.
`
`34 is a perspective
`
`view showing a state where a dental mouthpiece 7’ according to
`
`one embodiment of
`
`the present
`
`invention is mounted on a dental
`
`cast
`
`1 of a user.
`
`The dental mouthpiece 7’ of this embodiment
`
`includes a lower layer 71 corresponding to a dental cast 1Ai+ of
`
`49
`
`
`
`W2323US_Amendment
`
`the lower dental arch,
`
`an upper
`
`layer
`
`72 corresponding to a
`
`dental cast 1B42 of
`
`the upper dental arch, connecting members
`
`251,
`
`252 connecting both layers 71,
`
`72 at positions distanced
`
`from teeth to be aligned, and permanent magnets 8 as one example
`
`of magnetic elements.
`
`The upper layer +472 is mountable on the
`
`upper teeth, and the lower layer #271 is mountable on the lower
`
`teeth.
`
`The lower
`
`layer 71 and the upper
`
`layer 72 of this dental
`
`mouthpiece 7’ are both produced using an apparatus equivalent to
`
`the producing apparatus
`
`111
`
`shown
`
`in FIG.
`
`18
`
`by
`
`a method
`
`equivalent
`
`to
`
`the
`
`producing method
`
`shown
`
`in
`
`FIG.
`
`19.
`
`Thereafter,
`
`the connecting members 251,
`
`252 are formed in the
`
`following manner.
`
`First,
`
`the lower
`
`layer 71 and the upper layer 72 produced
`
`as above are mounted on corresponding dental casts 1A,
`
`1B of the
`
`dental cast
`
`1 having the bite thereof adjusted.
`
`Subsequently,
`
`EVA columns having the opposite ends thereof heated to be molten
`
`are caused to stand at specified positions of the lower layer 71
`
`with both dental casts 1A,
`
`1B opened, and then the dental casts
`
`1A,
`
`1B are closed up to a specified angle.
`
`In this way,
`
`the
`
`ends of
`
`the EVA columns at an opposite side come
`
`into contact
`
`with the upper
`
`layer 72.
`
`The EVA columns become the connecting
`
`members 251,
`
`252 connecting both layers 71,
`
`72 by being cooled
`
`in this
`
`state, whereby
`
`a pair of upper
`
`and
`
`lower dental
`
`mouthpieces 7’
`
`is completed.
`
`50
`
`
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