Combined self-ligating bracket-aligner orthodontic appliance, method of manufacturing, and treatment using the appliance

1 . A combined self-ligating bracket-aligner orthodontic appliance, comprising:

at least one self-ligating bracket configured to attach to a tooth having:

a body portion having a rear side proximal to a gumline, a front side opposite to the rear side, a top side, a bottom side opposite to the top side and two opposing side edges;

an archwire slot formed transversely across the body portion from the first side of the body portion to an interior portion of the body portion, and across the two opposing side edges, and

a gate disposed at the front side across the slot to open and close the slot the front side of the self-ligating bracket; and

at least one aligner placed above the self-ligating bracket, wherein an outer surface of the self-ligating bracket is geometrically designed to minimize undercuts and holes, thereby allowing the self-ligating bracket to serve as a direct attachment site for the at least one aligner, wherein the self-ligating bracket functions both as a customized orthodontic bracket and as an aligner attachment, such that the at least one aligner is designed to engage directly with the outer surface of the self-ligating bracket, applying continuous force without passive enclosing over the self-ligating bracket, wherein the self-ligating bracket is configured to resemble conventional box attachments commonly used in aligner therapy, allowing for improved fit, engagement, and force transmission by the aligner; wherein the self-ligating bracket design enables its fabrication through 3D printing as a two-piece structure consisting of a bracket body and a gate or a cap, ensuring tooth-specific customization and biomechanical precision, and at least one aligner adapted to be placed in direct contact with and engage the external surfaces of the self-ligating bracket to guide tooth movement.

2 . The orthodontic appliance of claim 1 , wherein the archwire slot has a rectangular cross section.

3 . The orthodontic appliance of claim 1 , wherein the bracket is made of a tooth-colored biocompatible plastic or composite.

4 . The orthodontic appliance of claim 1 , wherein the gate comprises an interior surface contacting the front side of the bracket, wherein the gate comprises a slot at the interior surface and a front side of the bracket comprises a protrusion complementary to the slot to enable the gate to slide over the front side of the bracket to open and close the archwire slot.

5 . The orthodontic appliance of claim 4 , wherein the slot and protrusion have a T-shaped configuration.

6 . The orthodontic appliance of claim 4 , wherein the slot having a first depth at a top portion of the slot and a second depth at a bottom portion of the slot, wherein the first depth is smaller than the second depth, and wherein the bracket further comprises an active, flexible cantilever spring formed over the protrusion.

7 . The orthodontic appliance of claim 6 , wherein the cantilever spring is made of Nickel-Titanium (NiTi) material or any flexible material.

8 . The orthodontic appliance of claim 6 , wherein, when the gate is slid downwards to open the transverse slot, the top portion having the first depth configured to flex the cantilever spring holds the gate in open portion.

9 . The orthodontic appliance of claim 8 , wherein, when the gate is slid upwards to close the transverse, the bottom portion having the second depth enable to relax and extend the cantilever spring, while a protuberance at the top portion of the slot lies over the cantilever spring enabling it to close the gate.

10 . The orthodontic appliance of claim 1 , further comprises at least two spaced apart ridges extends from a top side of the gate and at least two spaced apart grooves formed at a top interior side of the body portion, wherein the ridges are complementary to the grooves, wherein the ridges are configured to interlock with the grooves to provide stabilization to gate when the gate is closed.

11 . The orthodontic appliance of claim 1 , further comprises at least one occlusal wing extends from the top side of the body portion.

12 . The orthodontic appliance of claim 1 , further comprises at least one gingival wing extends from a bottom side of the body portion.

13 . The orthodontic appliance of claim 1 , further comprises a vertical slot to use orthodontic auxiliaries.

14 . The orthodontic appliance of claim 1 , wherein the orthodontic auxiliaries include elastic modules and hooks.

15 . The orthodontic appliance of claim 1 , wherein the self-ligating bracket is configured to operate as a standalone aligner attachment, the self-ligating bracket being directly engageable by an orthodontic aligner to transmit orthodontic forces to a tooth independently of any archwire, such that no archwire is received within or retained by a bracket slot during force application.

16 . The orthodontic appliance of claim 1 , wherein the gingival surface and the occlusal surface of the self-ligating bracket are geometrically configured to establish indexed engagement with complementary internal surfaces of an orthodontic aligner, such engagement producing a defined force-moment system between the aligner and the bracket, wherein the internal surface of the aligner applies counter-moments through contact with the external surfaces and these surfaces of the bracket provides a reaction interface, thereby enabling controlled, bodily distalization of the tooth during a distalization stage.