DUAL HEAD CONNECTOR
An orthodontic remodeling device, having an extra-oral driver, a bite plate or other intra-oral orthodontic appliance, and a dual headed connector for connecting the two.
1 . An orthodontic remodeling system, comprising:
a. a dual headed connector for reversibly coupling an intra-oral orthodontic appliance having a first socket and an extra-oral orthodontic remodeling driver having a second socket,
b. said dual headed connector comprising:
i) a first connector for reversibly coupling to said first socket; and,
ii) a second connector for reversibly coupling to said second socket.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said first connector snap fits to said first socket or said second connector snap fits to said second socket.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said first connector and said first socket are threadably engaged.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said extra-oral orthodontic remodeling driver includes a housing containing a vibrator operably coupled to an power source operably coupled to an processor for controlling device usage and for recording and transmitting usage compliance data.
5 . The system of claim 1 ,
a) said second connector comprising a cylindrical shaft having a free end and an attached end; and,
b) said cylindrical shaft having a diameter of about 6.35 mm and a length of about 10.25 mm and having a groove about 4 mm from said attached-end, wherein said groove circumnavigates the shaft.
6 . The system of claim 4 ,
a) said second connector comprising a cylindrical shaft having a free end and an attached end; and,
b) said cylindrical shaft having a diameter of about 6.35 mm and a length of about 10.25 mm and having a groove about 4 mm from said attached-end, wherein said groove circumnavigates the shaft.
7 . The system of claim 4 , said vibrator vibrating at a single frequency between 20-40 Hz and at a single force between 0.1-0.5 Newtons.
8 . The system of claim 4 , said vibrator vibrating at 30 Hz and 0.2 Newtons.
9 . An orthodontic remodeling system, comprising
a) a U-shaped bite plate having vertical edges for contacting facial surfaces of upper and lower teeth;
b) said bite plate having a first socket;
c) an extra-oral vibrator having a second socket; and,
d) a dual headed connector having a first connector for reversibly connecting to said first socket and a second connector for reversibly connecting to said second socket.
10 . The orthodontic remodeling system of claim 9 , wherein said bite plate is U-shaped or lingually shaped.
11 . The orthodontic remodeling system of claim 9 , said extra-oral vibrator comprising a housing containing a vibrating motor operably coupled to a power source and an activation switch.
12 . The orthodontic remodeling system of claim 11 , said housing also containing a processor operably coupled to said vibrating motor and said activation switch, said processor for controlling said vibrating motor and for capturing and transmitting usage compliance data.
13 . The orthodontic remodeling system of claim 9 , said vibrator vibrating at a selected frequency between 20-40 Hz and a selected force 0.1-0.5 Newtons.
14 . The orthodontic remodeling system of claim 9 , said vibrator vibrating at 30 Hz and 0.2 Newtons.
15 . The orthodontic remodeling system of claim 9 ,
a) said second connector comprising a cylindrical shaft having a free end and an attached end;
b) said cylindrical shaft having a diameter of about 6.35 mm and a length of about 10.25 mm and having a groove about 4 mm from said attached-end, wherein said groove circumnavigates the shaft.
16 . The orthodontic remodeling system of claim 14 ,
a) said second connector comprising a cylindrical shaft having a free end and an attached end;
b) said cylindrical shaft having a diameter of about 6.35 mm and a length of about 10.25 mm and having a groove about 4 mm from said attached-end, wherein said groove circumnavigates the shaft.
17 . A dual headed connector,
a) said dual headed for reversibly coupling an intra-oral orthodontic appliance having a first socket and an extra-oral orthodontic remodeling driver having a second socket;
b) said dual headed connector comprising:
i) a first connector that lockingly fits into said first socket; and,
ii) a second connector that lockingly fits to said second socket.
18 . The dual head connector of claim 17 , wherein said first connector is a dual prong cantilevered snap fit connector.
19 . The dual head connector of claim 17 ,
a) said second connector comprising a cylindrical shaft having a free end and an attached end;
b) said cylindrical shaft having a diameter of about 6.35 mm and a length of about 10.25 mm and having a groove about 4 mm from said attached-end, wherein said groove circumnavigates the shaft.
20 . The dual head connector of claim 17 , wherein said first connector is a dual prong cantilevered snap fit connector, and said second connector is a cylindrical shaft having a free end and an attached end, said cylindrical shaft having a diameter of about 6.35 mm and a length of about 10.25 mm and having a groove about 4 mm from said attached-end, wherein said groove circumnavigates the shaft.
21 . An inner core for an orthodontic appliance,
a) said inner core having a first socket on an interior facial surface thereof for receiving the dual headed connector of claim 17 ;
b) said inner core providing a base onto which a custom orthodontic appliance can be built.
22 . A method of faster orthodontic remodeling, said method comprising wearing the bite plate of claim 9 , attaching said extra-oral vibrator and vibrating said bite plate for about 20 minutes a day, wherein orthodontic remodeling is faster with said vibration than without said vibration.
23 . A method of faster orthodontic remodeling, said method comprising a patient wearing a fixed orthodontic appliance or aligner wearing the bite plate of claim 14 , attaching said extra-oral vibrator and vibrating said bite plate for about 20 minutes a day, wherein orthodontic remodeling is about twice as fast with said vibration as without said vibration.