PRESCRIPTION ATTACHMENTS FOR REMOVABLE DENTAL APPLIANCES
Attachments of the present disclosure combines the optimal practices of the traditional bracket-wire system and more recent resilient appliance (e.g., CTAs and polymeric bands) systems. The attachments include prescribed in/outs, torques and angulations designed utilizing the straight wire methodology for determining the bonding location on a particular tooth of the dental arch. A marriage of bracket prescription with attachment placement can help the treating professional to better visualize the treatment outcome with the tray or band on the patient.
1 . An orthodontic attachment device comprising:
an attachment body and a bonding surface underlying the body;
wherein the attachment body has the general shape of an inverted frustrum and the bonding surface is the underside of the attachment body, wherein the attachment device lacks a flared base, and wherein the body does not include a slot or passage dimensioned to receive an archwire.
2 . (canceled)
3 . The orthodontic attachment of claim 1 , wherein the attachment body has a generally trapezoidal cross-sectional shape along at least one of a mesial-distal or occlusal-gingival axis.
4 . The orthodontic attachment device of claim 1 , wherein the attachment body has a generally trapezoidal cross-sectional shape along both the mesial-distal and occlusal-gingival axis.
5 . The orthodontic attachment device of claim 1 , wherein the attachment body includes mesial, distal, occlusal, and gingival side surfaces extending between a facial surface of the body and the bonding surface, wherein side surfaces form a continuous undercut.
6 . (canceled)
7 . The orthodontic attachment device of claim 5 , wherein the transition surface between any two side surfaces is arcuate.
8 . The orthodontic attachment device of claim 5 , wherein at least one of the side surfaces has a decreasing taper between a facial surface of body and the bonding surface.
9 . The orthodontic attachment device of claim 8 , wherein at least two side surfaces have the decreasing taper.
10 . (canceled)
11 . The orthodontic attachment device of claim 1 , wherein the bonding surface is shaped to correspond to a contour of a portion of a tooth.
12 . The orthodontic attachment device of claim 11 , wherein the bonding surface is shaped to bond at the facial axis of the clinical crown of the tooth.
13 . The orthodontic attachment device of claim 1 , wherein the attachment body is dimensioned according to a prescription, the prescription including at least two of in/out, torque, and angulation.
14 . A set of orthodontic attachment devices comprising:
A first attachment having a first attachment body and a first bonding surface, wherein the first attachment body has a first prescription including at least two defined prescription elements selected from in/out, torque and angulation; and
a second attachment having a second attachment body and a second bonding surface, wherein the second attachment body has a second prescription including at least two defined prescription elements selected from in/out, torque and angulation, wherein the first prescription is different from the second prescription.
15 . The set of orthodontic attachment devices of claim 14 , wherein each attachment device lacks a flared base.
16 . The set of orthodontic attachment devices of claim 14 , wherein each bonding surface is the underside of the respective attachment body.
17 . The set of orthodontic attachment devices of claim 14 , wherein each of the first and second attachment bodies has a generally trapezoidal cross-sectional shape along at least one of a mesial-distal or occlusal-gingival axis.
18 . The set of orthodontic attachment devices of claim 14 , wherein the body does not include a slot or passage dimensioned to receive an archwire.
19 . The set of orthodontic attachment devices of claim 14 , wherein each of the first and second attachment bodies have the general shape of an inverted frustrum.
20 . The set of orthodontic attachment devices of claim 14 , and further comprising a third attachment having a third attachment body and a third bonding surface, wherein the third attachment body has a third prescription including at least two defined prescription elements selected from in/out, torque and angulation, wherein the third prescription is different from either the first or second prescription.
21 . The set of orthodontic attachment devices of claim 14 , wherein the underside surface of each appliance has a contour approximating the buccal radii of a dedicated tooth of a dental arch.
22 . An orthodontic treatment apparatus including the set of attachments of claim 14 ; and a polymer band configured to couple to and extend over a facial surface of each of the appliances.
23 . The orthodontic treatment apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the band, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the occlusal plane, includes an arch including a non-undulating facial surface.