TECHNIQUES FOR MOLAR DISTALIZATION
The techniques provide for a dental appliance, a method for treating a patient with the dental appliance, and a method of manufacturing the dental appliance. The dental appliance includes a bar with a first end and a second end. The first end is configured to engage with a first tooth. The dental appliance also includes a coupling portion at the end of the bar configured to engage with an orthodontic bracket bonded to a second tooth. The coupling portion is configured to rotate about an axis.
1 . A dental appliance, comprising:
a bar comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is configured to engage with a first tooth; and
a coupling portion at the second end of the bar configured to engage with an orthodontic bracket bonded to a second tooth, wherein the coupling portion is configured to rotate about an axis.
2 . The dental appliance of claim 1 , wherein the first end is configured to engage with the first tooth by engaging with a second bracket bonded to the first tooth.
3 . The dental appliance of claim 1 , wherein the coupling portion comprises a flexible portion configured to rotate about the axis.
4 . The dental appliance of claim 1 , wherein the coupling portion comprises a mating connection configured to connect to a bracket attachment that engages with the orthodontic bracket bonded to the second tooth.
5 . The dental appliance of claim 4 , wherein:
the orthodontic bracket is a tube with an inlet configured to receive an end of an arch wire; and
the bracket attachment comprises a protrusion that fits within the inlet to engage the bracket attachment with the orthodontic bracket.
6 . The dental appliance of claim 1 , wherein the bar is a distalizer.
7 . The dental appliance of claim 6 , wherein:
the second tooth comprises a molar; and
the bar is configured to distalize the molar.
8 . The dental appliance of claim 1 , wherein:
the first end of the bar comprises an engagement feature configured to engage with an elastic element; and
the elastic element applies a distal force on the bar.
9 . The dental appliance of claim 8 , wherein a first end of the elastic element is configured to engage with the engagement feature and a second end of the engagement feature is configured to engage with a third orthodontic bracket attached to a mandibular tooth.
10 . The dental appliance of claim 1 , wherein the coupling portion is configured to rotate about the occluso-gingival axis.
11 . The dental appliance of claim 1 , wherein the first tooth is one of a canine and a premolar.
12 . A method of treating a patient using a dental appliance, comprising:
installing the dental appliance, wherein the dental appliance comprises:
a bar comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is configured to engage with a first tooth; and
a coupling portion at the second end of the bar configured to engage with an orthodontic bracket bonded to a second tooth, wherein the coupling portion is configured to rotate about an axis.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein installing comprises:
engaging the first end with the first tooth; and
engaging the coupling portion with the orthodontic bracket bonded to the second tooth.
14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the coupling portion comprises a mating connection configured to connect to a bracket attachment that engages with the orthodontic bracket bonded to the second tooth.
15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein:
the first end of the bar comprises an engagement feature configured to engage with an elastic element; and
the elastic element applies a distal force on the bar.
16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the coupling portion is configured to rotate about the occluso-gingival axis.
17 . A method of manufacturing a dental appliance, comprising:
manufacturing the dental appliance, wherein the dental appliance comprises:
a bar comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is configured to engage with a first tooth; and
a coupling portion at the second end of the bar configured to engage with an orthodontic bracket bonded to a second tooth, wherein the coupling portion is configured to rotate about an axis.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the coupling portion comprises a mating connection configured to connect to a bracket attachment that engages with the orthodontic bracket bonded to the second tooth.
19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein:
the first end of the bar comprises an engagement feature configured to engage with an elastic element; and
the elastic element applies a distal force on the bar.
20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the coupling portion is configured to rotate about the occluso-gingival axis.