Dental appliance
The present disclosure is directed to a dental appliance. The dental appliance includes a first band adapted for mounting about a first tooth, such as a second molar, the first band having a mesial hook facing toward a root of the first tooth. A second band is included, the second band adapted for mounting about a second tooth, such as a premolar, wherein the second band has a distal hook facing toward a crown of the second tooth. A spring is secured to, and extends between, the distal and mesial hooks. The spring may be a nickel titanium coil spring and have a length of about 13 mm. Other embodiments include a supportive rigid bar, a bi-lateral arrangement, and a method of applying the dental appliance.
1. A dental appliance, comprising:
a first band adapted for mounting about a first tooth, wherein the first band has a mesial hook facing toward a first direction;
a second band adapted for mounting about a second tooth, wherein the second band has a distal hook facing toward a second direction, the second direction being a different direction than the first direction; and
a spring secured to, and extending between, the mesial and distal hooks,
wherein the mesial hook, the distal hook and the spring are axially aligned along a first imaginary plane,
wherein the first imaginary plane extends through an occlusal surface of the first tooth and through an occlusal surface of the second tooth,
wherein the spring is configured to be in compression between the mesial and distal hooks, thereby being configured to push the first and second teeth away from one another, and
wherein the first imaginary plane extends through a center of resistance of the first tooth.
2. The dental appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the first tooth is a second molar and the second tooth is a premolar.
3. The dental appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the spring is a nickel titanium coil spring.
4. The dental appliance according to claim 3 , wherein the spring has a length of about 13 mm.
5. The dental appliance as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
a third band adapted for mounting about a third tooth; and
a rigid bar connected to the third band and the second band.
6. The dental appliance as recited in claim 5 , wherein the rigid bar is a lingual arch.
7. The dental appliance as recited in claim 6 , wherein the third band includes a second distal hook facing toward a third direction different from the first direction and the second direction.
8. The dental appliance as recited in claim 7 , further comprising:
a fourth band adapted for mounting about a fourth tooth, wherein the fourth band includes a second mesial hook facing toward a fourth direction different from the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction; and
a second spring secured to, and extending between, the second distal and second mesial hooks,
wherein the second mesial hook, the second distal hook and the second spring are axially aligned along a second imaginary plane, different from the first imaginary plane,
wherein the second imaginary plane extends through an occlusal surface of the third tooth and through an occlusal surface of the fourth tooth, and
wherein the second spring is configured to be in compression between the second mesial and second distal hooks, thereby being configured to push the third and fourth teeth away from one another.
9. The dental appliance as recited in claim 8 , wherein the third tooth is a premolar and the fourth tooth is a second molar.
10. A method of applying a dental appliance, comprising the steps of:
mounting a first band on and about a first tooth, wherein the first band has a mesial hook facing toward a first direction;
mounting a second band on and about a second tooth, wherein the second band has a distal hook facing toward a second direction different from the first direction; and
attaching a spring to the distal and mesial hooks such that the spring extends between the distal and mesial hooks,
wherein the mesial hook, the distal hook and the spring are axially aligned along a first imaginary plane,
wherein the first imaginary plane extends through an occlusal surface of the first tooth and through an occlusal surface of the second tooth, and
wherein the spring is configured to be in compression between the mesial and distal hooks, thereby being configured to push the first and second teeth away from one another,
wherein the first imaginary plane extends through a center of resistance of the first tooth.
11. The method of applying a dental appliance as recited in claim 10 , wherein the first tooth is a second molar and the second tooth is a premolar.
12. The method of applying a dental appliance as recited in claim 10 , wherein the spring is a nickel titanium coil spring.
13. The method of applying a dental appliance as recited in claim 12 , wherein the spring has a length of about 13 mm.
14. The method of applying a dental appliance as recited in claim 10 , further comprising mounting a third band on and about a third tooth; and
mounting a rigid bar in connection with the third band and the second band.
15. The method of applying a dental appliance as recited in claim 14 , wherein the third band has a second distal hook facing towards a third direction different from the first direction and the second direction.
16. The method of applying a dental appliance as recited in claim 15 , further comprising:
mounting a fourth band on and about a fourth tooth, wherein the fourth band has a second mesial hook facing toward a fourth direction different from the first direction, the second direction and the third direction; and
attaching a second spring to the second distal and second mesial hooks such that the second spring extends between the second distal and second mesial hooks,
wherein the second mesial hook, the second distal hook and the second spring are axially aligned along a second imaginary plane, different from the first imaginary plane,
wherein the second imaginary plane extends through an occlusal surface of the third tooth and through an occlusal surface of the fourth tooth, and
wherein the second spring is configured to be in compression between the second mesial and second distal hooks, thereby being configured to push the third and fourth teeth away from one another.
17. The method of applying a dental appliance as recited in claim 16 , wherein the third tooth is a premolar and the fourth tooth is a second molar.
18. The method of applying a dental appliance as recited in claim 16 , wherein the second spring is a nickel titanium coil spring having a length of about 13 mm.