Orthodontic assembly with reinforcement structure

US5707231A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• RMO, INC. · US

Inventors

• David E. Watt · Lafayette, US
• Walter Schmidt · Rohrbach, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 25, 1994
• Grant date: Jan 13, 1998
• Expiry date: Jul 25, 2014

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61C7/14
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An orthodontic assembly including an orthodontic appliance and a region composed of a matrix material having a plurality of reinforcement structures distributed throughout, with some of the reinforcement structures being exposed on an exterior surface of the assembly, as well as an associated method of fabrication. In one embodiment, the entire orthodontic appliance is composed of the noted reinforcement structures and matrix material. In another embodiment, the noted region is actually a layer which is attached to a separately formed appliance, such as a bracket. Nonetheless, the reinforcement structures may be exposed in a variety of locations, such as on the base and/or arch slot. Moreover, this region may be formed by forming the appliance from the reinforcement structures and matrix material in a manner which produces skin on its exterior surface, and removing the skin from the desired areas to expose reinforcement structures partially contained within the matrix material.