Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a metallic anchorage system for the treatment of orthodontic malocclusions, characterized in that it focuses on the use of a palatal bar onto which two cross tubes, of the same diameter, have been inserted, one at each side.

Description of the related art

Until today in the prior art there exist various known techniques of anchorage and for the treatment of orthodontic malocclusions using palatal access. The common and basic characteristic of all known techniques is that the main palatal wire is directly welded on the bands of the upper a' or b' molars where moving is required. However, the main disadvantage of said technique is that the complete control, buccal - lingually, in respect of the moving molar is not possible. In addition, it is difficult to adjust the palatal wire "coming" from the ortho microscrews to the band.

Summary of the invention

All the above technical disadvantages led the inventor to an attempt to find a solution, the result of which is the object of the present invention

The present invention eliminates all the above disadvantages as it focuses on the use of a palatal bar on which two cross tubes of the same diameter are inserted, one at each side, moving along and on the palatal bar whilst the cross can rotate around the axis of the bar. In this way, control at vertical and horizontal, buccal-lingual, level is achieved during the movement.

Moreover, due to the ability of the cross tube to move in height, in respect to the palatal bar, and to rotate, the ideal exertion of the force through the coil spring on the tooth (center of resistance) as well as the easy access of the palatal wire can be easily achieved.

Brief description of the drawings The technical, constructional and functional characteristics of the present invention will be comprehensive to those skilled in the art, with reference to the accompanying drawings of the present specification, which show industrial preferred embodiments of the present invention. In particular:

Figure 1 is a view of the upper tooth arch and the ortho microscrews, located in a palatal way, and the palatal bar welded on the bands of the a' molars and the cross tubes attached on said palatal bar.

Figure 2 is a depiction of the anchorage system fully developed, in case we wish distalizing forces to be exerted through the coil springs to the a' molars. Figure 3a is a depiction of an alternative embodiment of the system where one or two premolars is missing, where instead of coil springs there are retraction means through the stops and to the cross tubes exerting mesializing forces. Figure 3b' is a depiction of an alternative embodiment of the system in case of open bite, where at the base of the screw of the screw-nut system (8) a metal button (13) of same diameter is attached.

Figure 4 is the side view of the connector-screw driver and cross sections where its one end is a hexagon, in order to fit the opening of the respective wrench, and its other end is an octagon in order to exactly fit to the ortho microscrew that we wish to screw until reaching its final position.

Figure 5 is a side view of the cross tubes and cross sections where it is shown that they are perpendicular to each other and also their nozzle with diameter 1 mm.

Figure 6 is a facing view, side view and cross section view of the abutments, which are welded on the palatal wire and in this way they connect the ortho microscrews with the palatal bar through the cross tubes.

Figure 7 is a side view and cross section view of the screw - nut system where the screw comprises an opening between the vertical flaps such that it is possible for the palatal wire to pass through said screw. Figure 8 is a side view and cross section view of the special screwdriver (10).

Figure 9 depicts the wrench where the connector - screwdriver brings together the wrench with the ortho microscrew in order for it to be screwed to the best wished point in respect, from the one hand, of the stability of the ortho microscrew and from the other of the distance between the low part of the head of the ortho microscrew and the palatal mucosa. This part is of great clinical importance as most of the inflammations are located there.

The drawings show an example of the present invention. Hereinafter, same reference numbers of the main parts of the object refer to the corresponding reference numbers of those parts in the accompanying drawings. The parts are not depicted to scale but simply in dimensions proportional to one another.

Description of the preferred embodiments

According to the selected indicative embodiment of the invention, the invented system comprises two ortho microscrews (1) located in a palatal way at the imaginary line connecting the interspaces between the upper dogtooth and the premolar of the one side with the respective teeth of the other side, the palatal bar (3) connecting the two upper a' molars through bands, two cross tubes (4) which will pass through before the welding of the palatal bar (3) on the bands, the two abutments (9) on the ortho microscrews (1), the main palatal wire (5) of indicative diameter of 0,9 mm which through its welding on the abutments (9) it connects the ortho microscrews (1) with the a' molars through the palatal bar (3) and the cross tubes (4) forming actually a Π shape, the two coil springs (7) one at each side pass through the horizontal part of the palatal wire (5), if distalizing forces are exerted, or there are no coil springs but retraction means such as retraction chains (1 1), if mesializing forces are exerted, and two stops such as the screw - nut system (8) situated on the horizontal part of the palatal wire (5) in order for the force of the coil springs (7) or of the retraction chains (11), respectively, to be controlled. The coils springs (7) are indicatively made of open type hyper elastic nickel titanium (ni-ti).

The present invention focuses mainly on the ortho microscrews which have been widely used lately in the orthodontic science. In this approach they are located in a palatal way between the dogtooth zone and the first premolar. There is no exact location as it depends on the anatomy of the palatal area of each person and the evaluation of the intervening person. In the present invention the ortho microscrews used are available in the market and their length is usually between 8 mm to 12 mm whilst their width is between 1 ,5 mm to 2 mm and they are self taping.

In order to ensure the stability of said ortho microscrews a connector - screwdriver (2) is used, the one end of which is of octagon shape and it completely fits to the ortho microscrew, and its other end is of hexagon shape in order to be completely inserted into the opening of the wrench (12). The ensuring of the stability between the ortho microscrews constitutes a parameter of great clinical importance as the stability of the ortho microscrews is mostly affected by the quality of the bone and by the absence of inflammations around the microscrews, factors that are mainly controlled by the controlled screw of the ortho microscrew and constitute the beginning of the success of the anchorage system.

Provided that the stability and the exact final position of the above ortho microscrews is ensured, with the help of the above fittings, the palatal bar (3) of Gosgharian type is located at the upper two a' molars through bands which is immobilized either by welding or through a laser machine where two tubes (4), which are perpendicular between them, of cross shape are attached by welding or by laser, of indicative diameter of 1x1 mm respectively and of indicative length of 2x2 mm. Then the two ortho microscrews are covered with the abutments (9) and then the impression is taken. In this way the reproduction of the area with the ortho microscrews is possible at the plaster model where the required preparation of the palatal wire (5) is made, which is round and its indicative diameter is 0,9 mm, in such a way in order for the palatal wire (5) to be passively fit to the two ortho microscrews and also to the horizontal tubes of each cross. The wire and the metal abutments (9) are being welded at their contact point through laser or welding.

Alternatively, in case we wish to implement the invention to a special type of orthodontic malocclusions where there is an increased vertical discrepancy of the posterior teeth of the upper tooth arch with direct impact to the area of the front teeth (open bite), a metal button (13) of a respective diameter is attached to the base of the screw of the screw- nut system (8) which is used for cases where support is needed for the elastic attachment by the screw - nut system and cross tubes (see figure 3b'). In this case, the attachment starts from the mesial side of the 1 ^st molar, surrounds the screw-nut system (8) and ends at the distal side of the 1 ^st molar in order for such force to be exerted that the intrusion of the 1 ^st molar to be achieved. In this way the intrusion of the 1 ^st molars and then the change of the upper masticatory plain level are achieved with direct result the decrease of the open bite and the reservation of the continuous contact between the palatal wire and the ortho microscrews and the compensation of any forces (from the elastic attachment) which tend to detach the palatal wire from the ortho microscrews. The result of this embodiment is the prevalence of the wished forces which will intrude the 1 ^st molars.

If all the above is achieved at the plaster model, then the meeting with the patient takes place where the above system is placed.