As many people know, many orthodontic devices are currently used in orthodontic practice, all of which are designed to move teeth that are not growing in the correct direction either in, out, backward, or forward, so that they flush with the rest of a person's teeth. Al! these devices work by exerting forces, the required relocation of a given tooth occurring as a result of forces acting on it in various ways.

The device most often used by dentists is the Hyrax-type appliance, sometimes called the rapid palatal expander. This solution, one of the fundamental designs of orthodontics, is a unit designed basically to expand the palate in the lateral direction, and consists of a threaded screw and fixed or movable securing rod used to adjust the device, a fixed or movabie threaded body, and connecting arms ending in bands.

A hole fashioned in the middle of the threaded screw contains a rotating element used to set the screw into any of four different positions. This device, used to set or to align the appliance, can be placed into an opening fashioned for this purpose by means of a special key, which turns the element into the next position with a quarter turn. As a result, the threaded body, made of plastic or metal, moves (expands), exerting a force on the teeth through the connecting arms. The teeth may move up to 1/4 mm as a result, depending on what screw is used.

The threaded part of the threaded screw acts as the screw itself, while the set pin and threaded body taken together act as the corresponding nut. The plastic threaded body can also be made so that it makes direct contact with the teeth, so that when the key is turned, the body itself moves the teeth. This familiar basic unit can be used to move the teeth in the lateral (horizontal direction, but may not be used to adjust the teeth in multiple directions or to exert controlled forces. Other familiar orthodontic appliances Use screws of various shapes and functions, each for moving different teeth in different directions.

In one other solution, a spring is constructed between the connecting arms and the bands, with distal movement accomplished by use of pinchers, the device exerting its force in this way. The deficiency in this solution is that the forces exerted on the teeth are not controlled.

Another technical solution can be found under file number DE4432805, in the patent documentation entitled, Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Distalisierung der unteren Zähne während der kieferorthapadischen Behandlung."This orthodontic device, used to move the lower teeth in the distal direction, involves a separate mouth support placed at the back edge of the mandible in the corner and/or along its lower edge. External mouth support occurs above the elastic teeth and is made to imitate the usual curve of the face. It frequently may be secured to the teeth above a shaping ribbon of the maxilla or bracing element.

The equipment used to carry out the procedure basically consists of a primary arch, two auxiliary arches, supports, and a hook for suspending the device from the elastic teeth. With this known solution, only the lower teeth are moved distally ; the upper teeth are not. Also, teeth are moved in only one direction and not by means of controlled forces, a deficiency inherent in both the equipment and the procedure.

The present invention seeks to remedy the deficiencies inherent in other known solutions to the problem, and to create an orthodontic appliance that may be used to move the teeth of the upper jaw, or maxilla, in several different directions, to expand the maxilla through a gradual process consisting of several steps, and to move the molars using controlled forces employing a single appliance composed of several parts, in a reliable and economic fashion.

The solution represented by this invention is based upon the realisation that if we create an orthodontic appliance possessing one lateral adjustment unit, consisting of at least one aligning assembly, a threaded body, and front connecting arms that end in bands, are permanently mounted to the threaded body at one end, and are affixed to the first bicuspids at the other ; and for which, for simultaneous movement of the right first bicuspid and right first molar either forward or backward, the front connecting arms are detached from the threaded body and the appliance possesses a right distal adjustment unit, consisting of at least one aligning assembly, a threaded body, and right back connecting arm that ends in a band, is permanently mounted to the threaded body, and is affixed to the right front molar ; while for simultaneous movement of the left first bicuspid and left first molar either forward or backward the appliance possesses a left distal adjustment unit, consisting of at least one alignment unit, a threaded body, and a left back connecting arm that ends in a ring, is permanently mounted to the threaded body at one end, and is fixed to the left first molar at the other ; and for which a fixed right vertical connecting arm and fixed left vertical connecting arm are fashioned on both sides between the front connecting arms and back connecting arms and linking them together, then we may move the teach of the maxilla in multiple directions, expand the maxilla gradually, in several steps, and adjust the positions of the bicuspids and molars through controlled forces using a single appliance composed of several orthodontic units that is both reliable and economic to manufacture.

Thus, the invention is an orthodontic appliance that adjusts the positions of the teeth of the maxilla in several directions that possesses a lateral adjustment unit consisting of at least one aligning assembly, a threaded body, and connecting arms that end in bands, are permanently mounted to the threaded body at one end, and are affixed to the bicuspids at the other.

The principle behind the appliance represented by this invention is that for simultaneous movement of the right first bicuspid and right first molar either forward or backward, the front connecting rods are detached from the threaded body and the appliance has a right distal adjustment unit, consisting of at least one aligning assembly, a threaded body, and a right back connecting arm that ends in a band, is permanently mounted to the threaded body on one end, and is affixed to the right first molar on the other, while for simultaneous movement of the left first bicuspid and left first molar either forward or backward, the appliance has a left distal adjustment unit consisting of at least on aligning assembly, a threaded body, and a left back connecting arm that ends in a band, is permanently mounted to the threaded body at one end, and is affixed to the left first molar at the other.

The appliance also has a fixed right vertical connecting arm and left vertical connecting arm on both sides between the front connecting arms and back connecting arms, linking them together.

In one possible construction of the orthodontic appliance represented by this invention, for forward movement of the right first molar and left first molar, the front connecting arms are permanently mounted to the threaded body, there is a telescopic tube between the front connecting arms and right back connecting arm and left back connecting arm on both sides, and the components used to set the aligning assemblies are at first in open position, and are inserted into the right distal adjustment unit and the left distal adjustment unit.

In another useful variant on the orthodontic appliance represented by this invention, for backward movement of the right first molar and left first molar, a position- memory spring is placed on the telescopic tube on both sides.

In a third convenient variant on the orthodontic appliance represented by this invention, the appliance has a supplementary adjustment unit for secure support and to exerting controlled forces placed on the roof of the mouth and consisting conveniently of a support component, divided in the middle, a threaded body, connecting arms, and, if needed, at least one aligning assembly designed to effect further expansion. The threaded body of this supplementary unit is connected to the front connecting arms through the unit's connecting arms.

In yet another useful variation on the orthodontic appliance represented by this invention, the axis of the right and left distal adjustment units, perpendicular to the direction of lateral movement, follows the direction of the arch of the teeth, allowing for settings from 90 to 120 degrees.

The solution represented by this invention is depicted in greater detail in the following drawings: Figure 1 provides a bottom view (from the perspective of the mouth) of the orthodontic appliance as used for moving the right first bicuspid and right first molar, and left first bicuspid and left first molar, simultaneously, either forward or backward.

Figure 2 offers a bottom view (from the perspective of the mouth) of the orthodontic appliance as used for moving the right first molar and left first molar backward.

The orthodontic appliance depicted in Figure 1 possesses a lateral adjustment unit consisting of at least one aligning assembly 11, a threaded body 12, and front connecting arms 13 that end in bands 131, are permanently mounted to the threaded body 12, and are affixed to the right first bicuspid J4 and left first bicuspid B4. For moving the right first bicuspid J4 and the right first molar J6 simultaneously either forward or backward, the front connecting arms 13 of the orthodontic appliance are in detached position and the appliance has a right distal adjustment unit 2, consisting of at least one aligning assembly 21, a threaded body 22, and a right back connecting arm 23 that ends in a band 231, is permanently mounted to the threaded body 22 at one end, and is affixed to the right first molar J6 on the other end, while for simultaneous movement of the left first bicuspid B4 and left first molar B6 either forward or backward, the appliance has a lift distal adjustment unit 3 consisting of at least one aligning assembly 31, a threaded body 32, and a left back connecting arm 33 that ends in a band 331, is permanently mounted to the threaded body 32, and is affixed to the left first molar B6. The appliance also has a fixed right vertical connecting arm 24 and left vertical connecting arm 34 on both sides between the front connecting arms 13 and the right back connecting arm 23 and left back connecting arm 33, linking them together.

The appliance has a supplementary adjustment unit 6 for secure support and exerting controlled forces placed on the roof of the mouth and consisting of a supporting component 61 conveniently divided in the middle, a threaded body 62, two connecting arms 63, and if needed, at least one aligning assembly 64 used for effecting further expansion. The threaded body 62 his supplementary orthodontic unit 6 is connected to the two front connecting arms 13 through the unit's two connecting arms 63.

The various units of the orthodontic appliance represented by this invention function in the manner already described. For example, simultaneous movement of the right first bicuspid J4 and right first molar J6 forward is accomplished by means of the set pin found in the hole driiled into the middle of the threaded screw on the aligning assembly 21, such that The set pin can be turned by quarter turns using a special key, as the result of which the teeth move forward through the action of the right back connecting arm 23, the right vertical connecting arm 24, the band 131 and the band 231. During this process, the set pins on the aligning assembly 21 and aligning assembly 31 are in open position, inserted into the right distal adjustment unit 2 and the left distal adjustment unit 3, and the key inserted into the hole for the set pins must be turned in the opposite direction.

The orthodontic appliance seen in Figure 2 may be used to move the right first molar J6 and left first molar B6 backward. In order to do so, the orthodontic appliance is outfitted with a telescopic tube 4 and placed on it a position-memory spring 5. The telescopic tube 4 connects the front connecting arm 13 and right back connecting arm 23, and the front connecting arm 13 and left back connecting arm 33. The task of the position-memory spring 5 is to prevent a decrease in the force exerted in the distal direction after the appliance is activated, as biological forces will work to compensate for the initial force that is exerted when the appliance is first aligned.

The position-memory spring 5, made expediently of a nickel-titanium alloy, exerts constant pressure, as if having memory. If it is deflected, it will always return to its original state, thus allowing for the movement of teeth through controlled forces.

The axis formed by the vertical threaded screw in the aligning assembly 21 of the right distal adjustment unit 2 and the vertical threaded screw of the aligning assembly 31 of the left distal adjustment unit 3, perpendicular to the axis of lateral movement of the teeth, ideally should follow the direction of the arch of the teeth, so that it may be set for angles of 90 to 120 degrees from the axis of lateral movement.

The support component 61 of the supplementary adjustment unit 6 is made of artificial acrylate resin and is expediently divided in two in the middle so that it may adjust for increased lateral expansion.

In the event further expansion is desired, the supplementary adjustment unit 6 also includes an aligning assembly 64, which employs one or more set pins for increasing the pressure exerted on the right cuspid J3 and right first bicuspid J4, and on the left cuspid B3 and left first bicuspid B4. The orthodontic appliance represented by this invention has met its objectives, as the appliance may be employed for moving the teeth of the maxilla in multiple directions, for expanding the maxilla, for doing so gradually in several steps, and for adjusting the positions of the molars through controlled forces, using a single, reliable orthodontic appliance assembled from fewer components, including adjustment units that carry out several functions, and that may be manufactured economically.

KEY TO DRAWING J3 right cuspid J4 right first bicuspid J6 right first molar B3 left cuspid B4 left first bicuspid B6 left first molar 1 lateral adjustment unit 11 aligning assembly 12 threaded body 13 front connecting arm 131 band 2 right distal adjustment unit 21 aligning assembly 22 threaded body 23 right back connecting arm 231 band 24 right vertical connecting arm 3 left distal adjustment unit 31 aligning assembly 32 threaded body 33 left back connecting arm 331 band 34 left vertical connecting arm 4 telescopic tube 5 position-memory spring 6 supplementary adjustment unit 61 support component 62 threaded body 63 connecting arm 64 aligning assembly