WO2025053401A1 - Transparent orthodontic device - Google Patents

Abstract

An embodiment of the present invention provides a transparent orthodontic device comprising: a transparent orthodontic body configured to accommodate all teeth in a dental arch in order to move a tooth to be corrected from an initial position to a target position; a thickness reinforcement part for supplementing the thickness of a specific area of the transparent orthodontic body in order to apply an orthodontic force to the tooth to be corrected; and a gingival line reinforcement part which is formed to extend from a gingival cut line of the transparent orthodontic body so as to at least partially cover gums and thus reinforces the strength of the gingival cut line.

Description

Clear braces

The present invention relates to a transparent orthodontic device.

Orthodontics is a treatment performed to treat irregular tooth arrangement or abnormal bite conditions of the upper and lower jaws. Conventional orthodontics was performed by attaching orthodontic brackets made of non-toxic materials to teeth to correct malocclusion of teeth, and then applying the force of orthodontic wires to the brackets. Conventional orthodontics using brackets and wires are not aesthetically pleasing because the brackets and wires are fixed to the teeth during treatment, and can cause oral hygiene problems.

To address these shortcomings, a new type of orthodontic treatment using transparent orthodontic devices has been recently being performed worldwide. Transparent orthodontic devices do not use brackets or wires, but rather use transparent polymer materials, so they are aesthetically superior and can be removed when necessary, making them effective for maintaining oral hygiene. In addition, transparent orthodontic devices cause relatively less foreign body sensation, allowing patients to receive orthodontic treatment comfortably.

Prior art literature

(Patent Document 1) Korean Patent Publication No. 10-1510857 (April 3, 2015)

The present invention is intended to solve the problems of the above-mentioned prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a transparent orthodontic device in which the thickness of a portion requiring tooth movement is formed relatively thick, and the thickness of a portion requiring tooth movement is formed relatively thin.

In order to achieve the above object, one aspect of the present invention provides a transparent orthodontic device including a transparent orthodontic body configured to accommodate all teeth in an arch to move a tooth to be corrected from an initial position to a target position, a thickness reinforcing member that supplements the thickness of a specific region of the transparent orthodontic body to impart corrective force to the tooth to be corrected, and a gingival line reinforcing member that extends from a gingival cutting line of the transparent orthodontic body to at least partially cover the gums and reinforces the strength of the gingival cutting line.

In order to achieve the above object, another aspect of the present invention provides a transparent orthodontic device including a transparent orthodontic body configured to accommodate some teeth in an arch to move the teeth to be corrected from an initial position to a target position, and a thickness reinforcing member that supplements the thickness of a specific region of the transparent orthodontic body to impart orthodontic force to the teeth to be corrected.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the gum line reinforcement part may be a transparent orthodontic device characterized in that it is formed integrally with the transparent orthodontic body.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the transparent orthodontic device may be characterized in that the gum line reinforcement part is formed on at least one of the lingual surface side and the buccal surface side of the transparent orthodontic body.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the transparent orthodontic device may be characterized in that the gingival line reinforcement part formed on the tongue side or the buccal side is formed continuously to be connected to the gingival cutting line of the transparent orthodontic body.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the transparent orthodontic device may be a transparent orthodontic device characterized in that it is manufactured using a direct output method using a 3D printer.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the thickness reinforcing member may be formed in a manner to reinforce the thickness of the transparent orthodontic body located distal from the direction of movement of the tooth to be corrected.

In one embodiment of the present invention, in the case of an expansion case, the thickness reinforcing member may be formed to reinforce the thickness of a lingual side of the transparent orthodontic body, which may be a transparent orthodontic device.

In one embodiment of the present invention, in the case of a retraction case, the thickness reinforcing member may be formed to reinforce the thickness of a buccal side of the transparent orthodontic body, which may be a transparent orthodontic device.

In one embodiment of the present invention, in the case of an extrusion case, the thickness reinforcing member may be formed to reinforce the thickness of the transparent orthodontic body located proximal to the root based on the maximum fusion line of the tooth, which may be a transparent orthodontic device.

In one embodiment of the present invention, in the case of an intrusion case, the thickness reinforcing member may be formed to reinforce the thickness of the transparent orthodontic body located distal from the root based on the maximum fusion line of the tooth, which may be a transparent orthodontic device.

In one embodiment of the present invention, in the case of a rotation case, the thickness reinforcing portion may be formed to reinforce the thickness of the transparent orthodontic body located in a diagonal direction when four quadrants are set based on a groove line formed on an occlusal surface of a tooth.

In one embodiment of the present invention, in the case of an angulation case, the thickness reinforcing member may be formed to reinforce the thickness of a mesial side of the transparent orthodontic body located in one direction based on the maximum ridge line of the tooth, and the thickness of a distal side of the transparent orthodontic body located in the other direction based on the maximum ridge line of the tooth, which may be a transparent orthodontic device.

In one embodiment of the present invention, in the case of a torque control case, the thickness reinforcing member may be formed to reinforce the thickness of a lingual side of the transparent orthodontic body located in one direction based on the maximum ridge line of the teeth, and the thickness of a buccal side of the transparent orthodontic body located in the other direction based on the maximum ridge line of the teeth, which may be a transparent orthodontic device.

According to one aspect of the present invention, in a transparent orthodontic device, the thickness of a portion where tooth movement is required can be formed relatively thick, and the thickness of a portion where tooth movement is not required can be formed relatively thin. Accordingly, corrective force can be concentrated on a portion where tooth movement is required a lot, thereby promoting effective tooth movement and shortening the treatment period. In addition, by concentrating the use of materials only on a portion where tooth movement is required, material costs can be reduced and manufacturing time can be reduced.

In addition, the transparent orthodontic device can prevent deformation of the transparent orthodontic device due to external forces such as removal or occlusal force as the gingival line reinforcement part is formed on the gingival cutting line. Furthermore, the gingival line reinforcement part prevents the loss of the force that can move teeth imparted to the transparent orthodontic device, thereby enabling more accurate achievement of the required amount of tooth movement.

In addition, transparent orthodontic devices are manufactured through direct output using 3D devices such as 3D printers, simplifying the manufacturing process, improving precision by eliminating manual work, and preventing unnecessary material consumption.

The effects of the present invention are not limited to the effects described above, and should be understood to include all effects that can be inferred from the detailed description of the present invention or the composition of the invention described in the claims.

Fig. 1 (a) is a plan view of a transparent orthodontic device according to one embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 1 (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A' of Fig. 1 (a).

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a transparent orthodontic device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 (a) shows an upper jaw digital tooth model with a contact area indicated according to one embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 3 (b) shows a lower jaw digital tooth model with a contact area indicated according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a drawing showing the occlusion of the upper and lower teeth in a state where a transparent orthodontic device including an occlusal unit according to one embodiment of the present invention is mounted on the teeth.

FIG. 5 is a drawing showing the occlusion of the upper and lower teeth in a state where a transparent orthodontic device including a thickness reinforcing part according to one embodiment of the present invention is mounted on the teeth.

Figure 6 shows an application area of a thickness reinforcement part according to an expansion case according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7 shows an application area of a thickness reinforcement part according to a retraction case according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 8 shows an application area of a thickness reinforcement part according to an extraction case according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 9 shows an application area of a thickness reinforcement part according to an intrusion case according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 10 shows an application area of a thickness reinforcement part according to a rotation case according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 11 shows an application area of a thickness reinforcement part according to an angulation case according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 12 shows an application area of a thickness reinforcement part according to a torque control case according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 13(a) to (c) are drawings showing a partial form of a transparent orthodontic device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 14 (a) is a plan view of a transparent orthodontic device including a gingival line reinforcement part according to one embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 14 (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B' of Fig. 14 (a).

FIG. 15 is a drawing showing the occlusion of the upper and lower teeth in a state where a transparent orthodontic device including a gingival line reinforcement part according to one embodiment of the present invention is mounted on the teeth.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings. However, the present invention can be implemented in various different forms, and therefore is not limited to the embodiments described herein. In addition, in order to clearly describe the present invention in the drawings, parts that are not related to the description are omitted, and similar parts are assigned similar drawing reference numerals throughout the specification.

Throughout the specification, when a part is said to be "connected" to another part, this includes not only the case where it is "directly connected" but also the case where it is "indirectly connected" with another part in between. Also, when a part is said to "include" a certain component, this does not mean that it excludes other components, but rather that it can have other components, unless otherwise specifically stated.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

Orthodontic treatment can be divided into fixed orthodontic methods, which attach brackets made of hard materials such as metal, resin, and ceramic to the teeth and correct the teeth through the elasticity of the wire, and removable orthodontic methods, which use elastic orthodontic devices that are easy to attach and detach. In particular, transparent orthodontic methods, which are one of the removable orthodontic methods, are methods of covering the teeth with transparent orthodontic devices made of a transparent material, so the orthodontic devices are not only invisible from the outside but can also be freely attached and detached, making them highly wearable, and are receiving much attention compared to other orthodontic methods. It is desirable that these transparent orthodontic devices be composed of elastic materials so that the devices can be put on and taken off.

Fig. 1 (a) is a plan view of a transparent orthodontic device according to one embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 1 (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A' of Fig. 1 (a), and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a transparent orthodontic device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

The transparent orthodontic device (100) of the present invention can be manufactured by setting virtual treatment target data (Virtual Treatment Object Data) based on initial data of the patient's teeth, and then generating intermediate data for each step so that the teeth can be gradually moved from the initial position to the target position, and indirectly or directly outputting the intermediate data and target data for each step. The orthodontic dentition data, such as the intermediate data and target data, can be acquired from an image of the patient's teeth obtained through impression taking, CT, 3D scan, etc., through three-dimensional image software. That is, the orthodontic dentition data can be three-dimensional image data. The orthodontic dentition data can include at least one of maxillary dentition data and mandibular dentition data. For example, if a patient whose teeth have moved through orthodontic treatment has only the maxillary dentition, the orthodontic dentition data can consist only of maxillary dentition data. If a patient whose teeth have moved through orthodontic treatment has only the mandibular dentition, the orthodontic dentition data can consist only of mandibular dentition data.

The indirect output method comprises a step of producing a tooth model through an oral scan or impression taking, and a step of performing vacuum forming to pressurize a molding sheet made of a transparent material so as to cover the tooth model, wherein the step of producing a tooth model through an oral scan or impression taking and a step of performing vacuum forming to pressurize the tooth model so that a molding sheet made of a transparent material is covered. The output transparent orthodontic device has an occlusal area created manually. In other words, the transparent orthodontic device according to the indirect output method is produced through vacuum forming using a molding sheet.

The direct output method is a method of designing a transparent orthodontic device by acquiring orthodontic data through an oral scan, and directly manufacturing the transparent orthodontic device, comprising the steps of acquiring orthodontic data through an oral scan, automatically recognizing and displaying contact areas of the upper and lower jaws on a computer using the orthodontic data, or manually modifying and designing the contact areas on a computer, and directly outputting the transparent orthodontic device using a 3D device such as a 3D printer. That is, the transparent orthodontic device according to the direct output method can be manufactured using a 3D device such as a 3D printer. In this way, the direct output method of directly outputting the transparent orthodontic device using a 3D device can simplify the device manufacturing process by using software, improve precision by eliminating manual work, and prevent unnecessary material consumption.

It will be apparent that the transparent orthodontic device (100) according to various embodiments of the present invention is not limited to the above-described methods and can be manufactured through various known methods.

Meanwhile, the transparent orthodontic device (100) can be used for various orthodontic cases such as expansion, retraction, extrusion, intrusion, and rotation to wrap the mandibular teeth or maxillary teeth to be corrected and arrange them from the initial position to the target position. That is, the transparent orthodontic device (100) is used by being placed over the patient's teeth, and can be manufactured and used for each step considering the maximum amount of movement of the teeth requiring correction.

The transparent orthodontic device (100) may be made of an elastic material. The elasticity or shape-retaining power of the transparent orthodontic device (100) may provide force in a certain direction to the teeth to move the teeth from the initial position to the target position.

According to one embodiment, the transparent orthodontic device (100) may be formed of at least one selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, polyurethane, and glycol-modified polyethylene terephthalate.

According to another embodiment, the transparent orthodontic device (100) may be made of a polymeric material or an elastic polymer. The polymeric material or elastomeric polymer may include, for example, natural polyisoprene such as cis-1,4-polyisoprene natural rubber and trans-1,4-polyisoprene gutta percha, synthetic polyisoprene, polybutadiene, chloroprene rubber, polychloroprene, neoprene, bayprene, butyl rubber, halogenated butyl rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, nitrile rubber, halogenated nitrile rubber, ethylene propylene rubber, ethylene propylene diene rubber, epichlorohydrin rubber, polyacrylic rubber, silicone rubber, fluorosilicone rubber, fluoroelastomer, perfluoroelastomer, polyether block amide, chlorosulfonated polyethylene, ethylene-vinyl acetate, thermoplastic elastomer, polysulfide rubber, elastomeric olefin, or combinations thereof. The materials of the transparent orthodontic device (100) described above are exemplary and are not limited thereto. That is, a material having properties necessary to achieve the functions of a transparent orthodontic device (100), such as transparency and elasticity, can be used as a material of a transparent orthodontic device (100).

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the transparent orthodontic device (100) of the present invention includes a transparent orthodontic body (110). The transparent orthodontic body (110) has an outer surface (111), an inner surface (112), a channel (113) defined by the inner surface (112) and configured to accommodate teeth, and a gingival cutting line (114) formed at both ends of the transparent orthodontic body (110). That is, the transparent orthodontic body (110) is configured to be fitted to a tooth to be corrected in order to move the tooth to be corrected from an initial position to a target position at each stage. At this time, the transparent orthodontic body (110) may have a negative shape reflecting the target position at each stage of orthodontic treatment.

Meanwhile, the transparent orthodontic device (100) includes an occlusal portion (120). The occlusal portion (120) is defined in the transparent orthodontic body (110) and may be formed in an occlusal area that contacts the opposing teeth during occlusion. The occlusal area may include an occlusal area of the molars and/or an occlusal area of the anterior teeth. The position of the occlusal portion (120) on the transparent orthodontic device (100) may vary depending on the occlusal area that contacts the opposing teeth at each stage of orthodontic treatment.

According to one embodiment, the thickness of the occlusal portion (120) can be adjusted to be thicker or thinner at least partially to suit the orthodontic case according to the patient's dental condition.

For example, in orthodontic cases requiring molar intrusion, the thickness of the occlusal portion (120) may be formed thicker than the thickness of the area other than the occlusal portion (120).

The occlusal area (120) is an area where continuous contact is made with the opposing teeth. If the thickness of the occlusal area (120) is formed thicker than the thickness of the area other than the occlusal area (120), durability can be improved, and the tendency of the transparent orthodontic device (100) to spread in the buccal and lingual directions due to chewing pressure can be reduced, thereby improving the traction and retention force of the transparent orthodontic device (100). In addition, if the thickness of the occlusal area (120) is increased, early contact between the molar and the opposing teeth can be induced, and accordingly, molar intrusion can be induced more efficiently in orthodontic cases where molar intrusion is required.

In addition, in orthodontic cases such as those for preventing molar intrusion and open bite, the thickness of the occlusal portion (120) may be formed thinner than the thickness of the area other than the occlusal portion (120).

If the thickness of the occlusal portion (120) is formed thinner than the thickness of the area other than the occlusal portion (120), early contact of teeth including the molars during occlusion can be prevented, thereby preventing molar intrusion and open bite. Meanwhile, if the thickness of the occlusal portion (120) on the molar side of the transparent orthodontic device (100) is formed thinner than the thickness of the occlusal portion (120) on the anterior side, intrusion of the anterior teeth can also be induced.

According to one embodiment, the direction and angle of the occlusal surface of the occlusal portion (120) can be adjusted to induce intentional sliding movement of the lower jaw while engaging with the occlusal portion (120) mounted on the opposing teeth. At this time, the direction in which the sliding movement of the lower jaw is induced can be the anterior direction in the case of Class II malocclusion, and the posterior direction in the case of Class III malocclusion.

According to one embodiment, the occlusal portion (120) may be formed to be parallel to the occlusal portion (120) mounted on the opposing teeth. That is, if the thickness of the occlusal portion (120) is adjusted to be parallel to the opposing teeth, wear of the orthodontic device (100) can be reduced in the case of a bruxism patient, and force applied to the lower jaw can be reduced.

FIG. 3 (a) shows an upper jaw digital teeth model with a contact portion indicated according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 (b) shows a lower jaw digital teeth model with a contact portion indicated according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a drawing showing the occlusion of upper jaw teeth and lower jaw teeth in a state where a transparent orthodontic device including an occlusal portion according to one embodiment of the present invention is mounted on teeth.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the occlusal portion (120) can be formed on the transparent orthodontic body (110) based on the contact areas (11a, 11b) mapped by the digital tooth model (10a) of the maxilla and the digital tooth model (10b) of the mandible. Mapping means visually expressing the contact areas (11a, 11b) so that they can be distinguished according to the contact strength between the maxillary and mandibular teeth. That is, the occlusal area (30) is formed based on the contact areas (11a, 11b) mapped according to the contact strength, and the occlusal portion (120) can be formed based on the occlusal area (30). The occlusal area (30) refers to an area formed to include at least a portion of the contact areas (11a, 11b) between the maxillary and mandibular teeth. In this way, the occlusal portion (120) can be formed in a more precise occlusal area (30) of the transparent orthodontic body (110), and the thickness can be adjusted at least partially to suit the orthodontic case according to the patient's dental condition.

In the following, the explanation will be given with a focus on the molars as an example. However, the technical features of the transparent orthodontic device applied to the molars can be equally applied to all teeth.

Referring to Fig. 4, the upper teeth (20a) and the lower teeth (20b) form an occlusal area (30) when occluding. The transparent orthodontic device (100) includes a transparent orthodontic body (110) mounted on the teeth and an occlusal portion (120) formed on the transparent orthodontic body (110) in an area corresponding to the occlusal area (30).

The transparent orthodontic body (110) may include a boundary defining the occlusal portion (120). The occlusal area (30) may be set to include additional free space so that the opposing teeth do not contact the boundary of the transparent orthodontic body (110) during occlusion or the boundaries of the transparent orthodontic bodies (110) mounted on the upper and lower jaws do not contact each other, considering not only vertical occlusion but also lateral occlusion. For example, the free space may be approximately 1 mm or more.

FIG. 5 is a drawing showing the occlusion of the upper and lower teeth in a state where a transparent orthodontic device including a thickness reinforcing part according to one embodiment of the present invention is mounted on the teeth.

Referring to FIG. 5, the transparent orthodontic device (100) may be formed so that the thickness of the area where tooth movement is required is relatively thick, and the thickness of the area where tooth movement is not required is relatively thin. Accordingly, the orthodontic force may be concentrated on the area where tooth movement is required, thereby promoting effective tooth movement and shortening the treatment period. In addition, the material cost may be reduced and the production time may be reduced by concentrating the use of materials only on the area where tooth movement is required.

That is, the transparent orthodontic device (100) of the present invention may further include a thickness reinforcing member (130).

This thickness reinforcement part (130) can be formed in a way that reinforces the thickness of a specific area of the transparent orthodontic body (100) depending on each case of orthodontic treatment. That is, the thickness reinforcement part (130) is configured to make the area where the force of the transparent orthodontic device (100) is applied thicker than the area where it is not applied so that the orthodontic force can be sufficiently transmitted to the teeth at the corresponding location.

The thickness reinforcement part (130) can be manufactured as an integral type using the same material as the transparent correction body (110). At this time, the thickness reinforcement part (130) can also be formed integrally with the transparent correction body (110) using, for example, a 3D device.

Alternatively, the thickness reinforcement member (130) may be made of a different material from the transparent orthodontic body (110) and may be conformally joined to the transparent orthodontic body (110). In this case, the thickness reinforcement member (130) may be formed in a tapered or knife edge or wedge shape to minimize a foreign body sensation at the boundary with the outer surface (111) of the transparent orthodontic body (110) where the thickness reinforcement member (130) is not formed.

The thickness reinforcing member (130) may be formed to reinforce the thickness of a specific portion of the transparent orthodontic body (110), and the thickness of other portions of the transparent orthodontic body (110) may be relatively thin.

According to one embodiment, the thickness reinforcing member (130) may be formed to reinforce the thickness of the transparent orthodontic body (110) located distal from the direction of movement of the tooth to be corrected. That is, the thickness reinforcing member (130) is configured to provide orthodontic force to the tooth to be corrected.

In this way, the thickness reinforcement part (130) can minimize deformation of the transparent orthodontic device (100) and extend the period of applying a certain force to the teeth so that the teeth can move as planned, thereby improving the teeth movement and the speed of the teeth movement. Ultimately, the speed and accuracy of the teeth correction can be improved.

Below, the application area of the thickness reinforcement part (130) for the transparent orthodontic body (110) according to each case of orthodontic treatment will be examined. At this time, the explanation will be based on the lower jaw molar region, and the technical features of the transparent orthodontic device applied to the lower jaw molar region can be applied equally to all teeth.

Figure 6 shows an application area of a thickness reinforcement part according to an expansion case according to one embodiment of the present invention.

According to one embodiment, in the case of the expansion case, the thickness reinforcing member (130) is formed to reinforce the thickness of the lingual side of the transparent orthodontic body (110).

Expansion Case refers to a case where corrective force is applied from the lingual side to the buccal side to move the teeth.

At this time, it is necessary to reinforce the thickness of the lingual side of the transparent orthodontic body (110) in order to move the teeth to be corrected from the lingual side to the buccal side. That is, since the thickness reinforcement part (130) is formed to reinforce the thickness of the lingual side of the transparent orthodontic body (110), the corrective force in the expansion case can be supplemented.

In the case of an expansion case, the occlusal portion (120) can be formed by considering an additional occlusal area (40) due to tooth movement in addition to the initial occlusal area (30).

Figure 7 shows an application area of a thickness reinforcement part according to a retraction case according to one embodiment of the present invention.

According to one embodiment, in the case of the retraction case, the thickness reinforcing member (130) is formed to reinforce the thickness of the buccal side of the transparent orthodontic body (110).

A retraction case is a case where corrective force is applied from the buccal to the lingual side to move the teeth to be corrected.

At this time, it is necessary to reinforce the thickness of the buccal side of the transparent orthodontic body (110) in order to move the teeth to be corrected from the buccal side to the lingual side. That is, since the thickness reinforcement part (130) is formed to reinforce the thickness of the buccal side of the transparent orthodontic body (110), the corrective force in the retraction case can be supplemented.

In the case of a retraction case, the occlusal portion (120) can be formed by considering an additional occlusal area (40) due to tooth movement in addition to the initial occlusal area (30).

Figure 8 shows an application area of a thickness reinforcement part according to an extraction case according to one embodiment of the present invention.

According to one embodiment, in the case of the extrusion case, the thickness reinforcing member (130) is formed to reinforce the thickness of the transparent orthodontic body (110) located proximally from the root (below the maximum erosion line (L1) based on the mandibular teeth) based on the maximum erosion line (L1) of the tooth. At this time, the maximum erosion line (L1) of the tooth means a line connecting points where the tooth is maximally raised in the lateral direction.

An extrusion case is a case where corrective force is applied to the teeth to be corrected in the direction of extrusion from the root to move the teeth.

At this time, in order to move the tooth to be corrected in the direction of extrusion, it is necessary to reinforce the thickness of the transparent orthodontic body (110) located on the proximal side (below the maximum erosion line (L1) based on the mandibular teeth) from the root based on the maximum erosion line (L1) of the tooth. That is, since the thickness reinforcement part (130) is formed to reinforce the thickness of the transparent orthodontic body (110) located on the proximal side (below the maximum erosion line (L1) based on the mandibular teeth) from the root, it is possible to supplement the orthodontic force in the extrusion case.

Figure 9 shows an application area of a thickness reinforcement part according to an intrusion case according to one embodiment of the present invention.

According to one embodiment, in the case of the intrusion case, the thickness reinforcing member (130) is formed to reinforce the thickness of the transparent orthodontic body (110) located distally from the root (above the maximum erosion line (L1) based on the lower jaw teeth) based on the maximum erosion line (L1) of the tooth. At this time, the maximum erosion line (L1) of the tooth means a line connecting points where the tooth is maximally raised in the lateral direction.

Intrusion Case refers to a case where corrective force is applied in the direction of intrusion to the teeth to be corrected to move them.

At this time, in order to move the tooth to be corrected in the direction of intrusion, it is necessary to reinforce the thickness of the transparent orthodontic body (110) located proximally from the root (below the maximum erosion line (L1) based on the mandibular teeth) based on the maximum erosion line (L1) of the tooth. That is, since the thickness reinforcement part (130) is formed to reinforce the thickness of the transparent orthodontic body (110) located distally from the root (above the maximum erosion line (L1) based on the mandibular teeth), it is possible to supplement the orthodontic force in the intrusion case.

Figure 10 shows an application area of a thickness reinforcement part according to a rotation case according to one embodiment of the present invention.

According to one embodiment, in the case of the Rotation Case, the thickness reinforcing portion (130) is formed to reinforce the thickness of the transparent orthodontic body (110) located diagonally from each other when four quadrants are set based on the groove line (L2) formed on the occlusal surface (Occlusal) of the teeth. At this time, the groove line (L2) means a line that connects the sunken points formed on the edges of the teeth that face each other among the edges defining the occlusal surface (Occlusal).

Rotation Case refers to a case where corrective force is applied in the direction of rotation to the teeth to be corrected to rotate them.

At this time, when setting the four quadrants based on the groove line (L2) formed on the occlusal surface of the teeth in order to rotate the teeth to be corrected, it is necessary to reinforce the thickness of the transparent orthodontic body (110) positioned in the diagonal direction. That is, since the thickness reinforcing part (130) is formed to reinforce the thickness of the transparent orthodontic body (110) positioned in the diagonal direction based on the groove line (L2), it is possible to supplement the orthodontic force in the rotation case.

Fig. 11 shows an application area of a thickness reinforcement part according to an angulation case according to one embodiment of the present invention.

According to one embodiment, in the case of the angulation case, the thickness reinforcing member (130) is formed to reinforce the thickness of the mesial side of the transparent orthodontic body (110) located in one direction based on the maximum erosion line (L1) of the tooth, and the thickness of the distal side of the transparent orthodontic body (110) located in the other direction based on the maximum erosion line (L1) of the tooth. At this time, the maximum erosion line (L1) of the tooth means a line connecting points where the tooth is maximally protruded in the lateral direction.

Angulation Case refers to a case where corrective force is applied in the direction of adjusting the inclination of the teeth from the mesial to distal surfaces.

At this time, in order to move the tooth to be corrected in the direction of inclination adjustment, it is necessary to reinforce the thickness of the mesial side of the transparent orthodontic body (110) located in one direction based on the maximum erosion line (L1) of the tooth, and the thickness of the distal side of the transparent orthodontic body (110) located in the other direction based on the maximum erosion line (L1) of the tooth. That is, since the thickness reinforcement part (130) is formed to reinforce the mesial side thickness and the distal side thickness of the transparent orthodontic body (110), it is possible to supplement the orthodontic force in the angulation case.

Figure 12 shows an application area of a thickness reinforcement part according to a torque control case according to one embodiment of the present invention.

According to one embodiment, in the case of the Torque Control Case, the thickness reinforcing member (130) is formed to reinforce the thickness of the lingual side of the transparent orthodontic body (110) located in one direction based on the maximum erosion line (L1) of the tooth and the thickness of the buccal side of the transparent orthodontic body (110) located in the other direction based on the maximum erosion line (L1) of the tooth. At this time, the maximum erosion line (L1) of the tooth means a line connecting points where the tooth is maximally raised in the lateral direction.

Torque Control Case refers to a case where corrective force is applied in the direction desired to adjust the buccal-lingual inclination of the teeth.

At this time, in order to move the tooth to be corrected in the direction of inclination adjustment, it is necessary to reinforce the thickness of the lingual side of the transparent orthodontic body (110) located in one direction based on the maximum erosion line (L1) of the tooth, and the thickness of the buccal side of the transparent orthodontic body (110) located in the other direction based on the maximum erosion line (L1) of the tooth. That is, since the thickness reinforcement part (130) is formed to reinforce the thickness of the lingual side and the buccal side of the transparent orthodontic body (110), it is possible to supplement the orthodontic force in the torque control case.

FIGS. 13(a) to (c) are drawings showing a partial form of a transparent orthodontic device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 13(a) to (c), the partial-type transparent orthodontic device (100a, 100b, 100c) of the present invention may be configured to cover only some teeth in the arch, rather than all teeth in the arch. In other words, a full-type transparent orthodontic device that covers all teeth in the arch may be manufactured by dividing it into a plurality of partial-type transparent orthodontic devices that cover some teeth in the arch. As an example, the partial-type transparent orthodontic device may be a transparent orthodontic device (100a) that covers only anterior teeth, as illustrated in FIG. 13(a), a transparent orthodontic device (100b) that covers only posterior teeth, as illustrated in FIG. 13(b), and a transparent orthodontic device (100c) that covers some anterior teeth and some posterior teeth, as illustrated in FIG. 13(c).

The full-form transparent orthodontic device is a device that gradually moves some teeth to be corrected while covering all teeth in the arch, and the teeth that do not move at this time become the anchoring point of the transparent orthodontic device. In other words, in order for the transparent orthodontic device to exert corrective force to move the teeth to be corrected to the target position, it is important to form an appropriate anchoring point.

On the other hand, tooth movement that is difficult to achieve with transparent orthodontic devices can be achieved using other orthodontic devices such as a maxillary expansion device (RPE). If these other orthodontic devices are used while simultaneously using a full-form transparent orthodontic device, physical interference may occur between the two devices due to the structural characteristics of the full-form transparent orthodontic device that covers all teeth in the maxillary arch, and the anchorage of the transparent orthodontic device may be lost.

That is, the partial-type transparent orthodontic device (100a, 100b, 100c) can be applied simultaneously with other orthodontic devices, such as a retrograde dental expansion device (RPE), without physical interference for tooth movement that is difficult to achieve with the transparent orthodontic device alone, and each device can be used complementarily for orthodontic treatment.

FIG. 14(a) is a plan view of a transparent orthodontic device including a gingival line reinforcement part according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 14(b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B' of FIG. 14(a), and FIG. 15 is a drawing showing the occlusion of upper and lower teeth in a state where a transparent orthodontic device including a gingival line reinforcement part according to one embodiment of the present invention is mounted on teeth.

Referring to FIGS. 14 and 15, the transparent orthodontic device (100) may include a gingival line reinforcement part (140). The gingival line reinforcement part (140) is formed to extend from a gingival cutting line (114) located at both ends of the transparent orthodontic body (110) to reinforce the strength of the gingival cutting line (114) and to at least partially cover the gums (G).

The gingival cutting line (114) is an entrance through which teeth enter when worn on teeth, and is a part that is likely to repeatedly come into contact with teeth or gingiva, and is also a part that the wearer holds with his or her hand and applies force when removing from the teeth. If an external force is repeatedly applied to this gingival cutting line (114), damage or deformation may occur to the gingival cutting line (114), which may cause deformation of the entire transparent orthodontic device (100).

Accordingly, by forming a gingival line reinforcement part (140) on the gingival cutting line (114) to reinforce the gingival cutting line (114) more firmly, the transparent orthodontic device (100) can be prevented from being deformed by external forces such as attachment/detachment or occlusal force. Furthermore, the gingival line reinforcement part (140) prevents the loss of force applied to the transparent orthodontic device (100) to move teeth, thereby enabling the required amount of tooth movement to be achieved more accurately.

According to one embodiment, the gum line reinforcement part (140) can be manufactured integrally with the transparent orthodontic body (110) by direct output using a 3D device. That is, when manufacturing the transparent orthodontic device (100) using a 3D device, the gum line reinforcement part (140) can be formed by thickening the gum cutting line (114) in software.

The vacuum forming method is a method of manufacturing a transparent orthodontic device by compressing a sheet with pressure, so it is difficult to accurately calculate and implement the appropriate amount of undercut during the manufacturing process. This may cause deformation of the device when attaching and detaching it from the tooth model. In addition, even when trimming the remaining part of the area after the gingival cutting operation using a cotton wheel, etc., the area that comes into excessive contact with the cotton wheel will be thinner, and thus the strength of the area may decrease, which may weaken durability.

That is, since the transparent orthodontic device (100) including the gingival line reinforcement part (140) of the present invention is manufactured by a direct output method using a 3D device, it not only prevents deformation of the transparent orthodontic device (100), but also facilitates attachment and detachment by accurately controlling the amount of undercut through software. In addition, as the thickness is reinforced in the gingival cutting line (114) of the transparent orthodontic device (100), the inner side can be controlled using a carbide bur, etc., to maintain appropriate hardness.

According to one embodiment, the gingival line reinforcement part (140) may be formed at least partially on at least one of the lingual side and the buccal side of the transparent orthodontic body. The gingival line reinforcement part (140) formed on either the lingual side or the buccal side may be formed continuously. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and a plurality of gingival line reinforcement parts (140) may be formed at intervals from each other only in a portion where strength reinforcement is required.

According to one embodiment, the gingival line reinforcement part (140) may be made of a different material from the transparent orthodontic body (110) and may be conformally joined to the transparent orthodontic body (110). That is, the gingival line reinforcement part (120) may be formed of a separate material having greater strength and less elastic deformation than the transparent orthodontic body (110) in order to prevent deformation of the transparent orthodontic body (110).

According to one embodiment, the gingival line reinforcement part (140) may be formed in a tapered or knife edge or wedge shape to minimize foreign body sensation at the boundary with the outer surface (111) of the transparent orthodontic body (110) where the gingival line reinforcement part (140) is not formed.

The above description of the present invention is for illustrative purposes, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the technical field to which the present invention pertains can easily be modified into other specific forms without changing the technical idea or essential features of the present invention. Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described above are exemplary in all respects and not restrictive. For example, each component described as a single type may be implemented in a distributed manner, and likewise, components described as distributed may be implemented in a combined form.

The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims described below, and all changes or modifications derived from the meaning and scope of the claims and their equivalent concepts should be interpreted as being included in the scope of the present invention.

Description of the sign

100 Clear Corrector Device

110 Transparent Correction Body

111 External surface

112 Inner surface

Channel 113

114 Gingival cutting line

120 Occlusal Section

130 Thickness Reinforcement

140 Gingival line reinforcement

10a Digital tooth model of the maxilla

10b Digital tooth model of the mandible

11a Contact area mapped to the maxilla

11b Contact area mapped to the mandible

20a maxillary teeth

20b mandibular teeth

30 Initial occlusal area

40 additional occlusal areas

G gums

Claims (14)

A transparent orthodontic body configured to accommodate all teeth within the arch to move the teeth to be corrected from the initial position to the target position; A thickness reinforcing member that supplements the thickness of a specific area of the transparent orthodontic body to provide orthodontic power to the teeth to be corrected; and A transparent orthodontic device comprising a gingival line reinforcing member that extends from a gingival cutting line of the transparent orthodontic body to at least partially cover the gums and reinforces the strength of the gingival cutting line. A transparent orthodontic body configured to accommodate some teeth within the arch to move the teeth to be corrected from the initial position to the target position; and A transparent orthodontic device including a thickness reinforcing member that supplements the thickness of a specific area of the transparent orthodontic body to provide orthodontic force to teeth to be corrected. In the first paragraph, A transparent orthodontic device, characterized in that the gum line reinforcement part is formed integrally with the transparent orthodontic body. In the first paragraph, A transparent orthodontic device, characterized in that the gum line reinforcement part is formed on at least one of the lingual surface side and the buccal surface side of the transparent orthodontic body. In paragraph 4, A transparent orthodontic device, characterized in that the gingival line reinforcement formed on the lingual side or the buccal side is formed continuously so as to be connected to the gingival cutting line of the transparent orthodontic body. In paragraph 1 or 2, The above transparent orthodontic device is a transparent orthodontic device characterized in that it is manufactured using a direct output method using a 3D printer. In paragraph 1 or 2, A transparent orthodontic device, characterized in that the thickness reinforcing portion is formed in a manner to reinforce the thickness of the transparent orthodontic body located distal from the direction of movement of the tooth to be corrected. In Article 7, A transparent orthodontic device, characterized in that in the case of an expansion case, the thickness reinforcing portion is formed to reinforce the thickness of the lingual side of the transparent orthodontic body. In Article 7, In the case of the retraction case, the transparent orthodontic device is characterized in that the thickness reinforcing member is formed to reinforce the thickness of the buccal side of the transparent orthodontic body. In Article 7, In the case of an extrusion case, a transparent orthodontic device characterized in that the thickness reinforcing member is formed to reinforce the thickness of the transparent orthodontic body located proximal to the root based on the maximum fusion line of the tooth. In Article 7, In the case of an intrusion case, a transparent orthodontic device characterized in that the thickness reinforcing member is formed to reinforce the thickness of the transparent orthodontic body located distal from the root based on the maximum fusion line of the tooth. In Article 7, In the case of a rotation case, the thickness reinforcing portion is formed to reinforce the thickness of the transparent orthodontic body located in a diagonal direction when four quadrants are set based on the groove line formed on the occlusal surface of the teeth. In Article 7, In the case of an angulation case, the thickness reinforcing member is formed to reinforce the thickness of the mesial side of the transparent orthodontic body located in one direction based on the maximum ridge line of the tooth, and the thickness of the distal side of the transparent orthodontic body located in the other direction based on the maximum ridge line of the tooth, which is a transparent orthodontic device. In Article 7, In the case of a torque control case, the thickness reinforcing member is formed to reinforce the thickness of the lingual side of the transparent orthodontic body located in one direction based on the maximum ridge line of the teeth, and the thickness of the buccal side of the transparent orthodontic body located in the other direction based on the maximum ridge line of the teeth, which is a transparent orthodontic device.

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