Vibrating dental devices

• US 9,370,405 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2015
• Issued: 06/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Orthodontics and Education Association, LLC
• Original Assignee: Orthoaccel Technologies, Inc
• Inventors: Lowe, Michael K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US14/612,121
• Publication Number:
  US 20150173857A1
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 433/6, 433/18, 433/24, 433/118, 433/119, 433/122
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 1/0015 Electrical systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 2204/005 using chip tag or any electronic identification mean, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 7/00 Orthodontics, i.e. obtaining or maintaining the desired position of teeth, e.g. by straightening, evening, regulating, separating, or by correcting malocclusions
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 7/002 Orthodontic computer assisted systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 7/008 using vibrating means
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 7/08 Mouthpiece-type retainers or positioners, e.g. for both the lower and upper arch arch-shaped medicament applicators for teeth or gums A61C19/063; mouthguards for protecting the teeth of sportsmen A63B71/085
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 7/12 Brackets; Arch wires; Combinations thereof; Accessories therefor

Abstract

A variety of improvements to the vibrating devices for dental remodeling are provided, including improved bite plate designs that accommodate common patient bite structure, a connector for a bite plate, a sizing tray for same, as well as better motors providing improved performance characteristics for an extraoral vibrator, and a completely intraoral vibrating dental plate with very thin cross section.

Claims

1. A faster method of orthodontic remodeling, comprising:

a) a patient wearing an orthodontic appliance biting an orthodontic remodeling device, said orthodontic remodeling device comprising;

i) an extraoral housing containing a power source operably coupled to an actuator operably coupled to a processor that that controls said actuator and captures and communicates device usage data;

ii) said extraoral housing operably connected to an intraoral U-shaped bite plate;

iii) said bite plate having upper and lower vertical rims on a facial edge thereof to contact both arches of teeth; and

iv) wherein during use said orthodontic remodeling device is held in place only by teeth clamping on the bite plate and said orthodontic remodeling device vibrates at a frequency from 0.1 to 400 Hz; and

b) activating said orthodontic remodeling device for about 20 minutes daily;

wherein said method provides accelerated tooth movement as compared to without using said orthodontic remodeling device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said power source is a battery.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said battery is a rechargeable battery.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said battery is a rechargeable battery that is charged from a USB port.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said orthodontic appliance comprises braces.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said orthodontic appliance comprises an aligner.

7. The method of claim 1, said bite plate having upper and lower vertical rims on a lingual edge thereof.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said orthodontic remodeling device automatically shuts off after 20 minutes.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said orthodontic remodeling device vibrates at 30 Hz and 0.2 N and said accelerated tooth movement is about 0.5 mm per week.