Patent ID: 6358044
Filing Date: 2002-03-19
Classification: A61C

Abstract:
A method of providing an orthodontic appliance that is configured to be secured to a tooth that is unique one of the teeth of any one of a plurality of patients at a position on the tooth that is gingivally offset from the center of the tooth, the method comprising: providing an appliance comprising:a bonding base adapted to be secured with adhesive to the facial side of said tooth of a patient, an archwire support extending rigidly from the base and having an archwire slot so positioned and oriented therein as to move said tooth to a predetermined treatment position and orientation when the base is centered on the facial side of said tooth, the base having a perimeter that is visually perceivable when placed against the facial side of the tooth and has a shape that is a scaled reduction of the characteristic outline of said unique one of the teeth when viewed from the facial side of said tooth whereby the base is centered and aligned on the facial side of said tooth when perimeter of the base is congruent with outline of the tooth, and the archwire support being located on the base gingivally offset from the center thereof so that, when the base is positioned on the facial side of said tooth with the base thereof is centered and angularly aligned on the facial side of said tooth, the slot is located in an archwire plane that is gingivally offset from the facial axis of the tooth; and placing the appliance on the facial side of the tooth, centering and angularly aligning the base thereon and adhesively bonding the centered and angularly aligned appliance to the tooth, whereby the slot of the appliance is located in an archwire plane that is gingivally offset from the facial axis of the tooth.