Patent ID: 7811087
Filing Date: 2010-10-12
Classification: A61C,B33Y

Abstract:
1. A set of at least three custom lingual orthodontic brackets for a corresponding at least three pre-identified different functional teeth of a specific pre-identified patient each having different shaped lingual facing tooth surfaces therebetween and each pre-identified to separately receive one of the set of at least three custom lingual orthodontic brackets, each separate one of the at least three custom lingual orthodontic brackets of the set separately comprising: a bracket bonding surface to directly bond the respective bracket to a specific pre-identified portion of an extent of a lingual facing tooth surface of a respective pre-identified tooth of the specific pre-identified patient defining a complementary bracket receiving tooth surface, an entire extent of the bracket bonding surface of the respective bracket having a three-dimensional surface shape forming a negative of a three-dimensional surface shape of an entire extent of the complementary bracket receiving tooth surface prior to being mounted thereto, the extent of the bracket bonding surface having a surface area dimensioned to be sufficiently large to cover at least 50 percent of the extent of the lingual facing tooth surface of the pre-identified tooth when mounted to the complementary bracket receiving tooth surface of the respective pre-identified tooth and further dimensioned to be sufficiently small so as to provide spacing between an outer parameter edge of the bracket bonding surface of the respective bracket when mounted to the complementary bracket receiving tooth surface of the respective pre-identified tooth and an adjacent outer parameter edge of the bracket bonding surface of each adjacent bracket when mounted on the respective complementary bracket receiving tooth surface of the respective adjacent tooth; and a bracket body connected to the bracket bonding surface and including an archwire receiving slot positioned to receive an archwire, the archwire receiving slot having a first and a second opposed sidewall, a slot base, and a slot opening opposite the slot base, the archwire receiving slot positioned so that a plane extending between a center of the slot base and a center of the slot opening is substantially parallel to a surface plane of the first opposed sidewall and a surface plane of the second opposed sidewall and substantially parallel to both a surface plane of a major extent of a directly adjacent portion of the complementary bracket receiving tooth surface and a surface plane of an extent of a corresponding portion of the bracket bonding surface located between the archwire receiving slot and the major extent of the directly adjacent portion of the complementary bracket receiving tooth surface and intersects a surface plane of a major extent of a portion of the complementary bracket receiving tooth surface offset from the directly adjacent portion defining an offset portion thereof and a surface plane of an extent of a corresponding portion of the bonding surface complementary with the offset portion when the respective bracket is mounted to the complementary bracket receiving tooth surface of the respective pre-identified tooth, the archwire receiving slot further positioned so that the plane extending between the center of the slot base and the center of the slot opening intersects an occlusal plane of a pre-identified jawbone of the pre-identified patient carrying the at least three pre-identified different functional teeth at an angle substantially less than 90° and substantially greater than 0° relative to the occlusal plane when the respective bracket is mounted to the complementary bracket receiving tooth surface of the respective pre-identified tooth and when the pre-identified tooth is in a finished position, to reduce overall bracket body thickness to thereby decrease tongue irritation, decrease articulation impediment, decrease incidence of bracket loss, increase positioning control for finishing, and increase patient comfort.