Abstract:
The present invention relates to a tool for adhering an orthodontic bracket, comprising: a pair of bracket holding portions for holding a bracket to be bonded to teeth while approaching or separating from each other; and a pair of handle portions connected to the pair of bracket holding portions, for controlling the bracket holding portions to allow the same to approach or separate from each other, wherein a scale for measuring the height of a bracket for the end of teeth is formed in at least any one of the pair of bracket holding portions. Therefore, an operation is convenient, measurement is easy and measurement time can be reduced since the tool has a simple and uncomplicated structure. In addition, it is possible to improve the effectiveness of orthodontic treatment since a bracket can be bonded by precisely setting the height of the bracket.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to an orthodontic bracket attaching tool, and more particularly, to an orthodontic bracket attaching tool that can conveniently perform a surgical operation and can easily perform measurement due to a simple structure and that can shorten a measurement time and that can attach a bracket by accurately setting a height of the bracket and that can thus improve orthodontic efficiency. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0002]    In general, a most important step of an orthodontic treatment field that recovers an aesthetic function, a pronunciation function, and a mastication function of teeth by regularly arranging teeth is to quickly and accurately attach a bracket in a specific portion of teeth, but to locate the bracket at a uniform and harmonic height with adjacent teeth. 
         [0003]    By inserting an orthodontic wire that provides elasticity that moves teeth into a slot of a well attached bracket, an orthodontic force thereof is transferred to teeth, and thus a desired teeth movement can be performed. 
         [0004]    Therefore, when performing an orthodontic treatment, a method and a device for attaching a bracket are very important. 
         [0005]    In such an orthodontic treatment, when a bracket is accurately located, i.e., when an appropriate vertical height and angulation (a slope of a near and far direction (lateral direction) of teeth, a torque (a slope of a labial-lingual direction (front-rear direction) of teeth), and a rotation (rotation level of a teeth mounting reference) are three-dimensionally precisely performed in teeth, a good orthodontic treatment is guaranteed, and in this case, particularly, when a height determined by a surgical operation of a surgical operator is wrongly set, angulation and rotation including a torque may be also deformed and thus appropriate height setting is regarded as a very important orthodontic treatment process. 
         [0006]    Conventionally, a bracket has been attached at a bracket mounting location of teeth using an adhesive while depending on a surgical operator&#39;s naked eye. 
         [0007]    In this way, when mounting a bracket depending on naked eye, there is a defect that an attaching location of the bracket is not uniform and inaccurate. 
         [0008]    In order to solve such a defect, nowadays, a method of attaching a bracket using a gauge is used, as disclosed in Korean Patent Application No. 10-2006-0135828. 
         [0009]    However, at the conventional art including the document, by measuring a distance between an end portion of teeth and a slot of a bracket using a separate gauge, it should be measured whether the bracket is accurately attached to teeth, measurement should be performed within a narrow slot in view of a gauge structure and thus a surgical operation is difficult, and when attaching the bracket, it is difficult to maintain horizontality so as to measure a vertical height to a tooth end portion and a bracket slot on another plane, and particularly, there is a problem that it is difficult to maintain horizontality of a molar area allowing a narrow visual field and different to approach. Further, it is difficult to extend a surgical operation time in a dual process of firstly holding a bracket to which an adhesive to be hardened within several seconds is applied with a tweezer and temporally attaching the bracket on a tooth surface and of secondly measuring a height using a gauge. 
         [0010]    Finally, in the conventional art, because it is not easy to accurately set an end portion of teeth and a height of a bracket, technology development that supplements such a defect is requested. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
       [0011]    The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides an orthodontic bracket attaching tool that can conveniently perform a surgical operation due to a simple structure and in which measurement can be easily performed because measurement is performed from an end portion of a bracket base on the same plane as that of an end portion of teeth to an end portion of teeth and in which horizontality can be easily maintained and that can save a time because a tweezer and a measuring gauge function are simultaneously performed and that can fix the bracket by accurately setting a height of the bracket and that can thus improve orthodontic efficiency. 
       Technical Solution 
       [0012]    In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, an orthodontic bracket attaching tool includes: a pair of bracket holding portions that hold a bracket to be attached to teeth while approaching each other or separating from each other; and a pair of handle portions connected to the pair of bracket holding portions to manipulate the bracket holding portion to approach each other or separate from each other, wherein in an end portion of at least one of the pair of bracket holding portions, a scale that measures a height of the bracket to an end portion of the teeth is formed, and an end portion indication portion that indicates an end portion of the teeth is installed. 
         [0013]    Preferably, the bracket holding portion has a quadrangular section shape. 
         [0014]    Preferably, the bracket holding portion is disposed at an end portion of the teeth to have a polygonal section shape in which a latch jaw that forms a measurement reference is formed, and in the bracket holding portion, an end portion indication portion that indicates an end portion of the teeth is formed. 
         [0015]    Preferably, the scale is formed in at least one side of the bracket holding portion. 
         [0016]    Preferably, the bracket includes: a bracket base to which an adhesive is attached: a slot into which an orthodontic wire is inserted; and a stem disposed between the bracket base and the slot, wherein the bracket holding portion in which the scale is formed measures a distance between one side of the bracket base or the stem and the teeth end portion. 
         [0017]    Preferably, the orthodontic bracket attaching tool further includes a guide that guides an approaching or separating operation of the pair of bracket holding portions. 
         [0018]    Preferably, the guide includes: a first guide provided in an area of the pair of bracket holding portions; and a second guide provided in an area of the pair of handle portions. 
         [0019]    Preferably, both the first and second guides each include: a guide protrusion; and a guide groove that guides the guide protrusion. 
         [0020]    Preferably, the bracket holding portion has a stepped polygonal shape having a width that reduces or enlarges as advancing to an end portion or a protruded shape having a protruded one side. 
       Advantageous Effects 
       [0021]    According to the present invention, due to a simple structure, a surgical operation can be conveniently performed and measurement can be easily performed, a measurement time can be shortened, a bracket can be attached by accurately setting a height thereof, and orthodontic efficiency can be thus improved. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating an orthodontic state; 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is a side view illustrating an orthodontic bracket attaching tool according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view illustrating the orthodontic bracket attaching tool of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating an example of measuring a height between a bracket stem and a teeth end portion illustrating a use example of the orthodontic bracket attaching tool of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  is a side view illustrating an orthodontic bracket attaching tool according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  illustrates a use example of an orthodontic bracket attaching tool according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  illustrates various modified examples of an orthodontic bracket attaching tool. 
       
    
    
     BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
       [0029]    Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0030]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating an orthodontic state. 
         [0031]      FIG. 1  illustrates a state in which a bracket  10  is mounted in each tooth for orthodontic and in which an orthodontic wire  20  is installed in the bracket  10 . 
         [0032]    The bracket  10  is attached to a bracket attaching location B/P of teeth by an adhesive  30  (see  FIG. 4 ). As shown in  FIG. 4 , the bracket  10  includes a bracket base  11  to which the adhesive  30  is attached, a slot  12  into which the orthodontic wire  20  is inserted, and a stem  13  disposed therebetween. 
         [0033]    As the orthodontic wire  20  is inserted into the slot  12  (see  FIG. 4 ) of the well attached bracket  10 , a fixing force is transferred to teeth and thus a desired teeth movement can be performed. 
         [0034]    When irregular teeth are straightened with a method of  FIG. 1 , after a surgical operation, teeth are regularly arranged and thus an aesthetic function, a pronunciation function, and a mastication function can be enhanced. 
         [0035]      FIG. 1  illustrates a case of attaching the brackets  10  to a labial side, i.e., an outside lip (or cheek) of teeth and latching and extending the orthodontic wire  20  to the bracket  10  as a labial side orthodontic treatment. 
         [0036]    However, the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, the present invention can be applied to an orthodontic treatment of the tongue side that is not shown from the outside. 
         [0037]    In a method of performing orthodontic of  FIG. 1 , to accurately measure a bracket attaching location B/P to teeth and to attach the bracket  10  to the bracket attaching location B/P are the most important. 
         [0038]    For this, conventionally, a separate gauge was used, but because the bracket  10  was attached to an inaccurate location or a surgical operation was uncomfortable, the present invention provides an orthodontic bracket attaching tool  100 . 
         [0039]    Because the orthodontic bracket attaching tool  100  according to the present invention has a more simple structure than that of the conventional art, a surgical operation is convenient, and because the bracket  10  can be attached by accurately setting an end portion of teeth and a height of the bracket  10 , orthodontic efficiency can be improved. 
         [0040]      FIG. 2  is a side view illustrating an orthodontic bracket attaching tool according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 3  is a top plan view illustrating the orthodontic bracket attaching tool of  FIG. 2 , and  FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating a use example of the orthodontic bracket attaching tool of  FIG. 2 . 
         [0041]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 to 4 , the orthodontic bracket attaching tool  100  of the present exemplary embodiment includes a pair of bracket holding portions  110  and a pair of handle portions  130  that manipulate a pair of bracket holding portions  110 . 
         [0042]    The pair of bracket holding portions  110  perform a function of holding the bracket  10  to be attached to teeth while approaching each other or separating from each other. 
         [0043]    The pair of handle portions  130  are connected to the pair of bracket holding portions  110  to perform a function of manipulating the pair of bracket holding portions  110  to approach each other or separate from each other. A portion in which a surgical operator actually holds by a hand is a pair of handle portions  130 . 
         [0044]    For reference, the orthodontic bracket attaching tool  100  of the present exemplary embodiment is a tweezer type. 
         [0045]    In the orthodontic bracket attaching tool  100  of a tweezer type, when approaching the pair of handle portions  130  by applying a force in an arrow direction shown in  FIG. 2A , the pair of bracket holding portions  110  are separated from each other, and when removing a force applied to the pair of handle portions  130 , the pair of bracket holding portions  110  approach each other, as shown in  FIG. 2B . 
         [0046]    The present invention can be applied to a pincette type orthodontic bracket attaching tool in which a pair of bracket holding portions  110  also approach each other, when a pair of handle portions  130  approach each other and in which a pair of bracket holding portions  110  are also separated from each other, when a pair of handle portions  130  are separated from each other. 
         [0047]    As largely shown in  FIG. 3 , the circumferential side of the bracket holding portion  110  may have a straight shape, and adjacent circumferential sides may cross. In consideration of such a shape, an entire shape of the bracket holding portion  110  may have a quadrangular section shape. 
         [0048]    When the bracket holding portion  110  has a quadrangular section shape and the circumferential side thereof has a straight shape, it is advantageous in view of horizontally maintaining the bracket  10  relative to teeth. That is, in a state that holds the bracket  10 , because horizontality level may be adjusted through the circumferential side of a straight shape, it is advantageous in view of horizontally maintaining the bracket  10  relative to teeth. 
         [0049]    In such a bracket holding portion  110 , a height of the bracket  10  to an end portion A (see  FIG. 4 ) of teeth, particularly, as a means that measures a height to the bracket attaching location B/P in which the bracket  10  is to be attached to the end portion A (see  FIG. 4 ) of teeth, a scale  111  is used. 
         [0050]    A scale  111  is used for measuring, and a unit thereof may be millimeter mm or centimeter cm. As shown in  FIG. 3 , such a scale  111  may be formed at one side of an end portion of the bracket holding portion  110 , i.e., at a first side of the front side toward teeth. 
         [0051]    By such a structure, after an adhesive is applied to the bracket, by applying a force in an arrow direction shown in  FIG. 2A , in a state in which a pair of bracket holding portions  110  are separated each other, the bracket  10  is held between the pair of bracket holding portions  110  and is disposed at one side surface of teeth, as shown in  FIG. 2A . 
         [0052]    Thereafter, in order to locate the bracket  10  at a desired height of teeth, a location of the bracket  10  is adjusted at a surface of teeth using the scale  111  of the bracket holding portion  110 . 
         [0053]    That is, after the bracket holding portion  110  is disposed upward from a lower portion of the stem  13  of the bracket  10 , the scale  111  measures a height to the bracket attaching location B/P to which the bracket  10  is to attach to the end portion A (see  FIG. 4 ) of teeth using the scale  111  of the bracket holding portion  110 . 
         [0054]    When measurement is complete, by adjusting a location of the bracket  10 , the bracket  10  is attached to teeth of the bracket attaching location B/P. 
         [0055]    According to the present exemplary embodiment having such a structure and that can perform operation thereof, due to a simple structure, a surgical operation can be conveniently performed, measurement can be easily performed, and a measurement time can be shortened, and the bracket  10  can be attached by accurately setting an end portion A of teeth and a height of the bracket  10  and thus orthodontic efficiency can be improved. 
         [0056]      FIG. 5  is a side view illustrating an orthodontic bracket attaching tool according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0057]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , in an orthodontic bracket attaching tool  200  of the present exemplary embodiment, when a bracket holding portion  210  approaches or separates, guides  250   a  and  250   b  that guide the bracket holding portion  210  to prevent the bracket holding portion  210  from deviating are further provided. 
         [0058]    The guides  250   a  and  250   b  may include a first guide  250   a  provided in an area of a pair of bracket holding portions  210  and a second guide  250   b  provided in an area of a pair of handle portions  230 . 
         [0059]    The first and second guides  250   a  and  250   b  have only a location difference and may include a guide protrusion  251  and a guide groove  252  that guides the guide protrusion  251 . 
         [0060]    In this way, when the guides  250   a  and  250   b  are provided, an approaching operation of the bracket holding portion  210  can be stably guided and thus the bracket  10  can be stably held without a numerical value. 
         [0061]      FIG. 6  illustrates a use example of an orthodontic bracket attaching tool according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0062]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , in an orthodontic bracket attaching tool  300  of the present exemplary embodiment, a bracket holding portion  310  has a polygonal section shape having a latch jaw  315  disposed at an end portion of teeth to form a reference of measurement, for example, a protruded shape (structure), i.e., an L-shaped section shape in which an area of the latch jaw  315  is protruded to one side. 
         [0063]    In the bracket holding portion  310 , as a means that measures a height to a bracket attaching location B/P in which a bracket  10  is to be attached to an end portion A of teeth, i.e., a height from a lower portion of a bracket base  11  to an end portion A of teeth, a scale  311  is formed. 
         [0064]    In this case, in the bracket holding portion  310 , an end portion indication portion  312  that indicates the end portion A of teeth may be formed, thereby accurately and easily measuring a height. That is, when putting the latch jaw  315  at the end portion A of teeth, a height from a base of the bracket base  11  to an end portion of teeth can be easily measured. 
         [0065]      FIG. 7  illustrates various modified examples of an orthodontic bracket attaching tool. 
         [0066]      FIG. 7A  illustrates a case in which a scale  411  is formed in both of two opposing sides  410   b  and  410   c  of a bracket holding portion  410 , and  FIG. 7B  illustrates a case in which a scale  511  is formed in the entire of circumferential sides  510   a - 510   c  of a bracket holding portion  510 . 
         [0067]      FIGS. 7C and 7D  illustrate a case in which bracket holding portions  610  and  710  have a stepped polygonal shape having a reducing or enlarging width as advancing a free end portion of the bracket holding portions  610  and  710  instead of a quadrangular section shape. 
         [0068]    Even if the bracket holding portions  610  and  710  have the same shape as that of  FIGS. 7A to 7D  or a shape similar to that of  FIGS. 7A to 7D , an effect of the present invention can be provided. For example, the bracket holding portions  610  and  710  may have a protruded shape described in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0069]    For reference, a scale is not shown in  FIGS. 7C and 7D , but a scale may be formed in  FIGS. 7C and 7D . 
         [0070]    Further, the foregoing exemplary embodiment illustrates a tweezer type orthodontic bracket attaching tool, but an orthodontic bracket attaching tool according to the present invention can be applied to a pincette type. 
         [0071]    Although exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail hereinabove, it should be clearly understood that many variations and modifications of the basic inventive concepts herein taught which may appear to those skilled in the present art will still fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention, as defined in the appended claims. 
       DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 
       [0000]    
       
         
           
               10 : bracket  11 : bracket base 
               12 : slot  13 : stem 
               20 : orthodontic wire  30 : adhesive 
               100 : orthodontic bracket attaching tool  110 : bracket holding portion 
               111 : scale  130 : handle portion