Patent ID: 8147244

Claim:
A method of applying a pair of magnetic retainer modules respectively to a pair of adjacent teeth for use in aiding the retention of relative positions of the pair of adjacent teeth, said method comprising the steps of: placing a pair of magnetic retainer modules on respective opposite sides of a delivery member in the form of a strip of material, with interproximal surfaces of the pair of magnetic retainer modules directly engaging the strip and the strip captured between the pair of magnetic retainer modules by mutual magnetic attraction of the pair of magnetic retainer modules; inserting the strip between the pair of adjacent teeth along a direction from occlusal surfaces of the pair of adjacent teeth toward the gum tissue between the teeth to position the pair of magnetic retainer modules adjacent respective lingual sides of the pair of adjacent teeth; moving the strip along a lingual-facial direction to move the pair of magnetic retainer modules toward the lingual sides of the pair of adjacent teeth; capturing the pair of magnetic retainer modules between a pair of pusher elements fixed to the strip and the lingual sides of the pair of adjacent teeth; securing the pair of magnetic retainer modules to the lingual sides of the pair of adjacent teeth with an adhesive; and withdrawing the strip from between the pair of adjacent teeth along a direction from the gum tissue between the pair of adjacent teeth toward the occlusal surfaces of the pair of adjacent teeth, wherein: said moving step further comprises moving the strip and the pair of magnetic retainer modules together until the pair of magnetic retainer modules contact the lingual sides of the pair of adjacent teeth; and said capturing step further comprises moving the strip relative to the pair of magnetic retainer modules to engage the pusher elements with the pair of magnetic retainer modules.