Patent ID: 7661955

Claim:
A removable dental appliance having a base adapted for locating inside of an arch of teeth of a wearer and an arch wire coupled to the base, an outer surface of the base being contoured for contact with inner surfaces of the teeth, arranged such that when in use the arch wire extends around an outer periphery of a set of the wearer's teeth with no interconnection between the arch wire and the base existing intermediate the set of teeth, and the dental appliance is provided with an expansion screw for expanding the base, wherein the arch wire extends from one side posterior portion of the base to the other side posterior portion of the base for contact with outer surfaces of the set of teeth along an outside of the arch of teeth, and the arch wire exits the posterior portions on each side of the base at locations spaced from the arch of teeth, the arch wire extending from the posterior portions indirectly, generally rearwardly and outwardly relative to the wearer when in situ, to the set of teeth in bent portions of wire on each side of the base so as to allow flexure of the bent portions of wire between the base and the set of teeth, thereby promoting limited movement of the arch wire relative to the base when the dental appliance is in use.