| CPC A61C 7/026 (2013.01) | 20 Claims |
|
1. An orthodontic bracket and tool system comprising:
an orthodontic bracket comprising:
a bracket body mountable to a tooth, the bracket body including an archwire slot extending from a first side of the bracket body to an opposite second side, the archwire slot dimensioned to receive an archwire therein, the bracket body further including a recess formed on an occlusal side thereof and a recess wall forming a boundary of the recess; and
a ligating member mountable to the bracket body and movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein at least a portion of the ligating member extends over the archwire slot to retain the archwire within the archwire slot when the ligating member is in the closed position, the ligating member further including a key slot formed on a labial side thereof, the key slot including a bottom surface and a slot wall extending along a labial direction from the bottom surface;
an orthodontic tool comprising:
a first portion having a first handle with a first jaw, wherein the first jaw includes an inner jaw surface, an outer jaw surface, and a first tip formed along an end thereof, wherein the first tip includes a projecting flange and a pocket recessed inwardly from the inner jaw surface;
a second portion having a second handle with a second jaw, wherein the second jaw includes an inner jaw surface, an outer jaw surface, and a second tip formed on an end thereof, the second tip including an end face; and
a pin pivotally connecting the first portion and the second portion for accommodating pivotal movement of the first and second portions, wherein the inner jaw surface of the first portion faces the inner jaw surface of the second portion,
wherein when the orthodontic tool is coupled to the orthodontic bracket, the projecting flange of the first tip of the first jaw extends into the recess on the occlusal side of the bracket body and abuts the recess wall, and wherein the second tip of the second jaw abuts the slot wall of the key slot on the ligating member of the orthodontic bracket, and
wherein when the first and second portions of the orthodontic tool are manipulated toward one another, the second tip of the second jaw applies a first force to drive the slot wall of the key slot along the occlusal direction and the projecting flange applies a second force to the recess wall of the bracket body, the second force reciprocal to the first force, to move the ligating member along the occlusal direction from the closed position to the open position.
|