Orthodontic Bracket Apparatus and Method for Treating a Malocclusion

20180168777

15/895190

February 13, 2018

An orthodontic bracket apparatus and method for treating a malocclusion includes a bracket base having an angulated posterior facing surface and which is matingly and releasably positioned adjacent to an anterior facing surface of a patient's tooth; a multiplicity of bracket bodies releasably and adjustably engageable with the bracket base; and an arch wire simultaneously engageable within an arch wire slot defined in each of the bracket bodies to exert first, second and third order movements to the maloccluded tooth; and wherein the bracket base remains affixed to the patient's tooth throughout the multiple step orthodontic treatment regimen selected by the treating clinician.

PREMIER ORTHODONTIC DESIGNS, LLLP (CARSON CITY, NV, US)

1. An orthodontic bracket apparatus for treating a dental malocclusion, comprising: a bracket base which is configured for releasable attachment to an anterior facing surface of a tooth of a patient undergoing a multiple step orthodontic treatment regimen prescribed by a clinician, and wherein the bracket base remains affixed to the tooth of the patient during the duration of the orthodontic treatment regimen, and wherein the orthodontic treatment regimen selected by the clinician requires that the clinician impart a first, second, and/or third order of movement to the tooth of the patient undergoing the orthodontic treatment regimen to correct a dental malocclusion; multiple bracket bodies which can individually, matingly and sequentially cooperate with the bracket base so as to facilitate the orthodontic treatment regimen for the patient by the treating clinician, and without a removal of the bracket base from the anterior facing surface of the patient's tooth during the orthodontic treatment regimen, and which individually and/or collectively, facilitate the delivery of a clinician selected amount of force to each tooth undergoing the orthodontic treatment regimen so as to impart the first, second and/or third orders of movement selected by the clinician to achieve a desired movement of the respective tooth, and each of the multiple bracket bodies defines a three sided arch wire slot in an anterior surface portion, and the arch wire slot has two spaced apart parallel side walls, a slot opening and a base wall opposite the slot opening; a bracket body insert releasably carried within the arch wire slot of each bracket body adjacent the base wall, and wherein each bracket body insert has an elongated main body and an engaging portion that extends outwardly from the elongated main body so as to frictionally communicate with the respective bracket base to positionally secure the respective bracket body in a desired angular orientation relative to the respective bracket base, and further having an anterior facing surface that forms a posterior portion of the arch wire slot; and an arch wire for releasable and simultaneous engagement within the arch wire slot defined by each of the multiple bracket bodies, and wherein the arch wire has a first original configuration positioned in closely spaced relationship relative to, and along, a dental arch of the patient, and wherein the arch wire has a substantially uniform, circular square or circular rectangular cross-sectional shape, and wherein the substantially uniform cross-sectional shape has only two diametrically opposed radially convexly curved surfaces, and only two diametrically opposed planar surfaces.

2. An orthodontic bracket apparatus as claimed in claim 1, and wherein the bracket base has an anterior facing surface and a posterior facing surface with a thickness dimension defined therebetween, and wherein the thickness dimension at a first edge portion of the bracket base is different from the thickness dimension at a spaced apart second edge portion of the bracket base.

3. An orthodontic bracket apparatus as claimed in claim 2 and wherein the differing thickness dimensions of the bracket base as measured between the first edge portion and the second edge portion is linear, and is between approximately 6.5° and 8.5° of angulation.

4. An orthodontic bracket apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: a medial passageway defined in the bracket body and communicating from the base wall of the archwire slot to an opposing posterior surface of the bracket body, and wherein a transversely extending through hole is defined in the bracket body and is located spacedly adjacent to the posterior surface, and is perpendicular to the archwire slot, and wherein the transverse through hole intersects the medial passageway and is further configured to releasably carry a retention pin therein; and wherein the bracket body insert further has an elongated main body with the first end, a second end, a top, a bottom, an anterior facing surface, a posterior facing surface and an engagement member configured to be axially received within the medial passageway which is defined by the bracket body, and wherein the engagement member extends generally perpendicularly from the posterior facing surface medially between the first end and the second end, and wherein the engagement member further has a distal end which is spaced apart from the main body, and further defines an elongated hole communicating between the top and the bottom, and between the distal end and the main body, and wherein when the engagement member is engaged, or received, within the medial passageway as defined by the bracket body, the elongated hole is aligned with the transverse through hole defined in the bracket body, and the engagement member further defines friction ridges thereon and which frictionally communicate with peripheral surfaces of the medial passageway so as to eliminate any relative movement between the engagement member and the bracket body; and wherein the elongated hole defined in the engagement member, in cooperation with the retention pin extending therethrough allows limited axial movement of the bracket body insert relative to the bracket body so as to allow the bracket body to be rotatably moved relative to the respective bracket base, thus permitting the treating clinician to adjust the relative position of the respective bracket body relative to the bracket base so as to facilitate the orthodontic treatment regimen of the patient.

5. An orthodontic bracket apparatus as claimed in claim 1, and wherein the bracket body insert is configured and dimensioned to operably cooperate with the respective bracket bodies so as to secure the respective bracket bodies in a predetermined orientation relative to the bracket base, and the patient's tooth, during the orthodontic treatment regimen, and wherein the respective bracket bodies each have an anterior facing surface which defines an arch wire slot, and an opposite posterior facing surface which moveably and engagingly cooperates with the bracket base, and wherein each bracket body defines a first passage in a first edge portion adjacent the archwire slot, and wherein the first passage communicates from the base wall of the archwire slot to the posterior facing surface of the bracket body, and each bracket body further defines a second passage in a second edge portion and adjacent the archwire slot, and wherein the second passage communicates from the base wall of the archwire slot to the posterior facing surface of the bracket body; and the bracket body insert has an elongated main body with a first end portion, a second end portion, a posterior facing surface, and an anterior facing surface, and further has first and second engagement portions that extend normally, downwardly, relative to the posterior facing surface of the elongated main body adjacent the first end portion, and the second end portion, and wherein each engagement portion is configured and dimensioned so as to be slidably received within the first passage, and the second passage defined in the first and second edge portions of the bracket body, and wherein each engagement portion further has a distal end which is opposite to the elongated main body, and which is further operable to be matingly received within one of a multiplicity of spacedly arrayed engagement regions which are formed in an anterior surface of the bracket base, and wherein each bracket body insert further has a flange portion located at each end portion of the elongated main body, and that extends outwardly relative to the bracket body, and is further dimensioned to be received within a side recess defined in a side portion of the bracket base, and which is adjacent to the multiplicity of spacedly arrayed engagement regions when the bracket body insert is engaged with both of the bracket body and the bracket base, and wherein the first and second engagement portions and the flange portions are configured to allow only limited movement of the bracket body insert relative to the respective bracket body and arch wire slot, and wherein the limited movement of the bracket body insert relative to the bracket body permits a clinician to adjust the relative position of the respective bracket bodies relative to the bracket base so as to facilitate the orthodontic treatment regimen of the patient.

6. An orthodontic bracket apparatus as claimed in claim 1, and wherein at least some of the bracket bodies when matingly cooperating with the bracket base are adjustably movable relative to the bracket base, and during the orthodontic treatment regimen.

7. An orthodontic bracket apparatus as claimed in claim 1, and wherein at least some of the bracket bodies when matingly cooperating with the bracket base are immovable relative to the bracket base during the orthodontic treatment regimen.

8. An orthodontic bracket apparatus as claimed in claim 1, and wherein the bracket bodies which matingly cooperate with the bracket base are immovable or adjustably movable relative to the bracket base during the orthodontic treatment regimen, and wherein the respective bracket bodies further include conventional bracket bodies; twin bracket bodies; passive ligating bracket bodies; active ligating bracket bodies; bracket bodies which are either immovable or adjustably moveable relative to the bracket base, and which further generate neutral, high and/or low torque couples; and bracket bodies having hooks and/or other orthodontic appliances, and which generate neutral, low and/or high torques on the patient's tooth undergoing the orthodontic treatment regimen.

9. An orthodontic bracket apparatus as claimed in claim 1, and wherein the bracket bodies which cooperate with the bracket base are immovable or adjustably movable relative to the bracket base, and during the orthodontic treatment regimen, and wherein the respective bracket bodies further include conventional bracket bodies; twin bracket bodies; passive ligating bracket bodies; active ligating bracket bodies; bracket bodies which are either immovable or adjustably moveable relative to the platform base, and which generate neutral, high and/or low torque couples; and bracket bodies having hooks and/or other orthodontic appliances, and which generate neutral, low and/or high torque couples on the patient's tooth undergoing the orthodontic treatment regimen.

10. An orthodontic bracket apparatus as claimed in claim 1, and wherein the multiple-step orthodontic treatment regimen includes the treatment of a multiplicity of patient's teeth which have individually unique orthodontic anomalies, and wherein the same bracket base is employed on each of the patient's teeth, and remains affixed to the respective tooth during the entire orthodontic treatment regimen.

11. The orthodontic bracket apparatus for treating a malocclusion of claim 1, and wherein the arch wire has an elongated body configured to be placed in close adjacent proximity to a patient's dental arch, and wherein the elongated body has a center which is positioned along a longitudinal axis thereof, and a cross-sectional configuration having only two opposing, and diametrically spaced apart, radially convexly curved surfaces, and only two opposing and diametrically spaced apart planar surfaces; and wherein the archwire further has a single consistent diametral dimension of the elongated body as measured along any line extending from one radially convexly curved surface to the diametrically opposed radially convexly curved surface and passing through the center; and wherein the archwire further has a single consistent thickness dimension of the elongated body as measured along any line extending from one planar surface to the diametrically opposed planar surface and which is further perpendicular to the two diametrically opposed apart planar surfaces.

12. The orthodontic bracket apparatus of claim 11, and wherein the arch wire has a diametral dimension which lies in a range of approximately 0.0225 mm to about 0.0300 mm.

13. The orthodontic bracket apparatus of claim 11, wherein the arch wire has a thickness dimension which lies in a range of approximately 0.010 mm to about 0.020 mm.

14. An orthodontic bracket apparatus for treating a malocclusion, comprising: a bracket base which is configured to be releasably retained on an anterior facing surface of one of a multiplicity of a patient's teeth, and wherein at least some of the patient's teeth require an orthodontic treatment regimen which is implemented substantially simultaneously by a clinician, and wherein the bracket base remains affixed to the anterior facing surface of the patient's tooth throughout the orthodontic treatment regimen; multiple bracket bodies which can individually, matingly, and sequentially cooperate with, and partially rotate relative to the bracket base so as to facilitate the orthodontic treatment regimen, and wherein each bracket body defines a three sided arch wire slot in an anterior surface portion, thereof and each arch wire slot has two spaced apart parallel side walls, a slot opening, and a base wall opposite the slot opening, and each three sided arch wire slot further has a central region, and a center, and which further is oriented along a given line of reference, and which extends between the central region of the arch wire slot, and the central region of other arch wire slots of still other bracket bodies which are located on the patient's other, and adjacent teeth which are undergoing the orthodontic treatment regimen; a bracket body insert releasably carried within the arch wire slot of each bracket body and adjacent the base wall thereof, and wherein each bracket body insert has an elongated main body and an engaging portion that extends outwardly from the elongated main body so as to frictionally communicate with the respective bracket base so as to positionally secure the respective bracket body in a desired angular orientation relative to the respective bracket base, and wherein the bracket body further has an anterior facing surface that forms a posterior portion of the arch wire slot; and an arch wire extending between, and received within, the arch wire slot of each of the respective bracket bodies, and which are releasably positioned on the anterior facing surface of the respective patient's teeth, and which further are undergoing the orthodontic treatment regimen, and wherein a partial rotation of a bracket body, relative to the respective bracket base, permits a clinician to impart a predetermined amount of torque on the patient's respective teeth by forcibly engaging the arch wire which is substantially enclosed within the arch wire slot, and wherein an adjustment of the predetermined amount of torque and/or a replacement of the bracket body which releasably engages the bracket base takes place while the central region of each bracket body arch wire slot remains substantially oriented along the predetermined line of reference, and in substantially the same vertical position relative to the arch wire slot of the bracket bodies which are located on the adjacent teeth of the patient.

15. An orthodontic bracket apparatus for treating a malocclusion comprising: an arch wire having a first, original configuration, and which is positioned in closely spaced relationship relative to, and along, a dental arch of a patient, and wherein the arch wire has a substantially uniform, circular-square or circular-rectangular cross-sectional shape, and wherein the substantially uniform cross-sectional shape, of the archwire has only two diametrically opposed radially curved surfaces, and only two diametrically opposed planar surfaces; a first orthodontic bracket, and a second orthodontic bracket, and wherein each of the first and second orthodontic brackets have, a bracket body and a bracket base, which is located on a posterior side of the bracket body, and wherein the bracket body further has a posterior surface adapted to be releasably affixed to an anterior facing surface of a patient's tooth, and wherein the bracket body further has an anterior, outwardly facing surface defining an opening to an arch wire slot defined in the bracket body, and wherein the arch wire slot is sized so as to receive a bracket body insert and the arch wire therein, and the anterior outwardly facing portion of the bracket body is configured to slidably carry a movable gate, and wherein the movable gate has an anterior facing surface, and an opposing posterior facing surface, and is further slidably movable between an open position relative to the opening of the arch wire slot, and a closed position relative to the opening of the arch wire slot, and wherein, when the moveable gate is located in the closed position relative to the opening of the arch wire slot, the posterior facing surface of the moveable gate and the arch wire slot define a four sided arch wire channel having a cross-sectional, quadrilateral shape that is defined by four angles, and wherein the quadrilateral arch wire channel encloses and cooperates with the arch wire to apply a predetermined force to the bracket body so as to effect first, second, and/or third order movements to the patient's tooth, and wherein the arch wire is movable axially within the quadrilateral arch wire channel and relative to the bracket body and bracket base, and wherein the anterior facing surface of the moveable gate lies substantially along a plane defined by the anterior, outwardly facing surface of the bracket body, and wherein a rib is formed on the anterior facing surface of the moveable gate, and the rib facilitates a precise angular orientation of the moveable gate relative to the respective bracket body; and wherein the first bracket base is releasably affixed to an anterior surface of a first tooth of the patient, and the first bracket body establishes a first angular orientation of its respective quadrilateral arch wire channel relative to its respective bracket base so as to direct a first predetermined force to the first tooth and effect a resulting movement of the first tooth; and wherein the second bracket base is releasably affixed to an anterior surface of a second tooth of the patient, and wherein the second bracket body establishes a second angular orientation for its respective quadrilateral arch wire channel relative to its respective bracket base so as to direct a second predetermined force to the second tooth, and effect a resulting movement of the second tooth, and wherein the first angular orientation is different than the second angular orientation of the respective quadrilateral archwire channel; and wherein the first bracket body and the second bracket body align to a center level arch wire slot line-up, and wherein the arch wire is not intentionally distorted prior to placement within the respective arch wire slots defined in the respective bracket bodies to assume a shape different from the original first configuration so as to impart a force to the first tooth or the second tooth.

16. An orthodontic bracket apparatus as claimed in claim 15, and wherein the cross-sectional quadrilateral shape of the four sided arch wire channel is a parallelogram.

17. An orthodontic bracket apparatus as claimed in claim 15, and wherein the cross-sectional quadrilateral shape of the four sided arch wire channel is a rhomboid.

18. An orthodontic bracket apparatus is for as claimed in claim 15, and wherein the first bracket base, and the second bracket base are substantially horizontally aligned from tooth to adjacent tooth along the dental arch of the patient.

19. An orthodontic bracket apparatus as claimed in claim 15, and wherein the bracket base of the first orthodontic bracket is aligned on the first tooth based, at least in part, on a longitudinal axis of the first tooth, and the bracket base of the second orthodontic bracket is aligned on the second tooth based, at least in part, on a longitudinal axis of the second tooth.

20. An orthodontic bracket apparatus as claimed in claim 15, and wherein the rib formed on the anterior facing surface of the movable gate is positioned spacedly adjacent to the peripheral edge, and the rib slidably and frictionally engages the respective bracket body to maintain the moveable gate in a precise given orientation relative to the bracket body so as to maintain the precise cross-sectional quadrilateral shape of the arch wire channel, when the movable gate is in the closed position.

21. An orthodontic bracket apparatus as claimed in claim 15, and wherein the cross-sectional quadrilateral shape of the arch wire channel is defined by parallel, inwardly facing, spaced apart, superior and inferior surfaces of the arch wire slot, an anterior facing surface of the bracket body insert which extends between the superior and inferior facing surfaces of the arch wire slot, and the posterior facing surface of the moveable gate, and wherein the superior inwardly facing surface of the arch wire slot, the inferior inwardly facing surface of the arch wire slot, the anterior facing surface of the bracket body insert, and the posterior, inwardly facing surface of the moveable gate are oriented in a similar spatial relationship in the first orthodontic bracket, and the second orthodontic bracket, respectively.

22. An orthodontic bracket apparatus as claimed in claim 15, and wherein the anterior facing surface of the bracket body insert is parallel to the posterior, inwardly facing surface of the movable gate when the respective movable gate is in a closed position relative to the arch wire slot opening.

23. An orthodontic bracket apparatus as claimed in claim 15, and wherein the anterior facing surface of the bracket body insert is not parallel to the posterior inwardly facing surface of the movable gate when the respective movable gate is in a closed position relative to the arch wire slot opening.

24. An orthodontic bracket apparatus as claimed in claim 15, and wherein at least one of the four corner angles which define a portion of the quadrilateral cross-sectional shape of the arch wire channel has a rounded corner having a given radius.

25. An orthodontic bracket apparatus as claimed in claim 15, and wherein the substantially uniform cross-sectional shape of the arch wire has a superior facing surface, and an inferior facing surface, and wherein the superior facing surface and the inferior facing surface are spaced apart, and in a parallel orientation one relative to the other, and further extend between, and connect the two diametrically opposed radially convexly curved surfaces.

26. An orthodontic bracket apparatus as claimed in claim 15, and wherein the arch wire has a predetermined diameter, which is measured between the two diametrically opposed radially convexly curved surfaces, and wherein the predetermined diameter of the archwire is selected to maintain a consistent first order movement control of the first tooth and the second tooth when the arch wire is located within the quadrilateral arch wire channel, and is further cooperating with the respective bracket bodies, and wherein a thickness dimension of the arch wire as measured between the two opposing, parallel, planar non-curved surfaces controls/facilitates an application of force to the respective bracket bodies so as to facilitate second and/or third order movements to the first and second teeth of the patient.

27. An orthodontic bracket apparatus as claimed in claim 15, and wherein the arch wire channel has a height dimension as measured between a superior inwardly facing surface and an inferior inwardly facing surface of the arch wire channel, and wherein the arch wire has a thickness dimension as measured between the only two opposing, parallel, planar non-curved surfaces, and wherein the thickness dimension is greater than about 50% of the height dimension of the arch wire channel, and wherein the thickness dimension imparts an amount of torqueing force to the respective bracket bodies so as to facilitate the second and/or third order movements to the respective teeth, while the only two diametrically opposed radially convexly curved surfaces of the arch wire maintain first order control of the respective teeth.

28. An orthodontic bracket apparatus as claimed in claim 15, and wherein each of the only two diametrically opposed radially convexly curved surfaces of the arch wire each contact an interior surface of the arch wire channel at only a single point of contact.

29. An orthodontic bracket apparatus as claimed in claim 15, and wherein the only two diametrically opposed radially convexly curved surfaces of the arch wire are arcs having a single shared center.

30. An orthodontic bracket apparatus for treating a malocclusion comprising: an arch wire having a first original configuration positioned in closely spaced relationship relative to, and along, a dental arch of a patient, and wherein the arch wire has a substantially uniform, circular-square or circular-rectangular cross-sectional shape along its entire length, and wherein the substantially uniform cross-sectional shape has only two diametrically opposed radially convexly curved surfaces, and only two opposed and parallel generally planar surfaces, and the only two opposed and parallel generally planar surfaces extend between and communicate with the only two diametrically opposed radially convexly curved surfaces; a first orthodontic bracket, and a second orthodontic bracket, and wherein each of the first and second orthodontic brackets have a bracket body and a bracket base, which is located on a posterior side of the bracket body, and wherein each orthodontic bracket further has a posterior surface adapted to be releasably affixed to an anterior facing surface of a patient's tooth, and an anterior, outwardly facing surface defining an opening to an arch wire slot which is defined in the bracket body of each orthodontic bracket, and wherein the arch wire slot is sized so as to receive a bracket body insert, and the arch wire therein, and the anterior outwardly facing portion of the bracket body is configured to slidably carry a movable gate, and wherein the movable gate has an anterior facing surface, and an opposing, posterior facing surface, and is further slidably movable between an open position relative to the opening of the arch wire slot, and a closed position relative to the opening of the arch wire slot, and wherein, when the moveable gate is located in the closed position relative to the opening of the arch wire slot, the posterior facing surface of the moveable gate, an anterior surface of the bracket body insert, and a spaced superior and inferior surface of the arch wire slot define the resulting arch wire channel having a cross-sectional, quadrilateral shape that is defined by four angles, and wherein the quadrilateral arch wire channel encloses, and cooperates with the arch wire to apply a predetermined force to the bracket body so as to effect first, second, or third order movements to the patient's tooth, and wherein the arch wire is movable axially within the quadrilateral arch wire channel, and relative to the bracket body, and wherein the anterior facing surface of the moveable gate lies substantially along a plane which is defined by the anterior, outwardly facing surface of the bracket body, and a rib formed on the anterior facing surface of the moveable gate frictionally maintains a precise angular orientation of the moveable gate relative to the bracket body, and wherein the first orthodontic bracket is releasably affixed to an anterior surface of a first tooth of the patient, and the first orthodontic bracket establishes a first angular orientation of its respective quadrilateral arch wire channel relative to its respective bracket base so as to direct a first predetermined force to the first tooth, and effect a resulting movement of the first tooth, and wherein the second orthodontic bracket is releasably affixed to an anterior surface of a second tooth of the patient, and wherein the second orthodontic bracket establishes a second angular orientation of its respective quadrilateral arch wire channel relative to its respective bracket base so as to direct a second predetermined force to the second tooth, and effect a resulting movement of the second tooth, and wherein the first angular orientation is different than the second angular orientation, and wherein the first orthodontic bracket, and wherein the second orthodontic bracket achieve a center, level, arch wire slot line-up; and wherein the arch wire is not intentionally distorted to assume a shape different from the original first configuration so as to impart the predetermined force to the first tooth and to the second tooth.

31. An orthodontic bracket apparatus as claimed in claim 30, and wherein the two diametrically opposed radially curved convex surfaces of the arch wire are arcs each having a single shared center.

32. An orthodontic bracket apparatus as claimed in claim 30, and wherein the arch wire has an elongated, and resilient main body which has a single, predetermined diametral dimension, and a single predetermined thickness dimension, and wherein the single predetermined diametral dimension of the resilient main body maintains a consistent first order movement control of the patient's tooth when the resilient main body of the arch wire is received, and operably enclosed within the quadrilateral arch wire channel throughout the entire orthodontic treatment regimen, and wherein the single predetermined, and uniform thickness dimension of the arch wire facilitates an application of a given torqueing couple to the passive ligation orthodontic bracket body so as to achieve a clinician selectable, and controllable, second and/or third order movement of the patient's tooth without any intentional distortion, bending, twisting or deformation of the arch wire by the clinician during the selected orthodontic treatment regimen, and wherein the quadrilateral arch wire channel, which encloses the arch wire, maintains the orientation of the enclosed arch wire in the central region of the quadrilateral arch wire channel, so as to achieve the clinician selected first, second and third order movement of the patient's tooth, and wherein the arch wire has a predetermined and constant diametral dimension which is less than a depth dimension of the quadrilateral arch wire channel, and a predetermined and constant thickness dimension which is at least 55 percent of a height dimension of the quadrilateral arch wire channel.

33. An orthodontic bracket apparatus as claimed in claim 30, and further comprising: a second arch wire having a second configuration positioned in closely spaced relationship to, and along the dental arch of a patient, and wherein the second arch wire has a substantially uniform, circular square, or circular rectangular cross-sectional shape along its entire length, and wherein the substantially uniform cross-sectional shape has only two diametrically opposed radially curved convex surfaces, and further has a superior facing surface, and an opposing inferior facing surface, and the superior facing surface, and the opposing inferior facing surface are spaced apart, one relative to the other, and parallel, and extend between and connecting the two diametrically opposed, and radially convexly curved surfaces, and wherein a thickness dimension as measured between the superior facing surface, and the opposing inferior facing surface of the second arch wire, is different from that of the first arch wire.

34. The orthodontic bracket apparatus of claim 30, and wherein the arch wire has a diametral dimension which lies in a range of about 0.0225 mm to about 0.0300 mm.

35. The orthodontic bracket apparatus of claim 30, and wherein the arch wire has a thickness dimension which lies in a range of about 0.010 mm to about 0.020 mm.

36. A method for treating a malocclusion of a patient's teeth with a passive ligation orthodontic apparatus system comprising the steps: inspecting the patient's teeth and identifying a present location and a present orientation of each individual tooth requiring orthodontic treatment along a patient's dental arch; determining a desired location and a desired orientation of each individual tooth along the patient's dental arch; determining first, second and third order forces necessary to move and re-orient each individual tooth from the present identified location and present identified orientation to the determined desired location and the determined desired orientation along the patient's dental arch; selecting an appropriate bracket base, and an appropriate bracket body and appropriate bracket body insert for each individual tooth to achieve the determined desired movement and re-orientation of each individual tooth from the present location and present orientation to the determined desired location and the determined desired orientation along the patient's dental arch; attaching the selected appropriate bracket base to an anterior facing surface of the identified individual teeth and aligning the selected appropriate bracket base to achieve center level arch-wire line-up with immediately adjacent bracket bases on the immediately adjacent teeth of the patient; attaching the selected appropriate bracket body to each attached bracket base, and orienting each selected bracket body relative to the attached bracket base so as to exert the pre-determined first, second and third order forces to achieve the desired movement of the respective teeth while maintaining center, level, arch-wire slot line-up; installing the selected bracket body insert into each bracket body that is attached to and oriented relative to the bracket base, and inserting a retention pin in a through hole defined in the bracket body insert, and the bracket body, to releasably positionally secure and maintain the bracket body relative to the bracket base so as to establish the desired bracket body orientation, and center, level, arch wire slot line-up; selecting a first appropriate arch wire to be operably received within the aligned, center, level, arch-wire slots defined by the respective bracket bodies which are attached to the individual bracket bases and exerting the predetermined first, second and third order forces to achieve the desired movement and the desired orientation of each of the patient's teeth undergoing orthodontic treatment, and wherein the archwire has an original configuration which is similar in shape to the patient's dental arch; placing the selected first appropriate arch wire into the respective center, level, arch wire slots defined by each bracket body without materially deforming, bending or twisting the first arch wire out of the first arch wire's original configuration which is substantially similar to the patient's dental arch; slidably attaching a movable gate to each selected bracket body, and urging the moveable gate into a position so that the center, level, arch-wire slot is substantially closed by the movable gate and the arch-wire within the center, level, arch-wire slots and is further only axially movable relative to the center, level, arch-wire slot, and wherein the arch-wire exerts a first order of movement, a second order of movement and a third order of movement to each individual tooth without simultaneously exerting the same first order of movement, the same second order of movement or the same third order of movement upon any adjacent teeth receiving orthodontic treatment; monitoring the first order of movement, the second order of movement, and the third order of movement of each of the patient's teeth from the present location, and the present orientation of each tooth toward the desired location and the desired orientation of each tooth; determining when each of the patient's teeth undergoing orthodontic treatment has moved in a desired first order, second order and third order of movement to an intermediate location, and an intermediate orientation, and a neutral position relative to the arch-wire which is operably received within the center, level, arch-wire slot, and wherein the first archwire is no longer exerting first, second and third order forces on the respective teeth; removing the selected first arch-wire from the respective center, level, arch wire slots defined by each of the bracket bodies; selecting a second appropriate arch wire to be operably received within the center level arch-wire slots which are individually defined by each of the bracket bodies which are releasably attached to the respective bracket bases so as to achieve the desired movement and desired orientation of each individual teeth; placing the selected, second, appropriate arch wire into the center level arch wire slot defined by each bracket body, and urging the moveable gate into a position so that the center level arch-wire slot is at least partially occluded by the movable gate so that the selected second arch-wire which is carried and enclosed within the center level arch-wire slot is only axially movable within the center level arch-wire slot, and wherein the selected second arch-wire exerts a clinician selected first order of movement, a second order of movement and/or a third order of movement upon each individual tooth without exerting the same first order of movement, the same second order of movement and the same third order of movement upon any adjacent tooth of the patient; monitoring the first order of movement, the second order of movement and the third order of movement of each of the patient's teeth from the intermediate location and intermediate orientation toward the desired final location and the desired final orientation for each tooth; determining when each individual tooth has moved in a desired first order, second order and third order of movement to a neutral position relative to the selected second arch-wire within the arch-wire slot and into the desired final location and the desired final orientation; and removing the selected second arch wire, the respective bracket body inserts, bracket bodies and the bracket bases from the patient's teeth.

37. The method for treating a malocclusion of a patient's teeth with a passive ligation orthodontic apparatus system as claimed in claim 36, and further comprising the steps of: adjusting the orientation of each bracket body relative to the respective bracket base by at least partially removing the bracket body insert from the arch wire slot; moving the respective bracket body relative to the respective bracket base into a new second desired orientation; reinstalling the bracket body insert to releasably positionally secure the bracket body to the bracket base in the new second desired orientation; and placing the arch wire into the arch wire slot so as to exert a clinician selected first, second and third order forces on the respective tooth.

38. The method for treating a malocclusion of a patient's teeth with a passive ligation orthodontic apparatus system of claim 36, and wherein the arch wire has a single constant diametral dimension as measured along a line passing through a center, and extending between the two diametrically opposed radially convexly curved surfaces and which lies in a range of about 0.0225 mm to about 0.0300 mm; and a single constant thickness dimension as measured along a line extending perpendicularly between the two diametrically opposed and generally planar superior and inferior surfaces, and which lies in a range of about 0.010 mm to about 0.020 mm.

39. The method for treating a malocclusion of a patient's teeth with a passive ligation orthodontic apparatus system of claim 36, and wherein the arch wire has a diametral dimension as measured along a line passing through a center and extending between the two diametrically opposed radially convexly curved surfaces of about 0.0275 mm.

40. The method for treating a malocclusion of a patient's teeth with a passive ligation orthodontic apparatus system of claim 36, and wherein the arch wire has a thickness dimension as measured along a line extending perpendicularly between the two diametrically opposed generally planar superior and inferior surfaces and which lies in a range of about 0.014 mm to about 0.018 mm.

41. The method for treating a malocclusion of a patient's teeth with a passive ligation orthodontic apparatus system of claim 36, and wherein the bracket body insert is adjustably secured relative to the bracket body, and the bracket base, by a retention pin that extends through a transverse hole which is defined in, and aligned relative to, the bracket body insert and in the bracket body.

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