| 摘要 |
Apparatus is provided for resetting the position of teeth in a patient's mouth to a desired configuration where each tooth requires an individual magnitude of force, dependent upon the positioning of such tooth in the patient's mouth, to reset such tooth to the desired configuration. The apparatus includes a plurality of bracket assemblies each including a support member and a pad. Each pad is adhered to an individual one of the patient's teeth and to the associated support member. A groove is provided in each of the support members. An arch wire extends through the groove in each of the support members for retention in the groove. The arch wire has at each groove a thickness (or cross-sectional area) dependent upon the individual magnitude of force to be applied to the associated tooth. The thickness (or cross-sectional area) of the arch wire may vary progressively between adjacent bracket assemblies in accordance with the differences in the thicknesses (or cross-sectional area) of the arch wire at the positions of the grooves in such adjacent bracket assemblies. Alternatively, the thickness (or cross-sectional area) of the arch wire at the position of the groove in each bracket assembly may vary substantially only at the position of such groove from the thickness of the arch wire at the adjacent grooves.
|
