ORTHODONTIC APPLIANCE SYSTEM

摘要

The present invention concerns an orthodontic appliance system for applying corrective forces to the teeth of a patient wherein a force delivery component of the system is formed from a fiber reinforced composite material having a modulus of elasticity below 30 x 10<6> psi and a preselected ratio of yield strength to modulus of elasticity within the range from a level comparable to that of 18-8 stainless steel up to at least 300 percent that of such stainless steel whereby more constant force levels can be applied with time and a continuous range of stiffness is achieved, said composite material having a higher maximum elastic deflection than said stainless steel and an ability to provide complex orthodontic configurations so as to enhance the ease and accuracy of force delivery.