| 摘要 |
<p>. An orthodontic appliance closely adapted to a patient's teeth for holding the same securely in place and a method for forming the same. A preform having a trough formed between a labial-buccal flange and a lingual flange is designed preferably for only one of the upper or lower row of teeth. It is formed of a material which is quite hard, i.e. essentially non-resilient, and it has the property of becoming soft for non-elastic reshaping at a temperature above body temperature and below 212 degrees F. The preform is heated and when soft it is placed within the patient's mouth and reshaped to precisely the contour of at least some if not all of the teeth of the row to which it is applied. The appliance is then cooled, preferably while still in the patient's mouth, after which the flanges are preferably trimmed back to the gum line and even beyond that for the portion of the labial-buccal flange against the labial surfaces of the anterior teeth.</p> |
