Anchor apparatus and method for orthodontic appliances

Abstract

An apparatus and method for anchoring orthodontic appliances or the like in the mouth wherein anchor screws of different constructions are installed in the bone in different areas of the mouth to insure adequate bone contact and retention. Each of the anchor screws has a threaded portion and a washer portion at the outer end of the threaded portion which is of sufficient width to engage the adjacent exterior bone surface when the threaded portion is installed in the bone to provide lateral support for the threaded portion. In some cases, the threaded portion is provided with threads of different sizes and the washer portion is provided with an exterior thread for cutting through gum tissue to enable the washer portion to engage the underlying adjacent exterior bone surface when the threaded portion is installed in the bone. Each anchor screw is provided with a lateral bore at the outer end thereof for receiving a ligature or the like therethrough to prevent the anchor screw from falling in the mouth.

1 . A method of anchoring orthodontic appliances or the like in the mouth with the use of anchor screws that are installed in the bone in different areas of the mouth, comprising using anchor screws of different constructions in different mouth areas to insure adequate bone contact and retention, each of the anchor screws having a threaded portion and a washer portion at the outer end of the threaded portion and of sufficient width to engage the adjacent exterior bone surface when the threaded portion is installed in the bone to provide lateral support for the threaded portion. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the exterior of the washer portion is threaded so as to cut through gum tissue to enable the washer portion to engage the underlying adjacent exterior bone surface when the threaded portion is installed in the bone. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein each of the anchor screws has an angled nut portion on the outer end of the washer portion for engagement by a tool or driver for rotating and installing the anchor screw in the bone. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein each of the anchor screws has a neck portion adjacent the outer end of the washer portion, a lateral bore extends through the neck portion, and a ligature is extended through the lateral bore to prevent the anchor screw from falling in the mouth. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein each of the anchor screws has a head portion adjacent the neck portion, the head portion having a pair of lateral recesses longitudinally aligned with the opposite ends of the lateral bore to receive therein portions of the ligature extending outwardly from the bore. 
     
     
         6 . Apparatus for anchoring orthodontic appliances or the like in the mouth, comprising anchor screws of different constructions for installation in the bone in different areas of the mouth to insure adequate bone contact and retention, each of the anchor screws having a threaded portion and a washer portion at the outer end of the threaded portion of sufficient width to engage the adjacent exterior bone surface when the threaded portion is installed in the bone to provide lateral support for the threaded portion. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein each of the anchor screws has an angled nut portion on the outer end of the washer portion for engagement by a tool or driver for rotating and installing the anchor screw in the bone. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein each of the anchor screws has a neck portion adjacent the outer end of the washer portion, the neck portion having a lateral bore extending therethrough so that a ligature can be extended through the lateral bore to prevent the anchor screw from falling in the mouth. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein each of the anchor screws has a head portion adjacent the neck portion, the head portion having a pair of lateral recesses that are longitudinally aligned with the opposite ends of the lateral bore to receive therein portions of a ligature extending outwardly from the bore. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein for the palatal and mesial areas of the mouth, the threaded portion has a first thread on the inner end thereof and a second larger thread on the outer end thereof adjacent to the washer portion. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the exterior of the washer portion is threaded to enable it to cut through gum tissue and engage the underlying adjacent exterior bone surface when the threaded portion is installed in the bone. 
     
     
         13 . An anchor screw for anchoring orthodontic appliances or the like in the incisal area of the mouth, said anchor screw comprising an elongated threaded portion and a washer portion at the outer end of the threaded portion and of sufficient width to engage the adjacent exterior bone surface when the threaded portion is installed in the bone to provide lateral support for the threaded portion. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . An anchor screw for anchoring orthodontic appliances or the like in the palatal area of the mouth, said anchor screw comprising a threaded portion having a first thread on the inner end thereof and a second larger thread at the outer end thereof, and a washer portion adjacent the second thread at the outer end of the threaded portion, the washer portion being of sufficient width to engage the adjacent exterior bone surface when the threaded portion is installed in the bone to provide lateral support for the threaded portion. 
     
     
         16 . The anchor screw of  claim 15  wherein the exterior of the washer portion is threaded so as to cut through gum tissue and engage the underlying adjacent exterior bone surface when the threaded portion is installed in the bone. 
     
     
         17 . An anchor screw for anchoring orthodontic appliances or the like in the mesial area of the mouth, said anchor screw comprising a threaded portion having a first thread on the inner end thereof and a second larger thread at the outer end thereof, and a longitudinally narrow washer portion adjacent the second thread at the outer end of the threaded portion, the narrow washer portion being of sufficient width to engage the adjacent exterior bone surface when the threaded portion is installed in the bone to provide lateral support for the threaded portion. 
     
     
         18 . The anchor screw of  claim 17  wherein the exterior of the washer portion is threaded so as to cut through gum tissue and engage the underlying adjacent exterior bone surface when the threaded portion is installed in the bone. 
     
     
         19 . An anchor screw for anchoring orthodontic appliances or the like in the zygomatic areas of the mouth, the anchor screw comprising a threaded portion and a washer portion at the outer end of the threaded portion and of sufficient width to engage the adjacent exterior bone surface when the threaded portion is installed in the bone to provide lateral support for the threaded portion, the washer portion being elongated and being concave in the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         20 . The anchor screw of  claim 19  wherein the inner surface of the washer portion adjacent the outer end of the threaded portion is concave to provide an outer sharp edge thereon. 
     
     
         21 . An anchor screw for anchoring orthodontic appliances or the like in the mouth, the anchor screw comprising a threaded portion and a washer portion at the outer end of the threaded portion, the washer portion being of greater lateral width than the threaded portion, and a flexible and resilient washer disposed between the threaded portion and the inner end of the washer portion, the flexible and resilient washer being of a lateral width greater than that of the washer portion and serving to engage the adjacent exterior bone surface when the threaded portion is installed in the bone to provide lateral support for the threaded portion when the anchor screw is installed at different angles in the bone. 
     
     
         22 . The anchor screw of  claim 21  wherein the flexible and resilient washer has a concave inner surface adjacent the threaded portion to provide an outer sharp edge thereon. 
     
     
         23 . The anchor screw of  claim 21  wherein the inner surface of the washer portion is of a generally convex shape, and the outer surface of the flexible and resilient washer is provided with a concave recess that is of a complementary size and shape to the convex inner surface of the washer portion so as to receive the washer portion therein at different angles. 
     
     
         24 . The anchor screw of  claim 23  wherein the inner convex surface of the washer portion is provided with one or more sharp edges for engagement with the adjacent concave recess in the flexible and resilient washer. 
     
     
         25 . The anchor screw of  claim 24  wherein the sharp edges are defined by a plurality of concentric sharp edge portions.