Reduced-Friction Buccal Tube and Method of Use

Abstract

An orthodontic appliance includes features for reducing friction between an interior of an archwire slot portion of the appliance and an archwire to be placed within the archwire slot. Other embodiments include a rounded exterior occlusal surface. Embodiments further include one or more receptacles for receiving an installation tool.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An orthodontic appliance for cooperating with an archwire, the appliance comprising:
 a first archwire tube comprising: (i) a first aperature, (ii) a second aperature, and (iii) a first passageway having a length between said first and second aperatures, wherein the passageway is adapted for receiving the archwire;   wherein the first passageway comprises interior sides; wherein the interior sides comprise a gingival side, an occlusal side, a lingual side and a buccal side;   wherein said orthodontic appliance comprises a first friction reducing feature comprising at least one protrusion that reduces contact of the archwire with a first predetermined portion of the first passageway and a second friction reducing feature comprising at least one protrusion that reduces contact of the archwire with a second predetermined portion of the first passageway; and   wherein said first friction reducing feature comprising at least one protrusion comprises a tapered end at a mesial end of said first passageway.   
     
     
         2 . The appliance as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said appliance has at least one receptacle having a tool receiving surface. 
     
     
         3 . The appliance as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a second archwire tube extending parallel to said first archwire tube wherein the second archwire tube has a distal and a mesial end and has a second passageway extending between said distal end and mesial end, said second passageway having a taper at said mesial end. 
     
     
         4 . The appliance as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said first archwire tube and said second archwire tube are in a side-by-side relationship. 
     
     
         5 . The appliance as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said first archwire tube and said second archwire tube extend the same distance. 
     
     
         6 . The appliance as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said first archwire tube and said second archwire tube are integral with each other. 
     
     
         7 . The appliance as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said second archwire tube has a rounded exterior occlusal surface. 
     
     
         8 . The appliance as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first passageway is adapted to receive a round archwire. 
     
     
         9 . The appliance as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first passageway is adapted to receive a rectangular archwire. 
     
     
         10 . The appliance as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first archwire tube has a rounded exterior occlusal surface. 
     
     
         11 . An orthodontic appliance for cooperating with an archwire, the appliance comprising:
 a first archwire tube comprising: (i) a first aperature, (ii) a second aperature, and (iii) a first passageway having a length between said first and second aperatures, wherein the passageway is adapted for receiving the archwire;   wherein the first passageway comprises interior sides; wherein the interior sides comprise a gingival side, an occlusal side, a lingual side and a buccal side;   wherein said orthodontic appliance comprises a first friction reducing feature comprising at least one protrusion that reduces contact of the archwire with a first predetermined portion of the first passageway and a second friction reducing feature comprising at least one protrusion that reduces contact of the archwire with a second predetermined portion of the first passageway; and   wherein said first friction reducing feature comprising at least one protrusion comprises a tapered end at a mesial end of said first passageway; and   wherein the first archwire tube comprises a convertible buccal tube.   
     
     
         12 . The appliance as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the first archwire tube has a rounded exterior occlusal surface. 
     
     
         13 . The appliance as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the first passageway is adapted to receive a round archwire. 
     
     
         14 . The appliance as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the first passageway is adapted to receive a rectangular archwire. 
     
     
         15 . The appliance as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising a second archwire tube extending parallel to said first archwire tube wherein the second archwire tube has a distal and a mesial end and has a second passageway extending between said distal end and mesial end, said second passageway having a taper at said mesial end. 
     
     
         16 . The appliance as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said first archwire tube and said second archwire tube are in a side-by-side relationship. 
     
     
         17 . The appliance as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said first archwire tube and said second archwire tube extend the same distance. 
     
     
         18 . An orthodontic appliance for cooperating with an archwire, the appliance comprising:
 a first archwire tube comprising: (i) a first aperature, (ii) a second aperature, and (iii) a first passageway having a length between said first and second aperatures, wherein the passageway is adapted for receiving the archwire;   wherein the first passageway comprises interior sides; wherein the interior sides comprise a gingival side, an occlusal side, a lingual side and a buccal side;   wherein said orthodontic appliance comprises a first friction reducing feature comprising at least one protrusion that reduces contact of the archwire with a first predetermined portion of the first passageway and a second friction reducing feature comprising at least one protrusion that reduces contact of the archwire with a second predetermined portion of the first passageway; and   wherein said first friction reducing feature comprising at least one protrusion comprises a tapered end at a mesial end of said first passageway; and   wherein the first archwire tube comprises a non-convertible buccal tube.   
     
     
         19 . The appliance as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the first passageway is adapted to receive a round archwire. 
     
     
         20 . The appliance as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the first passageway is adapted to receive a rectangular archwire.