Archwire for use with a passive self-ligation orthodontic bracket

Abstract

An archwire for use with a passive self-ligation orthodontic bracket is described and which includes a resilient main body which is received in the archwire slot, and which further has a predetermined width dimension, and a variable thickness dimension, and wherein the variable thickness dimension of the archwire can be varied so as to facilitate an adjustable application of a force to the passive self-ligation orthodontic bracket so as to achieve a clinician selectable and controllable second and third order movement of a patient's tooth.

1 .- 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . An archwire for use with a passive ligation orthodontic bracket comprising:
 an elongated body having a first end, a second end extending therefrom, and a cross-sectional configuration having only two opposing curved surfaces and only two opposing planar surfaces, the two opposing curved surfaces defining a diameter dimension of the body and the two opposing planar surfaces defining a thickness dimension of the body,   wherein each of the diameter dimension and the thickness dimension is uniform from the first end to the second end.   
     
     
         21 . The archwire of  claim 20  wherein each opposing curved surface intersects each of the two opposing planar surfaces at a discreet angular edge. 
     
     
         22 . The archwire of  claim 20  wherein the two opposing planar surfaces are parallel to one another. 
     
     
         23 . The archwire of  claim 20  wherein each opposing curved surface is defined by a radial dimension measured from a longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         24 . An archwire for use with a passive ligation orthodontic bracket comprising:
 an elongated body having a first end, a second end extending therefrom, and a cross-sectional configuration having two opposing curved surfaces and two opposing planar surfaces, the two opposing curved surfaces define a largest cross-sectional dimension of the body and the two opposing planar surfaces define a thickness dimension of the body,   wherein the largest cross-sectional dimension and the thickness dimension are uniform from the first end to the second end.   
     
     
         25 . The archwire of  claim 24  wherein each opposing curved surface intersects each of the two opposing planar surfaces at a discreet angular edge. 
     
     
         26 . The archwire of  claim 24  wherein the two opposing planar surfaces are parallel to one another. 
     
     
         27 . The archwire of  claim 24  wherein each opposing curved surface is defined by a radial dimension measured from a longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         28 . The archwire of  claim 27  wherein the largest cross-sectional dimension is equal to twice the radial dimension. 
     
     
         29 . A method of orthodontic treatment of a patient using a passive self-ligating bracket including a bracket body that includes an archwire slot having an anterior surface and an inferior surface spaced apart from a superior surface to define a slot height, each of the inferior surface and the superior surface extending in the same direction from the anterior surface; and
 a gate that is moveable relative to the bracket body between an opened position and a closed position in which the anterior surface and the gate define a slot width, the method comprising:   selecting an archwire comprising an elongated body having a first end, a second end extending therefrom, and a cross-sectional configuration having only two opposing curved surfaces and only two opposing planar surfaces, the two opposing curved surfaces defining a diameter dimension of the body and the two opposing planar surfaces defining a thickness dimension of the body, wherein each of the diameter dimension and the thickness dimension is uniform from the first end to the second end, wherein selecting the archwire includes selecting the diameter dimension to be substantially equal to the slot width such that the gate is moveable to the closed position when the selected archwire is inserted into the archwire slot.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein selecting the archwire further includes selecting the thickness dimension to be at least 55% of the slot height.