Electromechanical systems, methods, orthodontic brackets, and tools for adjusting orthodontic prescriptions of orthodontic brackets with adjustable archwire passages

Abstract

Electromechanical systems, methods, orthodontic brackets, and tools for adjusting orthodontic prescriptions of orthodontic brackets with adjustable archwire passages are disclosed herein. The methods include operatively engaging an orthodontic bracket with an engagement structure of an electronic orthodontic adjustment tool, determining a present orientation of an archwire slot of the orthodontic bracket, displaying a displayed orientation of the archwire slot, and adjusting the orientation of the archwire slot based on the displayed orientation. The orthodontic brackets include a base, a body, a retention structure, a transmitter, and may include an orientation-determining structure. The tools include an engagement structure, an orientation indicator, and may include an orientation-determining structure.

1 . An orthodontic bracket, comprising:
 a base configured to be operatively affixed to a tooth of a patient;   a body configured to be selectively repositioned relative to the base, wherein the body at least partially defines an archwire slot, wherein the archwire slot is shaped to receive an archwire;   a retention structure configured to be selectively transitioned between:
 a locked configuration in which movement of the archwire slot relative to the base is restricted by the retention structure; and 
 an unlocked configuration in which the retention structure permits an orientation of the archwire slot to be adjusted relative to a reference orientation; and 
   an orientation-determining structure configured to detect the orientation of the archwire slot relative to the reference orientation.   
     
     
         2 . The orthodontic bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the orientation-determining structure comprises at least one magnet and a sensor configured to detect the orientation of the archwire slot relative to the reference orientation by detecting a location of the at least one magnet relative to the sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The orthodontic bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the orientation-determining structure is configured to detect the orientation of the archwire slot relative to the reference orientation by detecting a rotation of the body relative to the base about at least one axis. 
     
     
         4 . The orthodontic bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the orientation-determining structure is configured to detect the orientation of the archwire slot relative to the reference orientation by detecting a translation of the body relative to the base about at least one axis. 
     
     
         5 . The orthodontic bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the reference orientation is defined relative to at least one of: the base, the tooth, a base of a second orthodontic bracket within the mouth of the patient, and another archwire slot defined by the second orthodontic bracket. 
     
     
         6 . The orthodontic bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the orthodontic bracket defines a home position of the body relative to the base, and wherein the reference orientation is defined relative to the home position. 
     
     
         7 . The orthodontic bracket of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a transmitter configured to generate an orientation indication signal indicative of the detected orientation of the archwire slot.   
     
     
         8 . The orthodontic bracket of  claim 7 , wherein the transmitter comprises at least one of: a wireless transmitter, a Bluetooth transmitter, an RFID transmitter, an RFID tag, a digital transmitter, an analog transmitter, and an optical transmitter. 
     
     
         9 . The orthodontic bracket of  claim 7 , wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the orientation indication signal to an electronic device. 
     
     
         10 . The orthodontic bracket of  claim 9 , wherein the transmitter is configured to wirelessly transmit the orientation indication signal to the electronic device. 
     
     
         11 . The orthodontic bracket of  claim 1 , further comprising an adjustment mechanism operatively coupling the body to the base, wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to selectively adjust the orientation of the body relative to the base and thereby adjust the orientation of the archwire slot relative to the base. 
     
     
         12 . The orthodontic bracket of  claim 11 , wherein the adjustment mechanism defines a single axis of adjustment relative to the base. 
     
     
         13 . The orthodontic bracket of  claim 11 , wherein the adjustment mechanism permits the body to rotate relative to the base about at least one rotational axis. 
     
     
         14 . The orthodontic bracket of  claim 11 , wherein the adjustment mechanism permits the body to translate relative to the base about at least one translational axis. 
     
     
         15 . The orthodontic bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the bracket further comprises a ligature configured to retain the archwire within the archwire slot. 
     
     
         16 . The orthodontic bracket of  claim 15 , wherein the bracket is a self-ligating bracket, and wherein the ligature forms a portion of the bracket. 
     
     
         17 . An orthodontic bracket, comprising:
 a base configured to be operatively affixed to a tooth of a patient;   a body configured to be selectively repositioned relative to the base, wherein the body at least partially defines an archwire slot, wherein the archwire slot is shaped to receive an archwire;   a retention structure configured to be selectively transitioned between:
 a locked configuration in which an orientation of the archwire slot relative to a reference orientation is at least substantially fixed; and 
 an unlocked configuration in which the retention structure permits the orientation of the archwire slot to be adjusted relative to the reference orientation; a receiver configured to receive an orientation control signal; and 
   an electronically actuated drive structure configured to cause relative motion between the body and the base to change the orientation of the archwire slot based on the orientation control signal.   
     
     
         18 . The orthodontic bracket of  claim 17 , wherein the electronically actuated drive structure is configured to change the orientation of the archwire slot such that the orientation of the archwire slot corresponds to a desired orientation indicated by the orientation control signal. 
     
     
         19 . The orthodontic bracket of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 an orientation-determining structure configured to detect the orientation of the archwire slot relative to the reference orientation; and   a transmitter configured to:
 generate an orientation indication signal based on the detected orientation of the archwire slot; and 
 transmit the orientation indication signal to an electronic device. 
   
     
     
         20 . The orthodontic bracket of  claim 19 , wherein the electronic device is configured to calculate the orientation control signal based on the orientation indication signal, and wherein the receiver is configured to receive the orientation control signal from the electronic device. 
     
     
         21 . The orthodontic bracket of  claim 17 , wherein the electronically actuated drive structure comprises a piezoelectric actuator.