Patent attributes
An orthodontic palatal expander appliance comprising an expansion screw, extensions leading from opposite ends of the expansion screw and contoured tooth engaging portions fixed to the ends of the extensions and being entirely of thermoplastic material and being shaped to conform to and grasp selected ones of a patient's teeth. The buccal, linqual and occlusal surfaces are completely covered by the thermoplastic material. The material is trimmed carefully to match the gingival contour around each tooth. The inner tooth contacting surface of each contoured tooth engaging portion is abrasively etched by means of a pressurized spray of micron-size abrasive particles. A physically bonding orthodontic adhesive, such a resin modified glass ionomer adhesive, is applied to the abrasively etched surfaces to releasably bond the contoured tooth engaging portions to the patient's teeth.
