Self-ligating orthodontic bracket with mid-undercut

Abstract

An orthodontic bracket comprising a body and a locking member movable coupled to the body. The body defines an archwire slot and has a labial surface and a lingual surface. The body also includes an undercut positioned between the labial surface and the lingual surface. The locking member engages the undercut and is pivotable relative to the body between a closed position where access to the archwire slot in inhibited and an open position where access to the archwire slot is permitted. In one embodiment, the body has a mesial-distal width, and the undercut extends across substantially the entire mesial-distal width of the body. In a different embodiment, the undercut extends across only a portion of the mesial-distal width of the body. In another aspect, the locking member includes a head portion for closing the archwire slot when the locking member is in the closed position and having a first mesial-distal width, a neck portion having a second mesial-distal width less than the first mesial-distal width, and a tail portion for engaging the body and having a third mesial-distal width greater than the second mesial-distal width (e.g., substantially equal to the first mesial-distal width. In one embodiment, the bracket further includes two tie wings coupled to the body, and the neck portion is positioned between the two tie wings.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.