Orthodontic assembly with reinforcement structure

An orthodontic assembly, comprising:

• an orthodontic appliance positionable on a tooth;
• a base which interfaces with the tooth and an arch slot which receives an arch wire;
• and
• a first region having a first surface which defines at least a first part of an exterior surface of said orthodontic assembly, said first region comprising a matrix material and a plurality of reinforcement structures distributed substantially uniformly throughout and suspended within substantially all of said matrix material whereby an amount of said matrix material is more than to merely coat/impregnate said reinforcement structures, wherein a first portion of said plurality of reinforcement structures are substantially totally contained within said matrix material and wherein a second portion of said reinforcement structures are only partially contained within said matrix material whereby parts of said reinforcement structures of said second portion are exposed on said first surface and extend beyond adjacently positioned matrix material to provide discontinuities on said first surface, said first surface comprising at least one of said base and said arch slot.