Orthodontic bracket

#1. Field of the Invention

#This invention relates to an orthodontic bracket useful in correcting irregularities in alignment of teeth.

#2. Description of the Related Arts

#The foregoing and other objects and features of the invention will become more apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompany drawings, in which:

#FIG. 1 is a front view showing placement of an orthodontic bracket of a first embodiment according to the present invention to a side surface (or a front surface) of a tooth;

#FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a base of the orthodontic bracket in FIG. 1;

#Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 2 denotes an orthodontic bracket placed on a side surface (or a front surface) of a tooth 1 to be subjected to orthodontic treatment. The tooth 1 in FIG. 1 is shown with its lower end the gingival side (or a root side of the tooth).

#The orthodontic bracket 2 comprises a bonding plate 3a having a bonding surface matching the curvature of the side surface of the tooth 1, a base 3 (see FIG. 3) having a bottom surface united with the bonding plate 3a and an upper surface (sliding surface) 30 parallel with the side surface of the tooth 1. The base 3 has an approximately rectangular shape with a convex curve conforming to the side surface of the tooth 1. A bracket body 4 is set on the sliding surface 30 of the base 3 in such a way that the bracket body may slide parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tooth 1.

#As shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, the base 3 has, on the sliding surface 30, grooved parallel rails 31, 31 which approximately uniformly project from the sliding surface, the rails being adapted to receive the bracket body 4 slidably therein. Each rail 31 has, at its opposite ends, stoppers 31a (see FIGS. 3 and 4) to prevent detachment of the bracket body 4. The sliding surface 30 has, at its widthwise center, a longitudinally extending visible median line 30a.