Abstract: An orthodontic bracket comprising a body having an archwire slot and adapted to be secured to a tooth, and a clip coupled to the body and movable between an open position, permitting access to the archwire slot, and a closed position, inhibiting access to the archwire slot. The clip comprises a base material having recesses formed by laser-ablation, and a coating formed over at least a portion of the base material and over at least one of the recesses.
Abstract: An orthodontic bracket comprising a body having an archwire slot and adapted to be secured to a tooth, and a clip coupled to the body and movable between an open position, permitting access to the archwire slot, and a closed position, inhibiting access to the archwire slot. The clip comprises a base material having recesses formed by laser-ablation, and a coating formed over at least a portion of the base material and over at least one of the recesses.
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.