Abstract: An orthodontic apparatus includes a mouth prop for separating a patient'lips to provide access to the teeth, and a placement tool for placing orthodontic brackets on a patient's teeth. The mouth prop includes a flat platform which is inserted between the patient's upper and lower teeth to provide a base upon which a head portion of the placement tool may be supported to align a bracket on a tooth. The mouth prop preferably includes a fluid ejector tube affixed to the rearward edge of the platform to remove fluids from the patient's mouth during the procedure. The placement tool includes a head portion having a support plate for releasably securing a bracket during the positioning process. A leg affixed to the head portion support plate depends a predetermined distance and supports the bracket above the mouth prop platform at a desired height. The process of attaching the brackets includes the steps of securing a bracket to the placement tool head portion and applying an adhesive to the seat of the bracket.

Abstract: A method for precisely fitting dental wire to brackets on a patient's teeth includes the initial step of measuring the width of the teeth to which the dental wire will be affixed. The width of the teeth are plotted along a straight baseline on a base block, with the desired spacing between the teeth. The dentist must then determine the amount and direction of biasing force necessary to reposition the misaligned teeth to an aligned position. The dental wire is then bent into the appropriate shape using the plotted measurements on the base block to determine the appropriate spacing between the bends and loops in the dental wire. Finally, the dental wire is attached to the brackets on the patient's teeth. The apparatus utilized by the dentist in performing the method of the invention includes a base block as described above, with a straight baseline and a lower edge parallel to the baseline.