Abstract: An orthodontic bracket of the type intended for cementing directly to a previously etched surface of the tooth enamel has on the lingual face thereof that contacts the tooth enamel surface a thin porous layer of sintered metal powder which is arranged to have a porosity such that it has keying characteristics close to that of the etched enamel and thereby facilitates the cementing adhesion of the bracket to the tooth. A particularly suitable metal powder consists of particles of the same alloy as the bracket metal and of size in the range about 10 to about 150 micons (-100 mesh), preferably from about 10 to about 50 microns (-300 mesh) applied in a thickness of about 0.05 to 0.2 mm, by means of a sintering operation that fuses the particles to the lingual face and to one another.