Self-ligating Orthodontic Appliance with Sliding Cover

摘要

A self-ligating orthodontic bracket has a sliding archwire cover that has a top surface congruent with the top surface of an upper body portion having an archwire slot. The cover has a resilient locking tab that slides across the slot, bending upward as it encounters a latch and mating with the latch as it restores to secure the cover in a closed position. The cover has a modified dovetail shape with flared bottom portions that slideably engage guides for reciprocal opening and closing sliding motion.