A ligating member operable to retain an archwire within a slot of an orthodontic bracket or buccal tube, the ligating member comprising: a base ; a first ligation finger extending from the base; a second ligation finger extending from the base, the second ligation finger spaced apart and offset from the first ligation finger; and a latching element extending from the base in a gingival direction, the latching element positioned between the first ligation finger and the second ligation finger, the latching element including: a neck portion extending from the base, a head portion extending from the neck portion, the head portion including a protrusion formed on a lingual side of the latching element , $ wherein the neck portion generally has a width that is less than the width of the head portion , $ wherein the width of the neck portion gradually narrows from the base toward a general midpoint of the neck portion , and then gradually widens from the general midpoint toward the head portion , so that the neck portion has a minimum cross-section region, and wherein the latching element has a length, L 1 , measured from the base to a centerline of the protrusion, and a length, L 2 , measured from a centerline of the minimum cross-section region to the centerline of the protrusion, wherein L 2 is equal to or greater than 40% of L 1 , characterized in that L 1 is between 40% and 60% of a total length of the ligating member. a base ; a first ligation finger extending from the base; a second ligation finger extending from the base, the second ligation finger spaced apart and offset from the first ligation finger; and a latching element extending from the base in a gingival direction, the latching element positioned between the first ligation finger and the second ligation finger, the latching element including: a neck portion extending from the base, a head portion extending from the neck portion, the head portion including a protrusion formed on a lingual side of the latching element , $ wherein the neck portion generally has a width that is less than the width of the head portion , $ wherein the width of the neck portion gradually narrows from the base toward a general midpoint of the neck portion , and then gradually widens from the general midpoint toward the head portion , so that the neck portion has a minimum cross-section region, and wherein the latching element has a length, L 1 , measured from the base to a centerline of the protrusion, and a length, L 2 , measured from a centerline of the minimum cross-section region to the centerline of the protrusion, wherein L 2 is equal to or greater than 40% of L 1 , characterized in that L 1 is between 40% and 60% of a total length of the ligating member. a neck portion extending from the base, a head portion extending from the neck portion, the head portion including a protrusion formed on a lingual side of the latching element , $ wherein the neck portion generally has a width that is less than the width of the head portion , $ wherein the width of the neck portion gradually narrows from the base toward a general midpoint of the neck portion , and then gradually widens from the general midpoint toward the head portion , so that the neck portion has a minimum cross-section region, and wherein the latching element has a length, L 1 , measured from the base to a centerline of the protrusion, and a length, L 2 , measured from a centerline of the minimum cross-section region to the centerline of the protrusion, wherein L 2 is equal to or greater than 40% of L 1 , characterized in that L 1 is between 40% and 60% of a total length of the ligating member. <EOS>