Patent ID: 8308478

Claim:
A method of indirectly bonding a plurality of orthodontic appliances to a plurality of teeth, each of the plurality of teeth having a tooth surface, comprising the steps of: a. providing a plurality of orthodontic appliances having a main body with a tooth-engaging surface; b. making a dental model of a patient's tooth anatomy, the dental model having a plurality of teeth; c. positioning the plurality of orthodontic appliances on the model; d. applying a polymeric material to cover at least a portion of the main body of each of the orthodontic appliances so that each of the plurality of orthodontic appliances does not interfere with a tray that is subsequently formed over the model and wherein the polymeric material does not contact the plurality of teeth of the model; e. forming the tray over the model so the tray conforms to the shape of the model and the plurality of orthodontic appliances become releasably attached to the tray; f. removing the tray with the attached plurality of orthodontic appliances from the model; g. preparing the tooth surfaces of a patient to be fitted with the plurality of orthodontic appliances; h. pressing the tray into position in the mouth of the patient so the plurality of orthodontic appliances are positioned and bonded to the tooth surfaces; and i. removing the tray from the mouth while the plurality of orthodontic appliances remain bonded to the tooth surfaces.