Patent ID: 7670140

Claim:
A hand instrument for detaching orthodontic brackets from teeth comprising: a first jaw including a contact pad for engaging a mesial side of a bracket; a first handle connected to the first jaw; a second jaw connected to the first jaw for relative movement, the second jaw including a contact pad for engaging a distal side of the bracket; a second handle connected to the second jaw, wherein the second jaw is pivotally connected to the first jaw, and wherein the first jaw and the second jaw move toward each other as the first handle and the second handle are squeezed together; and a blade extending between the first jaw and the second jaw and having an outer end, the outer end being located between the contact pads for reception in a channel of the bracket when the contact pads are in engagement with the sides of the bracket, wherein the blade is flexible and wherein the outer end of the blade includes a notch.