Patent ID: 8801430

Claim:
An orthodontic bracket system comprising: a plurality of interchangeable locks ( 6 ); a base ( 2 ) adapted to receive each of the plurality of interchangeable locks ( 6 ), the base having a rear surface ( 4 ) adapted to be adhered to a tooth, the base having a front surface opposite from the rear surface, an orthogonal projection ( 5 ) extending from the front surface of the base, the orthogonal projection having horizontal portion extending directly from the front surface and a vertical portion extending vertically from the horizontal portion spaced apart from the front surface of the base, whereby the front surface of the base, the horizontal portion of the orthogonal projection and the vertical portion of the orthogonal projection form a gap (V) for receiving and retaining a traction wire (F); each of the interchangeable locks ( 6 ) including a body and a first vertically oriented wall ( 8 ) extending from the body and a second vertically oriented wall ( 8 ) spaced apart from the first vertically oriented wall, wherein a first transverse slot ( 11 ) is formed in the first vertically oriented wall and a second transverse slot ( 11 ) is formed in the second vertically oriented wall, wherein said first and second slots are open towards a rear of the lock, wherein said first and second slots have an incline angle, wherein said first slot has a first depth, wherein said second slot has a second depth, and wherein the first slot has a first relative height and the second slot has a second relative height; and wherein each of the interchangeable locks attaches to the base with the orthogonal projection ( 5 ) of the base ( 2 ) received in the space between the first and second vertically oriented walls ( 8 ) of the lock ( 6 ) and the rear of the lock in close engagement with the front surface of the base, wherein the orthogonal projection projects through the space between the walls and has a rounded exposed exterior surface and each of the plurality of locks has a complimentary rounded external shape that matches and aligns flush with the rounded exterior surface of the orthogonal projection to form a smooth rounded outer surface comprised of the base and lock; wherein the first and second slots and the gap form a traction wire retaining groove; and herein a direction of torque applied to the tooth is determined by the incline angle, the depths of the slots, and a difference between the relative heights of the slots, which may vary between the first and second slots of one particular lock and between each of the plurality of interchangeable locks.