Patent ID: 7396230

Claim:
An orthodontic bracket having dimensions and strength so as to be suitable for use as a molar bracket in combination with a plurality of non-molar brackets in retaining an arch wire during an orthodontic procedure, the orthodontic bracket comprising: a bracket base comprised of: a bonding platform that is sized and shaped for attachment to a person's molar; and a raised portion extending buccally from the bonding platform, the raised portion having an occlusal-gingival width and a mesial-distal length that is at least about 125% of its occlusal-gingival width, the raised portion being attached to the bonding platform across its entire mesial-distal length and occlusal-gingival width, the raised portion having a continuous rounded buccal surface with no slot or other opening interrupting the buccal surface; a single arch wire slot disposed in the raised portion of the bracket base and having a distal arch wire receiving opening that is oriented so as to generally point gingivally-occlusally relative to a tooth to which the orthodontic bracket is attached; a ligation cover hingedly attached to the bracket base, the ligation cover being selectively movable about a hinge between an open, non-ligating position, in which the arch wire slot is open and completely non-occluded by the ligation cover, and a closed, ligating position relative to the arch wire slot, the ligation cover wrapping around, covering and having continuous contact with the continuous rounded buccal surface of the raised portion when in the closed, ligating position so as to form a smooth, rounded and continuous top surface of the bracket, wherein the ligation cover has an occlusal-gingival width and a mesial-distal length that is at least about 125% of its occlusal-gingival width; and a latch mechanism for selectively locking the ligation cover in the closed, ligating position, the latch mechanism including: an indentation in a lip of the bracket base that extends distally beyond the distal arch wire receiving opening; and a locking tongue that extends laterally from an end of the ligation cover and which includes a protrusion configured to mate with the indentation in the lip of the bracket base.