Patent ID: 6902396

Claim:
An orthodontic bracket system, comprising: a bracket member having a rear portion and a front portion, wherein said rear portion is attachable to a tooth; a vertical passage extending vertically through said rear portion of said bracket member, wherein said vertical passage is defined by a first wall, a second wall, a base extending between said first wall and said second wall, and a traverse wall portion extending between said first wall and said second wall opposite of said base; a horizontal passage extending horizontally through said rear portion of said bracket member; and a front slot extending into said front portion of said bracket member, wherein said front slot is positioned substantially horizontally within said front portion for receiving a portion of an archwire; wherein said bracket member includes a lower extension and an upper extension defining said front slot; wherein said first wall and said second wall each have a flanged portion attached to said base; a gauge member having a T-shaped structure removably positionable within said vertical passage for aligning said bracket member with respect to a longitudinal axis of a tooth, wherein said gauge member is comprised of an elongated shaft portion, a handle portion orthogonally attached to an end of said elongated shaft portion, and a flanged portion extending outwardly from said elongated shaft portion near an intersection of said handle portion and said shaft portion.