Patent ID: 7967603

Claim:
In a self-ligating orthodontic bracket including: (a) a base member having a base plate with a bottom side adapted to be attached to a tooth and a top side from which upper structure extends upwardly, the upper structure having first and second tie wings between which there is an arch-wire-receiving slot, at least one undercut being formed on the upper structure; and (b) a closing spring member having a first end which can be pivotably anchored to the first tie wing and a second end which is formed by three tongues, at least one of which is a latching tongue releasably engageable with the undercut and at least one other of which is a ligating tongue, the tongues being separated from each other by notches, the closing spring member being pivotable between an open position in which the slot is freely accessible for insertion of an arch wire and a closed position in which the at least one ligating tongue covers the arch wire in the slot and the at least one latching tongue is engaged with the undercut, the improvement wherein the closing spring member is detachably connected to the upper bracket structure, the tongues are substantially parallel, and in the closed position of the closing spring member the at least one ligating tongue is pre-tensioned toward the slot.