Patent ID: 7597553

Claim:
An orthodontic bracket for placement on a side surface of a tooth for correcting irregularities in alignment of teeth, comprising: a bonding plate having a bonding surface matching a contour of a side surface of a tooth; a base having a bottom surface united with said bonding plate and an upper surface serving as a sliding surface parallel to the side surface of the tooth and having an approximately rectangular, convex-curved shape; and a bracket body set on said sliding surface of said base for vertical sliding movement relative to said base along a longitudinal axis of the tooth; wherein said base has, at opposing sides of said sliding surface, grooved parallel rails slidably holding opposing portions of said bracket body, said opposing portions being fully seated within said grooved parallel rails for adjustment of the vertical position of said bracket body on the longitudinal axis relative to the base, each rail having, at opposing ends, stoppers to prevent detachment of said bracket body, said sliding surface having, at its widthwise center, a longitudinally-extending visible median line; wherein said bracket body has, on its upper surface, opposite said base, wire slots arranged approximately orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the tooth; wherein each rail of said base has, at its opposing ends, hooks formed as parts of said opposing ends protruding longitudinally of the rail; and wherein the orthodontic bracket further comprises a fixture for attaching said bracket body to the sliding surface of said base to prevent the bracket body from sliding vertically along the longitudinal axis on said sliding surface.