| abstract |
Orthodontic retainers and systems include brackets that permit a retaining wire to be selectively attached and removed from a person's teeth without having to remove the brackets. The retainer systems generally include self-ligating brackets having a base, a slot, and at least one protrusion that at least partially bounds a lingual opening of the slot. The protrusion can be connected to an arm on the base. In another embodiment, the protrusion can be a ligating cover hingedly connected to the base. The protrusion allows a retaining wire to be repeatedly and selectively secured and removed from the bracket while maintaining the bracket connected to the patient's tooth. Orthodontic retainer systems can include a kit having two or more self-ligating brackets and one or more retaining wires. |