Convertible buccal tube or bracket

Claim 2

In combination: a twin orthodontic bracket having a pair of spaced lugs, said lugs having respective aligned slots for the reception of an arch wire: and channel means aligned with said slots and developing a longitudinally extending guide channel and having end means extending outwardly therefrom and fastened to said bracket.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1 in which said channel means includes a body portion, and first and second side portions spaced apart by and extending outwardly from said body portion, and said end means includes first and second end portions extending transversely to said body portion.

Claim 4

said first and second end portions removably fastened to respective ones of said first and second tie-wing buccal surfaces to position and stabilize said channel tab, and

Claim 5

said first and second end portions removably fastened to respective ones of said first and second tie-wing buccal surfaces to position and stabilize said channel tab, and

Claim 6

first and second side portions depending from said central body portion between said lug portions, said first and second side portions spaced apart by said body portion,

Claim 7

first and second side portions depending from said central body portion between said lug portions, said first and second side portions spaced apart by said body portion,

Claim 8

The combination of claim 2 in which said body portion is generally planar and said first and second end portions are coextensively planar with said body portion.

Claim 9

In combination: a twin orthodontic bracket having a pair of spaced lugs, said lugs having respective aligned slots for the reception of an arch wire; a channel tab extending between said lugs and aligned with said slot and comprising: a. a generally planar member having first and second end portions spaced apart by a central body portion; and b. first and second side portions extending from said central body portion and spaced apart by said body portion, said first and second side portions and said central body portion developing a longitudinally extending guide channel.

Claim 10

In combination: a twin orthodontic bracket having a pair of spaced lugs, said lugs having respective aligned slots for the reception of an arch wire; a channel tab extending between said lugs and aligned with said slot and comprising: a. a generally planar member having first and second end portions spaced apart by a central body portion; and b. first and second side portions extending from said central body portion and spaced apart by said body portion, said first and second side portions and said central body portion developing a longitudinally extending guide channel.

Claim 11

said first and second side portions and said body portion developing a longitudinally extending guide channel between said lug portions and said first and second arch slots so that a buccal tube is developed which is convertible to a bracket.

Claim 12

said first and second side portions and said body portion developing a longitudinally extending guide channel between said lug portions and said first and second arch slots so that a buccal tube is developed which is convertible to a bracket.

Claim 13

The combination of claim 4 in which said first and second end portions are coextensively planar with said central body portion.

Claim 14

The combination of claim 5 in which said first and second side portions are substantially parallel.

Claim 15

A convertible buccal tube or bracket comprising: a. a longitudinally extending base portion having a lingual surface and a buccal surface; b. first and second spaced-apart lug portions extending outwardly from said buccal surface and terminating in respective first and second tie-wing buccal surfaces; c. first and second longitudinally extending arch slots in respective ones of said first and second lug portions; and d. a channel tab including:

Claim 16

A convertible buccal tube or bracket comprising: a. a longitudinally extending base portion having a lingual surface and a buccal surface; b. first and second spaced-apart lug portions extending outwardly from said buccal surface and terminating in respective first and second tie-wing buccal surfaces; c. first and second longitudinally extending arch slots in respective ones of said first and second lug portions; and d. a channel tab including:

Claim 17

The convertible buccal tube or bracket of claim 7 in which said first arch slot is longitudinally aligned with said second arch slot.

Claim 18

The convertible buccal tube or bracket of claim 7 in which said channel tab is generally planar.

Claim 19

The convertible buccal tube or bracket of claim 7 in which said depending first and second side portions have edges adjacent to and spaced from said buccal surface and said lug portions.

Claim 20

In an orthodontic bracket wherein a longitudinally extending base portion has a buccal surface and first and second spaced-apart lugs extending outwardly therefrom and terminating in respective first and second tie-wing buccal surfaces and having respective first and second arch slots, the combination thereof with said bracket of a channel tab comprising: a. first and second end portions spaced apart by a central body portion; b. said first and second end portions removably fastened to respective ones of said first and second tie-wing buccal surfaces to position and stabilize said channel tab; and c. first and second side portions depending from said central body portion between said lugs, said first and second side portions spaced apart by said body portion, d. said first and second side portions and said body portion developing a guide channel between said lugs that is in alignment with said first and second end portion closed arch slots so that a buccal tube is developed which is convertible to a bracket.

Claim 21

In an orthodontic bracket wherein a longitudinally extending base portion has a buccal surface and first and second spaced-apart lugs extending outwardly therefrom and terminating in respective first and second tie-wing buccal surfaces and having respective first and second arch slots, the combination thereof with said bracket of a channel tab comprising: a. first and second end portions spaced apart by a central body portion; b. said first and second end portions removably fastened to respective ones of said first and second tie-wing buccal surfaces to position and stabilize said channel tab; and c. first and second side portions depending from said central body portion between said lugs, said first and second side portions spaced apart by said body portion, d. said first and second side portions and said body portion developing a guide channel between said lugs that is in alignment with said first and second end portion closed arch slots so that a buccal tube is developed which is convertible to a bracket.