Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Unitek

Conrad A Barngrover

James D Cleary

Thomas Olsen

Orthodontic bracket base

A preformed, elastomeric orthodontic ligature includes a molded protrusion or bumper portion integrally connected to an occlusal region of a ring portion of the ligature. When the ligature is connected to a bracket, the bumper portion extends over occlusal surfaces of the bracket including an occlusal tie wing in order to prevent direct contact of the bracket with an opposing tooth. In preferred embodiments, the bumper portion is connected to the ring portion by a thin web which is configured to enable the ring portion to firmly seat under the tie wing and also enables the bumper portion to conform to the occlusal surfaces of the bracket such that the ring portion does not normally stretch and disengage the tie wings during mastication.

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San Dimas, CA, United States of America

Conrad A Barngrover