CERAMIC ORTHODONTIC BRACKET WITH IMPROVED DEBONDING CHARACTERISTICS

A ceramic bracket has mesial and distal sections that are initially spaced apart from each other by an elongated channel. The bracket is debonded from a patient's tooth at the conclusion of treatment by pivoting one or both of the mesial and distal sections in an arc about a reference axis extending in a direction generally parallel to the channel. The bracket includes a recess that extends across a base of the bracket in generally parallel relationship to the channel. The base of the bracket has an aspect ratio that is less than about 0.95 and enables the bracket to be debonded with less force than might otherwise be necessary.