Provided are improved self-ligating appliances and methods that use a flexible “U”-shaped spring clip slidably engaged to the appliance body and have a cavity located on an outwardly-facing side of the appliance that includes a concave side surface that interrupts a side wall of the slot. The cavity is collectively defined by the body and one leg of the “U”-shaped clip when the clip is in its closed position and has a size sufficient to accommodate the tip of a hand instrument. By providing tactile feedback to the practitioner along surfaces of both the clip and appliance body, the appliance mechanism can be conveniently operated without a line of sight with the cavity.
