A metal base member and a thin layer of an orthodontic adhesive is used to rigidly secure said base member directly to a tooth a layer of lead-free heat softenable material for joining two metal surfaces rigidly together and an orthodontic bracket having a face to fit within a surface area of the base member and an engagement receiver for an archwire by which forces are developed in a patients mouth. In addition, the base member overlaps the base of the bracket by up to about 1.0 mm surrounding the base so that the bracket can be adjusted by an amount of up to about 1.0 mm in all directions around the base member without overlapping the periphery of the base member.
