The History of Braces

Dental or orthodontic braces are put on teeth in order to correctly align them for better biting, chewing and appearance. Braces are used to improve structural or cosmetic flaws in teeth and jaws, such as underbites, overbites or crooked teeth. Orthodontists may combine braces with other appliances that widen or change the shape of the jaw or increase the space between teeth. Although braces have become much more sophisticated in modern times, their history stretches back thousands of years.

Earliest Braces

• Wanting straight teeth is not a new phenomenon. Archaeologists have unearthed ancient mummies that have crudely constructed bands of metal around their teeth. In the earliest times, catgut was also used instead of wire to close gaps between teeth. In 400 to 500 B.C., the Greek physician Hippocrates and philosopher Aristotle considered methods to improve dental conditions, including teeth straightening.

Science of Orthodontics

• Although crooked teeth were discussed in Medieval times, it was not until the 1700s that orthodontics actually became an official science. The French dentist Pierre Fauchard wrote the book The Surgeon Dentist, with an entire chapter devoted to methods for straightening teeth. Fauchard used a horseshoe-shaped metal appliance called a "bandeau" to expand the arch of the mouth. Another French dentist, Ettienne Bourdet, suggested taking out the premolars to provide more room in the mouth and the crowding of teeth. He also conducted studies on jaw growth and expansion.

Orthodontics Advancements

• Orthodontics, as it is now known, was established in 1819 by Frank Delabarre, who invented the wire crib. A few decades later, in 1841, Joachim Lafoulon began using the term orthodontia. During the 1800s, steady advances were made, such as gum elastics and orthodontic x-rays. Dentists Norman W. Kingsley wrote about oral deformities, and J. N. Farrar published on teeth Irregularities and corrections. Farrar suggested using mild force at specific intervals to move teeth.

Orthodontics Standards

• In the early 1900s, Edward H. Angle established the first classification of teeth irregularities that remains the standard of modern orthodontics. This classification includes how to describe the degree of crookedness, how teeth are pointing, and the way teeth fit in the mouth. Angle also designed new orthodontic devices, opened the first college of orthodontics, created the American Society of Orthodontia, and published the first orthodontic scholastic journal. A journal and website bearing his name still thrive today. Orthodontics was recognized as a major dental specialty.

Orthodontic Techniques

• The first orthodontists in the early 1900s used a variety of materials, such as gold, silver, steel and even wood and ivory to make hooks and loops. They used gold for the wires and bands that wrapped completely around each tooth; this metal was soft and easy to form into different shapes. However, since it was so malleable, the pieces had to be adjusted regularly. It was not until the 1970s when major design changes were made. These included brackets bonded onto the teeth, "self-ligating brackets" (which do not require a wire to go around teeth), appliances to alter jaw growth, and "invisible" lingual braces that are put onto the inside teeth surfaces.

Invisible Orthodontics

• More recently, modifications have been made to make the braces less noticeable. First, ceramic tooth-colored braces were developed. The latest innovation is a series of customized clear aligners that move teeth in small increments. These aligners are removed when eating or brushing, changed every couple of weeks, and provide results in about a year.