Orthodontics Has Come A Long Way

Orthodontics evolution…for you history buffs, did you know that archaeologists found crooked teeth in human remains dating back 50,000 years as reported by Norman Wahl in the AJODO ?

Like days of old, the aesthetics of teeth thru time has always been the primary concern when it comes to our smiles. However, it was the occlusion (bite) that gave orthodontics its scientific foundation and why it has progressed into advanced technology available today with traditional metal braces, clear braces, and clear aligners called Invisalign.

Lets Follow the Orthodontic Timeline

Ancient Times

While very crude in nature to orthodontic treatment today, Egyptian mummies were found with metal bands around their teeth and archaeologists believe they used cat gut to tie the bands together to move them. Primitive orthodontic appliances were also found with early Greek and Roman artifacts.

Recorded texts were found as early as 25 BC –AD 50, recommending if a second tooth comes in before the baby tooth is lost, remove it and then push the new tooth forward with your finger until in place. It still is good advice today, especially since you still find kids today trying to push their teeth into position on their own.

16^th – 18^th Centuries

Not much happened in the “Middle Ages” but in the 16^th century, progress was made. Dentists were called “operators for the teeth” and used waxed impressions. Plaster of Paris impressions were in regular use in Paris in 1756. Malocclusions or bad bites were called “irregularities” and tooth movement was called “regulating”

In the 18^th Century, France was the leader in the field of dentistry. Pierre Fauchard has been called the “Father of Modern Orthodontia”. He was the first to give orthodontics a scientific foundation. Below is a drawing of Fauchard Braces. At that time, little attention was paid to bite function and only placed on upper teeth. Treatment was reserved for the wealthy since it was so expensive.

The US Steps Up in the 19^th Century

In 1822, J.S. Gunnell invented a form of headgear that fastens to the jaw from the outside of the mouth to exert gentle pressure on the teeth. In 1840, Chapin A. Harris published the first classic book on dentistry, “The Dental Art,” discussing soldering knobs on bands (brackets) to assist with tooth rotation, and applying gold caps to molars (molar bands) to open the bite. When Charles Goodyear invented vulcanized rubber in 1839, in 1846, E.G. Tucker became the first American dentist to use rubber bands in orthodontic appliances.

Dr. Edward Angle, also called the Father of Modern Orthodontics, identified the true relationship of the malocclusion (bad bite and misaligned teeth) and offered scientific solutions with effective orthodontic appliances beginning in 1880.

Today in the 20^th Century

Prior to the 1970s, orthodontists wrapped metal bands around each individual tooth and each band was connected by a wire and slowly moved into position. But the invention of dental adhesives allowed them to bond the brackets to teeth surfaces. Meanwhile, stainless steel replaced gold and silver as the most popular choice for wires due to its ability to manipulate, reducing the cost of braces significantly. Lingual braces, which run along teeth’s inside surfaces instead of outside, were also first introduced in the 1970s.

In the 90’s, special heat-activated, nickel-titanium metal discovered by NASA in the 60’s became available and has been instrumental in the fabrication of arch wires which move teeth faster, with less discomfort, and requires fewer adjustments. Treatment that once took 4 – 6 years now can be completed in two years or less.

Invisible Braces Gained Popularity

In 1997, Invisalign, a transparent, removable aligner was invented by Zia Chishti. Instead of upper and lower braces attached to each tooth and highly visible, a series of clear aligners are worn in succession to move teeth. The aligners are fabricated using 3D computer technology based on patient impressions. Unlike regular braces, Invisalign can be removed for eating and brushing and not easily detected when worn, making it a great solution for teens and adults self-conscious about wearing braces.