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The Fascinating History of Orthodontics

February 12, 2020

Filed under: Uncategorized — epospecialists @ 3:07 pm

historical scrolls sitting next to an inkwellAccording to the American Association of Orthodontists, at any given moment, over four million people are undergoing orthodontic treatment. Today, people can easily shift their teeth into the ideal positions by using clear, customized aligners or effective metal brackets and wires. Back in ancient Egyptian times, France in the 1700s, and even the introduction of contemporary orthodontics in the 1800s, that wasn’t the case. Read on to learn how orthodontic treatments have evolved over the centuries to become more effective and less… well, scary-sounding.

Ancient Egyptian “Braces”

In the American Journal of Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics, archaeologists published their dental findings dating as far back as 50,000 years. They found that the first concept of braces were crafted from animal skin attached to metal bands wrapped around teeth to create pressure to help move them. From the archaeologists findings, they were able to estimate that the first orthodontic treatments could have been taking place as early as 1000 BC in Greece.

The Modern Bandeau

You may have heard of Pierre Fauchard, who is a well-known historical figure due to his invention of the first well-known orthodontic headgear called the Bandeau in 1728. Imagine an iron horseshoe used to place pressure on teeth to shift them out of their misaligned positions and into their ideal places in the mouth. Around 1757, Pierre Bourdet enhanced the design of the Bandeau and later became known as the first dentist to recommend extracting premolars in order to prevent dental crowding.

Orthodontics In The Early 20th Century

By this time, dentists hadn’t found an effective and efficient way to temporarily bond braces, which is why they were wrapping wire around each tooth to create force. They commonly used ivory, zinc, and gold to create orthodontic appliances.

By the 1970s, several breakthroughs had been made by dentists, such as stainless steel brackets and strong dental adhesive to hold archwires in place. These allowed braces to cause less pain, damage, and even shortened the amount of time someone would need to wear their orthodontic appliance.

Introducing Invisible Aligners

Years after dentists perfected metal braces, two Stanford graduates came up with a more discreet way to straighten teeth, now known as Invisalign. Zia Chishti and Kelsey Wirth created a retainer-like design using 3-D computer technology that is removable and could be used to fix a variety of orthodontic issues. They were originally marketed more towards adults who wanted to be able to undergo treatment without everybody knowing.

Over the centuries, there’s no denying how far orthodontic treatments have come. It’s hard to imagine what your daily life would look like having metal wrapped around your teeth to hold animal hide or gold wires. Fortunately, you don’t have to worry about that, because today’s orthodontists use the latest technology and designs to make treatments as comfortable, effective, and fast as possible.

About the Author

Dr. Jan Ortiz has completed his Certificate in Advanced Graduate Studies focusing in treating patients with special needs and who are medically compromised as well as earning specialty training in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics. He has years of experience under his belt and advanced training, which allow him to provide the highest quality of orthodontic treatment to patients. He is also an active member of the American Association of Orthodontists and is board eligible from the American Board of Orthodontists. For questions or to schedule a consultation to learn how you can straighten your teeth, visit EPO Dental Specialists’ website or call 972-479-1200.

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