La Habra/Chino Hills, CA – The last few decades have seen incredible technological advances in the orthodontic world, but did you know that braces have been around for many centuries? It’s true – according to the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, even Egyptian mummies from 50,000 years ago wanted straighter teeth!
Egyptians made a form of braces by wrapping metal bands around their teeth and connecting these bands with a cord made of animal fibers in order to place the pressure needed to move the teeth.
If we move forward in time a bit to around 400 B.C., the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates wrote about correcting tooth imperfections while the ancient Etruscans actually fit their dead with gold bands around their teeth to preserve their smiles in the afterlife. And the Roman writer Celsus documented his experiments attempting to move teeth with just the force of his fingers. While he reported success we don’t recommend this method!
It wasn’t until the 18th century that orthodontics as we know it began to take shape. Pierre Fauchard is considered the Father of Dentistry. He invented an appliance called a bandeau, a metal strip that fit over the teeth similar to a mouthguard to help the teeth stay in position. Fauchard wrote a book called, “The Surgeon Dentist,” with a section dedicated to straightening teeth.
Then in 1757, another French dentist named Pierre Bourdet wrote a book that expanded on Fauchard’s theories. He improved the bandeau device and his book is considered an important part of dental history.
In the 1800s, braces as we know them really began to take shape. Christophe-Francois Delabarre used a wire crib placed directly over each set of two teeth to hold them in place. This was improved upon in 1843 when Dr. Edward Maynard added elastics to help improve jaw alignment.
The beginning of the 20th century saw braces consist of wrapping wire around each tooth because bonding materials and techniques weren’t strong enough yet to allow for fastening the wire to the front of the teeth alone. And these early orthodontists used a variety of materials in their work, such as ivory to zinc to gold.
The 1970s brought about the most improvements to braces as we know them today. The use of stainless steel and advent of dental adhesives made the process much easier and much less painful for patients, allowing for the standard metal braces we know today.
We continue to improve upon these metal braces and those used today are sleeker and more effective than ever before. We’ve also seen the advent of self-ligating braces that utilize a slide mechanism or clip rather than elastics to hold the wires in place. These place less friction on the teeth and require fewer adjustments.
In 1999, we saw the invention of Invisalign begin to take the orthodontic world by storm. These smooth plastic aligners allow for a more comfortable and less visible way to straighten the teeth. And with the use of 3D planning and printing, orthodontics is more sophisticated, efficient and effective than ever before. In fact, some orthodontists today are printing their own models and fabricating their own aligners and retainers in their private offices.
Gire Orthodontics uses the most cutting edge technologies and treatment options for all of their patients. No matter your orthodontic issue, Dr. Gire and his team have the knowledge and treatment option for you. Call today to schedule your complimentary consultation. 562-690-1199 (La Habra) or 909-393-9911 (Chino Hills).