History of Braces

The desire to have straight teeth is not exclusive to modern man. Scientists have discovered evidence that ancient man even desired straight teeth or at least straighter teeth. Archaeologists have discovered evidence of rudimentary dental work among mummified skeletal remains. The fact is, some form of braces have been around since the dawn of time.

Tracing the History of Braces

The first solid attempts at orthodontia came in the 1700s. During this century a French dentist named Pierre Fauchard wrote a book called The Surgeon Dentist, in which an entire chapter was devoted to methods of teeth straightening. The French dentist used a horseshoe shaped device called a Bandeau to expand the arch of the mouth.

Later in 1757 another French dentist wrote a book called The Dentist’s Art. This book also had a chapter discussing teeth straightening and the appliances that are used in the process. This dentists name was Ettienne Bourdet and he made many groundbreaking discoveries in the field of orthodontics.

The modernization of orthodontics took a huge leap in the mid 1800s. During this time gum elastic was employed, x-rays were first used for orthodontics, and the first braces were designed. This was also the period for which dentist discovered that using mild force at timed intervals could straighten teeth.

The first metal braces were made of gold, platinum, silver, and steel. Originally, the band of metal covered the entire tooth and it was held together with gum rubber or wire. It wasn’t until the 1970s when they started to directly bond braces to teeth. In fact, the 1970s was the century for which many progressions in orthodontic dental work were made. The next major step forward did come until the mid 80’s when invisible braces become the choice of people who wanted a more ascetically pleasing alternative to the standard metal fare.