Twin Oaks Orthodontics, Dr. Evelyn R. Wiley

Though various devices have been used to straighten teeth since the days of the Ancients Greeks and Romans, it was only in the late 19th and early 20th centuries that orthodontics began to develop as separate science.

There is no one person who is universally seen as “The Father of Orthodontics” but several have a claim to the title.

One claim goes as far back as, 1728 when the French surgeon Pierre Fauchard published his book “The Surgeon Dentist”, which included a whole chapter on ways to straighten teeth.

This certainly gave orthodontics a huge push forward – although that term was actually coined in 1841 by Joachim Lafoulon.

But the science was not really put on the map until more than 100 years later.

First, dentist and writer Norman W. Kingsley wrote the first article on orthodontics in 1858 and published his book “Treatise on Oral Deformities” in 1880.

Another major step forward was when dentist J. N. Farrar wrote “A Treatise on the Irregularities of the Teeth and Their Corrections”.

Farrar was also very good at designing brace appliances and was the first to suggest using mild force at timed intervals to move teeth.

In the early 1900s, Edward H. Angle devised a classification system for malocclusions which is still used today.

This system was a way for dentists to describe how crooked teeth were and how they fitted together.

Angle contributed significantly to the design of orthodontic appliances and founded the first college of orthodontics in 1901.

Gradually the field of orthodontics became a respected dental specialty in its own right.

You may think the desire for straight teeth is a feature of our modern image-conscious society.

But there is evidence going back hundreds of years of devices being used to straighten teeth.

Archaeologists have discovered mummified remains where there were crude metal bands wrapped around individual teeth.

And Roman tombs also revealed evidence of teeth being bound with gold wire.

Around 500BC, Hippocrates and Aristotle both talked about how to straighten teeth and fix various dental conditions.

Nevertheless, it was much later that significant progress was made in orthodontics.

In 1728, French Dentist Pierre Fauchard published a book called the “The Surgeon Dentist” with an entire chapter on ways to straighten teeth.

Scottish surgeon John Hunter wrote “The Natural History of the Human Teeth” in 1771, which described dental anatomy in clear detail and came up with terms in use today such as cuspids, incisors and molars.

While teeth straightening has been practiced since early times, orthodontics did not exist as a separate science until the mid-1800s.

The introduction of the wire crib in 1819 is seen as marking the birth of contemporary orthodontics although the term orthodontia was actually coined by Joachim Lafoulon in 1841.

In the late 1800s, Eugene Solomon Talbot was believed to be the first person to suggest using X-rays for orthodontic diagnosis.

But the real advancements in orthodontics came in the late 19th and 20th Centuries.

Orthodontic treatment and braces are not just for kids.

It’s not only children who want a better smile.

Most adults get orthodontic treatment because they know that your smile is one of your most important features.

As you get older you want to keep a smile that makes you look good rather than haggard.

The fact is that many people did not get braces when they were young.

That may be because their parents could not afford it at the time or that their teeth could not be fixed with the techniques then available.

Now they may have problems with their teeth and gums or perhaps they get indigestion a lot or maybe they are just unhappy with their smile.

Now they have the money and the treatment they need is available so they are going to take advantage.

There are also many people who did have orthodontic treatment when they were younger but did not get the full benefits as they stopped wearing their retainers.

Even after wearing braces, their teeth may still be crooked.

Now up to a quarter of orthodontic treatment is on adult patients.

Orthodontic treatment goes slower when you are older, and it feels different.

But people as old as 90 are getting braces.

It’s never too late to take care of yourself and have a great smile.

Orthodontists are specially-trained dentists who can fix problem with bad bite, crooked teeth and misaligned jaws.

One of the main benefits orthodontic treatment is cosmetic – you get a great smile that makes you look and feel better.

But there are real health benefits of orthodontic treatment too:

You will be able to chew your food easier: Chewing is an important part of digestion. Having crooked teeth means you don’t chew your food properly and could end up with indigestion and other stomach problems.

You will have fewer dental problems: As crooked teeth are hard to clean, you could have more cavities and gum disease than people who have had orthodontic treatment. When your teeth are crooked there is extra stress on your teeth, gums and jaw which can lead to problems later on.

You have less risk of breathing problems: The roof of your mouth can sometimes partially block the air passages in your nose leading to breathing problems and snoring. Orthodontic treatment can reduce this possibility.

Some recent research suggests a link between oral bacteria and cardiovascular disease, where calcium in your mouth is dissolved and deposited in your arteries.

Orthodontics helps prevent oral infections which may have a direct effect on heart disease.

Orthodontics not only gives you a great smile, it can lead to a healthier, happier and longer life.