Braces

Braces date back to 400-300 BC

Jan 23, 1700

the Greek physician Hippocrates and philosopher Aristotle considered methods to improve dental conditions, including teeth straightening.

Braces are used to help align and straighten teeth

Jan 23, 1700

During the 1800's steady advances were made such as gum elastics and orthodontic x-rays

Jan 24, 1800

Joachim Lafoulon began using the term orthodontia.

Orthodontics, as it is now known, was established in 1819 by Frank Delabarre, who invented the wire crib.

Jan 23, 1819

In the early 1900's Edward H. Angle established the first classification of teeth irregularities

Jan 24, 1900

This classification includes how to describe the degree of crookedness, how teeth are pointing, and the way teeth fit in the mouth. Angle also designed new orthodontic devices, opened the first college of orthodontics, created the American Society of Orthodontia, and published the first orthodontic scholastic journal.

It wasn't until 1970's when major design changes started to take place

Jan 24, 1970

These included brackets bonded onto the teeth, "self-ligating brackets" (which do not require a wire to go around teeth), appliances to alter jaw growth, and "invisible" lingual braces that are put onto the inside teeth surfaces.