The life of Andreas Vesalius

Dental Discovery

Dec 31, 1543

Vesalius discovered that the lower jaw is only one bone, not two. This contradicted the previous belief that the lower jaw was two bones. This ignited the pathway to a more advanced understanding of the human jaw, especially in orthodontics.

Beginning to Straighten Teeth

Jan 10, 1728

French dentist Pierre Fauchard, who is often credited with inventing modern orthodontics, published a book entitled "The Surgeon Dentist" on methods of straightening teeth. He used a "Blandeau", which is a horseshoe shaped device that helped to expand the arch.

First Metal-On Teeth Braces

Aug 14, 1972

During the 1970's, the first modern metal-on teeth bracket braces were employed. Without the previous work done in orthodontics and anatomy, this advancement wouldn't be possible. It was the beginning of really efficient and effective orthodontic procedures.

Modern Dental Practice

Oct 10, 2013

Thanks to all of these discoveries, we can now manipulate teeth and the jaw to get the results we want. We have much more control over our bodies than we used to. Fixing our teeth allows us to have a strong jaw that can chew food and be cleaned more easily.