The first recognized dental ligature wire was found in an ancient Roman tomb. Nowadays we can consider that French Physicians were the pioneers in the art of orthodontics. As an example a French physician in the year 1728, by the name of Pierre Fauchard and who is known to be the first dental surgeon, developed the “bandeau” to assist a patient’s arch expansion. Again in 1757, another French physician who was the first known dentist to extract teeth as a treatment to resolve the problem of crowding was Etienne Bourdet. Bourdet proved that jaws grow. In 1819, the wire crib was introduced by Christophe-François Delabarre as an early brace, and in 1843, Gum Elastics were first used by Edward Maynard. In the early 20th century, the first classification system for malocclusion was designed by Edward H. Angle. This classification is still in use today to measure malocclusions (misaligned teeth). Angle also founded the first Orthodontics College, the first orthodontic journal, and started the American Society of Orthodontia. (The ASO) that became in 1930, the American Association of Orthodontics in ,just a year after the American Board of Orthodontics was founded.
Early 20th-century braces were primarily made from precious metals, steel, gum rubber and vulcanite. It took until the late 1950s for stainless steel to be widely accepted as a suitable material for brace wires and other appliances .In 1975 the first invisible braces (lingual braces, worn on the inside of the teeth) were introduced. In the early 1980s, tooth-colored or transparent braces made from ceramics and clear sapphires improved on this lingual method.
Orthodontic treatment means that the teeth who are misaligned can be aligned in an esthetic order to give the patient the perfect image of his/her figure. In the past or some twenty years ago, displaced teeth could not be fixed after the age of more or less 25. Nowadays with the new techniques and proper approach, a 50 years old patient can be provided with orthodontic treatment. Braces apply constant and steady pressure which can move the teeth and correct their alignment in the mouth. Commonly, braces made of stainless steel with small rubber bands are used. Also available for esthetic appearance, clear braces or braces that sit behind the teeth can be used.
Types of Braces
- Conventional metal wired braces These are the most widely used. They are made of stainless steel, but sometimes can also be in combination with titanium. They require ties to hold the arch wire in place, and newer self-tying.
- “Transparent” braces serve as a cosmetic option to traditional metal braces by matching the natural color of the teeth
- Gold-plated stainless steel braces are often indicated for patients who are allergic to nickel which is an essential and important component of stainless steel. However it may also be chosen because some people simply like it better. Up till now some people prefer the gold plated braces to the conventional ones.
- Lingual braces are invisible. They are custom made and bonded to the back of the teeth. In the lingual braces the brackets are cemented onto the backside of the teeth making them invisible while in standard braces the brackets are cemented onto the front side of the teeth. Hence, lingual braces are a cosmetic alternative to those who do not wish the braces to be visible.
- Titanium braces resemble stainless steel braces but are lighter and just as strong. People with allergies to the nickel in the stainless steel can choose either titanium braces or gold plated braces. However, they are more expensive than stainless steel braces.
- Customized Orthodontic Treatment Systems. This highly sophisticated orthodontic treatment combines high-technology including 3-D imaging, treatment planning software and a robot to custom bend the wire. Customized systems such as this offer faster treatment times and more efficient results.
- Progressive, transparent removable aligners could be used to move teeth gradually into their planned positions. Aligners are generally not used for complex orthodontic cases, such as when extractions, jaw surgery, or palate expansion are necessary. These braces are the most recent type of braces. The braces are hardly noticeable on the teeth and work to gradually move the teeth into their right position without the need for wires or tightening. These braces have to be removed before eating and a high oral hygiene must be planned. Patients must brush and floss after each meal. Like for all kind of braces, oral hygiene will play an important role in the end result of the treatment. Tooth brushing, flossing 3 times a day will be requested by the patients undergoing orthodontic treatment.
- Smart brackets are the latest concept but still under testing. The smart bracket contains a microchip that assesses the forces that act on the bracket and subsequently, the tooth interface. The aim of these braces is to reduce the duration of orthodontic therapy and the related expenses and discomfort to the individual.
- A-braces are another new concept in orthodontic appliances. In these kind of braces, the pressure to move the teeth is so minimal that the patient feels no pain during the entire period of treatment. These braces have the shape of a capital letter A. The user or patient can self apply them, adjust them and completely control them. I call them the braces of the future being self applied and adjusted and controlled by the user. The A braces may serve also as palate expanders and at the end of any orthodontic treatment as self adjustable retainers
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