If you had braces as a young person, or if your child is getting ready to start with braces, you may have some curiosity about how modern braces came to be. The dental term for braces is orthodontics, but this dental science had humble beginnings. Dental and orthodontic experts believe that early braces were first used between the time period after the mirror was invented and before 1000 B.C. in ancient Greece. It makes sense that once people could see their own reflection (and poorly aligned teeth) that they wanted not only to look better but also to have better jaw and tooth alignment. Archaeologists have found mummified remains where the deceased had metal bands around individual teeth. The first braces were made from base metal and catgut, which is a far cry from today’s technology where patients need not wear metal braces affixed to the teeth, but appliances such as Invisilign. In between ancient Greece and today, the science of orthodontics has improved tremendously, which Summit Dental Center will discuss in greater detail in this series of blog posts. Summit Dental Center offers several options for patients seeking to correct orthodontic problems, but we promise – no catgut!
History of Braces & Orthodontics – Part I of II
Date Posted: Tuesday, January 17th, 2012
