The history and evolution of braces as a means of straightening teeth goes back thousands of years. Here’s some incredible facts on how the technology of orthodontic treatment has evolved throughout the last few millennia.
If you liked and found this infographic interesting, please consider sharing it using one of the social media sharing buttons above or below the graphic. If you would like to embed it in your website please use the embed code below:
1600 BC – The desire for a perfect smile can be traced back to ancient Egypt! Archaeologists discovered mummies with a cord made from catgut, or animal intestines, wrapped around their teeth much like modern orthodontic wire.
770 BC – 270 BC – Etruscans, who lived between 770BC and 270BC, placed bridges crafted with gold into the mouths of the dead as part of the burial ritual. Straight teeth were even a concern in the afterlife.
50 AD – Ancient Roman medical writer Aulus Cornelius Celsus documented attempts to straighten teeth using finger pressure at regular intervals.
1728 – Pierre Fauchard, a French dentist, created the first modern braces in 1728 out of a horseshoe-shaped piece of precious metal and silk threads or waxed linen to hold it in place.
1900s – The word “braces” wasn’t coined until the early 1900’s. At the time, the material of choice was 14k or 18k gold. Some dentists, however, even used wood and ivory.
1938 – Braces were invented well before the first modern synthetic toothbrush came onto the market, which occurred in 1938.
1997 – In 1997, two people with no dental training created Invisalign using 3-D computer technology and clear, plastic retainers. Currently more than 2.5 million patients in over 45 countries are using Invisalign.
Today – Braces aren’t just for kids and teens. The American Association of Orthodontists estimates that more than one million adults in North America are receiving orthodontic treatment.
