Braces: Then and Now
Orthodontics have come a far way from its distant beginning, coined orthodontia in 1841. From the ancient Egyptian mummies who bound their teeth with gold wire, to modern “invisible” braces, the field of orthodontics has undergone a variety of changes and developments.
In the early 1900′s, braces used gold, platinum, silver, ivory – among other materials – to form loops, spurs, ligatures, hooks, clasps and more which wrapped around every single tooth. they required frequent adjustment and were very expensive.
As far back as 1945, dentists saw the potential of removable plastic appliances to move teeth into a desirable position, but only to perform small-scale changes. It used to be, to achieve the look of “invisible” braces, orthodontists would adhere the standard brackets to the insides of the back of the teeth.
With modern technology, such as the heat-activated nickel-titanium wires recently invented by NASA which activate as they warm to body temperature and require less attention from orthodontists, the field of orthodontics is virtually limitless.
Invisible Braces
Invisalign was inspired by the common retainer, used to keep teeth from moving after undergoing traditional braces. The inventors of this new technology realized that after going without a retainer for a few days, the teeth shifted slightly. However, the retainer moved the teeth quickly back into place.
They soon discovered that if a plastic retainer could move teeth back to their correct position, why couldn’t it be used in the same capacity as traditional braces? The answer, of course, is that it can, and thus Invisalign was born and took the world by storm, becoming incredibly popular.
“High Speed Braces”
One of the new methods receiving a lot of hype these days are the “Six Month Braces” or as they are sometimes called: “High Speed Braces.” Although considered by some to be controversial, these braces promise the reduction of time from the typical 18-36 months to a staggering 6-9 months! The treatment time has several factors, including the distance the teeth need to move, the treatment goals, the techniques and patient cooperation.
This process of “accelerated orthodontics” is ideally to be used to offer the patient an alternative to porcelain veneers to get the look of straight teeth without investing years in wearing traditional braces.
With the advantages of digital imaging and the possibility for 3D customization, new steps in orthodontics are taken every day.
Who knows what they’ll come up with next!