Journey from Ancient to Modern

Dental braces, or properly called orthodontic braces, today are the very modern appliances used to straighten misaligned teeth. However, braces are not modern times discovery but were actually in existence in ancient history. Dental appliances were found among the Etruscans, an old civilization in Italy, who buried their dead with braces made of metal bands to preserve the teeth during the afterlife. This appeared to be the earliest known braces.

Hippocrates and Aristotle wrote between 400 BC and 300 BC about ways to straighten teeth. At that time, people used catgut, a type of cord made from animal intestines, to close gaps in the teeth which helped with chewing. The Romans attempted orthodontics as well. Skeletal remains had small gold wires bound to the teeth in an effort to force the teeth to move and close off noticeable gaps.

The field of orthodontics began developing in the 18th century. In 1728, famous French dentist, Pierre Fauchard, published “The Surgeon Dentist”, a book in which a whole chapter was dedicated on straightening teeth. A device called a Blandeau, a horseshoe-shaped piece of iron that helped expand the arch was detailed. Dentist to the king of France, Louis Bourdet, in 1757, also wrote about teeth aligning in his own book. He perfected the Blandeau and was the first to recommend extraction of the third molar teeth to to ease crowding and to improve jaw growth.

The wire crib was invented in 1819, gum elastics in 1843, and by this time orthodontics was becoming a separate branch of dentistry. Around 1880, dentist J. N. Farrar wrote two volumes on the irregularities of teeth and about their corrections. He gives an idea to fix teeth by applying mild forces at timed intervals, and thus was born the basis for many future models of braces.

By the 1970s many breakthrough techniques emerged. Most significant was the use of dental adhesive to hold the brackets to the teeth, replacing individual wires. Stainless steel replaced gold and silver, decreasing the cost of treatment and making manipulation easier. The 1970s was also the birth of the invisible braces where they were placed in the inside rather than outside of teeth. It paved the way for the perfection of the invisible braces of the late 1990s. Today we know of it as Invisalign.

Looking Back Where It All Began

Dental braces has come down to us from ancient times proving the importance of straight, well-aligned and functional dentition. Bellevue dental braces are not just corrective, but are aesthetically sound choices for a wide range of patient types. Visit us for a consultation.

Invisalign® and Six Month Smiles®

Dr. Yu offers several alternatives to traditional braces, including Invisalign® and Six Month Smiles®, a revolutionary orthodontic system that offers a
level of convenience and comfort that patients cannot achieve with wire braces.

The Diastema Dilemma

A diastema (or diastemata, plural form) is a gap between two teeth, usually affecting the two upper incisors. It can affect both children and adults, though it may happen that the gaps can close in children as soon as their permanent teeth grow in. If you are an adult, a diastema can be an embarrassing, self-consciousness issue for you especially if the space is large and noticeable.

What causes a diastema?

There are several contributing factors. It can be related to some people’s teeth size and jaw bone size. You may have a normal to large jaw bone but have developed small teeth, hence they can be spaced too far apart. The size of your teeth and jaw bone can be determined by genetics, so diastema can run in families. You might have an overgrowth of tissue, between the gum line and your upper incisors, that caused you to develop a diastema, as that overgrowth separates the two teeth.

Certain bad habits may also trigger a gap between the teeth. There are children who suck their thumbs, the sucking motion puts pressure on the front teeth, causing them to pull forward. If the habit continues, the front teeth can separate, forming a gap, during the child’s bone development stage. Older children and adults develop diastemata from prolonged incorrect swallowing reflexes. Tongues push against their front teeth (called a tongue thrust) while swallowing food, instead of the tongue positioning itself at the roof of the mouth. Too much pressure on the front teeth can cause a separation.

Gaps can also appear as a result of tooth loss due to gum disease. The infection can damage the gums and tissues supporting the teeth.

Depending on the underlying cause of the diastema, treatment may or may not be necessary. Some people don’t consider it an issue, though most do. The most common treatment is dental braces. The wires and brackets put pressure on teeth and gradually move them closer together. Invisible or removable braces may also fix some cases of diastema.

You can also choose veneers to fit over the teeth or bonding which uses a tooth-colored composite to fill in the gap. A dental bridge can replace a missing tooth or correct a gap. Surgery can remove excess tissue that forms the gap; though braces may have to be used to close a larger gap. Now if you have gum disease, have that treated first before attempting to close your diastema. You can always seek treatment for a diastema.

Closing the Gap in Bellevue

Consult with us regarding that space between your teeth you want to close. Let us see if Bellevue dental braces are for you, for a more confident smile.

Facts To Smile About

Smile with your braces! These fun facts may help you put that smile on.

Did you know that there are 4 million Americans are currently wearing dental braces in the US? Of those receiving treatment, 75 percent are younger than 18.

Braces go way back to antiquity, discovered in mummified remains in and around Egypt. Cords made from animal intestines were found wrapped around individual teeth to close gaps and straighten crooked teeth. Apparently, ancient Egyptians are concerned about their appearances even in the afterlife.

The braces that resembled today’s orthodontic design were first developed in France in 1728. It was French dentist, Pierre Fauchard, who created them from gold wire, fastened to teeth with thread. The guy is considered the Father of Modern Dentistry.

It was NASA that first created wiring out of nickel titanium which now is used for dental braces. The thin, highly elastic and flexible wires are activated by body heat or pressure and able to maintain their shape after being bent and attached.

Invisalign was invented by two Stanford business school graduates who had no dental experience whatsoever. They just had an idea for wireless braces and a 3D printer. Millions of transparent braces later has made it the most popular invisible braces used by majority of orthodontists

Teeth have memory. After you are done wearing braces and you don’t use retainers, risk of relapse is very high; evident in just one month. They will shift back to their original crooked position without retainers. In fact, about 25% of treatment end in failure because patients neglect their retainers. They are the only way to keep a straight smile after your orthodontic treatment.

Brace Yourself with Bellevue Dental Braces

Know more about dental braces when you visit us at Overlake Dental. We can give you more fun facts to help you along if this is the treatment for you. If you are convinced that straight teeth with no gaps is the route to self-esteem and healthy living, see us in Bellevue.