Orthodontic Brackets

When our parents think of braces, a sudden image of head gear and thick metal bands come to mind. They used to have a bulky metal band hugging the entire tooth, although today that is not the case. As generations passed by they became more esthetic (Bren, 2005). The metal bands are now brackets in a much smaller size. If your parents remember braces in that form, it leads you to the question how long have braces been around? Many today do not get orthodontic brackets due to the cost but, they don’t even know how much they will be paying. The application process is quite simple but, as any procedure there are risks.

Braces date back to even ancient times, they are not a modern day concept. Archaeologists have found mummies with metal bands hugging certain teeth, which were around 400-500 BC. The first documented ligature wire was found in a Roman tomb in Egypt. In a more modern and known time such as when George Washington had his wooden teeth dentist were thinking about bad bites and how they could correct it. Roughly around the 1800s a man named Delabarre marked the start of contemporary orthodontics with the introduction of the wire crib. The wire crib is the wire put in the brackets. As we know braces than and braces now differ quite a bit. In the 1900’s braces were out of gold, platinum, silver, steel, gum rubber, and even wood. The wire was made out of gold! That had a lot of setbacks due to the fact it is a very soft material so constant adjustments were needed. Now, towards the mid 1970’s was the end of the wrap around metal, they had finally come up with a bonding agent to glue brackets on the tooth surface (S, 2002). We may have thought braces were barely invented but, as we have seen they have been around since even 4...

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...e have observed braces can be pricey but, the outcome is pleasing. They aren’t just used to appearance but to improve oral health care. Insurance can pay an amount of the braces but, depending on your insurance. The application is a simple process with an adhesive to the teeth. As any procedure there are risks but with the proper care risks are to a minimum.

Works Cited

Bren, L. (2005). Straight Talk on Braces. FDA Consumer, January-February, 21. Retrieved February 15, 2014

Helper, C. (...., ..... ....). Cost Helper Health. Retrieved from Cost Helper Health: http://health.costhelper.com/braces.html

Online Guide to Braces. (n.d.). Retrieved from Braces Guide: http://www.bracesguide.com/duringbraces/duringbraces021.html

S, L. (2002, March 12). Arch Wired. Retrieved February 19, 2014, from A brief history of braces: http://www.archedwire.com/HistoryofOrtho.htm