There’s a lot about orthodontics that most people don’t know about!
Most people only think about the modern technology associated with orthodontics when deeming it the most recent dental field, and many simply write off the past when it comes to orthodontics in thinking that it’s only possible due to today’s advancements.
There’s no denying that orthodontic technology has developed and made the entire field a much better place, but even the Ancient Egyptians utilized orthodontics over 5,000 years ago! The practice has of course changed a lot since then, but it goes to show that orthodontics has an incredible history that many people simply don’t know about!
There are many fun facts we could talk about when it comes to orthodontics, and on this page we’ve compiled 6 fascinating facts that we’re sure you’ll be surprised by!
1. Do You Know Exactly How Braces Work?
A lot of people have a general understanding as to what’s going on during orthodontic treatment via modern appliances and invisible aligners, but when it comes to the exact functionality of braces there is generally a lapse in understanding.
It’s important to know that your braces are always going to be designed in a way that’ll consistently place a gentle amount of pressure on your teeth, and it’s actually the pressure and gravitational forces that slowly move teeth into their proper positioning.
The archwire is the part of your braces that will end up placing the most pressure on your teeth, and the brackets’ main function is to keep your wiring in the proper positioning. Maintaining the archwire’s consistent pressure is a key element to all orthodontic treatment success, which is why it’s so important to reach out to us right away and get your brackets fixed if it becomes loose or falls out of place in any way!
2. Ancient Civilizations Had Braces!
Braces have been found on Ancient Egyptian mummies by many different archaeologists, and although these braces were much more simplified than they are today, it’s safe to say that they were still moving teeth into proper positions just like today!
The Ancient Egyptians utilized metal bands that they wrapped around their teeth, and these bands are what were used to apply the necessary pressure to slowly move teeth. We also now know today that the Ancient Romans, Greeks and Etruscans also utilized their own forms of orthodontic treatment.
The Etruscans would utilize a gold band that they’d wear around their teeth, and archaeologists believe that it was desirable in their culture to hold their teeth in place after passing away. We also have found ancient writings from Rome and Greece that detail how certain dental irregularities and malocclusions were corrected!
3. Invisible Aligner History
Dr. Karpac’s revolutionary Line-M-Up™ invisible aligner technology is certainly changing treatment efficiency today, but orthodontic aligners have actually been around since 1925 when they were invented by accident by Orrin Remensnyder!
In 1945 Remensnyder took his invention further and invented clear aligners that orthodontic patients could utilize after braces treatment, kind of like how we utilize retainers today. Back then he knew that invisible aligners weren’t as practical as braces in terms of orthodontic treatment, but he was right to have faith that his invention would be further developed as science and technology expanded.
In 1998, Invisalign came into the orthodontic market and literally changed everything! Everyone throughout the industry quickly realized how effective and popular invisible aligners would be for any patient, and today invisible aligners are just as effective as traditional braces.
4. Accelerated Orthodontics
Accelerated orthodontics is a form of treatment that primarily focuses on reducing treatment times, and although there are still studies being conducted about accelerated orthodontics, it’s still a very exciting time for the entire field for both patients and practices. As accelerated orthodontics continues to be validated, the industry is hopeful that estimated treatment times can potentially be reduced by about three or more months!
It’s important to note that any kind of DIY accelerated orthodontic treatment can actually have a detrimental effect on a patient’s treatment efficiency. A common example of this is that many people think they can wear extra rubber bands and reduce their treatment time by administering their own added pressure, but this can do much more harm than good for your teeth!
Accelerated orthodontics is relatively new, so it’s important for everyone to be reasonable with their expectations in terms of the future of this research. However, here are some tips to keep in mind when it comes to speeding up your orthodontic treatment in healthy ways:
- Always correctly wearing your rubber bands for the correct amount of time each day.
- Cutting your food into much smaller pieces so you’re subsequently chewing less.
- Maintaining the overall cleanliness of your braces/aligners and teeth.
- Making sure you’re always coming into our offices for your scheduled appointments.
- Not chewing on ice and doing your best to avoid jaw clenching.
Following these simple tips will always be helpful when it comes to ensuring the smooth process of your treatment, and doing the opposite and not properly taking care of your braces will always extend your treatment time.
5. Braces Help With So Much More Than Just Smile Aesthetics
Every orthodontic patient should understand how braces go so much further than correcting your smile from an appearance standpoint. It’s true that we’ll be able to help each and every one of our patients in terms of developing a perfectly aesthetic smile, but we’re also going to be improving the oral health of each patient as well.
Orthodontic treatment helps our patients to more easily eat and speak, and another important result to keep in mind is how much easier it is to properly clean your teeth after going through your treatment process. Being able to properly and thoroughly clean your teeth with relative ease will always go a long way when it comes to the prevention of tooth decay and other serious dental issues!
Orthodontic treatment also helps when it comes to properly aligning your jaws, and this helps countless patients in terms of headaches and breathing problems. When it comes to understanding the facts about orthodontic treatment, you should always thoroughly know that your treatment is going to drastically improve your health!
6. Wearing Your Retainer Is Equally As Important As Taking Care Of Your Braces
Everyone wants their orthodontic treatment results to last a lifetime, so if this is the case for you then it’s important to emphasize retainer wearing as much as possible. There’s a significant portion of orthodontic patients that need to obtain additional treatment simply because they didn’t wear their retainers as much or as long as they should have!
You should technically wear your retainer each night until our team tells you it’s ok to stop wearing it, and this is because not wearing a retainer can lead to your teeth reverting back to their original positions.
So always, always, always be sure to maintain the integrity of your orthodontic treatment by continuously wearing your retainers as we instruct you to!
Reach Out To Dr. Karpac And Our Team To Learn More About How Our Orthodontic Services Can Support You Or Your Child’s Future!
We hope that you learned a thing or two by going through these 6 orthodontic facts, and always feel free to reach out to us online or call us at 614-766-0330 (Dublin office) or 614-471-6355 (Gahanna office) to get in touch with our team and schedule a time that works best for you to have your free consultation!