4 Surprising Early Methods For Straightening Teeth
Posted on: 7 January 2015
You and your orthodontist may talk about Invisalign vs. traditional brackets and wires, but the concept of modern braces didn't even start until the 1800s. Before that, most people were stuck with their teeth the way they grew. Or were they? A study of medical history shows that ancient people were just as concerned about having straight teeth as we are today, even if they didn't have the correct medical and dental knowledge. They may have had greater or lesser successes, but these four ways of teeth straightening showed that people have tried for thousands of years.
Egyptian Mummies
It's not sure whether ancient Egyptians were trying to straighten their teeth in this life or in the afterlife, but evidence of early braces shows up in many mummies. It's not very well known, but a lot of mummies with crooked teeth are found with strings of animal intestine wrapped around their teeth, in very similar ways that modern braces use wires to straighten teeth.
The Etruscan Afterlife
The Etruscans may not have been very concerned about the condition of their teeth while they were alive, but they clearly wanted to look their best when they met their maker. Part of their burial ritual included placing a device in the mouth that looks like our modern mouth guard. This kept the spaces between the teeth intact, and prevented the teeth from sagging inward. These bridges were made of pure gold, and were only allowed to be worn by women.
Ancient Roman Finger Manipulation
One ancient Roman, Celcus, spent his life studying and recording medical procedures. One popular method of beautifying the mouth includes hours of finger pushes on crooked teeth. Just like modern braces exert pressure to push teeth into a straighter position, Celcus claimed that pushing teeth with the fingers would eventually cause them to move into a better position. It isn't written how much time was wasted by this method, or how sore a mouth got after being constantly poked and prodded.
Early Roman Braces
A surprising number of Roman tombs have been opened up, only to discover a resident with gold wires attached to teeth in the same way as modern braces are today. The wires are wrapped instead of attached to the surface of the teeth, but the intent is clear: they're attached in a way that shows the owners wanted to close an unsightly gap between two teeth. This gold wire, known as a ligature wire, may have been the inspiration for today's modern braces.
Modern orthodontists, like John C. Matunas D.D.S., PA, have a long history behind them.
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