Orthodontic Treatment In The Modern Age Is Nothing Short Of Alchemy And You Have These Men To Thank For Your beautifully Straight Smile
Orthodontic treatment has come a very long way in recent times but it has been around far longer than that and like any great discovery it sometimes takes more than one person to carry the flame. We are now able to make transformative changes to your teeth and jaws to give you a straighter, healthier smile thanks to the work of 3 men in particular. If you consider that we can now attach braces to the back of your teeth (lingual braces) and create aligners that are almost invisible to the naked eye (Invisalign), the evolution has been incredible.
The Father Of Modern Dentistry
Widely regards as the man who forever changed the face of dentistry, Pierre Fauchard was a physician that revolutionised the field with his innovative concepts. His 1728 book, ‘The Surgeon Dentist’, set the standard for dentistry and is thought to be the very first publication that was able to describe it in its totality. For the first time, there was a comprehensive representation of the knowledge that was available and even featured a whole chapter dedicated solely to straightening teeth.
The Father Of Modern Dentistry Part 2
France was at the forefront of orthodontics during this time and it was another Frenchman by the name of Etienne Bourdet who, much like his countryman Fuchard, wrote an entire chapter on the techniques associated with straightening teeth. Bourdet’s book, ‘The Dentist’s Art’, proved that jaws grow and he was also the first man to extract teeth and provide treatment for overcrowded teeth. Both his and Fauchard’s books went on to be used as the blueprint for the science of orthodontics.
The Forgotten Man
There is debate amongst historians as to whether Norman William Kingsley should be included in the conversation about who is a pioneer of orthodontic treatment. That being said, there is no doubting his influence in the field and his book ‘Treatise on Oral Deformities as a Branch of Mechanical Surgery’, aside from being a mouthful to say, was the first book to explore more deeply the techniques for orthodontic treatment. Every orthodontic technology that you see today can be directly attributed to these men and we are proud to continue their work and to provide you with the highest possible standards of treatment and care.