Today, orthodontic treatment is a normal part of life. Whether you go for more traditional types of braces or more innovative forms of treatment like Invisalign, straightening your teeth has become a common practice. But it wasn\u2019t always that way.<\/p>\n
Modern braces weren\u2019t officially invented until the 1700s. However, people have been experimenting with the concept of orthodontic treatment for much longer. As far back 400 B.C., aspirational orthodontists have been tinkering with the idea of moving teeth to improve smiles and fix jaws, beginning in Egypt.<\/p>\n
Egypt<\/strong> Rome<\/strong> Additionally, texts from the famous Roman philosopher Aulus Cornelius Celsus describe the first recorded orthodontic treatment of applying finger pressure to teeth to move them slowly. Not exactly today\u2019s braces or Invisalign, but a sign of forward thinking nonetheless.<\/p>\n
\nOver the years archaeologists have found the mummified remains of many different cultures affirming the early practice of orthodontic treatment. For example, in Egypt mummies have been discovered with bands and cords wrapped around their teeth (which researchers believe demonstrates and early attempt at closing gaps between teeth). These cords were made from animal intestines called \u201ccatgut\u201d and ran along the mummies\u2019 teeth in the same pattern that the archwire of modern braces do.<\/p>\n
\nMore examples of ancient attempts at orthodontics can be found all over the globe. In Rome, for instance, remains of teeth bound with gold wire (documented as \u201cligature wire\u201d\u2014a small elastic wire that affixes brackets to archwire) have been uncovered.<\/p>\n