While treatments for crooked teeth have been around for centuries, the advancements that have made the braces of today cool and more comfortable were really developed in the last 40 years. Technological innovations like self-ligating brackets, TADs (temporary anchorage devices), lingual braces, and clear aligners have greatly improved patient experiences with orthodontia.
Self-ligating brackets
Prior to the 1970s, teeth were corrected much the same way that Fauchard’s Bandeau would straighten them: a simple band would cover most or the entire row of teeth. Since the 1970s however, the modern look of braces emerged with the development of orthodontic brackets. These are the dental devices that one sees on the front of braces; one bracket cemented on each tooth. In 1972, Ormco developed one of the first commercially available self-ligating brackets. Self-ligating brackets are orthodontic brackets that can accept or release the archwire. Since 1972 there have been several kinds of self-ligating brackets like Damon brackets and the GAC In-Ovation bracket, for example. Self-ligating brackets have reduced the number of orthodontic office visits and decreased treatment time by four months on average.
Lingual orthodontic brackets
For people that are concerned with the look of visible orthodontic brackets, orthodontists in Japan and the United States developed brackets that go on the back of teeth i.e. lingual brackets. The term “lingual” refers to the tongue, thus lingual brackets are orthodontic brackets on the tongue side of the teeth (in contrast to labial brackets, which are orthodontic brackets on the lips). Placing brackets on the lingual side hides them from view of most casual observers.
Making braces invisible
The power of simple plastic dental devices (like retainers) was apparent to dentists and orthodontists since World War II. In fact, dentists would routinely fashion homemade retainers for patients. Two young business students expanded this concept and applied 3-D computer imaging technology to develop clear braces. In 1997 they started Align Technology and the Invisalign Method of straightening teeth. Today there are several competitors, but they share essentially the original concept: clear plastic aligners can be used to move teeth. The clear tray braces, which are hardly noticeable, are applied to the teeth for a few weeks at a time. Each new set of clear braces move the teeth a little closer to their final, desired position.
3-D computer imaging in dentistry
The Invisalign Method and other clear teeth braces are greatly helped by 3-D computer imaging. Sophisticated cameras, imaging systems and software packages take detailed photos of teeth before treatment and predict what the ideal treatment would be for a patient’s circumstances. Newest iterations of the clear braces system rely on the computer to design each new invisible brace/retainer.
Temporary anchorage devices or TADs
Some people that use clear braces have trouble getting their full benefit since certain teeth can slip. While traditional metal brackets were cemented to the teeth, clear teeth braces are simply held in place with friction. Sadly, friction is not always good enough for stubborn teeth. In light of this, orthodontists use temporary anchorage devices or TADs. TADs are also known as mini-implants since they are anchored to jaw bone directly. Unlike dental implants, however mini-implants are temporary and do not require extensive oral surgery. The main advantages of TADs (combined with clear braces) are that they can create a leverage point for moving surrounding teeth and keep the clear teeth braces from slipping.
Space Age metal in braces
If the look of traditional metal brackets or self-ligating brackets is no concern but the number of orthodontic office visits is, NASA has developed a special metal alloy that reduces the number of treatments/adjustments. The metal is activated by heat, that is, the heat inside the mouth. Once activated, the metal alloy gradually increases the tension on the archwire. This reduces the number of adjustment appointments needed over time.