The history of modern orthodontics, like that of modern dentistry, begins in the late 18th and 19th centuries as a growing understanding of dental anatomy and the advent of new tools and techniques laid the groundwork for more dedicated and knowledgeable orthodontic work. Two forward thinkers, Pierre Fauchard and Edward Angle, brought innovation into the burgeoning field of orthodontics during this time, introducing new devices, techniques, and knowledge documented in seminal educational texts. This period marked the transition from crude, ineffective methods to more sophisticated and scientifically grounded practices. Their contributions helped cement orthodontics as a distinct dental specialty by the early 20th century, which opened the door to even more significant growth in the years that followed. In this AlgerBlog, we will explore these points further to illustrate how the modernization of the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries helped shape orthodontics into the distinct field we all recognize today.
(Note: As part of an ongoing series, this work builds off the historical contributions of the ancient world, which were outlined in the previous AlgerBlog “The History of Orthodontics Part 1: Orthodontics in the Ancient World.”)
The 18th and 19th Centuries: The Rise of Orthodontics
The late 18th and 19th centuries saw the beginnings of modern orthodontics, with a growing understanding of dental anatomy and new tools and techniques that dentists and orthodontists could use to more effectively apply their trade. In short, the 18th and 19th centuries were a time of growth and solidification for orthodontics. Two figures, in particular, were essential in ushering in this new era of modern orthodontics: a Frenchman by the name of Pierre Fauchard and the American, Edward Angle.
Who is Pierre Fauchard, “The Father of Modern Dentistry”?
In the first half of the 18th century, Parisian dentist Pierre Fauchard actively shaped the field of dentistry and its orthodontic practices. Through his work as an innovative dentist and his role as one of the field’s most influential experts, Faucard helped solidify dentistry as a distinct medical profession. Frustrated by the ignorance of some of his dental and medical colleagues, Faucard set out to reframe dentistry along strictly scientific lines. With the publication of his book Le Chirurgien Dentiste (The Surgeon Dentist) in 1728, Faucard consecrated some of the central tenets of dentistry and orthodontics. The several revolutionary concepts, techniques, treatments, and devices introduced therein provided peers and future generations with foundational knowledge and helped secure Faucard’s reputation as the "Father of Modern Dentistry."
Le Chirurgien Dentiste (The Surgeon Dentist)
Le Chirurgien Dentiste consisted of two volumes amounting to 800 pages in total. Most of the book focused on dental practices, identifying specific techniques and technologies, and even included detailed descriptions of 103 dental diseases and instructions on how to treat them. Two chapters within this text were explicitly dedicated to orthodontic concerns, or as Fauchard put it: “Twelve observations on deformed and poorly arranged teeth” and “Tortuous teeth, badly arranged and luxated, instruments and remedies that are useful in operating on them when dentists straighten and stabilise them.”
Fauchard’s Modern Orthodontic Tools
Among its pages, Fauchard also describes some of the first modern orthodontic technologies, including dentures and braces. Dentures had been used for centuries prior, and Fauchard emphasized the importance of maintaining and developing this technology further.
He also described an early approach to braces in a device known as the "bandeau." A bandeau was a type of flat, u-shaped metal strip that was placed around the teeth and used to gradually straighten them. Threads or wooden wedges applied to the metal strip were used to separate crowding. While the bandeau was far from perfect, it represented a major step forward in the understanding of how to manipulate and align teeth using external forces.
(Edward Angle, 1898)
Who is Edward Angle, “The Father of Modern Orthodontics”?
While Faucaurd’s contributions to orthodontics are undeniable, the real transformation of orthodontics into a distinct dental focus occurred in the late 19th century, thanks to the work of Edward Angle, an American dentist often referred to as the "Father of Modern Orthodontics." Angle was the world’s first dentist to specialize in orthodontics (at the time referred to as “orthodontia”). His contributions to the field were profound, and many of the principles and techniques he developed continue to be used in orthodontic practice today.
Edward Angle’s Contribution to Modern Orthodontics
Angle was the first dentist to develop a comprehensive system for classifying malocclusions, or bite problems, which remains central to orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning. He created the first systematic approach to categorizing misalignments, dividing them into three major classes:
Class I: Normal bite
Class II: Overbite (upper teeth protrude beyond the lower teeth)
Class III: Underbite (lower teeth protrude beyond the upper teeth)
Additionally, Angle developed a variety of orthodontic appliances, including braces with metal bands, brackets, and archwires. He also introduced the use of the first specialized orthodontic tools, which helped refine and improve the process of tooth movement.
Angle’s Lasting Legacy
By the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries, Angle was taking steps to further formalize and recognize the dental specialty of orthodontics. In 1887, Angle addressed the Ninth International Medical Congress, as an advocate for orthodontics. In his address, he detailed many of the orthodontic considerations that would be realized later in his popular 1900 treatise Treatment of Malocclusion of Teeth, which enjoyed seven printed editions.
In 1900, he also founded the world’s first orthodontics college, the Angle School of Orthodontia in St. Louis, MO, solidifying orthodontics as a recognized dental specialty. The following year, he began a professional society that would become the American Association of Orthodontics. Angle’s name and legacy live on in the Edward H. Angle Society of Orthodontists, which was formed in 1922 and continues to operate today, as well as in The Angle Orthodontist, the society’s ongoing bimonthly orthodontics journal that debuted as the only orthodontics journal at the time of its founding in 1930.
Modern Orthodontics
Pierre Fauchard and Edward Angle were significant figures in the history of orthodontics. They helped shape modern dentistry and refined orthodontics into an identified specialty. In doing so, they ushered in the era of modern dentistry that would continue to advance on route to its current incarnation.
In the next installment of this AlgerBlog series on the history of orthodontics, we will look specifically at the field’s evolution across the 20th century, during which orthodontics became increasingly standardized and heavily reliant on advanced technologies that pushed diagnosis and treatment of malocclusion into new realms.
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