Defined as the practice of preventing or correcting irregularities relating to the teeth or mouth, orthodontics allows people to enjoy straighter, healthier smiles. Though you may know the basics about braces, some of these interesting tidbits might surprise you.
• Activated by body heat, the wires used in today’s braces were created by NASA for use in the space program.
• An estimated 4 million people in this country are enhancing their smiles with orthodontic treatment. Approximately 20 percent of those patients are over age 18.
• Braces are attached to your teeth with cement, which is now made with a special fluoride-releasing component, to help protect teeth from decay.
• Charles Tweed has the honor of being recognized as the first orthodontist in this country.
• Dating back from the eight to fourth century B.C., the idea of orthodontic treatment was practiced by the Etruscans, who utilized wires to close the space left by lost teeth.
• Famous people like Whoopi Goldberg, Chelsea Clinton, Tom Cruise, Miley Cyrus, and Gwen Stefani have worn braces.
• In the United States and Canada, only 8,000 of the 160,000 dentists are practicing orthodontists.
• Metal braces used to be the only choice for straighter teeth, but modern advancements have resulted in options like ceramic brackets, lingual braces, and clear aligners for adult patients.
• Not wearing their retainers after treatment causes up to 25 percent of patients to need braces again.
• Orthodontics became a dental specialty in the 1900s.
• To become an orthodontist, you must complete an additional two to three years of training after dental school.
• Wearing braces does not increase your chances of getting struck by lightening. With or without a metal mouth, the odds are about one in 700,000 each year.
It’s time to schedule a visit to our Sherman Oaks, CA orthodontic office – Mehdi Fotovat, DDS.
