Ancient civilizations were aware of dental problems and occasionally tried simple solutions, but they had neither the need nor the technology to move teeth as we do today.
The ancient Egyptians and Etruscans pioneered orthodontics, using delicate threads of gold and catgut to straighten teeth. It’s a story that has appeared in dental manuals for decades, portraying our ancestors as surprisingly modern in their quest for the perfect smile. But when archaeologists and dental historians finally looked closely at the evidence, they discovered that much of it is mito.
See the dental bridge of El-Quatta, in Egypt, dating from around 2500 BC. The gold thread found next to ancient remains did not do what was thought. Instead of pulling teeth into alignment, these wires stabilize loose teeth or hold replacement teeth in place. In other words, they functioned as prostheticsnot like dental braces.
Gold bands discovered in Etruscan tombs tell a similar story. They were probably dental splints designed to support teeth weakened by gum disease or trauma, rather than devices designed to move teeth to new positions.
There are, moreover, quite convincing practical reasons why these ancient devices could not have functioned as appliances. Tests carried out on Etruscan pieces revealed that the gold used was 97% pureand pure gold is remarkably soft. It bends and stretches easily without breaking, which makes it useless for orthodontics. The devices work by applying continuous pressure for long periods, which requires strong, elastic metal. Pure gold simply can’t do that. Try to tighten it enough to straighten a tooth and it will deform or break.
There is also the curious question of who wore these gold bands. Many were found with female skeletons, suggesting they could have been status symbols or decorative jewelry rather than medical devices. Tellingly, none were discovered in the mouths of children or teenagers — precisely where you would expect to find them if they were real devices.
But perhaps the most fascinating revelation is this: Ancient people did not have the same dental problems that we face today.
Malocclusion — the crowding and misalignment of teeth so common today — was extremely rare in the past. Studies of Stone Age skulls show a near absence of dental crowding. The difference is due to the food.
Our ancestors ate hard, fibrous foods that required intense chewing. All this jaw work developed strong, large jaws, perfectly capable of accommodating all of the teeth.
Modern diets, by contrast, are soft and processed, giving the jaws little exercise. The result? Our jaws are often smaller than those of our ancestors, while our teeth remain the same size, leading to the crowding we see today. As crooked teeth were practically non-existent in Antiquity, there was almost no reason to develop methods to straighten them.
That said, ancient people occasionally tried simple interventions to correct dental irregularities. The Romans give us one of the first reliable references to true orthodontic treatment.
Aulus Cornélio Celsus, a Roman medical author from the first century AD, pointed out that if a child’s tooth came in crooked, it should be gently pushed into place with a finger every day until it moves into the correct position. Although rudimentary, this method is based on the same principle we use today: gentle, continuous pressure can move a tooth.
After the Roman era, there was little progress for centuries. In the 18th century, however, interest in straightening teeth revived, albeit through rather agonizing methods.
Those who did not have access to modern dental instruments resorted to wooden “expansion wedges” to create space between crowded teeth. A small wooden wedge was inserted between the teeth. As the saliva was absorbed, the wood expanded, forcing the teeth apart. Rudimentary and excruciating, perhaps, but it represented a step toward understanding that teeth could be repositioned through pressure.
Scientific orthodontics
True scientific orthodontics began with the work of the French dentist Pierre Fauchardin 1728. Often called the father of modern dentistry, Fauchard published a landmark two-volume work, Le Chirurgien Dentiste, which contained the first detailed description of the treatment of malocclusions.
Developed the “bandeau” — a curved metal band placed around the teeth to widen the dental arch. It was the first instrument specifically designed to move teeth using controlled force.
Fauchard also described the use of wires to support teeth after they are repositioned. His work marked the decisive transition from ancient myths and painful experiences to a scientific approach that would eventually lead to modern dental braces and clear aligners.
With advances in dentistry in the 19th and 20th centuries, orthodontics became a specialty. Metal brackets, archwires, elastics and, later, stainless steel made treatments more predictable.
Later innovations — ceramic brackets, lingual braces and clear aligners — made the process more discreet. Today, orthodontics uses scans, computer models and 3D printing to plan treatments with remarkable precision.
The image of ancient people wearing gold and catgut braces is certainly attractive and dramatic, but it doesn’t match the evidence. Ancient civilizations were aware of dental problems and occasionally tried simple solutions. However, they had neither the need nor the technology to move teeth as we do today.
The true story of orthodontics begins not in the ancient world, but with the scientific advances of the 18th century and beyond—a story fascinating enough without the need for myth.
