Orthodontics? These big words can be off-putting, especially when thinking about your health and what it might entail. Time to ‘get straight’ on the facts. ‘Ortho’ means straight or erect and comes originally from ancient Greek. ‘Dontia’ is Greek for teeth. Thus, we put them together and get ‘straight teeth’. Well, hopefully, as this is the name of the game for orthodontists and what they are primarily about.

“orthodontia, the branch of dentistry concerned with the treatment of irregularities of the teeth and jaws,” 1909, from orthodontic (adj.); also see -ics. “
– Etym Online

Straightening Up A Few Facts About Orthodontists & What They Do

The impetus for wanting to straighten teeth has been with us, humankind, for a very long time. It is interesting to pause here for a moment and ask ourselves why? Why has having straight teeth been a desirable feature for millennia? Obviously, on a functional level it is easier and more efficient to have teeth generally heading in the same uniform direction in relation to the shape of our oral cavity. Was it, also, a big aesthetic motivation I wonder, as it is for us modern human beings in the current era? The urge to belong, to fit in, is a powerful one and likely has been with us since the beginning of things. Dental marketing bangs on today about the perfect smile, as if this is the secret sauce to a life rich in every success and seduction.

History Of Orthodontics Down Through The Ages

The Egyptians were at it 5, 000 years ago! Archaeologists have found mummies with metal posts affixed to their teeth via cat gut. Cats were very big in Egypt back then and they used to mummify cats in vast numbers too. Not sure about feline teeth straightening, however. We are sure about ancient Egyptians going to the trouble of orthodontic work with cat gut arch wire pressuring teeth to straighten into alignment. Apparently, this orthodontic procedure was often done post death for the afterlife. Talk about wanting to make a good impression!

The Romans are famous for their engineering skills and were not a civilisation to be tardy when it came to getting ahead. The ancient Romans were into teeth straightening for the living. Utilising fine gold wire – ligature wire – the wealthy among them fixed their teeth via this means, according to the archaeological record. The Etruscans who predated the rise of Ancient Roman domination employed a form of mouthguard to straighten teeth, but again this was for the afterlife. It makes you wonder just how big dentistry was or is in the afterlife! The ancient Greeks were likewise into orthodontics dating back some 1, 000 years BCE.

“Modern braces were invented in 1819 by Christophe-Francois Delabarre. The French had evolved the field of dentistry in the 1700s, with notable advances including custom mouthguards and removing wisdom teeth to manage overcrowding. However, it was Delabarre who created the precursor to braces as we know them today. He devised a woven wire or ‘crib’ that was fitted over both the upper and lower teeth and worn for an extended period, with the aim of straightening teeth over time.”
– Orthodontics Australia

Straight Teeth & The Need To Appear Orally Uniform

So what is orthodontics? We won’t be getting straight to the point. Oral health is fast becoming the scientific cause celebre as researchers discover again and again that so many failing systemic conditions are linked to poor oral health. It seems that our mouths are keys to our health and wellbeing. I suppose it should not be surprising when it is through this portal that nutrition must enter the body. Psychologists are discovering that our mental health is, also, dependent upon how we feel about the look and functioning of out teeth and gums.

“Shappell and Cartier highlight four key dental conditions seen in patients with psychiatric disorders: tooth decay, gum diseases, dry mouth (xerostomia), and teeth grinding (bruxism). Dry mouth can be a complication of anxiety and is a side effect of many psychotropic medications. They suggest that over-the-counter products (such as oral moisturisers, mouth rinses, toothpaste or xylitol gum) can be helpful for dry mouth. Teeth grinding, which can damage teeth and contribute to teeth and jaw pain, is treated by wearing a night guard and working with a psychiatrist to address medication side effects and psychological factors. Therapy can be helpful if a person is extremely anxious about going to the dentist.”
– Psychiatry.org

Someone once said to me that they had personally never met a seriously mentally ill individual with perfect teeth. They went on to characterise people with schizophrenia and psychotic conditions “as chain smokers or they were in the past anyway”. Yet indeed the oral portal is a foci for so much. Eating, drinking, talking, oral sex, smoking – so much stuff goes on via this entranceway. The evolutionary link back to early hominid times is centred around the jaw and the mouth. The primal energy is powerful and the muscle force around the human jaw is massive still.

“The greatest human bite strength in the early literature was reported more than 300 years ago by Borelli of Rome, Italy, in 1681.’ He attached weights to a cord, which passed over the molar teeth of the open mandible, and with closing of the jaw, up to 440 lbs (200 kg) were raised.’ In recent times, the greatest reported bite strength was 348 lbs (158 kg) in the Alaskan Eskimo.”
– Science Direct

Why We Obsess Over Straight Teeth

By no means all of the world’s population has the financial capacity to be able to enjoy the luxury of Invisalign or the efficacy of simple, cheap ceramic braces.

“Poor oral health is directly associated with major chronic diseases including diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Diseases like diabetes, HIV/AIDS, osteoporosis, Alzheimers, can make oral health even worse. And there are some diseases bad oral health can contribute to. Endocarditis, cardiovascular disease, pregnancy and pneumonia can all be compounded by bacteria from your mouth.
Quite simply: there are cases where good oral health can make a world of difference, so make sure you keep good dental hygiene!”
– Oral Health Facts

Orthodontics is not just about teeth straightening; it is also very much about taking care of your natural teeth and gums. I have emphasised the focus culturally and otherwise on our oral cavities over eons. Way back before we were Homo sapiens the mouth and our teeth and jaws have played the most essential role in the lives of great apes. This is why today, we obsess over having perfect white teeth, especially when we are young and sexually active. Our teeth represent our most potent weapon in the ancient terms of the animal kingdom and this, of course, drives our sexual appetites. This potency, this desire to bite into life, embodies our success drive. We want to go straight at it, be it sexual partner or opportunity for success, and straight teeth very much fit into this narrative.

Disclaimer: The material posted is for informational purposes only and is not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Results vary with each patient. Any dental procedure carries risks and benefits. If you have any specific questions about any dental and/or medical matter, you should consult your dentist, physician or other professional healthcare providers.

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