TIIE EVOLUTION OF THE ORTHODONTIC APPLIANCE FROM THE

SERIES OF RECONSTRUCTED SPECIMENS

BER,NHARD WOLF WEINBERGER, D.D.S.. NEW YORK. S. Y.

T IS one thing to visualize the type of orthodontic appliances used through-

I out. t,he ages, as shown in our dental literature, and quite another story
when one actually sees them.

Fig. I.

The orthodontia band is but the outgrowth of the crown and bridge work
of the ancients. The principle involved is exactly the same. One can see how
the Phoenicians, Etruscans, Greeks and Romans handled their prosthesis. Our
modern cast gold inlays and overlays do not differ from the idea as practiced
in 1000 B.C.; the disappearing wax model was used in both cases, with the ex-
ception of the present-day high pressure vacuum and force.
These replicas were made not only to give an idea of the actual specimens
now found in the various museums, but it is my opinion that no one is in a
Presented at a meeting of the Eastern Association of Graduates of the Angle School of
Orthodontists.
1182
 Evolution of Orthodontic Appliance 1183

position to teach or speak with some definite authority without first having
experienced the actual work. One thus learns just what technic was used and
the difficulties involved.
I do not desire to go into the details of this, but it convinces me that du?
ing this period of our history, those who wrote our early textbooks never
actually applied themselves to the work. Therefore there must have been
specialists even in those days-those who applied themselves to writing and
the clinical side of dentistry, and others who were master technicians.
Among the pieces reconstructed are the following:
A.D.
Albucasis : 1000. Small axe.
Fauchard : 1728. First expansion arch with holes punched to permit
it to be tied to molar teeth.
Bourdet : 1757. Holes added throughout hhe whole expansion arch.
Hunter : 1728. ‘LPlate” over molar teeth.
Fox : 1803. Expansion arch extended to molars, with ivory
blocks.
Catalan : 1808. Inclined plane.
Murphy : 1811. BOW of spring of gold wire, with flat hooks upon
incisors.
Delabarre : 1815. First crown and threaded tube for rotation. First
wire crib.
Robertson, Wm. : 1835. Inclined plane as part of expansion arch.
Rodrigues : 1839. Individual inclined plane.
Lefoulon : 1841. Labial and lingual arch.
Lefoulon : Removable crib.
Schange : 1842. “Crib” of Schange.
Schange : Another type with attached labial arch and use of
screw.
Schange : Modification of screw.
Schange : First application of clamp band.
Schange : Low metal “bar” (arch) with lingual inclined plane
(bite plate).
Carabelli : 1842. Complicated appliances showing use of the screw,
ratchet and ligatures.
Desirabode : 1843. Labial and lingual arch combination.
Westcott : 1844. “Correct protrusion of under jaw. ”
Westcott : Method to expand jaw laterally.
Westcott : Application of the jackscrew.
Mortimer : 1845. Inclined plane.
Tomes, J.: 1847. Metal plate with elastic springs.
Rogers, Wm. : 1845. “Regulator” with ratchet and spring.
White, J. D.: 1850. Spiral spring and arch and bands.
White, J. D.: Hinged plate with spiral springs.
Evans, Thos. : 1854. “Clamp” bands, arch, anterior hooks and springs.
Evans, Thos. : Threaded arch, nut, tube and clamp band. Begin-
ning of the modern expansion arch.
 .\.I).
Games : 3 858. Showing use of screw.
Angell, E. C. : 1860. Separating the suture.
Coffin, W. II. : Original Cot&i Plate made by Walter Harris Coffin
iibOllt 1882.
I’atric k> J. J. Il.: 1882. Screw clamp band and arch.
1xow : 1887. “Yoke” clamp band and various attachments.
Angle : 1887. Angle’s system of regulating appliances.
Anple : 1887. First expansion arch.
Angle : 1888. Original set of Angle appliances.
Angle : 1889. i2ppliance as ~mrcl by Angle and second set..
Angle : 1892. Modification of 1889 appliance.
Angle : 1899. “1)” band, expansion arch with friction sleeve nut.
S band.
Anglr : 1903. ltibbed E arch.
AllPll? : 1912. Pin and tube appliance.
Angle : 1916. Ribbon arch and brackets.
Angle : 1926. Edgewise arch.
cJackson, V. II.: cJaclison’s original removable appliances made bJ-
him about 1912.
Farrar : 1882. Jack screw to enlarge arch.
( ‘asc ‘s 11892) root movement.