In the 19th century, orthodontics gradually developed into a medical specialty in its own right. In 1841, the Frenchman Joachim Lefoulon gave it the name "Orthodontosie" (orthodontics). However, it was still a long road to the modern treatment methods used in orthodontics in Berlin.

Numerous new treatment approaches emerge

The advances in orthodontics during the 19th century can be attributed to several individuals. One of them was Joseph Fox, a student of the surgeon John Hunter, whom we briefly introduced in the second part of the history of orthodontics. Fox was the first to classify so-called malocclusions, in which the teeth of the upper jaw do not align properly with those of the lower jaw. He also developed approaches and devices for treating misaligned teeth. Similarly, Christophe-Francois Delabarre, Friedrich Christoph Kneisel, William Robertson, and other pioneers of orthodontics used their own treatment methods and appliances, experimenting with various materials in the process. These included plates, arches, screws, and bands designed to move the teeth into the correct position.

The Beginnings of Systematic Orthodontic Treatment

At the end of the 19th century, Edward Hartley Angle attracted attention in the dental community of the time with his work. Until then, dentists had treated their orthodontic patients on an individual basis, so the effectiveness of treatment could also vary greatly. With his standardized appliances and his classification of bites, Angle steered orthodontics in a systematic and science-based direction that remains fundamental to modern orthodontics in Berlin. Learn more about Angle’s further work in the 20th century and his influence on today’s treatment methods in our next installment on the history of orthodontics.