Jack Stanton, age 11, of Spokane, Washington for his question:

HOW LONG HAVE DENTISTS USED BRACES TO STRAIGHTEN     TEETH?

Boys and girls have been having their teeth straightened for a long time now. Back in 1901 the American Society of Orthodontia was officially formed to unite a group of dentists who specialized in orthodontia. This is a special branch of dentistry which deals with the correction of a    irregularities in tooth position and jaw formation. Over the years materials and techniques have vastly changed and improved. Experts in this field give much of the credit for this modernization to Dr. Edward Angle, who did much of his work in the 1920s.

If teeth are not positioned correctly, the entire jawand face are affected, sometimes causing serious permament damage to the teeth. Having braces, or appliances  as they are properly called  will almost always correct or greatly improve the condition. The duration of the treatment varies from child to child, often depending on how severe the problem is.

Happily, more and more adults are having their teeth straightened, too, realizing that the slight inconveniences are worth the end results.