Modern braces were not invented by a single person, but two key names usually come up: Pierre Fauchard , who created an early brace-like device called the “bandeau” in 1728, and Christophe-François Delabarre , who is widely credited with inventing the first version of modern braces in 1819.

Quick Scoop: Who Invented Braces?

  • In the 1700s, French dentist Pierre Fauchard designed the “bandeau,” a horseshoe-shaped iron device to straighten teeth, which many consider the first real orthodontic brace.
  • In 1819, another French dentist, Christophe-François Delabarre, created a wire “crib” or flat metal strip that attached to teeth and worked much more like modern braces, so many histories call him the inventor of modern braces.
  • Later in the late 1800s and early 1900s, dentists like Norman W. Kingsley and Edward Angle refined brackets, bands, and bite classifications, turning braces into a recognizable modern system.

Mini Timeline

  1. Ancient world (Egypt & Rome)
    • Archaeologists have found mummies with metal bands on teeth and evidence that Romans tried to push teeth into better positions, showing that tooth straightening is thousands of years old.
  1. 1728 – Fauchard’s bandeau
    • Pierre Fauchard published Le Chirurgien Dentiste in 1728 and described the bandeau , a metal arc used to align teeth; this is why he’s called the “father of modern dentistry.”
  1. 1819 – Delabarre’s modern-style braces
    • Christophe-François Delabarre introduced a wire crib/metal strip attached by threads in 1819, which most closely resembles the first true modern braces.
  1. Late 1800s–early 1900s – Angle’s system
    • Edward Angle developed the first simple and effective bracket-and-band system around 1915 and created the bite “classes” dentists still use.

Why You See Different Names

  • Some articles answer “who invented braces?” with Fauchard , because he introduced the first clear tooth-straightening appliance and laid the foundation of orthodontics.
  • Others say Delabarre , because his 1819 design with metal strips and wires is closer to what people mean by modern braces.
  • A few focus on Angle as the person who turned braces into a standardized, widely used treatment with brackets and bands.

Braces Today and “Latest News”

  • Modern braces now use smaller brackets, smoother materials, and even self-ligating systems , making treatment faster and more comfortable than the classic metal braces many people remember.
  • Since around 2024–2025, trends include AI-assisted treatment planning, 3D-printed custom brackets, and advanced clear aligners , which keep pushing braces closer to fully personalized and less visible orthodontic care.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.