Columbia Dentoform with Orthodontics

Circa 1940s | Object # 2024.05.006

In the 1940s, braces were typically made of metal, often gold or silver, and involved wrapping metal bands around the teeth, which were then connected with wire. While effective, they were less comfortable and more costly than modern braces. Prior to the 1970s, dental adhesives were not strong enough to reliably bond brackets to the teeth, so metal bands were used to attach the wires.