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Charles Gaine (1827-1914) - an orthodontic pioneer in Brighton and Bath

British Dental Journal volume 231, pages 191–196 (2021)Cite this article

Abstract

John Nutting Farrar (1839-1913) has been hailed as the 'father of American orthodontics' and his textbook, published in 1888, is often claimed to be the first devoted exclusively to orthodontics, while the American Emerson Angell is supposed to be the inventor of the orthodontic 'jackscrew'. However, the unknown Englishman Charles Gaine, identified by Lilian Lindsay in 1933 as the author of the first British orthodontic textbook, could be said to be the father of British orthodontics, as the publication of his book in 1858 and his demonstration of the screw appliance at the Great Exhibition of 1851 predated both these transatlantic events.

Key points

  • Describes the life of Charles Gaine (1827-1914) and his role in the development of orthodontic techniques in the UK.

  • Relates how Gaine's simple screw appliances were demonstrated at the Great Exhibition of 1851.

  • Shows that Gaine was exchanging ideas with the American J. N. Farrar well before the latter produced his textbook in 1888.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the following for their assistance in the preparation of this paper: Alan Brimson, Hon. Sec. The Kilvert Society; Peter Folly, Library Manager, BDA Library; Susan Isaac, Library, Royal College of Surgeons of England; Richard Kielb, Medical Subject Librarian, University of Bristol; Richard Meunier, Principal Archivist, Bath Record Office; Michael Richardson, Information Management, University of Bristol.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Emeritus Professor of Child Dental Health, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK

    Chris Stephens

  2. Archivist, British Orthodontic Society, 12 Bridewell Place, London, EC4V 6AP, UK

    Sophie Riches

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Correspondence to Chris Stephens.

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Stephens, C., Riches, S. Charles Gaine (1827-1914) - an orthodontic pioneer in Brighton and Bath. Br Dent J 231, 191–196 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-021-3268-5

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