A History of Century Orthodontics

Few specialties of medicine or dentistry can trace back their origins to just one man so easily as the field of orthodontics.

 Dr Edward Angle (1855-1930) is universally considered to be the father of modern orthodontics.  Among his many accomplishments were the development of a classification system of malocclusion still in use today; the invention of the edgewise orthodontic appliance (the "braces" used by the majority of today's orthodontists); establishing the world's first school for orthodontics (right here in St. Louis in the year 1899); and finally founder and first president of what was to become the American Association of Orthodontists (national headquarters still here in St. Louis).

We also have traced our origins, and we were pleased to discover that our predecessor was this very same Dr. Edward Angle who started an orthodontic practice in 1896 at 2946 Washington Avenue in the city of St. Louis.

 After Dr. Angle the practice descended (with numerous relocations) to Dr. William Wilson who in turn passed it on to Dr. H. Carlyle Pollock Sr. famous in his own right as the founder and long time editor of the American Journal of Orthodontics.  Following Dr. Pollock was his partner Dr. H.V. Holestine; then Dr. Francis Miller who took in and eventually turned over the practice to Dr. Michael Matlof.  After moving to Manchester and taking in Dr. Robert Waxler, the practice opened a second office, at 8000 Bonhomme in Clayton.  In 1996 Dr. Jeffrey Cavanaugh joined the practice just before Dr. Matlof’s retirement due to illness. It was at this time that the practice was renamed Century Orthodontics in commemoration of its 100 year anniversary. A third office was opened in the Wildwood/Ellisville area in 2003.