Percival Raymond Begg

(1898 -1983)



Biographical account of
Dr. Begg, his life and
contributions to Orthodontics.
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His Family.
Grandfather sea captain brought first
Oriental sailing ship to Australia.
Parents born in England, Married in
Western Australia.
Wife Nellie , three children Mr. David
Begg, Dr. Janet Solly and Mrs. Diana
Coates.
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His early life.
Born Oct. 13,1898, goldfields of Coolgardie,
Western Australia.
Early education in Adelaide.
Excelled in athletics.
Worked as a Jackeroo Boonoke, sheep and
cattle station, New South Wales.
Graduated in 1923 B.D.Sc degree of
Melbourne and the L.D.S diploma of Victoria,
Australia
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In Orthodontics.
1924 Dr. Begg
Angle school of Orthodontia
in Pasadena, California.
(mar.1924 Nov. 1925).
Dr. Begg and Dr. Fred Ishii of Japan first to
treat patients with Dr. Angles new Edgewise
appl.
Commenced orthodontic practice in
Adelaide.
Professional career spanned > 55 yrs.
Intr. In 1916
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As a Teacher.
Jan. 1926, appointed lecturer in
Orthodontics, University of Adelaide.
(Retd. -1964).
For 2 yrs. followed Angles teaching of full
complement of teeth.
Confronted serious relapse
Started routine extraction of teeth studies
of Stone Age Mans attritional occlusion of
teeth.
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A great visionary.
Problems Edgewise appliance close
extraction spaces and reduce deep ant.
overbites Evolution of Begg tech.
1930 round archwire.
Stopped using Edgewise brackets 1933
Ribbon arch bracket with openings of the
slots facing gingivally.
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Ribbon arch bracket + round archwire free
tipping.
Permit teeth to move independently of one
another.
Permits teeth to follow paths of least
resistance through cancellous bone.
Roots not forced against - more resistant
cortical plates.
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AJ Wilcock wires.
Early 1940s acquainted with Arthur J
Wilcock Metallurgist at the university of
Melbourne.
In collaboration with Dr. Begg Cold drawn,
heat treated wire, combined hardness and
resilience.
Unique property zero stress relaxation.
1954 tested and rejected titanium wires-
Mr.Wilcock and Prof. J.N. Greenwood
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Attritional Occlusion.
Studied natural wearing away of Mans
teeth Skulls of Australian aborigines.
Doctoral thesis Evolutionary Reduction
and Degeneration of Mans Jaws and teeth
1939.
Relates to attrition ( lack of it ) etiology of
malocclusions and other dental problems-
modern man.
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Publications
First article 1926 interest in normal
occlusion and etiology of malocclusion.
Dissertation Some Aspects of Etiology of
Irregularity and Malocclusion of teeth
D.D.Sc. 1935 University of Adelaide.
Stone Age Mans Dentition AJO 1954.
Dealt with attritional occlusion. Mentioned
Round Wire Technique
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Light Archwire Technique AJO 1956.
Concept of Differential force.
Treatment of over 200 patients could be
completed each year.
Begg Orthodontic Theory and Technique 3
edns.( 1
st
Edn. 1965) translated into 5
languages.

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1957 Dr. H.D Kesling & Dr. George
Dinham Met Dr. Begg.
Dr. Kesling implemented new tech. in
U.S.A with Dr. R. A. Rocke.
1959 June Kesling and Rocke
Orthodontic Group, Westville, Indiana 1
st

Course in Begg Technique 31 students.
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Refinements.
Finished cases with detail and precision.
3 distinct stages.
Root torquing auxiliaries.
Mesio-distal uprighting spring.
Importance of Free tipping of tooth crowns.
Suggested taking stage models.

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Memberships.
Founding member Australian Society of
Orthodontists -1927.
Honorary life member of Australian Dental
Association.
Associate member of American
Association of Orthodontists.
Fellow of International College of Dentists.
Fellow of the Royal Australian College of
Dental Surgeons.
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Fellow of the Academy International of
Dentistry.
Member of Pierrre Fauchard academy.
Honorary professor of Orthodontics
Nippon Dental College.
Honorary member of Australian section of
the International Academy of Gnathology.
President emeritus of various international
societies in the name of Dr. Begg.
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Honors & Exhibits.
Albert H Ketcham award 1977 Highest
award AAO & ABO advancement of
Orthodontics.
Officer of the Order of Australia ( AO) June
1981- Australian Government.
Permanent display of Begg Technique
Smithsonian Institution( Washington DC) &
Library of American Dental Association,
Chicago,Illinois.

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Retirement
Dr. Begg Retd. In Oct. 1980 55 yrs of
practice.
Willingness to share knowledge and
experience attract correspondence &
visits from overseas colleagues.
Interest in Orthodontics remained a
consuming passion.
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Tick Begg devoted his life to the shaping
of new faces, new dentitions, and new
lives. The Orthodontic profession and its
patients were the benefactors of an
outstanding mind and many innovative
concepts.
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Leader in continuing dental education
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