Welcome to Fastbraces®, 20 years in the making
1987
Dr. Anthony Viazis (pronounced vee-ah-zee) enters the University of Minnesota Graduate
Orthodontic Residency Program and realizes that in order to straighten teeth in
about a year, the crown and root of the tooth must move simultaneously.
1989
Dr. Viazis joins the faculty of the University of Minnesota as Assistant Professor,
and begins to work with GAC International on the clinical application of the new
super elastic wires. The following year, he earns the "Teacher of the Year" award,
and moves to Dallas, Texas to join the faculty at Baylor College of Dentistry.
1991
Dr. Viazis begins work on the prototype of a new type of brace that will allow the
super elastic wires to move the whole tooth in one stage.
1992
The first patients, Andy and Kelly, are fitted with the new braces in Dr. Viazis’
private practice.
1993
The first clinical results are presented at the annual practice management meeting
of the American Association of Orthodontists. Dr. Viazis continues to give presentations
and seminars at University and Orthodontic societies in the U.S., Europe and South
America. Dr. Viazis publishes his first book. It soon becomes a best-seller.
1994
The U.S. patent is issued on the orthodontic bracket that is now used at Fastbraces®.
Dr. Viazis joins the faculty of the University of Southern California as Associate
Professor and teaches his new system at the Graduate Orthodontic Department. In
the years to come, Dr. Viazis becomes a Visiting Professor at the University of
Sao Paulo, Brazil.
1995
The first clinical and research results are published in the Journal of Clinical
Orthodontics in the United States and the Journal STOMA in Europe, respectively.
Dr. Viazis leaves academia to concentrate on his new braces system.
1996
The first Fastbraces® office opens in Plano, Texas. It offers braces at a cost
that is lower than the national average. Research at the University of Southern California
confirms Dr. Viazis initial observations. Dr. Viazis makes numerous television appearances
on local and national news programs.
1997
The second Fastbraces® location opens in Lewisville, Texas near Vista Ridge
Mall in the DFW area.
1998
The third and fourth Fastbraces® locations open in DFW. More confirmatory research
is announced from the University of Kuopio in Finland and the University of Sao
Paulo in Brazil. Dr. Viazis files an antitrust lawsuit against the American Association
of Orthodontists and other defendants in Federal Court.
1999
More research is published in Europe regarding the effectiveness of our braces in
the Journal of Orofacial Orthopedics. Dr. Viazis receives the Brazilian Orthodontic
Medal Award, which is given annually to one orthodontist from around the world for
contributions to the advancement of orthodontics.
2000
More research is published in the U.S. regarding the effectiveness of our braces
in the American Journal of Orthodontics.
2001
The U.S. District Court acknowledges evidence of the "unique and innovative" Viazis
bracket: "To be sure, the record contains evidence that the Viazis bracket may be
a unique and innovative new type of orthodontic device exceeding, in some senses,
the quality level of competitive devices."
2002
Fastbraces® begins preparations for expansion beyond the Dallas/Fort Worth area
to the rest of Texas.
Mr. Alef Molina joins Fastbraces®. His background in the Restaurant Services
Industry and Management Operations will prove essential in coordinating the operations
of the various Fastbraces® locations.
2003
The fifth Fastbraces® office opens in Austin, Texas.
2004
The sixth Fastbraces® office opens in San Antonio, Texas. The seventh and eighth
Fastbraces® offices open in Houston, in The Woodlands and in Sugarland.
2005
Fastbraces® opens new Houston office in Clearlake as well as its first international
office in Athens, Greece.
2007
Fastbraces® organizes itself in Texas as a partnership of doctors.
2008
Fastbraces® is strengthening its base in Texas as it prepares for its national
expansion. Office No 10 opens in South Austin, No 11 in South Dallas in DeSoto,
No 12 in West Houston, in Katy and No 13 in Fort Worth. Office No 14 opens in Northwest
Houston by Cypress, and No 15 in the far North Dallas suburb of McKinney.
2009
Fastbraces® begins it's national expansion with offices opening in Texas and
new locations in Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Oregon, Pennsylvania,
Utah and the state of Washington.
2010
Fastbraces® continues its national expansion the United States in Illinois and
other states, and internationally in Mexico.
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