William B. Downs

William B. Downs (1899–January 13, 1966) was an American orthodontist who is known for developing the first cephalometric analysis for orthodontics, the Downs analysis.[1][2]

Life

He was born in 1899 in Chicago, Illinois and was the oldest of three children. He moved to Batavia, Illinois in 1904 with his family where his father established his practice as a dentist. Downs went to Batavia High School (Batavia, Illinois) and became interested in studying agriculture. He went to Two Dot, Montana where he oversaw a sheep ranch for his father. Downs then returned to Illinois after two years and enrolled himself in University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry. He received his dental degree in 1926. He became a Professor in the Crown and Bridge Department of Dental School at UIC for next four years. He then enrolled himself in the first class of graduate Orthodontics at the University of Illinois and graduated with a master's degree in 1931.

Career

He then taught at UIC Dental School until 1955 in the graduate department. Dr. Downs was interested in facial growth and development throughout his career. He worked on the "Cephalometric Appraisal of Treated Result and Variations in Facial Relationships: Their Significance in Treatment and Prognosis. This paper won him first prize from the American Association of Orthodontists in 1948, and it led to the first cephalometric analysis in the field of Orthodontics. Dr. Downs developed what is called Downs Cephalometric Analysis which assess facial growth and development through the analysis of a Cephalometric Radiographic Image.[3]

He was a member of the Chicago Association of Orthodontists and Tweed Foundation.

Dr. Downs retired in 1965 due to ill health.

Awards
  • Albert H. Ketcham Award, 1961
  • Execute Council of Angle Society of Orthodontia
  • Diplomate of American Board of Orthodontics

See also

References
  1. McGonagle, Robert (1975). "Dr. William B. Downs: Man of his work". Angle Orthodontist. doi:10.1043/0003-3219(1975)045<0304:DWBDAM>2.0.CO;2. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  2. Lewis (1966y). "In Memoriam". The Angle Orthodontist. doi:10.1043/0003-3219(1966)036<0176:WBD>2.0.CO;2. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  3. McGonagle, Robert (1975). "Dr. William B. Downs: Man of his work". Angle Orthodontist. doi:10.1043/0003-3219(1975)045<0304:DWBDAM>2.0.CO;2. Retrieved 17 December 2015.


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