The history of Dentistry is fraught with what we would consider barbaric procedures and treatments. Today, visiting the dentist to maintain proper dental health is something we do as a matter of course. Living with peridontal issues is no longer a common occurrence in society. Even the matter of the pain of Dentistry is, for the most part, completely gone. Modern dental practices are precise, pain-free, and not at all frightening. The following history shows just how far we've come.
We present the following "short" version of its history in order to both educate and enlighten our patients and our visitors to the amazing advances in modern Dentistry.
The following text has been adapted from various sources, including Wikipedia. The ancient history of Dentistry is a fascinating read, as well as a topic not much thought about today.
In modern society putting up with a "toothache" is almost unthinkable, and although most people will, at one time or another, suffer through a toothache of some sort. It should also be noted that in modern society, even in the new millennium, more of the world's homeless population die of periodontal diseases than any other disease.
While we take dental hygiene seriously today, history shows that most people suffered through the destruction of their dental health and simply assumed it was an evitable result of living past the age of 35.
An example of how people put up with toothache and general dental problems, in 2008 HBO broadcast a mini-series on America's second president, John Adams. During the many hours of the broadcast you would see people, especially John Adams, tending to toothaches by applying a rag dampened with whiskey.
Earliest Records of Dentistry
The Indus Valley Civilization has yielded evidence of Dentistry being practiced as far back as 7000 BC. This earliest form of Dentistry involved curing tooth related disorders with bow drills operated, perhaps, by skilled bead craftsmen. The reconstruction of this ancient form of Dentistry showed that the methods used were reliable and effective.
A Sumerian text from 5000 BC describes a "tooth worm" as the cause of dental caries. Evidence of this belief has also been found in ancient India, Egypt, Japan, and China. The legend of the worm is also found in the writings of Homer, and as late as the 14th century AD the surgeon Guy de Chauliac still promoted the belief that worms cause tooth decay.
The Edwin Smith Papyrus, written in the 17th century BC but which may reflect previous manuscripts from as early as 3000 BC, includes the treatment of several dental ailments. In the 18th century BC, the Code of Hammurabi referenced dental extraction twice as it related to punishment. Examination of the remains of some ancient Egyptians and Greco-Romans reveals early attempts at dental prosthetics and surgery. Ancient Greek scholars Hippocrates and Aristotle wrote about Dentistry, including the eruption pattern of teeth, treating decayed teeth and gum disease, extracting teeth with forceps, and using wires to stabilize loose teeth and fractured jaws. Some say the first use of dental appliances or bridges comes from the Etruscans from as early as 700 BC. Further research suggested that 3000 B.C. In ancient Egypt, Hesi-Re is the first named "dentist" (greatest of the teeth). The Egyptians bind replacement teeth together with gold wire. Roman medical writer Cornelius Celsus wrote extensively of oral diseases as well as dental treatments such as narcotic-containing emollients and astringents.
Historically, dental extractions have been used to treat a variety of illnesses. During the Middle Ages and throughout the 19th century, Dentistry was not a profession in itself, and often dental procedures were performed by barbers or general physicians. Barbers usually limited their practice to extracting teeth, which alleviated pain and associated chronic tooth infection. Instruments used for dental extractions date back several centuries. In the 14th century, Guy de Chauliac invented the dental pelican (resembling a pelican's beak), which was used up until the late 18th century. The pelican was replaced by the dental key, which, in turn, was replaced by modern forceps in the 20th century.
Dentistry in America
John Baker was the first dentist to practice in America after he arrived from England in 1760. Later in 1779, Isaac Greenwood was the first native-born American dentist.
John Greenwood, Isaac's son, was one of George Washington's regular dentists. John was responsible for designing Mr. Washington's famous dentures, which despite many legends were not wood but were carved from the tusk of a hippopotamus!
John also invented the first known dental foot engine by modifying the foot pedal from his mother's spinning wheel to rotate the drill.
How many of you knew that the famous "Paul Revere" was a dentist that trained under America's first dentist, John Baker, in Boston?
Modern Dentistry
The world's first dental college was opened in 1840 at the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery. This began to formally educate dentists who would have the title of DDS, Doctor of Dental Surgery, and made the United States the world leader in Dentistry.
With this new more formal Dentistry and with the lack of government oversight of the profession, many dentists fought for an organization to sanction and regulate their members. In 1859, a group of 26 dentists met at Niagara Falls to form the ADA (American Dental Association).
In 1867, the Harvard University Dental School was founded as the first university-affiliated dental institution. The school calls its degree the Dentariae Medicinae Doctorae (DMD). Doctors Cook, Peterson, and Fox are all DMD's.
During the Civil War, the southern dentists seceded from the ADA and formed the SDA (Southern Dental Association) in Atlanta in 1869. However, in 1897 the SDA rejoined the ADA to form the NDA (National Dental Association). It was not until 1922 that the NDA restored its original name of American Dental Association.
In 1908, Greene Vardiman Black, the leading reformer and educator of American Dentistry, published his monumental two-volume treatise Operative Dentistry, which remains the essential clinical dental text for fifty years. Black later developed techniques for filling teeth, standardized operative procedures and instrumentation, developed an improved amalgam, and pioneered the use of visual aids for teaching Dentistry
For more about the history of Dentistry, head over to the Crest website! (click the Crest logo)
The following text has been adapted from various sources, including Wikipedia. The ancient history of Dentistry is a fascinating read, as well as a topic not much thought about today. In modern society putting up with a "toothache" is almost unthinkable, and although most people will, at one time or another, suffer through a toothache of some sort. It should also be noted that in modern society, even in the new millennium, more of the world's homeless population die of periodontal diseases than any other disease.
While we take dental hygiene seriously today, history shows that most people suffered through the destruction of their dental health and simply assumed it was an evitable result of living past the age of 35.
An example of how people put up with toothache and general dental problems, in 2008 HBO broadcast a mini-series on America's second president, John Adams. During the many hours of the broadcast you would see people, especially John Adams, tending to toothaches by applying a rag dampened with whiskey.
Earliest Records of Dentistry
The Indus Valley Civilization has yielded evidence of Dentistry being practiced as far back as 7000 BC. This earliest form of Dentistry involved curing tooth related disorders with bow drills operated, perhaps, by skilled bead craftsmen. The reconstruction of this ancient form of Dentistry showed that the methods used were reliable and effective.
A Sumerian text from 5000 BC describes a "tooth worm" as the cause of dental caries. Evidence of this belief has also been found in ancient India, Egypt, Japan, and China. The legend of the worm is also found in the writings of Homer, and as late as the 14th century AD the surgeon Guy de Chauliac still promoted the belief that worms cause tooth decay.The Edwin Smith Papyrus, written in the 17th century BC but which may reflect previous manuscripts from as early as 3000 BC, includes the treatment of several dental ailments. In the 18th century BC, the Code of Hammurabi referenced dental extraction twice as it related to punishment. Examination of the remains of some ancient Egyptians and Greco-Romans reveals early attempts at dental prosthetics and surgery. Ancient Greek scholars Hippocrates and Aristotle wrote about Dentistry, including the eruption pattern of teeth, treating decayed teeth and gum disease, extracting teeth with forceps, and using wires to stabilize loose teeth and fractured jaws. Some say the first use of dental appliances or bridges comes from the Etruscans from as early as 700 BC. Further research suggested that 3000 B.C. In ancient Egypt, Hesi-Re is the first named "dentist" (greatest of the teeth). The Egyptians bind replacement teeth together with gold wire. Roman medical writer Cornelius Celsus wrote extensively of oral diseases as well as dental treatments such as narcotic-containing emollients and astringents.
Historically, dental extractions have been used to treat a variety of illnesses. During the Middle Ages and throughout the 19th century, Dentistry was not a profession in itself, and often dental procedures were performed by barbers or general physicians. Barbers usually limited their practice to extracting teeth, which alleviated pain and associated chronic tooth infection. Instruments used for dental extractions date back several centuries. In the 14th century, Guy de Chauliac invented the dental pelican (resembling a pelican's beak), which was used up until the late 18th century. The pelican was replaced by the dental key, which, in turn, was replaced by modern forceps in the 20th century.Dentistry in America
John Baker was the first dentist to practice in America after he arrived from England in 1760. Later in 1779, Isaac Greenwood was the first native-born American dentist.
John Greenwood, Isaac's son, was one of George Washington's regular dentists. John was responsible for designing Mr. Washington's famous dentures, which despite many legends were not wood but were carved from the tusk of a hippopotamus!
John also invented the first known dental foot engine by modifying the foot pedal from his mother's spinning wheel to rotate the drill.
How many of you knew that the famous "Paul Revere" was a dentist that trained under America's first dentist, John Baker, in Boston?
Modern Dentistry
The world's first dental college was opened in 1840 at the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery. This began to formally educate dentists who would have the title of DDS, Doctor of Dental Surgery, and made the United States the world leader in Dentistry.
With this new more formal Dentistry and with the lack of government oversight of the profession, many dentists fought for an organization to sanction and regulate their members. In 1859, a group of 26 dentists met at Niagara Falls to form the ADA (American Dental Association).
In 1867, the Harvard University Dental School was founded as the first university-affiliated dental institution. The school calls its degree the Dentariae Medicinae Doctorae (DMD). Doctors Cook, Peterson, and Fox are all DMD's.
During the Civil War, the southern dentists seceded from the ADA and formed the SDA (Southern Dental Association) in Atlanta in 1869. However, in 1897 the SDA rejoined the ADA to form the NDA (National Dental Association). It was not until 1922 that the NDA restored its original name of American Dental Association.
In 1908, Greene Vardiman Black, the leading reformer and educator of American Dentistry, published his monumental two-volume treatise Operative Dentistry, which remains the essential clinical dental text for fifty years. Black later developed techniques for filling teeth, standardized operative procedures and instrumentation, developed an improved amalgam, and pioneered the use of visual aids for teaching Dentistry
For more about the history of Dentistry, head over to the Crest website! (click the Crest logo)
