A History of Dentistry

Origins of Dentistry

A dentist was one of the first medical professionals in the world. Dentistry can be traced back to the Indus River Valley in about 7000 B.C.E. The first known dentist died around 2600 B.C.E. His name was Hesy-Re. Ancient Greeks wrote about the pain and health issues caused by rotten teeth and recorded that civilization's attempts at treating tooth problems. However, it wasn't until the 1500s that dentistry began appearing regularly in Europe.

Dentistry Becomes a Profession

A French dentist named Pierre Fauchard is credited with establishing modern dentistry. He published a book in 1723 that explained how to treat various dental conditions and even detailed how to build dentures. The first American dentist was John Baker, an English immigrant who trained many young colonial dentists, including Paul Revere. Along with being famous for his heroics during the American Revolution, Revere also helped to develop the idea of dental forensics. Revere identified a dead body because of the man's unique dentures, which Revere had made.

The 1800s was a time of great growth for dentistry. The first American dental school opened in Baltimore in 1840. Nineteen years later, dentists met in New York and founded the American Dental Association. As the century rolled to a close, innovations like X-rays and mass-produced toothbrushes continued to change dentistry.

The Toothbrush and the Establishment of Modern Dentistry

Purposeful dental care began with the invention of the toothbrush by the Chinese. These first toothbrushes were made with boar bristles. The first toothbrushes made in Europe came from dentists in France during the 17th and 18th centuries. It was an Englishman named William Addis who designed the first mass-produced toothbrush, but the first mass-produced American toothbrushes would not be manufactured until the 1880s. DuPont introduced the nylon-bristled toothbrush in 1938, the first modern-style toothbrush. Toothbrushing still wasn't a daily activity for most people, though. Toothbrushing being an accepted part of daily hygiene came about because the Army enforced the habit during World War II. The development of the mass-produced toothbrush is reflective of the idea that people were beginning to understand that their own behavior could cause issues like decaying teeth and gum disease. Dentists were beginning to tell people about how they could prevent some dental issues while also coming up with ever more sophisticated treatment methods for dealing with various issues of oral health.

Modern Crowns and Implants

Skeletons dating back thousands of years have been found with teeth covered in gold. Crowns were obviously one of the first permanent dental treatments ever invented. Covering decayed teeth was a global need going back centuries. Improvements in technology led to a refinement in crowns, and today, a modern dentist is more likely to use ceramic or porcelain crowns than metal ones. Crowns today are crafted to match the recipient's natural teeth in shape, size, and color.

Replacing missing teeth is another need that dentists throughout time have tried to solve. After all, children learn about George Washington's dentures, and Paul Revere was crafting dentures during that same time period. Even before Washington's dentures, ancient dentists were crafting dentures from shells, animal bones, and gemstones. They also tried making dental implants from these materials. However, due to infection, ancient implants rarely worked. The first successful modern dental implant occurred in 1965. Since then, implants have continued to improve in longevity and function. They are an important part of a modern dentist's toolkit. Implants have also been made possible by advances in pharmacology. Better pain management, anesthesia, and antibiotics all make it easier for patients to undergo dental procedures and help ensure that infection doesn't set in when someone receives implants.

• History of Dentistry Timeline
• A Comprehensive History of Dentistry and Dental Care
• History of Dentistry
• False Teeth in the 18th Century
• The History of Dentistry and its Relationship to Medicine: Could the Mouth Finally Return to the Body?
• 20th-Century Teeth: Dentistry at the Turn of the Century
• The History of Dentistry: Hidden Histories
• History of Dental Implants
• A History of Dentistry in Pictures
• A Brief History of Dentistry
• A History of Dentistry From the Most Ancient Times Until the End of the 18th Century
• The Evolution of Dentistry
• Orthodontic Services
• Technology in Dentistry Through the Ages
• Why Dentistry Is Separate From Medicine
• Dentistry and Dentists