The history of dentistry
Moving forward into 5000 BC, the Sumerians blamed tooth worms as the cause of any dental issues, with the worms boring little holes in your teeth and hiding out inside. (Reportedly some ancient doctors even mistook nerves as tooth worms and tried to yank them out). The idea that a worm traveled through your mouth and was the cause of dental pain lasted until it was proven false in the 1700s.
One of the first known professional dentists was an Egyptian named Hesi-Re who lived around 3000 BC. His tomb included the inscription, “the greatest of those who deal with teeth…”
In ancient Greece, Hippocrates and Aristotle wrote about treating decayed teeth as well as having teeth extracted to keep mouth pain away. The concept of having a tooth extracted from the mouth through using forceps was often used to treat many diseases into the middle ages.
Interestingly enough, the professionals who were doing these extractions during the middle ages were not medical authorities, but barbers. These partially trained hair cutters began using a “Dental Pelican” in the 14th century and then a “Dental Key” to extract teeth from their patients’ mouths. Both of these tools were similar to and the precursor to modern day forceps. These barbers were not full time dentists, but in fact, their work was focused solely on removing any infected teeth for alleviating pain purposes, not preventive care.
It was between 1650 and 1800 that the concepts behind what we now think of as dentistry got its start. The man behind the science was 17th century French Physician, Pierre Fauchard. He is called “The Father of Modern Dentistry”, and he was the brains behind many of the procedures still used in today’s society. For instance, he was the man behind the thought process for dental fillings, and he also helped to explain that acids from sugar are a major source of tooth decay.
From here, the rest is history. In 1840, the first dental college was opened, called the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery. This led to more government oversight, and eventually regulation through the American Dental Association (ADA).
In 1873, Colgate mass-produced the first toothpaste in a jar, and, just a few years later, in 1885 the first tooth brush was mass produced in America by H.N. Wadsworth. The first real electric toothbrush was produced in 1939, but it was developed in Switzerland.
Surprisingly, most Americans did not pick up on the dental trend to brush their teeth until after World War II. The soldiers stationed abroad brought the concept of good dental health back to the states. Now, most Americans not only focus on the health aspects of keeping their teeth clean, but many are just as concerned with the cosmetic appearance as well. Times have changed!
tooth decay = damage to a tooth's surface, happens when bacteria in your mouth make acids that attack the enamel(=protective, outer covering of teeth)
bow drill = an ancient form of drilling tool consisting of a rod and a bow
forceps = a metal instrument with two handles used in medical operations for picking up, pulling, and holding things
extraction = the action of removing something, especially using effort or force
precursor = something that happened or existed before another thing
alleviate = make pain less severe
yank out = suddenly remove
keep pain away = get rid of the pain
dental filling = an artificial substance that is used to fill in the holes or gaps in the enamel of decayed, broken or damaged teeth
government oversight = the actions taken to review and monitor public sector organizations and their policies, plans, programs, and projects
be the brains behind = be the person who plans and organizes something, especially something successful
pick up on = notice something and perhaps react to it
stationed abroad = live in a military base which is in the foreign country
concerned with = worried about