Dentistry has an interesting history. Based on recorded history, people were concerned about the health and appearance of their teeth over 4000 years ago. Toothbrushes existed even before 600 AD. Exploring the history of dentistry can be mysterious, fun, and entertaining.
Historical evidence suggests that braces were used in ancient times. They were first documented around 2022 BC. Around 300 to 400 BC, ancient scholars discussed and evaluated the best approach to correcting crooked teeth. Did you think implants were a part of modern technology? If so, think again. During 600 AD, the Mayans were using endosseous. Evidence supporting this was unearthed in 1939 by an archaeologist in Honduras.
“The Operator for Teeth” was the first dental book ever published. It was published in 1685 by a man named Charles Allen. Two known copies of this book exist today. One copy resides at New York University in the College of Dentistry library. The other copy resides in York Minister.
John Greenwood was the first native-born dentist. He designed the dentures for former president, George Washington. The dentures were made from hippopotamus tusks. The bill that John Greenwood sent to the former president for his services is dated 1799. The first dentist to use nitrous oxide for anesthetic purposes was Dr. Horace Wells. The earliest demonstration using nitrous was December 11, 1844.
For centuries, many strategies and techniques have been used for filling teeth. They include the following: gum, turpentine resin, stone chips, lead, cork, foil, and gold. In 1862 B. Wood developed a dental cement created from baked porcelain.
In 1864, Miss Lucy Hobbs was the first woman to graduate from a dental school. With her diploma, she opened an office in Iowa. She later opened another office in Chicago. She was considered very successful because of her practice.
Today, oral health has advanced greatly. Although toothbrushes are a great tool, a professional dental cleaning is often needed. Professional cleaning services remove discoloration, prevent gum disease, and detect damaged fillings. One person dies every hour because of oral cancer. A routine cleaning can detect oral cancer in its early stages. There is also a strong link between gum disease and cardiovascular disease.
Professional cleanings give your dentists and hygienists an opportunity to evaluate your oral health at each visit. Regular dental cleanings also help prevent bad breath. Make it a priority to see your dentists regularly for scheduled cleanings, so you don’t have any unexpected surprises in the future.