These days, many people often take dental care for granted. If you wake up with a toothache, you know who to call – your dentist. The average person generally understands the basics of dental hygiene and proper tooth care. But this was not always the case! Dentistry has been around for thousands of years, but it has changed substantially over time. Keep reading for a look back in time at the history of dentistry.
Dentistry in Prehistoric Times
For as long as people have had teeth, they have been exploring ways to treat and prevent dental problems. There’s evidence of early dental care dating back to about 130,000 B.C. Archaeologists have found ancient tooth care tools, made from stone, which are believed to have been used by Neanderthals.
There is ample evidence of the use of dental tools by the Indus Valley Civilization during the Stone Age. Archaeologists believe that in this era, skilled bead crafters may have performed basic dental procedures using a bow drill, which is a type of mechanical drill.
The First Fillings
Cavities are one of the most common dental issues, and so it makes sense that early civilizations would begin devising ways to treat them. Archaeologists have found evidence of early dental fillings made in Slovenia around 4500 B.C. These early fillings were made from beeswax, so they would not have lasted very long. However, we can imagine they helped temporarily relieve the pain caused by tooth decay and prevent food particles from becoming stuck in the cavity.
The Middle Ages
The next time you have a cavity, just be thankful you were not born in the Middle Ages. During this period, which lasted from approximately the 12th – 14th centuries, dental care was, for lack of a better term, scary. It was common for doctors to recommend bloodletting for patients who were experiencing toothaches and other dental maladies. Bloodletting is the intentional draining of blood. It should go without saying that this practice did nothing to treat dental ailments, and in many cases, made matters worse.
There is also evidence of various herbal powders being used to clean teeth in the Middle Ages. This sounds preferable to bloodletting, at least.
The Dawn of Modern Dentistry
Modern dentistry is said to have been developed in the late 1600s. English and French physicians were some of the first doctors to focus on dental care and pursue it as a specialty. They used rather crude instruments, as that was all that was available at the time. Often, they would repurpose small tools made for jewelry making or clockwork.
By the 1700s, these specialists were creating false teeth from ivory or bone. Only the wealthy could afford these dental prostheses, of course. They would be fastened to the remaining teeth using silk, which also came at a high cost.
Advancement in the 19th Century
The 19th century was a time of rapid advancement in the dental profession. Not only did knowledge of dental care expand, but specialized dental tools became more widely used and available.
The first dental fillings are thought to have been made by Auguste Taveau in 1816. He melted down silver coins and mixed the silver with mercury to create an amalgam, which he inserted into the cavity.
Some years later in 1864, the rubber dam was developed. This made it much easier for dentists to isolate and work on teeth. By the 1870s, larger cavities were being filled with porcelain, and in 1980, Willoughby Miller’s work in microbial biology furthered our understanding of the way cavities form. This knowledge served to make home tooth-care products more common.
The 19th Century and Beyond
The dental profession has continued to improve and develop in our modern era. Over the past several decades, metal fillings have become less common, with most dentists now preferring tooth-colored composite. Dental drills are being replaced with lasers, which increase comfort and limit damage to healthy tooth material. X-rays have become nearly ubiquitous, with dentists relying on these images to spot problems such as tooth infections, cavities, and impactions early on.
There are still new technologies in development. For example, scientists and dentists are experimenting with using stem cells to allow patients to regrow missing or damaged teeth! Plus, thanks to same-day implants and similar technology, traditional dentures are becoming less common.
The days of bloodletting and beeswax fillings have thankfully passed. If you are struggling with dental pain and are in need of care, contact Coast Dental Center in Maple Ridge. We keep up-to-date with the latest technologies to offer patients the best, most comprehensive care.