THE STORY OF DENTISTRY: ANCIENT ORIGINS

Archaeological evidence of the dentistry of antiquity suggests that treatment included

medical methods of combating dental affections, mechanical means of treatment such as
retentive prosthesis and the art of applying artificial substitutes for lost dental structures.
t is believed that the oldest civilization that knew something of dentistry was Egypt. The
earliest indication of such knowledge is found in the Edwin Smith Surgical Papyrus. t
contains detailed directions for the treatment of wounds about the mouth, but no mention
is made of restoring lost teeth resulting from these injuries. The hard tissues of the mouth
were in general considered untreatable. n closing his discussion on this topic one ancient
Egyptian surgeon advises: "One having a fracture of the mandible over which a wound has
been inflicted and he has fever from it, it is an ailment not to be treated".
Proving prehistoric man's ingenuity, researchers have found that dental drilling dates back
9,000 years. Primitive dentists drilled nearly perfect holes into teeth of live patients
between 5500 and 7000 B.C.
Researchers recently carbon- dated at least nine skulls with 11 drill holes found in a grave-
yard in Pakistan. This means dentistry is at least 4,000 yrs older than first thought.
Researchers figured that a small bow was used to drive the flint drill tips into patients'
teeth. Flint drill heads were found on site. This dental drilling probably evolved from
intricate ornamental bead drilling.
The drilled teeth found in the graveyard were hard- to-reach molars. Although it is
speculated that the drilling could have been decorative or to release "evil spirits more than
fighting tooth decay, the hard- to-see locations of the drilled teeth in jaws seem to rule out
drilling for decorative purposes. No sign of fillings were found.
"The time for extracting a dental lesson from history is ever at hand for dentists who are
wise Demosthenes.
The story of dentistry: Middle ages and The Renaissance: Beginnings of the dental
profession
Dental treatment is as old as toothache itself. The middle ages was a brutal time for the
toothache sufferer, as the main treatments available were dubious toothache remedies
and extraction. Dentistry was not a profession in itself, and often dental treatment such as
extractions and tinctures were offered by barbers or barber-surgeons, and by the
marketplace charlatan, the tooth drawer, and later the 'Operator for the Teeth'. Dental
treatments comprised tinctures and styptics - extraction was a last and painful resort.
Forceps and the 'Pelican' were the most common extracting tools. The dental pelican,
invented in the 14th century by

Guy de Chauliac was often made by the village blacksmith, needed little skill to use and
often caused terrible damage and pain. The pelican was replaced by the dental key in the
1700's which, in turn, was replaced by modern forceps in the 20th century.
Oral hygiene during the middle ages was very basic. Teeth were cleaned with pieces of
linen or sponge, or by using toothpicks.
The story of dentistry: 18th Century: From toothdrawer to dentist
"Should enlightenment grow in the practice of dentistry, we might attain to progress and
engender new ideas..." Pierre Fauchard 1746
By the early 1700's, dentistry was considered a lesser part of medicine. By the end of this
century, it had begun to emerge as a discipline in its own right. n the late 1750's the term
'dentist', borrowed from the French, started to be used in Britain to describe tooth
operators.
n this century the first real textbooks appeared including Pierre Fauchard's monumental
work in 1723: 'Le Chirurgien Dentiste' (The Surgeon Dentist) marking the beginning of
theoretical and professional dentistry.
Throughout this period of change quackery was still widespread and charlatans were a
common part of rural life. Only the very wealthy could afford the skilled dentist or operator
for the teeth. For many the only option was the village blacksmith and tooth drawer offering
painful extractions. Tinctures, toothpowders and abrasive dentifrices could also be
purchased at the market fairs.
The upper classes could afford a greater range of treatments, including artificial teeth
(highly sought after by the sugar-consuming wealthy). vory dentures were popular into the
18th century, and were made from natural materials including walrus, elephant or
hippopotamus ivory.
Human teeth or 'Waterloo teeth'-sourced from battlefields or graveyards-were riveted into
the base. These ill fitting and uncomfortable ivory dentures were replaced by porcelain
dentures, introduced in the 1790's. These were not successful due to their bright colours,
and tendency to crack.
The story of dentistry: 19th
Century: Advances in science and education
Before the 1800's, the practice of dentistry was still a long way from achieving professional
status. This was to change in the 19th century - the most significant period in the history of
dentistry to date. By 1800 there were still relatively few 'dentists' practicing the profession.
By the middle of the 19th century the number of practicing dentists had increased
markedly, although there was no legal or professional control to prevent malpractice and
incompetence. Pressure for reform of the profession increased.
The introduction of anaesthesia had a dramatic effect on dentistry. Alongside ether and
chloroform, nitrous oxide became the most preferred option and most surgeries were
equipped with general anaesthetic equipment by the end of the century.
Many people were now prepared to have their rotting teeth extracted, which led to an
enormous demand for cheap and efficient dentures. The introduction of vulcanite in the
mid 19th century meant that now dentures could be mass-produced and affordable,
replacing the expensive ivory versions.
Early dental hand drills (adaptations of carpenters' drills) were superseded by the foot
treadle engine drill in 1871 and was still being used by dentists into the 20th century.

Clockwork Dental Drill circa 1865 - Harrington's Erado
The story of dentistry: 20th
Century: nnovations in techniques and technology
The 20th century saw an explosion of new materials, techniques and technology in
dentistry,
Novocaine was introduced early in the 1900's as a local anaesthetic by a German chemist,
Alfred Einhorn. The use of local anaesthetics during dental procedures did much to
change the public's attitude towards dentistry.
The early 20th century brought along a better understanding of dental disease and
prevention.
n 1900, few people could afford regular dental treatment and many had dentures at an
early age.
Dental disease in the general population was widespread. By 1907 the British School
Dental Service, opened the first UK children's clinic.
Toothbrush clubs operated in London schools, and toothbrushes were issued to all serving
men during World War , which extended their use into working class families for the first
time.
During the later half of the 20th century dental health in the developed world improved
dramatically and visits to the dentist eventually became a normal part of everyday life.
Fluoride toothpaste was first marketed around 1959 and by 1990, the majority of
toothpaste sold contained fluoride. During this time, children's dental caries were reduced
by half.
Developments in twentieth century dental treatment were made possible by amazing
technological improvements in dental equipment. A new era was opened up with the
discovery, by Rntgen, of x-rays and their application to dentistry at the turn of the century.
t had an enormous impact on dental diagnosis, by showing what lay beneath the surface
of a tooth.