History of the Dentist

We've all been in that place where we sit in the waiting room, expecting the discomfort of sitting with our mouth wide open while a dentist cleans and works on our teeth. Whether you enjoy going to the dentist or you prefer not to think about visiting a dental professional, it is an important part of maintaining good hygiene. The history of dentistry is probably richer than you expect, because it began in 7000 BCE.

Ancient History

In ancient history, dentistry was used to clear decay, drain abscesses and replace teeth that were lost. The methods used in ancient times were crude, but evidence from skulls found in Egypt and the Indus Valley suggest that dentistry began long before modern medicine.

It was not until 500 BCE that measures to replace teeth with metal began to show up. Before gold was used to replace missing teeth by the Etruscans and the Romans, ancient cultures used animal teeth and tied them in place.

Modern Culture

It was not until the 1600s that dentistry began to take on the forms that are common today. Between the 1650s and the 1800s, physicians began taking an interest in dentistry and started working on it as part of treatment for their patients.

The first dental college did not open in the United States until 1840, when the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery opened its doors to students. From that time period, dentistry has rapidly evolved and changed to keep up with modern medicine and humane treatment practices.

Dentists use a variety of tools to remove decay and fill in cavities as well as perform dental surgery and remove teeth that are damaged. In modern dentistry, it is possible to replace teeth with options that look the same or similar to real teeth. Furthermore, cosmetic procedures are available to straighten, whiten and improve the appearance of teeth.

Dentistry has a very long history, which began thousands of years ago. Although the modern use of tools and technology has made it possible for dentists to keep teeth healthy, the advances of medical science are continually providing new opportunities to keep your teeth healthy each year.