You would have to look back to 7000 BC to find the first acknowledgements of the ancient history of dentistry. There were drilled holes found in the teeth that were found in the Neolithic graveyard. This graveyard also contains the remains of people from the Indus Valley Civilization. While researching and finding information it was found that the earliest known dentist died in 2600 BC. He was Hesy-Re and the words on his tomb were the greatest of those who deal with teeth, and of physicians.
Greek scholars Hippocrates and Aristotle wrote about dentistry around 300 BC. These writings included information about how teeth grew in and about treating gum disease. Treating people for teeth issues was not considered a profession it was performed by doctors and barbers. It was not until the 1300s that Guy de Chauliac created the Pelican which was used to pull teeth, later dental key took its place and now the forceps that dentist use today.
Starting the 14th century in 1530 The Little Medicinal Book for all kinds of Diseases and Infirmities of the teeth was wrote by Artzney Buchlein and published in Germany. It was meant for barbers and surgeons to have extended knowledge of the mouth and its possible conditions. Thirty three years later the next dental book was published in Italy and it was written by Bartolomeo Eustachio named Libellus de dentibus.
Centuries ago dental care was not a normal practice compared to today. In ancient times it was considered normal to have bad teeth appear around the mid-thirties. Trying to eliminate the pain that bad teeth cause is what started the evolution of dental care. And with the increasing number of dentist the first known advertisement for dentistry was placed in the surrounding area newspaper by Paul Revere who was a well-known silver smith and dentist. Leading us to a time when dentist offices exist and only practice dentistry.
In the late 1700s John Greenwood of George Washington’s many dentists created the earliest known drill for teeth, using his mothers spinning tool to operate a drill. Also in that year Josiah Flagg constructed the first chair for dental patients with a head rest and an arm to hold instruments. In 1831 James Snell invented the first reclining dental chair.
Looking for a way to control pain for patients Horace Well discovered Nitrous Oxide also known as Laughing Gas in 1844 to use as anesthesia. With it only relaxing people they were still having pain which brought the idea of using cocaine into effect in 1884 by Carl Koller. The drug was found to be very addictive so other options had to be explored. This is how Novocain was brought about in the early 1900s developed by Alfred Einhorn a German researcher.
1840 was when the first dental school in the world opened at the Baltimore College of dental surgery. London housed the next dental hospital teaching facility in 1858. Harvard being the first university to teach dental classes in 1867 is what led an open invitation to other schools to follow.
With all the knowledge that has been acquired about the ancient history of dentistry this profession has definitely come a long way. Not only in dental care but also the means of training. With all the dental knowledge today any one can have beautiful teeth with a minimal amount of pain.
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