Dr. Messina has been a dentist for a decade this year! And while she has seen a lot in 10 years, did you know that humans have been “practicing” dentistry for thousands of years? So this month on the blog: a deep dive into the history of dentistry!
Ancient Dentistry
Dentistry is one of the oldest medical professions, dating back to about 7000 B.C. with the Indus Valley Civilization. Though humans were believed to have been working on teeth these thousands of years ago, it wasn’t until 5000 B.C. that written descriptions related to dentistry and tooth decay began to be recorded. The first recognized dentist was an Egyptian scribe who lived around 2600 B.C.
In ancient Greek texts, Hippocrates and Aristotle wrote about treating decaying teeth, and an ancient Sumerian text described “tooth worms” as causing dental decay (an idea that wouldn’t be proven false for thousands of years!)
Renaissance Dentistry
It wasn't until the year 1530 that the first text entirely devoted to dentistry — The Little Medicinal Book for All Kinds of Diseases and Infirmities of the Teeth — was published.
By the 1700s, dentistry had become a more defined medical profession, and in 1723, a French surgeon named Pierre Fauchard published his influential book, “The Surgeon Dentist, a Treatise on Teeth,” which defined for the first time a comprehensive system for caring for and treating teeth. Fauchard’s work earned him renown as the “Father of Modern Dentistry." He introduced the idea of dental fillings and the use of dental prostheses, and he identified that byproducts of sugar metabolism in the mouth led to tooth decay.
In 1840, the first dental college (Baltimore College of Dental Surgery) opened, establishing the need for more oversight and regulation in the profession. Among the States, Alabama led the way by enacting the first dental practice act in 1841, and nearly 20 years later, the American Dental Association (ADA) was formed. The first university-affiliated dental institution, the Harvard University Dental School, was founded in 1867.
By 1873, Colgate had mass produced the first toothpaste, and mass-produced toothbrushes followed a few years later. But most Americans did not adopt good brushing habits until after World War II, when soldiers stationed abroad brought the concept of good oral health back to the United States. The late 1800s saw other important developments in early dentistry, such as the first dental xray being used in 1896 and Edward H. Angle’s development of a system for Orthodontics still in use
today!
1900s to Today
Novocaine was invented in 1905, and America’s first dental hygienists started
school in 1913. Fluoridated water was introduced in the 1940s and is still a
standard for protecting teeth today. The second half of the 1900s saw the
invention of the high speed drill, the use of lasers to treat gum disease, and the
advent of composite resin fillings you know today.
The practice of dentistry has come a long way, and at Dr. Messina’s office, we love talking about how new, innovative practices are being developed every day.
During her 10 years in practice, Dr. Messina has seen first hand how smart
technology and advances in non-invasive dental treatments have continued to
make a visit to the dentist an increasingly comfortable experience. We can’t wait
to see how dentistry advances in another 10 years!
We write a blog post every month to keep our patients and our community updated on important dental topics, so be sure to check back here often! And don't forget: we love your questions! We welcome discussion of these blog topics or anything you're curious about. Our patient family is the best part of our practice, and we are grateful for you!