Nowadays, dental care is relatively simple and painless, especially at a facility like SDS where we invest in the latest technology for the comfort of our patients. If you brush your teeth frequently and visit your dentist regularly, your appointments should go smoothly. However, painless dental care was not always the case. Dentistry has come a long way since its inception in 7000 BC.
The Beginning of Dental Care
The earliest evidence of tooth decay comes from the Indus Valley Civilization and the first method of treatment was bow drills, which were ancient primitive tools used for woodworking and it is assumed they didn’t have any sort of numbing agents. (OUCH!)
Looking for the Cause
Traveling forward in time to 5000 BC, the Sumerians blamed tooth worms as the cause of all dental complaints, stating the worms boring little holes in your teeth and hiding out inside. Reportedly, some ancient doctors even mistook nerves as tooth worms and tried to yank them out, which would be incredibly painful! The idea that a worm traveled through your mouth and was the cause of dental pain lasted until it was proven false in the 1700s (aka over 6,000 years!)
Moving into the middle ages, the professionals who were performing extractions were not actually medical authorities, but barbers. These barbers were not full-time dentists, but in fact, their work was focused solely on removing any infected teeth for alleviating pain purposes, and not preventive care.
The Birth of Dentistry
It was between 1650 and 1800 that the ideas behind what we now call dentistry got its start. 17th-century French Physician, Pierre Fauchard, “The Father of Modern Dentistry” established the practice. Some of Fauchard’s ideas are still in practice today! He was the man behind the thought process for dental fillings, and he also helped to explain that acids from sugar are a major source of tooth decay.
Modern Dentistry
In 1840, the first dental college was opened, called the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, which led to more government oversight, and eventually regulation through the American Dental Association (ADA).
In 1873, Colgate mass-produced the first toothpaste in a jar, and, just a few years later, in 1885, the first toothbrush was mass-produced in America by H.N. Wadsworth and the first real electric toothbrush was produced in 1939 in Switzerland.
Surprisingly, most Americans did not pick up on the dental trend to brush their teeth until after World War II. The soldiers stationed abroad brought the concept of good dental health back to the states. Now, most Americans not only focus on the health aspects of keeping their teeth clean, but many are just as concerned with the cosmetic appearance as well.
Schaumburg Dental Studio
Thank goodness times have changed! Now dentists are going above any beyond to ensure our patients are not only healthy, but also comfortable and confident in their smile.
Are you looking for a new dentist in Chicagoland? Call Schaumburg Dental Studio today at (847) 957-3537 to schedule a free consultation and take a tour of our facility.
