The Practice Of Dentistry From The Past To Present
The practice of dentistry encompasses the “treatment and care of the teeth and associated oral structures.” It mostly has a lot to do with any diseases infecting the gums and other supporting structures, defective placement of teeth, and tooth decay. Dating back to 7000 B.C., early forms of drillings on human teeth were practiced in Pakistan. These primitive forms of dentistry helped to pioneer the field and subsequently expand the world fo medicine. Certain important developments within dentistry is examined in order to illustrate its impact on the field of medicine.
Although early practices of treating certain tooth related disorders proved to be primitive, as illustrated by the use of bow drills, most likely operated by skilled bead craftsmen within the Indus Valley Civilization, these initial methods are seen to be effective and reliable from its reconstruction. As early as 5000 B.C. “tooth worms” were believed to be the cause of many tooth-related ailments, which was illustrated in a Sumaritan transcript. Traces of this belief were found in Japan, Egypt, China, and India.
Even Homer wrote of these worms, which were also promoted by noted physician, Guy de Chauliac. Many ancient transcripts were discovered explaining the practice of dentistry. One such transcript dating back to the 17th century, the Edwin Smith Papyrus, examined several forms of treating tooth realted ailments, which included manuscripts dating further back to 3000 B.C. The Code of Hammurabi also include a couple mentions of dental extractions as a form of punishment. “The eruption pattern of teeth”, the use of wires to re-position broken jaws and loose teeth, the removal of teeth with forceps, and methods of treating tooth decay and gum disease, were some dental practices mentioned in writings by Aristotle and Hippocrates. The first book solely focused on the science of dentistry was the “Artzney Buchlein”, written in 1530.
The science of dentistry was first written in English in 1685 in a book titled “Operator for the teeth”. Along with writings, evidence of dental tools and appliances were found in countless regions. The discovery of the Etruscans’ remarkable dental bridges and crowns illustrated early practices of dentistry. Evidence of primitive dental prosthetics and surgery were uncovered from ancient Egyptian and Greco-Roman corpses. The dental pelican, invented by Guy de Chauliac in the 14th century, was the precedent to the modern foceps of the 20th century. Prior to this modern invention, the dental pelican was innovated into the dental key of the 18th and 19th centuries.
During its early beginnings, dentistry was not seen as a profession in itself. This often led barbers and general physicians to perform dental procedures. Barbers often limited their dental practice to teeth removal to alleviate toothaches and heal chronic tooth infections. The science of modern dentistry expanded in the years beginning in 1650 to 1800. Dentistry had a number of pioneers, many who lived in Europe, that illustrated its significance as a field in medicine. As the recognized “father of modern dentistry”, Pierre Fauchard was credited for starting the science of dentistry in the 17th century, as it is now known today. The shift to the U.S. was not made until the 19th century. The first dental school in the world was established in Baltimore in 1840. Prior to this establishment, dentistry was only seen as a specialty.
Soon after, “the development of local and general anesthesia, the invention of the drilling machine, discovery of better substances for filling teeth (amalgam and gold), and, most importantly, the ability to devise replacements closely approximating natural teeth in function and appearance contributed much to the rapid growth of dentistry as a science and an art” are now viewed as respected medical professions and will continue with the discovery of new innovations.
Thurman Adams has the ability to devise replacements closely approximating natural teeth in function and appearance contributed much to the rapid growth of dentistry as a science and an art. Dentists are now viewed as respected medical professions and will continue with the discovery of new innovations.
If you’d like to follow up on Thurman, check out his blog on Flushing dentist. Thurman has many articles and information that you might be interested in.
