From Origins to Modern Teeth: A Curious Journey Through the History of Dentistry

Dentistry is one of the oldest medical professions, with roots reaching back to ancient times, even as far as 7000 BC in the Indus Valley Civilization. The first detailed descriptions of dental caries appear around 5000 BC. It’s surprising to note that during that period, a Sumerian text attributed the cause of cavities to “tooth worms” 🐛, a belief that persisted for millennia until it was disproved only in the 18th century. This persistence of a mystical explanation for a biological problem highlights a long period where medical understanding was based more on observation than on a rigorous scientific method.

Oral hygiene practices and dental instruments also have a fascinating history. As early as 4000 BC, Hindus in India used “chewing sticks” (fresh twigs with frayed ends) as ancestors of toothbrushes. The first bristle toothbrushes, similar to modern ones, emerged in China during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), with ivory or bamboo handles. Another remarkable discovery is the oldest known dental filling, dating back 6,500 years in Slovenia, made from beeswax! 🐝

In the Middle Ages, dental practice was rudimentary and often painful. Barbers, in addition to cutting hair, performed tooth extractions as a remedy for various ailments, illustrating the basic nature of dental care at the time. The idea that tooth extraction could cure all ills was widespread during that period.

The real turning point towards modern dentistry came in the 18th century with Pierre Fauchard, a French surgeon recognized as the “Father of Modern Dentistry“. In 1723, Fauchard published “The Surgeon Dentist, a Treatise on Teeth,” an influential work that for the first time defined a complete system for the care and treatment of teeth. Fauchard also introduced the idea of dental fillings and the use of prosthetics, and, crucially, correctly identified acids derived from sugar as the cause of cavities. This shift from superstition to scientific understanding transformed dentistry from an extraction practice to a profession focused on prevention and preservation.

Modern innovations, although taken for granted today, are relatively recent. Novocain, a local anesthetic, was only invented in 1903. The first dental X-ray was used in 1896. The mass production of the first toothpaste by Colgate happened in 1873, and curiously, it was sold in a jar rather than a tube. What may be most surprising is that the adoption of good brushing habits in the United States didn’t become widespread until after World War II, when returning soldiers brought the concept of good oral hygiene home. This gap between the invention of tools and their widespread adoption highlights that technological progress alone isn’t enough to improve public health; cultural factors, awareness campaigns, and education play a crucial role in translating scientific knowledge into widespread preventive practices.