Dental professionals have been protecting teeth against decay since the year 7000 BC. In fact dentistry is the eldest known profession in the world. Sumerian text from 7000BC describes tooth decay as tooth worms, which is a term similar to that used in pediatric dental today. The term used today is known as bugs or germs used to describe tooth decay to a younger audience. The term ‘worms’ was not disproved until the late 1700’s. Some of the first treatment for dental pain developed were extraction (removal of teeth) and attaching loose teeth to each other with the use of a wire to stabilise the condition. Aristotle played a major role in the developments of dentistry which are still used to this day. His use of forceps to remove teeth have been adapted to modern day dentistry however, are still commonly used.
It was most common in the middle ages for monks to complete dental procedures, as they were seen to be the highest educated members of society. However this practice ended as Monks became banned from the
trade, it left barbers with their precision skill to pick up the occupation.It was within the 1700’s where dentistry really grew its legs an began to walk, it was the father of medicine Pierre Fauchard who allowed the dental occupation to grow. He took great leaps toward the knowledge and skill which is still practiced today. Fauchard linked sugar to the production of acid causing dental decay, his use of dental fillings created a ripple for advances in the dental field.
It was in the 1800’s where impression material and retentive pins were developed. Also within this time inhalation sedation from nitrous oxide was trailed with great success. It was in the 1867 where Harvard University provided the first Dental Medicine Degree, only 5 students were admitted to this first course outline. After just one year of study due to their previous study as physicians, Dr Henry T.Noel, Dr Robert Fulton Boyd, and Dr John Wesley Anderson graduated. Modern Dentistry as we know has come a leaps and bounds from were it originated. From foot pedal operated drills to the intra-oral scanners we use to 3D print model teeth today.
