How History Shapes Dental Technology’s Future?

Many people in school wonder why they have learn about history. They are often bored listening to dates, places and names of the past. They don’t see how it relates. Philosophers quipped that those who don’t study history are doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past. While this is true, it also is true that many inventions of the past have led to those today. This is especially true with new dental technology. Beginning of Time Most people put dentistry as new profession, but researchers and archeologists have found evidence of dental practices in ancient times. Researchers found a skull in Pakistan with perfectly drilled holes in the teeth that were supporting bone structure. The skull is carbon-dated between 7000 BC and 5500 BC. This discovery proved that dentistry has been practiced in some form for at least 4,000 years longer than was previously thought. Retention appliances were made in the Bronze Age. While the materials and designs have changed, they continue to be made in the 21st century. The technologies of today can trace their roots back to products of trial, error and experimentation during the past 9,000-plus years. Back then, people believed that a demon worm drank blood from teeth and gums, causing decay and disease. Today, dentists know that decay and gum disease is caused by bacteria in the mouth. In Egypt, archeologists found a skull dating from 1500 BC that shows perfectly drilled holes of equal size and depth below the molars. They were drilled to relieve pain caused by dental-related diseases due to diet and sand particles in the food that wore down occlusal and incisal surfaces. Rome and Greece Greek medical and dental centers were set up in Athens and Greek Islands. Hippocrates, born in 460 BC in Greece is considered the father of Western medicine. During his life, he studied and wrote extensively about medicine and dentistry. Although medical and dental treatment took place in Greece, it was primitive and coupled with prayers and offerings to the gods. Rome borrowed much from Greek culture, such as philosophical, architectural, medical and military knowledge. In fact, it was Asia Minor’s Asclepiades who founded the first Roman medical school in 14 AD. Medical doctors in Rome did the dental work. Aulus Cornelius Celsus (25 AD–50 AD) discussed dental care and treatments in his writings. He mentioned that extractions should be avoided except when necessary to keep the tooth intact. The decayed area was filled with linen and lead prior to extraction. Additionally, crowns were filed smooth if fractured, and repositioning malposed teeth was a common practice. Rome even used gold restorations and improved dental hygiene. All of these theories remain in place today. China, India and Far East India began graduating physicians from medical schools. The country advanced preventative dental care. Although scientists haven’t found any evidence that India cared about missing or damaged teeth, craftsmen were probably skilled in making teeth restorations. The Indian culture practiced good overall hygiene, which included brushing teeth daily with toothbrushes made of twigs and toothpaste that was formulated with honey, oil, pepper, cinnamon, ginger and salt. Cinnamon essential oil is known for preventing cavities. By 221 BC, China,gave us remarkable contributions to dentistry. By 659 AD, the Chinese were using toothbrushes and amalgam fillings composed of 100 parts mercury, 45 parts silver and 900 parts tin. Those metals were combined in a pot and added to the decayed tooth. Such developments eventually spread to Korea and Japan, where practitioners combined these practices with mystical and natural remedies to relieve pain and decay. Dentists still use fillings today. As you can see, dentists owe their profession to those in ancient times, but they have modernized and expanded the technology.