Did you know? Some Fun Facts about History of keeping those teeth Pearly White.

In the last two decades cosmetic dentistry has made huge steps forward in a way of technology and aesthetic standards, affording patients a greater range of options when it comes to creating that perfect smile.

Teeth whitening, porcelain veneers and dental implants are cutting-edge procedures that are becoming more and more common every day.

But wanting that perfect smile is a concept that actually dates back to ancient times.

There are findings that as early as 3000BC people were using sticks to clean their teeth.

Around 700BC the Etruscans made dentures with ivory and bone, and by 200AD they learned to use gold to make dental crowns.

The Egyptians made toothpaste of pumice stone and vinegar to remove stains from their teeth.

In the 1100s a very unlikely group of people became involved in dental assisting (can you guess who they were?) 

Actually a group of Barbers became very heavily involved in dentistry and by 1210 they had formed a guild consisting of dental surgeons and hygienists.

In the Middle Ages Cosmetic Dentistry became more of an experiment than a practice.

In the 15^th century Europeans started carving dentures from bone and ivory. In the 18^th century they were using human teeth as dental implants. In the 19^th century they started placing metal in the sockets of lost teeth. Needless to say, none of these worked very well.

In the 19^th century dental economy experienced a revival due to use of porcelain teeth in dentures. As decades went by more and more porcelain was introduced into dentistry giving rise to invention of the ‘porcelain jacket crown’ in 1903. In the 1950’s porcelain started being fused to metal making it much stronger and more durable.

MODERN DAY PRACTICES

Teeth Whitening:

In the 19 and 20^th centuries various bleaching agents, including hydrogen peroxide, were used to whiten teeth. These usually required several applications.

Then, came a huge leap in the science of teeth whitening. 1989 was the year when Drs. Haywood and Heymann introduced carbamide peroxide as whitening agent, giving rise to the take home whitening products we use today.

Then, in 1996 FDA approved the use of dental lasers for teeth whitening which allow the procedure to be reduced to about an hour. Since then millions of in-office professional whitening procedures have been performed successfully.

Dental Fillings and Dental Bonding:

These came onto the scene as early as 1955. The first composite dental filling often failed due to leakage. But in 1962 Rafael Brown invented a thermo-set resin complex used in modern composite restorations. White fillings became very popular in the 80’s when a special curing light was developed to harden them quickly.

Dental Veneers:

These ultra thin wafers of porcelain designed to create that perfect smile were invented as early as 1930. Introduced into the acting world by Charles Pincus as a temporary fix for movie stars, they were held in place by denture adhesive, and often fell off at the most inconvenient time.

In 1982 the dental world saw a revolutionary advancement in the methodology of porcelain dental veneers. A special porcelain bonding technique was introduced to allow for permanent retention of veneers in place. Current porcelain dental veneers are very durable and should last for 15 years or more.

Dental implants:

These were introduced into dentistry in 1937, but it was in 1952 that a Swedish implant specialist, Dr. Branemark, discovered osseo-integration, a process where titanium fuses to bone. In 1981, after years of intense research, he was finally ready to take his invention to the mass market. 1990’s saw the surge in the use of dental implants and today they are a very common procedure.

Dr. Veronica Greene is a Cosmetic and Anti-Aging Dentist in New York. If you have a question or would like to start creating Your Perfect Smile feel free to get in touch with us at 212.832.0004 or patients@truimagedental.com

Happy Saturday!