August 15, 2025

Early Beginnings – Teeth Care in Ancient Societies Prehistoric Practices Remains dating as far back as 7000 B.C. to 5500 B.C. show drilled human molars in what is now Pakistan a technique likely used to relieve pain from cavities. Evidence from even earlier around 13,000 years ago in Italy reveals incisors with hollow grooves filled using materials such as bitumen, plant fibers, and hair, interpreted as one of the oldest forms of dental filling. These findings confirm that caring for teeth was not an accidental byproduct of culture but an intentional practice. People learned trial-and-error techniques that were passed down through generations, most likely from decorative drilling or bead cutting skills. Ancient Civilizations Adapted Oral Care into Community Life Indus Valley and Sumerian Insights By 5000 B.C., the Sumerians wrote about dental decay and tooth-worms as the source of cavities, a belief that lasted for millennia. Meanwhile, the Indus Valley civilization practiced drilled‑tooth treatments as early as 7000 B.C., suggesting widespread awareness of dental pain and early remedies. Egypt’s Structured Approach In Egypt around 2600 B.C., Hesy‑Ra held the title translated as “great one of the dentists,” often regarded as the earliest named dental practitioner. Despite abrasive diets causing severe tooth wear, Egyptian medical texts advised extractions as the main remedy: “There is no tooth that rots yet stays in place”. Physicians working in institutions known as the “Houses of Life” served royalty and the general public, showing dentistry as part of organized healing systems. Integration into Daily Life and Beliefs As these societies grew, care for teeth began to link with religious, social, and medical systems. In Mesopotamia, the “tooth‑worm” concept was tied to spiritual ideas. Egyptian care combined practical extraction with spiritual healing rites. Over time, a rudimentary but clear understanding emerged: pain relief, tooth removal, and basic cleaning all became part of communal health routines. Organized Treatments and Knowledge Transfer Greek and Roman Contributions Greek Observations Hippocrates and Aristotle (5th-4th century B.C.) discussed tooth decay, gum inflammation, and basic techniques such as cleaning and early removal. They began seeing teeth not as supernatural problems but human ailments grounded in physical causes. Roman Tools and Methods Scalpels, forceps, curettes, and cauteries were common dental tools used in ancient Rome for extraction and oral surgery. Roman doctors applied narcotics to alleviate pain, and they linked decay to the mythical “tooth‑worm” theory.Romans also used early prosthetics: Etruscan craft techniques produced partial dentures made of human or animal teeth fixed with gold bands. Romans built on that with implants and ties made of silk or gold wire to anchor replacement teeth.Some Roman writers like Pliny the Elder described tooth‑whitening pastes made from goat milk, mastic, or even human urine—for cosmetic purposes. Shift Toward Formal Knowledge and Profession Renaissance to 18th Century In medieval Europe, barber‑surgeons often carried out extractions. By the 16th century, devices like dental forceps, pastes, and prosthetics had improved, but dentistry remained informal and unregulated. The Birth of the Modern Dental Profession In 1728, French physician Pierre Fauchard published Le Chirurgien Dentiste, the first detailed book on oral anatomy, disease, surgical methods, fillings, orthodontics, and replacing missing teeth. He recognized sugar‑derived acids as causes for decay, introduced dental fillings, braces, and chairs, and recommended cleaning methods consistent with modern practice. Fauchard’s work transformed dentistry from a folk remedy into a knowledge‑based profession. His writing provided a framework that schools, professional guilds, and later formal dental societies would build upon. Integration into Public Health and Societal Norms Spread of Dental Awareness From the 19th century, public dental care started gaining ground: France, New York, Germany, Boston, and across Europe began offering dental services to the poor and children. Schools began teaching brushing and prevention slogans like “A clean tooth never decays” in campaigns during the 1890s. Preventive Care Adoption By the mid‑20th century, fluoride was identified (1931) and water fluoridation began (1945), marking the shift to prevention‑based dentistry. Governments began integrating dental checks into school systems, making regular oral hygiene and professional intervention part of communal health care standards. Societal Integration of Dental Practice From prehistoric drilling to formal texts, dentistry was first adopted out of necessity—pain relief and survival. As societies developed, tooth care gradually moved into healing institutions, religious contexts, and formal medical systems. Practitioners like Hesy‑Ra, Hippocrates, Roman physicians, and ultimately Pierre Fauchard helped shape dentistry as a recognized profession. By the 19th and 20th centuries, dental care became woven into public health and daily life, so communities began viewing clean teeth as essential to wellbeing. In conclusion, how dentistry first integrated into society traces a path from early cultural efforts to alleviate tooth pain, through the integration of medical, spiritual, and social practices, to the eventual creation of a formal profession. Over thousands of years, teeth care evolved from infrequent emergency relief to systematic community health supported by knowledge, training, and preventive culture.