A Dental History Lesson

We may take modern dental technology for granted, but innovations over the years have led us to where we are today

When a patient has a dental problem, they know that they can come to our Ipswich clinic in the knowledge that we have a wide range of equipment and technology available to help us not only diagnose, but also treat any issues that they have.

Dentistry has not always been so sophisticated though and a trip to the dentist in times gone by was certainly not one for the faint hearted.

As with other fields of medicine, dentistry has made great strides that enables the team at the Foxhall Dental Practice to help you keep your teeth not only healthy but great looking too, with a wide range of cosmetic dental procedures at our disposal.

In today’s blog, we are going to take a look at some significant events in the history of dentistry; some of these still exist today, albeit in a more advanced form. If you have ever wondered who came up with the idea of the reclining chair that we use, please read on.

1563 – The second book published on dentistry but this time with accurate dental anatomy. This would set the stage for further education on oral care. The first book in English came over a hundred years later and was called ‘The operator for the teeth’.

1683 – Oral bacteria detected using a microscope for the first time. This would have been the first steps to understanding the causes of gum disease which would have likely caused some very serious problems in those days.

1780 – A familiar one; the very first modern toothbrush was manufactured by William Addis. It used bone for the handle and boar bristles for the brush. Even this was an improvement on the previous method of using a piece of rag with soot and salt on!

1831 – The first ever reclining dentist’s chair was designed by James Snell. This would have been a great advance at the time, enabling dentists to treat patients more easily. Unlike modern ones, these would of course have been manually operated.

1833 – The first use of amalgam as a filling material. This is still used to this day and offers a strong option. Modern white dental fillings are starting to replace this though and it is expected that amalgam will be eliminated altogether over time.

1844 – The first demonstration of nitrous oxide as an anaesthetic. Two years later, ether was also discovered to have a similar effect.

1846 – The first ever tooth extraction in the UK, using ether as an anaesthetic.

1858/59 – The Dental Hospital of London opened, followed a year later by the opening of the first dental schools in the UK. This would have been a moment when dentistry started to become a little more widely available to a wider range of people.

1895 – The first ever woman became qualified as a dentist in the UK. Her name was Lilian Lindsay.

1921 – The first ever dentistry act was passed by parliament. This ensured that only registered dentists were allowed to practise. A long way from times when you would have to go to the local blacksmith to have a tooth out!

1943 – First training of hygienists in the UK by the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force. As our readers will know, seeing our Ipswich clinic’s oral hygienist is one of the essential steps you should take to maintain a healthy mouth and minimise the risk of gum disease.

1948 – NHS was introduced, allowing much greater access to general and dental health care. We still offer an NHS service at our practice today.

1957 – First air turbine dental drill. Previous drills had slower speeds which would have been more uncomfortable for patients. The air turbine drill saw the advance of high speed drills which have been improved even further, leading to the ones used today.

1958 – First fluoride toothpaste introduced into the UK. This helped to strengthen the enamel of the nation’s teeth, helping to reduce common problems like tooth decay.

1965 – First ever tooth implant placed into a human. This was a successful procedure and the implants remained stable even following the death of the patient more than forty years later. Dental implants are now more sophisticated and remain a popular choice for replacing missing teeth.

Another major advance has been the use of digital technology. This has been introduced gradually as technology evolves rather than at a specific date. This has been a ‘game changer’ for so many problems allowing 3D scanning and other advantages that a straightforward X-ray machine simply couldn’t offer.

Hopefully, you found today’s blog interesting and it is easy to see how lucky today’s patients are (even if they may not feel like it while undergoing a procedure). With discoveries that originated in the past, we are able to offer a comprehensive oral health care service to keep your mouth healthy for years to come.

If you would like to discuss any oral health issues with us, or to arrange an appointment to see a dentist or hygienist, please call the Foxhall Dental Practice today on 01473 258396.