Dental ailments have remained remarkably similar throughout history. Decay, toothaches,
periodontal disease and premature tooth loss were documented in ancient chronicles. The exact
time that dental art made its appearance isn't known; however, there is ample proof of its existence
among the civilizations of Egypt, Etruscans of Central Italy, Assyrians, China, etc. Since Dental
History is such a broad field, a few of the highlights of dentistry will be mentioned in order of
importance and chronology.
A. At the beginning, life consisted of simple creatures of the sea, which consisted of masses of
protoplasmic cells.
B. By engulfing themselves around a desired morsel, they were able to absorb food. Later a slit
developed, the forerunner of the oral cavity and great gut.
C. Much later tentacles and feelers developed around this slit. The tentacles helped to carry the food
to the slit, oral cavity and great gut.
D. Then nature took the outer layer of skin and carried it inward to the oral cavity.
This skin contained tentacles which were the forerunners of our teeth. These tentacles, also called
shagreen, were calcified.
E. Some of these sea creatures developed lungs and became amphibians. Some began to spend time
on land. At first they crawled on their bellies, later they developed limbs and feet and arose from the
ground. Faced with a new environment including a mixed diet, the creatures
evolved into stronger animals made up of hard bone and tough muscle fiber. Originally three single
tentacles fused and became tri-conodonts. These later changed into teeth very similar to
the teeth of the Catarrine Apes (who inhabited the earth about 40,000,000 years ago in the middle of
the Tertiary Period). The descendants of these apes have the same dental formula as man. Somehow
fire and its benefits were discovered. Cooking made sea food more palatable. Fish and shell fish
became the staple diet as well as nuts, fruits, and the flesh of animals. Due to this food supply many
of the tribes of Egypt and China thrived in the river valleys. Later cultivated grains such as rice,
wheat and barley were added to the diet. If we set the beginning of history at 4000 B.C., toothaches
can be traced to the earliest records. In the Egyptian manuscripts known as Eber's Papyri, which
dates back to 3700 B.C., dental maladies such as toothaches and sore gums are mentioned. Also
about 3000 years ago, the Chinese were concerned about the condition of their teeth and gums. In
manuscripts of that period, at least nine dental ailments were listed and also prescriptions for their
treatment. Ancient petrified skulls showed the presence of decay. In the Giza Pyramids skulls were
found with evidence of tooth decay. Be it Asia, Africa or America among the Co-magnon (direct
ancestor of man) who painted walls of caves 20,000 B.C., we find all men suffered their share of
dental ills.
Magic played an important part in the treatment of dental ills, and people of early ages had odd
beliefs concerning teeth. The Egyptians believed that the mouse was under the direct protection of
the sun, therefore if one had a toothache the split body of a warm mouse was applied to the
affected side. In India the cuspid of Buddha was enshrined in a famous temple (at Kandi) and prayed
to in fertility rites. Prayers were offered up to saints for the relief of pain. St. Apollonia of
Alexandria, 249 A.D., was one such saint. She is now the Patron Saint of Dentistry.
periodontal disease and premature tooth loss were documented in ancient chronicles. The exact
time that dental art made its appearance isn't known; however, there is ample proof of its existence
among the civilizations of Egypt, Etruscans of Central Italy, Assyrians, China, etc. Since Dental
History is such a broad field, a few of the highlights of dentistry will be mentioned in order of
importance and chronology.
A. At the beginning, life consisted of simple creatures of the sea, which consisted of masses of
protoplasmic cells.
B. By engulfing themselves around a desired morsel, they were able to absorb food. Later a slit
developed, the forerunner of the oral cavity and great gut.
C. Much later tentacles and feelers developed around this slit. The tentacles helped to carry the food
to the slit, oral cavity and great gut.
D. Then nature took the outer layer of skin and carried it inward to the oral cavity.
This skin contained tentacles which were the forerunners of our teeth. These tentacles, also called
shagreen, were calcified.
E. Some of these sea creatures developed lungs and became amphibians. Some began to spend time
on land. At first they crawled on their bellies, later they developed limbs and feet and arose from the
ground. Faced with a new environment including a mixed diet, the creatures
evolved into stronger animals made up of hard bone and tough muscle fiber. Originally three single
tentacles fused and became tri-conodonts. These later changed into teeth very similar to
the teeth of the Catarrine Apes (who inhabited the earth about 40,000,000 years ago in the middle of
the Tertiary Period). The descendants of these apes have the same dental formula as man. Somehow
fire and its benefits were discovered. Cooking made sea food more palatable. Fish and shell fish
became the staple diet as well as nuts, fruits, and the flesh of animals. Due to this food supply many
of the tribes of Egypt and China thrived in the river valleys. Later cultivated grains such as rice,
wheat and barley were added to the diet. If we set the beginning of history at 4000 B.C., toothaches
can be traced to the earliest records. In the Egyptian manuscripts known as Eber's Papyri, which
dates back to 3700 B.C., dental maladies such as toothaches and sore gums are mentioned. Also
about 3000 years ago, the Chinese were concerned about the condition of their teeth and gums. In
manuscripts of that period, at least nine dental ailments were listed and also prescriptions for their
treatment. Ancient petrified skulls showed the presence of decay. In the Giza Pyramids skulls were
found with evidence of tooth decay. Be it Asia, Africa or America among the Co-magnon (direct
ancestor of man) who painted walls of caves 20,000 B.C., we find all men suffered their share of
dental ills.
Magic played an important part in the treatment of dental ills, and people of early ages had odd
beliefs concerning teeth. The Egyptians believed that the mouse was under the direct protection of
the sun, therefore if one had a toothache the split body of a warm mouse was applied to the
affected side. In India the cuspid of Buddha was enshrined in a famous temple (at Kandi) and prayed
to in fertility rites. Prayers were offered up to saints for the relief of pain. St. Apollonia of
Alexandria, 249 A.D., was one such saint. She is now the Patron Saint of Dentistry.
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