In today’s world of social media, it’s easy to think cosmetic dental work only came around recently. Some even believe they wouldn’t care about smiles much if selfies didn’t exist. That said, cosmetic dentistry’s history is quite long and varied; people have been trying to get pretty grins for centuries. Your Castle Rock dentist can show that much with current research and evidence. As for the proof, just keep reading to learn a brief history of cosmetic dentistry.
A Start in the Ancient World
To find cosmetic dentistry’s starting point, you’ll need to return to the ancient world. Folks began finding ways to improve their smiles thousands of years ago.
The early Egyptians are a key example of this fact. As far back as 3,000 BCE, they were making dental crowns and bridges from metals like gold. Some of their clever citizens also used seashells to replace teeth around that time.
Many other ancient groups mimicked the Egyptians as well. The ancient Etruscans used ivory and animal bones to make dentures in 700 BCE. Later, classical Romans used their urine as toothpaste because ammonia could remove tooth stains.
Medieval & Enlightened Changes
Of course, people didn’t stick to seashells and urine for their dental cosmetics. They changed their approaches as they gained better tools and more accurate knowledge.
Fairly notable developments came in the Middle Ages. During that period, medieval barbers would file their customers’ teeth to make them look whiter. However, this process had mixed results and destroyed enamel, so it soon fell out of practice.
Further changes emerged around the 1800s as dental science grew. At that time, dentists started using metal in their tooth replacement work. While the approach didn’t work out, it prompted crucial insights; later generations would shift to using porcelain and plaster molds for restorations.
Cosmetic Dentistry’s Present
By the early 20th century, what you might view as “true” cosmetic dentistry began to form. It was in the 1900s that many dentists made breakthroughs that are still implemented in the present.
For instance, look at the case of Dr. Charles Pincus. He invented veneers in the 1930s to give actors prettier smiles. Though these early shells often fell off, they allowed for the creation of secure ones in the 1980s.
You should also consider figures like Drs. Haywood and Heymann. They discovered a chemical that safely bleaches enamel in 1989, thus ensuring the rise of modern tooth whitening. Thanks to them, patients can now brighten their smiles by several shades at once.
Clearly, the history of cosmetic dentistry didn’t start with the Internet. Keep that in mind as you pursue treatment with your dental provider.
About the Practice
Sweet Smiles Dental Design is based in Castle Rock, CO. Led by Drs. Fitzgerald, Lopez, and Urie, our practice is always ready to meet your grin’s needs. We ensure that much by tailoring our preventive, cosmetic, and restorative treatments to each patient’s mouth. As a result, you can expect to have thriving teeth and gums after every visit! For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (303)-688-9519.