Dental Fun Facts

1. Ancient Dental Fillings (ca. 7000 BCE): Evidence of dental drilling and cavity treatment has been found in Pakistan, where Neolithic people used flint drills to treat tooth decay.

2. The Tooth Worm Myth: Many ancient civilizations, including the Sumerians, believed that tooth decay was caused by tiny worms burrowing into the teeth. This belief persisted until the 18th century!

3. First Dental Textbook (1530): "The Little Medicinal Book for All Kinds of Diseases and Infirmities of the Teeth" was the first known book dedicated to dentistry, written in Germany by Artzney Buchlein.

4. Origins of the Toothbrush (Tang Dynasty, ca. 618-907 CE): The first bristle toothbrush, made from hog hair, was developed during China’s Tang Dynasty. Europeans later adapted this using softer horsehair or plant fibers.

5. George Washington’s Teeth: Contrary to popular belief, George Washington's dentures were not made of wood. They were made from a combination of human teeth, animal teeth (horse and donkey), and ivory.

6. Gold Dental Work (ca. 2000 BCE): The Etruscans, an ancient Italian civilization, were pioneers in using gold to make dental crowns and bridges as early as 2,000 BCE.

7. First Female Dentist (1866): Lucy Hobbs Taylor became the first woman in the U.S. to graduate from dental school and earn a DDS degree. She paved the way for women in the dental profession.

8. Barbers as Dentists (Middle Ages): During the Middle Ages, barbers often doubled as dentists. They performed tooth extractions and minor surgeries in addition to cutting hair. Their red and white barber poles symbolized blood and bandages.

9. Rubber Dental Dams (1864): Dr. Sanford C. Barnum introduced the rubber dam, a device still used today to isolate teeth during dental procedures and protect the patient’s mouth from contamination.

10. The Advent of Fluoride (1945): Grand Rapids, Michigan, became the first city to fluoridate its water supply to prevent tooth decay, marking a major public health breakthrough that reduced cavities in the population.

11. First Dental College (1840): The Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, founded in 1840, was the first dental school in the world. It laid the foundation for modern dental education.

12. Egyptians and False Teeth (ca. 2500 BCE): Ancient Egyptians were pioneers in dental prosthetics, using seashells or animal teeth as early forms of false teeth, often tied with gold wire to hold them in place.

13. Hippocrates and Aristotle (ca. 400 BCE): Both famous Greek philosophers wrote about dentistry, including the treatment of tooth decay, gum disease, and the extraction of teeth using forceps.

14. Paul Revere: The Dentist: The famous American patriot Paul Revere was also a practicing dentist. He is credited with being the first person to identify a body through dental records in 1776 by recognizing a bridge he made for Dr. Joseph Warren.

15. First Dental Anesthesia (1846): Dr. William T. G. Morton, a dentist, was the first to successfully use ether as an anesthetic for a tooth extraction. This marked the beginning of modern anesthesia in dentistry and surgery.

16. The First Toothpaste (4th Century): Ancient Egyptians used a mixture of crushed rock salt, mint, dried iris flowers, and pepper to clean their teeth. This was one of the earliest known forms of toothpaste.

17. Braces Date Back to Ancient Times (ca. 400-300 BCE): Archeologists have discovered mummies with crude metal bands wrapped around their teeth, suggesting early attempts at orthodontics in ancient Egypt and Greece.

18. World War II and Toothpaste Tubes: Toothpaste was originally sold in jars. During World War II, it started being sold in tubes made from metal, a method borrowed from paint tubes. This more hygienic packaging became the standard.

19. Ancient Romans Used Urine as Mouthwash: The ammonia in urine was thought to whiten teeth and freshen breath in ancient Rome. While this sounds odd, the chemical properties of ammonia did have some cleansing effects.

20. First Electric Toothbrush (1954): The Broxodent was introduced in Switzerland in 1954, becoming the world’s first electric toothbrush. It was designed to assist people with limited motor skills to better care for their teeth.

Dental history is full of interesting innovations and practices, some of which laid the groundwork for modern dentistry!

About Janssen Dental Clinic in Green Bay, Wisconsin

Janssen Dental Clinic features the dental expertise of Dr. Craig Janssen, a third-generation dentist serving patients in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and the surrounding area. Dr. Craig and his staff specialize in oral health as a component of overall well-being, a philosophy of care known as biological dentistry. They have expertise in reducing the fear and anxiety that people of all ages feel over going to the dentist, with services ranging from routine cleanings to restorative and cosmetic procedures. Call (920) 983-8383 to schedule an appointment. New patients are always welcome.