Dentistry is a science that has really evolved over thousands of years. Did you know that general dentistry has its roots in the Indus Valley Civilization, as early as 7000 BC. Wow right!!?? Some of practices are enough to have your hair standing on end!
Dental drills were powered by foot pedals
In ancient times, dentists used drills and power tools powered by foot pedals. Apparently George Washington invented the first prototype of the dental drill by turning his mother’s spinning wheel.
Barbers used to pull teeth
Did you know that barber-surgeons were a thing??!! They not only shaved your face but also pulled out your teeth, and rarely used the right tools or the required anesthesia to pull teeth.
Beeswax was the first ever cavity filler
It's thought that beeswax may have been the first cavity filler. A human canine tooth over 65 centuries old was found in Slovenia containing beeswax, presumably to ease the pain and sensitivity of tooth pain.
Tooth decay was blamed on tooth worms
There is a 5000 year old historical text that states that tooth decay was blamed on tooth worms. Sounds a bit disturbing hey!! No one really knows what the tooth worms were, or if perhaps it was just an old wives tale.
Tooth extraction was the cure to everything
Understandably, the best of the dentists struggled to determine the real cause of tooth pain during the middle ages. So, as a solution, they chose to extract teeth to cure anything and everything.
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