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It has been quite the journey for humans who want their teeth straight and bright. While cosmetic dentistry didn’t really take off until the invention of resin cement in the 1980s, people for centuries have gone to great lengths to not just make their teeth healthy and strong but also beautiful.
Let’s take a look at the brief history of cosmetic dentistry across the globe and see why now is the perfect time to get the smile of your dreams.
Ancient Times
The Etruscans, a B.C.-era civilization that thrived in present-day Italy, were the first known practitioners of some form of cosmetic dentistry. Renowned for their metalworking skills, they created crowns and bridges made entirely of gold! They also utilized bone and ivory to construct dentures.
Meanwhile, the ancient Egyptians replaced teeth by hammering seashells into gums, and this was before the advent of local anesthetics!
Fun fact: The Romans used urine as the primary ingredient in their toothpaste due to its high ammonium content, which is a natural tooth-whitening substance.
The Medieval Ages
Can you imagine going to get a haircut today and your barber filling a cavity after taking a little off the top? This was often the case in the Middle Ages.
Barbers used to file teeth to shape them up and coat them with acid to make them whiter, but the acid only ate away at the tooth enamel and caused more damage than good.
By the 15th century, Europeans were using bone and ivory to make dentures, and while they were cosmetically and functionally beneficial, they were also highly uncomfortable. They also tried to replace missing teeth with ones from corpses, but they quickly rotted and were unusable.
The Age of Enlightenment
Drastic improvements were made during this time as porcelain dentures were invented around 1770 and became very popular. While this practice proved useful, the method of inserting metal in the sockets of missing teeth was not so fruitful. The body rejected the metals, much as it did non-native teeth in earlier times.
The 20th Century
The use of acrylics in dentures began in the previous century, as did the proliferation of teeth whitening using laser dentistry and other agents like carbamide peroxide. Plastics and acrylics took the place of porcelain dental crowns, making them much more economical.
There was some trial-and-error, however. Dental veneers helped create the “Hollywood” smile for movie stars in the 1930s, but they fell off after a short time due to poor adhesives. A new technique in the 1980s allowed dentists to bond veneers to teeth to ensure a much longer lifespan. Today, veneers can last 10 to 15 years with the proper care!
Modern Day
Today, patients can take advantage of treatments never imagined by the Etruscans and Egyptians.
Traditional braces and clear aligners like Invisalign can fix a host of oral health problems, while composite resin allows tooth-colored fillings to be installed that keep a patient’s smile looking natural.
Dental bonding, another relatively recent advancement, is a highly versatile solution for issues ranging from chipped and cracked teeth to stains and gaps.
The story of cosmetic dentistry is a fascinating one. We’ve certainly come a long way from the days of tooth filing, acid coating, and ivory-and-bone dentures!
About the Author
Dr. Francisca A. Sanchez at FS Dental Arts can transform your smile with treatments such as porcelain veneers, in-office whitening, or a comprehensive smile makeover! She’s been making over smiles for more than 20 years and is a proud member of the New York State Dental Association and the American Dental Association and a graduate of the Columbia School of Dental Medicine. For more information about cosmetic dentistry or to schedule an appointment, call FS Dental Arts at (646) 669-7407 or visit their website.