{"id":228,"date":"2021-11-04T19:10:00","date_gmt":"2021-11-04T19:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jldentalstl.com\/blog\/?p=228"},"modified":"2021-12-20T19:10:40","modified_gmt":"2021-12-20T19:10:40","slug":"the-advancement-of-cosmetic-dentistry-through-the-centuries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jldentalstl.com\/blog\/2021\/11\/04\/the-advancement-of-cosmetic-dentistry-through-the-centuries\/","title":{"rendered":"Cosmetic Dentistry Has Evolved Through the Centuries"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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A few decades ago, the vast majority of dental visits were about addressing oral health issues with cleanings and exams. While this will always be a key part of the dental field, in recent years the elective procedures under the cosmetic dentistry<\/a> umbrella continue to rise in popularity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t get the impression that cosmetic dentistry just arrived on the scene, however, as it has been around for thousands of years. Keep reading to learn more about some points in history and the progression this branch of dentistry has made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Etruscans Get the Cosmetic Dentistry Ball Rolling<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Turning back the clock, way back to 700 B.C., the Etruscans attempted to replace teeth with a variety of materials. Usually, dentures were constructed from materials like bone and ivory. Occasionally, they utilized teeth from deceased animals or humans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ancient Egyptians used seashells to replace their missing teeth. Crowns and bridges could be made using gold. As for teeth whitening, ancient Romans would use urine because the ammonia dissolved stains. Historians believe it was more typically used as a mouthwash and apologies if that tidbit was a TMI situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cosmetic Dentistry in Medieval Times<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Dentistry was performed by a barber in the Middle Ages. They would file down teeth and use a special coating to make them whiter. Unfortunately, this would destroy the enamel of the teeth and eventually cause tooth loss. Stick to cutting hair, please.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Europeans rediscovered the lost practices of using bone or ivory as dentures, which wasn\u2019t the most comfortable method as you can imagine. They also brought back using human teeth from dead bodies, but the patient\u2019s body often rejected the new teeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dentistry Enters the Age of Enlightenment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Cosmetic dentistry really took a dramatic turn for the better in the 1700s when porcelain began to be used for dentures. When the 1800s arrived, metals caught on briefly to be placed in the sockets of missing teeth, but the human body rejected them like they did not accept the teeth of the deceased. Porcelain continued to gain in popularity, as dentists began to use molds with plaster to ensure the dentures fit better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Materials Shift in the 1900s<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The materials dentists used in dentures changed almost as soon as the 1900s began. Porcelain dental crowns were not the most economical, so as soon as the dental industry was able to, they switched to plastics and acrylics. Some changes stick, considering that acrylics are still used in modern dentures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Modern-Day Cosmetic Dentistry Owes the 1980s a Debt of Gratitude<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The 1900s saw the focus on creating beautiful, natural-looking teeth rise to new heights. Check out some of today\u2019s popular treatments and their notable dates in the previous century:<\/p>\n\n\n\n