When you think of dentistry in 1776, the first thing that comes to mind might be George Washington and his wooden teeth! While Washington never actually wore wooden teeth, he is notorious for having dental problems and dentures. Another notable figure of the time, Thomas Jefferson only had one tooth removed during his lifetime. Correspondence from Thomas Jefferson reveals him asking someone to order “½ doz. tooth brushes, the hair neither too strong nor too weak” and toothpicks. In this era, if someone had mouth pain or noticeable bad breath, surgeon dentists could remove tartar buildup, fill cavities with lead or gold, extract teeth and even transplant a human tooth from one person to another.
Dentists today still remove tartar, but on a regular 6-month basis as a preventative measure. They have teeth imaging devices, orthodontics, light-curing resin cavity fillers and laser treatments to fix dental issues before surgery is needed. Local and general anesthesia are also available to help with pain.
A new tooth regeneration treatment drug is undergoing human trials in Japan. People who never grow one or more of their teeth or adults who have lost teeth due to aging or injury could receive the treatment and grow back a new tooth. If successful, this treatment would revolutionize dental medicine and could replace false teeth.
Relevant Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) include: PS.6 and USII.9. Health SOLs: K.1.h, 1.1.e, 5.2.h and 9.1.g
