The dental industry is an older medical industry, thousands of years to be exact, around 7000 B.C. when it all started. To give you a better idea of that period, remember when you learned about the New Stone Age in a middle school history class? Otherwise known as the Neolithic period, civilization learned to cultivate resources like animals and plants.

Not much is known about the earliest dentistry practices, but it’s safe to say that technology has come a long way over the past thousands of years. Keep reading to learn about innovations in dentistry and how we harness technology for better procedures here at Rhoades Family Dentistry.

History of the Dental Industry

7000 B.C.

We briefly touched on the history of the dental industry dating back to 7000 B.C., but let’s dive a little deeper. Did you know that civilians believed in 5000 B.C. that worms were to blame for tooth decay? That’s because technology wasn’t readily available and was later falsified in the 18th century. For thousands of years, people believed tooth decay was caused by tooth worms getting inside teeth and eating away them. Can you imagine the fear when people would get a toothache?

1500s-1800s

Luckily, dentistry advanced quite a bit by the 1500s. Aristotle and Hippocrates informed civilians about tooth decay and how to treat it, but little is known about what was taught. However, the first book about dentistry was published in 1530, informing people about teeth and tooth decay. This book was originally written in German and contained 13 chapters, all written by various authors. Chapters included information about toothaches, loose teeth, how to clean teeth, the process of tooth extraction, and more.

Fast forward a couple of centuries to 1723, when a French surgeon named Pierre Fauchard published a book titled The Surgeon Dentist, which included detailed information on how to treat teeth. He also introduced the concept of fillings. Later, in 1840, the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, the first college for dental students, opened. The first U.S. dental practice was later opened in 1841 in Alabama, and the American Dental Association (ADA) was founded in 1859.

Older Dental Technology

Little is known about ancient times and dental technology. However, there are some proven advances in dental practices where concepts for today’s technology were developed. One of the first known pieces of dental technology was amalgam, created by the Crawcour brothers in the early 1800s. Amalgam was a tooth restoration material made from tin, silver coins, and mercury.

The concept of a toothbrush and toothpaste may seem simple, but it wasn’t until 1844 when the first toothbrush was invented, while the first toothpaste was invented in 1850. Toothpaste was originally made from pumice and powder.

Fast forward a few years, and later in the 19th century, dentures were invented, made from ivory, human bones, or metal. Later, dentist Thomas Evans invented vulcanized rubber dentures, a more comfortable and effective denture.

The dental drill was invented over 6,000 years ago by George F. Green. Dental drills are necessary to remove tooth decay. Eventually, a high-speed drill was invented in the mid-1900s and we still use similar technology in present-day dentistry.

Sealants weren’t introduced until the 1960s, making major advancements by the mid-1970s. The concept of braces has also made major advancements compared to when it was first discovered in the teeth of ancient Egyptian mummies. The Romans first used wire to straighten teeth while France used mouthguards to align teeth. Luckily, braces have advanced to make them less painful and damaging to the teeth and mouth.

Innovative Technology for Dental Procedures

Here at Rhoades Family Dentistry, innovative technology is used in our office to give our patients the best care possible. We strive to provide the best, most gentle, and thorough dental care.

The innovative technology we use here at Rhoades Family Dentistry includes the following:

Software that gives us precise insight into your oral health, including planning for treatments, detecting cavities, etc.
Intraoral cameras to get a closer look that provides crisp images
Digital dentistry, including X-rays that provide exceptional image quality
Anti-snoring therapy and devices for a better night’s sleep
Botox and Dermal fillers to improve any smile
Veneers/cosmetic enhancements
Tooth-colored porcelain fillings
Invisalign
And so much more!

There have been many dental technology advancements to make for more thorough, gentle, and less damaging treatments. Rhoades Family Dentistry is committed to giving our patients the best dental care possible, including staying informed and trained on the latest dental innovations and modern dental equipment.

We use modern dental equipment in our dental office to give our patients the best services and treatments. We believe in high-tech dentistry to catch cavities and dental diseases early to give our patients the best treatments.

If you’re looking for a high-tech dental practice in Kansas City, look no further than Rhoades Family Dentistry! We offer the following services and treatments with exceptional care for our patients:

Book an appointment today by scrolling up and clicking “BOOK AN APPOINTMENT” on the top left of your screen! Our hygienists and dentists go above and beyond to keep your family safe and comfortable during visits, easing anxiety and offering kind and gentle care. We look forward to serving your family and providing excellent dental care!