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Things You Probably Don’t Know About Cosmetic Dentistry

Things You Probably Don’t Know About Cosmetic Dentistry

Dentistry, especially Cosmetic Dentistry, has certainly changed over the years, but according to recent archeological diggings, Cosmetic Dentistry is certainly not new. In fact, Cosmetic Dentistry can be traced back thousands of years, and according to your Pasadena Dentist, has helped modern Cosmetic Dentists advance from those early primitive methods.

Probably one of the most commonly methods practiced centuries ago was teeth whitening, but back then, it was used to signify status and wealth, where today teeth whitening is used for aesthetic reasons.

People who held the highest stature in their communities went to great lengths to whiten their teeth using whitening compounds made up of herbs. Some cultures even resorted to acid to whiten teeth before they came to the realization that it actually ate away the enamel. Oddly enough, some civilizations even used urine to remove stains and whiten teeth. During the 18th century, people began to use ammonia to whiten teeth. Thankfully, today your Dentist in Pasadena uses the best and most modern teeth whitening techniques available.  

According to the best Pasadena Dentist, early dental technicians used several methods to replace lost teeth. This not only made smiles more appealing, but it also helped with mouth function. Early dentures were made out of wood, with the first president of the United States, George Washington, famously known for his dentures, which are now on display at the Smithsonian in Washington DC.

According to some historians and your Dentist in Pasadena, dentures go back even further with the people from Etrusia fashioning dentures out of animal and human teeth. Early Cosmetic Dentists would pull the teeth out of the dead and sell them to wealthy buyers, which continued up until the 18th century when wood become the favored material for dentures.

The Egyptians used seashells in order to replace damaged or missing teeth. Cosmetic Dentists actually hammered the seashells into the gum line obviously realizing that animal teeth and teeth from dead people caused infection, a horrible stench, and illness.

The Mayan civilization eventually ceased to exist, but thanks to archeological digs, historians are beginning to piece some of the pieces of the puzzle together including their interest in Cosmetic Dentistry. 

During the 8th and 9th centuries, the Mayan people had truly mastered the art of the dental inlay using tools made from wood and stones instead of metal. Early Mayan Cosmetic Dentists would drill a hole in the front of the tooth using cement made out of calcium phosphate. The Dentist would then place a gemstone in the hole sealing any gaps or spaces with more calcium phosphate cement.

Fast forward to the 21st century and it is the Cosmetic Dentists of today, like Dr. Paul Shinto, Dr. Bert K. Funatsu, Dr. Daniel J. Iannotti, and Dr. J. Michael Jann who have those early dental technicians to thank for the amazing and astonishing Cosmetic Dentistry accomplishments that have developed over the last few thousand years.