Ancient dentistry from Alkebulan to the world..just in case you didnt know Alkebulan is the oldest and the only name of indigenous origin. It was used by the Moors, Nubians, Numidians, Khart-Haddans (Carthagenians), and Ethiopians. Africa, the current name adopted by almost everyone today , legend has it given to this continent by European invaders,Like all methods of manipulation the Romans sought to completely disconnect the indigenous Africans from their culture, deities, and knowledge. During the Late Classic Mayan period from around 700-900 AD, Mayan people of significant social status customised their teeth by chipping into the outer layer and inserting precious jewels such as gold, jadeite and turquoise. Cross hatch designs were also carved onto the teeth or the shape of teeth were modified for cosmetic reasons. Ancient Egypt: While preventative dentistry in Ancient Egypt was somewhat lacking, imaginative solutions to dental problems can be found in abundance. Magic and superstition often played part in these solutions (amulets, for example, were worn to ward of toothache) but also evidence based research. Recipes made from ground barley, honey and ochre were used to pack a loose tooth. Ochre has antiseptic properties to help prevent infection. Some liquid remedies were also used as effective methods for pain relief. More advanced techniques were also employed by the ancient Egyptians in the area of oral surgery and restorative dentistry. Studies show that dislocated jaws were successfully corrected and dental bridges constructed for patients with missing teeth. These bridges were attached with gold or silver wire. Evidence also suggests that Egyptian dentists were even adept at draining an abscess. Ancient Greece In one of his medical works the writer and physician Hippocrates discusses in length dental problems and healing techniques, such as how to treat a fractured or dislocated jaw, or extract teeth with forceps. Aristotle mentions extractions, treating gum disease and decay and other dentistry procedures in a chapter in his biological text De Partibus Animal Culum (On the Parts of Animals). There is also evidence that the Greeks were among the first to use mint to help clean teeth and freshen breath.. The Indus Valley civilization : Most of us know that a bow drill is an ancient tool commonly used for making fire. Bow drills, however, were also used in dentistry across the Indus Valley Civilization (modern day Afghanistan and Pakistan) as early as 7000 BC. Bow drills were used, like a modern mechanic drill, to remove dental decay. In the absence of anesthetic, this particular dental technique was probably quite painful and used only as a last resort. ‘Dental Worms’ the belief in tooth worms persisted well into the middle ages and early modern period, when these carvings depicting toothache were produced. The belief that tooth worms burrowing through the teeth caused toothache was surprisingly resilient, penetrating into a variety of civilizations across the ages. There is evidence to suggest Sumerians, Egyptians, Greeks, Chinese and Japanese shared a belief in tooth worms at various points throughout their histories. Some dental practitioners even mistook nerve endings for these worms and subsequently pulled them out (which may have actually stopped the pain). A variety of methods were used to expel the worms in other ways, including spells, chanting, and other rituals. The doctor of a Roman Emperor once prescribed ‘fumigations made with the seeds of the hyoscyamus scattered on burning charcoal…followed by rinsings of the mouth with hot water’ to flush out the worms. It was only during the eighteenth century that the father of modern dentistry, Pierre Fauchard, finally disproved the existence of tooth. The Romans were extraordinarily advanced in many ways, even when it came to looking after their teeth. Romans were encouraged by medical scholars such as Cornelius Celsus (25BC-50AD) to wash their mouths out in the morning and a sort of crude toothpaste made of bones, eggshells, pumice and myrrh was used. Much of what the Romans knew about restorative dentistry they learnt from the Etruscans before them. In Etruscan tombs dating from 500BC, gold dental bridges and even partial dentures have ben discovered.. Etruscans bridges and dentures were often made of ox bone or ivory, with gold bands to hold them together, unlike the Egyptians who used gold wire. Religion and superstition also entered into the realm of Roman dentistry. After a virgin martyr from Alexandria was tortured by having her teeth knocked out for professing her Christian faith, she was canonized as Saint Appolina, the patron saint of toothaches and dentistry. Centuries later Christians still prayed to Appolina for relief from dental pain. The Middle East Islamic belief states that the body should be conserved as much as possible, which is why oral surgery was avoided and an emphasis placed on preventative dentistry and minimally invasive techniques in the Middle East. One of the most effective ways to maintain good oral hygiene was by chewing on the Miswak stick, which not only removes plaque but also has antiseptic properties to prevent infections. Some studies show that miswak sticks are actually more effective at cleaning teeth than a regular modern toothbrush and can even be used as anti-addiction aids for smokers looking to kick the habit. Ancient China Physicians in ancient china took a very different approach to dentistry in comparison to ancient western civilizations. The Huangdi Neijing, a medical text created around 215-282AD forms the foundation for Chinese Medicine and includes in depth analyses and solutions for a number of dental problems. Nine types of toothache are identified in the book and mouth diseases are divided into three categories; inflammatory, soft tissue and decay. Acupuncture for pain management, arsenic for cavities and a variety of herbal remedies such as garlic pills were used to cure toothache. The world’s first silver amalgam fillings were used in China around 200BC and a teeth-whitening paste made of musk and ginger had also been invented by this time.
Posted on: Sun, 28 Sep 2014 21:05:30 +0000
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