The science of dentistry may be a fairly new one compared to other medical fields, but the practice goes back a long way to ancient times. Even before dentistry was a recognized branch of medicine, many ancient writers and philosophers wrote about various procedures for different dental ailments. Many of these were actually effective treatments even though the technology back then was too primitive for the dental practices currently used today. The first evidence of dental practices by humans was from about 7000BC, in the Indus Valley. The pseudo-dentists of this era would cure tooth problems using bow drills as their only instruments. Without anesthesia, this was an excruciating procedure for those who had to undergo this due to dental problems. The Edwin Smith Surgical Papyrus was written by the Egyptians and represents the first known attempt of any civilization to study about oral problems. It also lists dental procedures and remedies for minor issues like toothaches. However, its scope is somewhat limited, as it didn’t have any treatment procedures for hard tissue injuries and jaw fractures. Much like dentists in Colorado Springs, the Romans, Greeks, and Chinese continued to study about dental ailments, procedures, and experimenting with wire bridges to secure loose teeth and broken jaws. Until the end of the Middle Ages, dental procedures were only performed by barbers and physicians who used crude tools like the dental pelican for extractions and other procedures. This was succeeded by the dental key, both of which were crude and inflicted severe pain and damage to the surrounding area of the tooth. In 1723 the forefather of dentists in Colorado Springs, Pierre Fauchard, published The Surgeon Dentist. This book contained a detailed list of dental ailments, procedures, and cures for those ailments. He is considered as the father of modern dentistry as a result of this book. The first dental chair was invented in 1790, while anesthesia was first attempted on dental surgeries in 1844. Rapid development of the practice of dentistry soon followed. In the 20th century, the invention of electric drills, lasers and toothbrushes made dentistry a much easier profession. Soon after, its practice was evolved to what dentists in Colorado Springs do today.
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