Overview

The nineteenth century saw the rise of dentistry as a distinct profession, with its own practitioners, techniques, and standards. The emphasis of dental care shifted from simply removing painful teeth to trying to avoid extractions by filling cavities. By the end of the century, preventive dentistry sought ways to keep the cavities from developing in the first place. Nineteenth-century dentists were the first professionals to use anesthetic drugs, a development that made modern surgery possible.

Background

The writings of ancient Greek and medieval Moorish physicians described treatments for dental problems such as teething and diseases of the mouth. But the solution to most dental pain was to extract the offending tooth. Early physicians sometimes performed this procedure, but so did barbers and blacksmiths. False teeth were luxury items fashioned...