{"id":180,"date":"2024-04-16T18:08:12","date_gmt":"2024-04-16T18:08:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.granddentalnaperville.com\/blog\/?p=180"},"modified":"2024-05-02T18:53:03","modified_gmt":"2024-05-02T18:53:03","slug":"cosmetic-dentistry-and-how-it-came-to-be","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.granddentalnaperville.com\/blog\/2024\/04\/16\/cosmetic-dentistry-and-how-it-came-to-be\/","title":{"rendered":"The Starting Point for Cosmetic Dentistry: When Did It Begin?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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With technology rapidly advancing, people all over the world are turning to cosmetic dentistry<\/a> to help improve their appearance. With immediate access to talk to and \u201cinfluence\u201d others across the globe, a person\u2019s smile is a valuable asset \u2013 one that can make a good or bad first impression. But while today\u2019s innovations leave the idea that veneers, teeth whitening, and other similar services are something new, they\u2019re not. In fact, their origins date back thousands of years. Keep reading to find out where it all started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

How Cosmetic Dentistry Became a Popular Dental Choice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although cosmetic dentistry is more popular today than it was 10 or 20 years ago, its array of services are not new to dental offices around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Ancient Era<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The first known form of cosmetic dentistry was used by the Etruscans in 700 B.C. They created dentures using ivory and bone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Later, the Egyptians made dental crowns and bridges out of gold while also turning to seashells to craft replacement teeth. But restoring smiles wasn\u2019t all they did. These early civilizations created a special toothpaste made of pumice stone and vinegar to remove stains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the Etruscans and Egyptians weren\u2019t the only ones eager to try their hand at cosmetic dentistry. Ancient Romans also developed a way to eliminate stains. Using their own urine, the ammonia helped to brighten teeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Medieval Era<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While we might think of dentistry as a separate occupation, during Medieval Times, it often fell to local barbers to address patients\u2019 smile problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This meant unique solutions were developed to whiten teeth, such as filing them down and using a specialized coating substance that ultimately damaged the enamel and tooth structure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Enlightenment Era<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

By the time of the 1700s and 1800s, dentistry was becoming a more popular and widely known profession, which meant that cosmetic services were being improved upon by experts in the field. Although the materials used were somewhat different back then, one commonality is that porcelain became the predominant resource for dentures \u2013 something dentists continue to use today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Era of Modern Times<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

With the arrival of the 20th<\/sup> century, additional materials came on the scene, including acrylic and plastic. With most dentures being crafted from acrylic these days, patients are now able to enjoy a more durable prosthetic that looks natural and feels comfortable \u2013 a far cry from those created using ivory and bone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 1980s saw a drastic shift in the world of cosmetic dentistry, as modern advancements saw the creation of:<\/p>\n\n\n\n