As far back as 12,000 B.C., humans were practicing dentistry techniques. Are you wondering what dentistry was like in the Middle Ages (400 to 1400 A.D.)? Here’s a brief outline of some important events:
Around 700 A.D., a Chinese medical text described the employ of a “silver paste” in filling cavities. This means that dentists have been using amalgam fillings for over 1300 years.
In 1210, some entrepreneurs in France formed a guild, calling themselves “barbers”. They did cut hair, but they were also medieval dentists and doctors. This guild would become the center of the Middle Ages’ greatest dentistry advances. Over time they formed two groups: barber-surgeons – educated and trained and perform complex surgeries, and lay-barbers – uneducated professionals who performed routine services such as bleedings and tooth-cleanings. By 1400, we saw French laws beginning to standardize dental practices. A royal decree was issued to warn barbers against performing complex operations without the proper training and education.
“The Little Medicinal Book for All Kinds of Diseases and Infirmities of the Teeth” by Artzney Buchlein was the first book written purely about dentistry and was published in Germany in 1530.
And in 1575, a French barber-surgeon sometimes called “The Father of Surgery”, Ambrose Pare, published his Complete Works, providing other “barbers” with the most accurate and complete text on dental and bodily surgeries that had been written to date.
We at America's Family Dental are grateful for the sacrifices and effort that went into advancing the dentistry field. We wouldn’t be here without them. Want to experience the marvels of modern dentistry? You can call America's Family Dental in Spring, Texas at 281-528-1321 to set up an appointment with Dr. Diego Flores and his expert team. We’re here to bring back your smile.