The History of Dentures
Tooth loss, although often associated with a diet high in sugar, has been a problem for as long as mankind has existed. Before the widespread use of refined sugar in food, tooth loss was often a result of disease and malnutrition, although dietary practices also contributed to the problem. For example, early bread often contained sand as a result of the milling process; this sand rapidly wore down teeth, leaving them vulnerable to decay. Dentures have been used to replace lost teeth since at least 700 B.C.
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Function
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Dentures serve dual purposes: They are both cosmetic and functional. Early dentures were primarily cosmetic and used to create the appearance of having teeth. This was of particular importance in cultures that considered missing teeth to be a sign of suspect health. Until the mid-18th century, dentures were typically removed before eating, as they were not secure enough to chew with. Today's dentures, while not as effective as real teeth, allow their owners to eat most foods with little difficulty or risk of falling out.
Types
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The earliest dentures were carved from bone or made from human teeth, often scavenged from battlefields. Scavenged teeth were often of poor quality and may have transmitted disease to the owners of dentures made from them. Porcelain dentures were first introduced in 1774 and gradually replaced natural materials in the making of dentures. Although porcelain dentures were far more durable and attractive, they were unconvincing because of their excessive whiteness. Today's dentures may be made from porcelain or hard plastic, and are usually tinted to more closely resemble natural teeth.
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Significance
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Historically, having no teeth was often far more than a nuisance. Soft foods were not often available, and it was not unheard of for people without teeth to simply starve to death. More commonly, the lack of teeth caused problems with social lives and careers. Those who were in poor health were often ostracized due to fear; missing teeth were widely considered a sign of illness. A sure sign of a woman's marriageability in Europe during the middle ages was a full set of teeth.
History
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The first dentures discovered date back to 700 B.C., but there is evidence that ceremonial dentures may have been worn as long as 4,500 years ago. These ceremonial dentures did not replace teeth, but covered them, much like props used in movies to change the appearance of an actor's teeth. Dentures were generally available, albeit at great financial cost, by the mid-1500s. Denture technology has continued to advance over the years; modern dentures are often supported by titanium jaw implants that help prevent irritation and keep them firmly in place.
Expert Insight
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The most famous dentures undoubtedly belonged to George Washington. Washington began losing his teeth in his 20s, probably due to a combination of frequent illness and treatment with a medication called calomel that damaged the enamel of the teeth. Contrary to popular belief, George Washington did not have wooden teeth. The dentures he had when he became president were made of several materials. The base of the dentures was carved from hippopotamus ivory; the teeth themselves were a combination of human teeth and carved elephant ivory. He had several other pairs of dentures during his presidency, none of which included wood in their construction.
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Resources
- Photo Credit Photo by Carole Nickerson
