A Brief History of Dentistry and Oral Health, Part 1

Stuff You Missed in History Class

This first episode covers the earliest ways humans cared for their teeth, including the belief that demons might have something to do with tooth decay. We move all the way up to the 18th century, as dentistry became a profession in the U.S., including a surprising early practitioner.

Research:

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• “Jan Steen – The Tooth-puller.” Mauritshuis. https://www.mauritshuis.nl/en/our-collection/artworks/165-the-tooth-puller/
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• “Oral health.” World Health Organization. March 15, 2022. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/oral-health
• ADA Library/Archives staff. “HISTORY OF DENTISTRY TIMELINE.” ARCHIVES OF THE AMERICAN DENTAL ASSOCIATION. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/~/media/ADA/Education%20and%20Careers/Files/dental_history.pdf

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