The History of Dentures and Bridgework

We are all so used to going to the dentist and seeing people with false teeth that it all seems like a normal part of life to us. However, at one point in time dental work was not common place and the false teeth we have now didn't even exist. When a person suffered dental problems, they were left with far less desirable options.

Believe it or not, scientists have discovered evidence that the ancient Babylonians attempted to make their own false teeth. Naturally, their attempts paled in comparison to the modern dentures and bridgework of today, but they were none the less impressive. The original false teeth were made from flint and shells.

The very first sets of dentures and bridgework were made from wood, ivory, and animal bone. These sets of false teeth were hand carved to look similar to natural teeth and they were held in place by wire or string. Naturally, these teeth did not fit in the mouth well, and they often fell out or popped loose without warning. The first sets of false teeth were not at all functional, they were made purely for cosmetic purposes and people could not eat with them.

As dental work progressed so did advancements in false teeth. Eventually the rudimentary materials that were originally used to make false teeth were replaced by more natural looking materials like porcelain. Plus, it was discovered that the using a roof plate to hold the dentures and bridgework in place made them more stable.

The discovery of the roof plate lead to many advancements in the methods used to hold the roof plate in place. Originally suction was used, but later things like rubber, gold, and celluloid were tried out. Modern day dentures are now made and held in place with roof plates made of acrylic resin.