George Washington's Wooden Teeth?

President Washington lost his teeth at a relatively early age. He suffered from poor dental health throughout his younger years. He had two sets of false teeth (dentures) made by the most prominent American dentist of his day, Dr. John Greenwood. They were carved from the finest hippopotamus ivory and gold. One of the sets was donated to the University of Maryland Dental School in Baltimore, the oldest dental college in the world. The dental school in turn loaned one of the dentures to the Smithsonian in 1976 for a bicentennial exhibit. The denture was stolen from a storage area of the Smithsonian (presumably for its gold content) and has never been recovered.

I find the most interesting part of the story about George’s teeth is the mechanism of their fabrication. The upper and lower gold plates were connected by springs which pushed the upper and lower plates against the upper and lower ridges of his mouth to hold them in place. Washington actually had to actively close his jaws together to make his teeth bite together. If he relaxed, his mouth would pop open. There is speculation that this is the reason that the Father of Our Country always looks so stern in his portraits. Take a look at a 

dollar bill. George isn’t upset - he’s just trying to keep his teeth in.

President Washington’s other denture owned by the University of Maryland Dental School and numerous other dental artifacts are on permanent display at the Dr. Samuel Harris National Museum of Dentistry in downtown Baltimore. The exhibits, many of which are interactive, are really something special – fun and educational.

Archaeological evidence of the dentistry of antiquity suggests that treatment included medical methods of combating dental affections, mechanical means of treatment such as retentive prosthesis and the art of applying artificial substitutes for lost dental structures.

It is believed that the oldest civilization that knew something of dentistry was Egypt. The earliest indication of such knowledge is found in the Edwin Smith Surgical Papyrus. It contains detailed directions for the treatment of wounds about the mouth, but no mention is made of restoring lost teeth resulting from these injuries. The hard tissues of the mouth were in general considered untreatable. In closing his discussion on this topic one ancient Egyptian surgeon advises: "One having a fracture of the mandible over which a wound has been inflicted and he has fever from it, it is an ailment not to be treated".

                       Proving prehistoric man’s 

ingenuity, researchers have 

found that dental drilling dates 

back 9,000 years. Primitive 

dentists drilled nearly perfect 

holes into teeth of live patients 

between 5500 and 7000 B.C. 

Researchers recently carbon- 

dated at least nine skulls with 

11 drill holes found in a grave- 

yard in Pakistan. This means 

dentistry is at least 4,000 yrs 

older than first thought.

Researchers figured that a small bow was used to 

drive the flint drill tips into patients’ teeth. Flint drill 

heads were found on site. This dental drilling probably 

evolved from intricate ornamental bead drilling.  

The drilled teeth found in the graveyard were hard- 

to-reach molars. Although it is speculated that the 

drilling could have been decorative or to release “evil 

spirits” more than fighting tooth decay, the hard- 

to-see locations of the drilled teeth in jaws seem to 

rule out drilling for decorative purposes. No sign of 

fillings were found.

"The time for extracting a dental lesson from history is ever at hand for dentists who are wise"  

Demosthenes

Dental Care Matters!

The Best Way To Great Oral Care A good oral care regimen is essential for the upkeep of your teeth and gums. And the best way to remove decay-causing material is by brushing and cleaning between your teeth twice a day. The basics begin with brushing twice a day. The size and shape of the brush head should allow for a comfortable fit in your mouth and easy reach to all areas. The brush should also fit comfortably in your hand so you can maneuver it easily. Using a toothpaste that contains fluoride — which helps protect teeth from decay — is another thing you can do for great oral care. If the bristles are frayed don’t hesitate to replace the brush. And think about replacing your brush after you’ve been sick.
And, of course, visit your dentist regularly for professional cleanings and oral exams. Daily flossing between teeth is another good way to remove plaque and food particles between teeth and under the gum line, areas where a toothbrush can't reach. Maintaining proper oral hygiene can be beneficial to your overall health, so eat a balanced diet and brush and floss daily for an attractive smile.