As cliche as it may sound to be, False Teeth are not even false at all way back in time. Different materials were used to create a tooth replacement to enhance the person’s appearance and the teeth function. Although the options were limited because of scarce resources, people still found a way to create false teeth. It seems impossible before to make dentures that are natural-looking and feels like the natural tooth, but with modern technology and science, dentists are now able to provide patients with customized dentures that fit perfectly with their dental needs.
At West SoHo Dentistry, we offer Dentures to fill in the gaps created by missing teeth in a natural-looking way.
History of Dentures
Not until today, dentures are not actually false teeth because some were taken from a real animal or human. The first record of dentures is when the Etruscans from around the 7th century BC used the oxen’s teeth to form a tooth. The practice ended as their civilization died; however, it emerged once again in the 1700s during the making of dentures. During the period, sugar became well-known and is widely available throughout Europe. As a consequence, there have been more tooth-decay, and many tooth-saving methods were not yet developed. The event leads to many people with missing teeth that it was a rare event for someone to reach the age of 50 with complete natural teeth. It has paved the way for dentures to become popularly needed by the majority.
Early Types of Dentures or False Teeth
Modern technology provided patients with more comfortable, fit, and customized dentures, but it was not the case before. Dentures back then have issues and difficulties with fit, attachment comfort, durability, and use. Not until today, dentists have devised and methods to improve the features and effectiveness of dentures that they even used a variety of materials.
The following are the early types of dentures used:
Ivory: Ivory which came from the hippopotamus, walrus, or elephants has been used to replace lost teeth. Although they were from being natural and are prone to decay, these ivories had done its job in replacing missing teeth. Even after human teeth became more available, ivory was still being utilized as the dentures base.
Waterloo Teeth: What will be more perfect to replace human teeth but other human teeth of course! The Waterloo teeth have been the best dentures before. It came from the robbed graves, peasants, and the dentist’s collection. The origin of the Waterloo Teeth dated back from the death of 50, 000 men at the battle of Waterloo in 1815. The soldiers were young and therefore have healthy teeth, which are ideal for making dentures. The Waterloo teeth became a fashion trend in Britain and were worn as a trophy without minding its direct origin. However, because of their poor quality, these dentures were merely intended for cosmetic purposes and needed to be removed when eating.
Vulcanite: When Charles Goodyear discovered how to make flexible rubber, the previous techniques in making dentures were lessened. His brother, Nelson, patented the word vulcanite in 1851; it turned out that the material creates a comfortable denture base. It allowed middle-class people to afford dentures and were able to wear false teeth along with the rich.
Porcelain: False teeth made of porcelain were invented in the late 1700s in France. However, they have a tendency to crack and grind against each other, which made them an unpopular choice. It was not until the 1800s that the porcelain teeth significantly improved its strength and texture. From then on, it became an option for many dental applications.
All in all, dentures do not only provide cosmetic enhancement, but it also improves the function of the mouth.
Get a full smile through Dentures in New York, NY. If you want to own a complete set of teeth, schedule your dental visit now. West SoHo Dentistry offers a convenient location at 22 Renwick St., New York, NY 10013.