Cosmetic dentistry has probably benefited the most out of any other arm of dentistry from the strides made in modern technology. There are now various treatments and products that can help you achieve your ideal smile. Anything from teeth whitening treatments to dental veneers can give you a reason to flash your smile whenever the mood strikes you. We are now in an era of dentistry where almost anything is possible with regards to the beautification of your smile, and this is all thanks to our ingenuity and a historical desire to have the most aesthetically pleasing teeth we are able to.

The building blocks of the Hollywood smile

The red carpet and your own smile would never come close to having the sparkle that it does without ancient humans and those in the middle ages taking the time to lay the groundwork for modern cosmetic dentistry. There is evidence to suggest that we have wanted to improve the appearance of our teeth for as long as 3000 years, when we used sticks to brush them with. The first bristle toothbrush, a design that almost all modern brushes are derived from, was only released to the public in the late 1400s and was made from animal hair!

The grim and golden years

There isn’t a whole lot of information that’s been left to us regarding the establishment of cosmetic dentistry practices, but what we do know is that we have been using various materials over the years to replace and restore our teeth. Somewhere around 700 BC, the Etruscans were making dentures from ivory and bone, and before that we even used human or animal teeth. This was a concept that was to endure to the point that George Washington was the recipient of dentures created from both animal and human teeth. The Ancient Egyptians used to make toothpaste from pumice stone and vinegar in order to keep their smiles looking good, and the early Romans even used toothpaste that had urine as one of its key ingredients.

The birth of modern cosmetic dentistry

Over the course of several hundred years, cosmetic dentistry was in a state of flux and experimentation that meant we tried a lot of different things to make our smiles prettier; some of them worked and some of them definitely did not. It was really only in the 1800s that we even considered metal for dental implants and that ended…unfortunately. But our ability to create prosthetics began to improve and it was only shortly after when porcelain was introduced to satisfactory effect. Since then, we have been able to harness the power of professional teeth whitening treatments and veneers that can last you longer than ever. Our teeth whitening treatments can brighten your smile by up to 8 shades in the space of just a few weeks and our veneers are constructed from the most natural-looking and durable materials around. If you would like more information, or to book an appointment at All About Teeth, your local dentist in Townsville, please contact us today.