Island Dental blog

The Evolution of Operative Dentistry

July 19, 2022

Restorative dentistry in Marco Island comprises surgical and non-surgical methods that dentists use to fix damaged teeth. Also known as operative dentistry, it has had a long history of evolution, leading to its modern state.  

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Restorative Dentistry in the Ancient World

Archeological finds prove that ancient cultures practiced restorative dentistry. Gold dental crowns existed as early as 4000 BC, used by the Babylonians, Assyrians, and Egyptians. The Etruscans and the Phoenicians were also believed to have continued the practice.  

The First Anesthetics

The development of anesthesia or surgical pain control is the most crucial event in the medicinal world. It allowed doctors and dentists to perform previously complicated or life-threatening procedures because of the pain. Anesthetic drugs prevented patients from feeling painful sensations that would have made the oral surgery uncomfortable.

Ether and Nitrous Oxide

Ether is the first synthetic drug formulated for anesthesia. Prussian botanist Valerius Cordus produced ether for the first time in 1540 by combining sulfuric acid with fortified wine.  

However, the compound only found use in medicine on March 30, 1842, when Dr. Crawford Williamson Long employed it as general anesthesia in surgery. However, Dr. Long tarried in sharing his procedure results with the medical community. As a result, Dr. William T.G. Morton received credit for pioneering ether’s use as a local anesthetic during a dental operation on October 16, 1846.  

On the other hand, nitrous oxide or laughing gas was first used as an analgesic on December 11, 1844. Dr. John M. Riggs administered nitrous oxide to perform a dental extraction on another dentist, Dr. Horace Wells. The surgery was reportedly a success, and Dr. Wells organized a Boston demonstration that was attended by Dr. Morton. The exhibition supposedly failed because the patient appeared to be in pain.  

Ether ceased being an anesthetic drug in the 1960s due to the rise of fluorinated hydrocarbons. Nitrous oxide remains in use today as a mild sedative for oral surgeries.  

Procaine and Lidocaine

Procaine rose from issues with using cocaine as a local anesthetic. While cocaine is effective, it is also addictive.  

German chemist Alfred Einhorn successfully synthesized procaine in 1905 and gave it the trade name “Novocaine.” Heinrich Braun performed the first procedure using procaine in that same year. Braun combined the anesthetic with adrenaline to enhance its effectiveness. Procaine was equally effective as cocaine but did not have any narcotic properties. However, it triggered allergic reactions in specific individuals.

Lidocaine was discovered by Swedish chemists Nilf Lofgren and Bengt Lundqvist and was first used in surgery by Dr. Torsten Gordh. Gordh noted that lidocaine had fewer side effects and more longevity than procaine. Astra AB acquired the rights the following year and started manufacturing and distributing the anesthetic in the United States in 1951.

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The Rise of Modern Dentistry

The 18century saw a spike in reported cases of oral cavities. This development initiated a series of events leading to the rise of preventive dentistry.

The Discovery of Tooth Decay

Our modern understanding of tooth decay is built on the efforts of several Renaissance scientists. Pierre Fauchard was the first to recognize the relationship between sugar consumption and tooth decay. In 1723, Dr. Fauchard published the book “The Surgeon Dentist: A Treatise on Teeth,” where he discussed how sugar left acids in the mouth that led to cavities.

Willoughby D. Miller was the first scientist to suggest in 1890 that tooth decay results from the interaction between sugar and bacteria. His acidogenic theory postulated that the plaque left on the teeth worked with an unknown bacteria to ferment the acid that Dr. Fauchard previously identified. This acid, later identified as lactic acid, progressively damages the enamel until they turn into cavities.

Miller’s colleague Greene Vardiman Black published his “Manual of Operative Dentistry” in 1896, discussing his method of preparing a decayed tooth for fillings. Dr. Black was also the first dentist to organize oral caries into five classes, which earned him the moniker “Father of Operative Dentistry.” His classifications remain relevant to modern dentistry, with only one category added since their introduction.

Early Achievements in the Field of Oral Microbiology

Miller and his colleagues recognized the role of bacteria in cavity development. However, it was Fernando E. Rodriguez Vargas who first identified the specific species responsible for the process.  

Dr. Vargas was a military scientist who served in the Army Dental Corps. In December 1922, he pointed out three Lactobacilli bacteria as possible culprits of the fermentation that damage the teeth. Two years later, Dr. Killian Clarke narrowed the list and identified the oral bacteria as Streptococcus Mutans.

In 1960, Drs. Robert Fitzgerald and Paul Keyes conducted experiments on hamsters to confirm the previously recognized link between oral caries and bacteria. They isolated a culture of streptococci from an infected tooth, created an antibiotic-resistant strain, and infected one group of hamsters. Those hamsters were fed the same diet as another group of uninfected ones.

The two scientists analyzed the oral cavities and droppings of both groups. They observed the resistant bacteria in the feces and the decayed teeth of the infected hamsters, confirming the earlier acidogenic theory by W.D. Miller.

Discovery of Materials Used in Restorative Dentistry on Marco Island  

Lastly, operative dentistry became fully developed with the discovery of the early materials used in restorative and aesthetic procedures.

The First Dental Amalgam

The Frenchman August Taveau of Paris created the first dental amalgam in 1826. Dr. Taveau’s invention mixed silver and mercury into an oral paste. Two Englishmen, Edward and Moses Crawcour, imitated Taveau’s amalgam in 1833 by melting silver coins and adding mercury.  

The amalgam quickly gained popularity in the United States. It sparked a short-lived conflict that led to the founding of the American Dental Association.

Resins and Cosmetic Dentistry

In 1955, Dr. Michael Buonocore developed the first resin-based dental filling at the Eastman Dental Dispensary. He and his team focused on creating sustainable materials that can also help prevent cavity growth in posterior teeth. The dental community quickly accepted dental sealants as a method of protecting the enamel from decay.

R.L. Bowen developed a methacrylate monomer as an alternative to the silicate and acrylic resins of the time. In 1962, he applied for and received a patent for his invention, which remains popular in restorative dentistry today. Dr. Bowen said that methacrylate bonds quickly with the enamel when exposed to oral conditions.

restorative dentistry Marco Island treatment

restorative dentistry Marco Island

Address Your Cavity Problems With Restorative Dentistry on Marco Island

A trusted dentist can treat mild to moderate oral caries. Contact Island Paradise Dental to set an appointment for restorative dentistry today!

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