A Brief History of False Teeth

Most people would probably be surprised to learn that false teeth or dentures aren't entirely modern inventions. As early as 700 BC, for instance, the Etruscans harvested human and animal teeth as replacements. Some civilizations resorted to seashells or even wood, with varying degrees of success. It wasn’t until the 1700s when physicians were able to craft permanent dentures made of ivory, similar to what George Washington wore.

Porcelain dentures were introduced in 1774, although they paled in comparison to ivory dentures in terms of durability. Due to the high cost of ivory, a lot of patients typically opted for replacement teeth from human sources. By the 1850s, denture makers switched to hardened rubber (dubbed “Vulcanite”) and eventually to acrylic resins and plastics in the 20^th century.

Various technological innovations have taken place since then, and nowadays, dental implants made of biocompatible titanium are recognized as some of the most ideal solutions for tooth loss. However, some scientists agree that the complexity and cost involved in dental implant installation may in fact encourage a sizable number of people to opt for dentures or denture implants up to 2020. They predict that by that year, about 37 million people would need complete dentures, compared to about 33.6 million in 1991.