What is "Waterloo teeth", or As the battle of 1815 influenced the development of dentistry

Dental clinic in our days is not cheap, but available for each institution. Today, dentists use modern equipment and innovative technologies for the treatment and restoration of teeth. But a couple of centuries ago, all was not so well and dentists used a strange and even scary for the modern man method.

History of dentistry is inextricably linked with the emergence of sugar. This product first appeared in Europe in the 15th century, and were affordable only to the elite. Sugar was equal to exotic spices and it could afford kings and in very small doses. Worm-eaten caries black teeth was a sign of a rich man who can afford sweets.

But very soon the sugar became available to many, and bad teeth gone. Before dentists has become a serious problem — how to bring lovers of sweets and pastries pristine white teeth. The task of this long century was not feasible, so as to fill teeth could not, and the treatment was limited to their disposal, if the pain became unbearable.

After the "treatment" of the teeth, many rich people to 40-50 years was left with a bare gums and in need of prosthetics. But a couple hundred years ago, the restoration of the dentition, though it was incredibly expensive, but held the most primitive methods. No implants and capacity out of the question, and was in the course of normal dentures.

Dentures made of ivory

It is necessary to say that with modern prostheses jewelry had nothing to do. It was a primitive and spooky DIY ivory, outwardly resembling a box and delivered to its owners a lot of inconvenience. But even these dentures could afford favorites.

High-tech prosthesis 18th century

Ivory — expensive, but not too resistant to abrasion, therefore, the prosthesis had to be changed frequently. Dental technicians soon realized that the best material for false teeth than the real thing, created by nature teeth, they did not find. From this point on in Europe began hunting for human teeth.

An old caricature of dentists chasing other's teeth

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the teeth were very hot commodity — dentists bought them from the poor, just pulling out, and in addition were hunting for teeth the dead and executed, bribing doctors and city of the executioners. Real teeth, inserted in an artificial jaw, looked more or less natural and lasts longer bone.

But they were not perfect. Pick up the teeth on the size and the color was quite difficult, so most of the prostheses looked very strange. In addition, this prosthesis has become a source of spread of infectious diseases. The health status of the donor wasn't too interested in master, especially if it was about the body and from other people's teeth could catch anything from syphilis and ending the plague.

Purchase teeth. England. Year 1792

In 1815 near a small Belgian village of Waterloo, 15 km from Brussels, there was a great battle that decided the fate of Europe. In the army of Napoleon Bonaparte was defeated last and a crushing defeat on the army of the Seventh coalition of European monarchs, and the Emperor fled to Paris and was soon captured.

"Waterloo teeth" were sold in the market of dental materials chords

The first dentists ticks appeared at Waterloo shortly after died down the last gun shots. They walked among the dead bodies and carefully looked for among the dead young men to remove their teeth. It wasn't too difficult, as the soldiers of Napoleon and the allies, were recruited from the common people, not familiar with the frills and rarely belowaverage yourself with sweets.

Thus, the dentist was able to collect a full denture teeth one person, ideally suited to each other in color and size. The so-called "Waterloo teeth" were a hot commodity, medical flooded the European market and even went overseas, in the United States and in the colony.

Such prosthesis looked quite naturally

But soon the teeth of the dead is over and the price of dentures again reached the heights of space. Dentists clients, knowing about the existence of prostheses "Waterloo teeth", which became the standard for beauty and quality, didn't want "a tooth platter" of different people. The demand for quality dentures gave impetus to the development of dental prosthetics.

In 1844, there was another breakthrough in dental prosthetics. Americans invented vulcanizating rubber, which was used for realistic simulation of the gums. Further progress in prosthetics have evolved rapidly and today we all know that good teeth are outwardly indistinguishable from the real thing. And modern caries treatment allows you to save the natural teeth of the patient, which some one hundred years ago, were doomed to destruction.