"Dental Extraction"- Caricature by *George Cruikshank (1792-1878)

The English Caricaturist CRUIKSHANK  makes it apparent that erstwhile dental treatment was feared- not without reason.

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Lifted From Wikipedia:

*George Cruikshank (27 September 1792 – 1 February 1878) was a British caricaturist and book illustrator, praised as the "modern Hogarth" during his life. His book illustrations for his friend Charles Dickens, and many other authors, reached an international audience.

George Cruikshank, 1836
Born	27 September 1792 London, England
Died	1 February 1878 (aged 85) London, England
Nationality	British
Known for	Cartoonist (Caricaturist), Children's Literature

"THE NIGHT" - From an Engraving by HOGARTH

Hogarth was famous for his satirical etchings of life as he saw it in the 17th century. A prominent part of this engraving is the sign of the BARBER- DENTIST and the view through the window of these gentlemen attending their clients.

This pungently witty etching depicts the perils encountered by persons bold enough to venture out at night in the streets of 17th century London.

Not the least of these hazards was visiting the Dentist amidst the confusion and precarious contamination so epigrammatically illustrated here.

"THE ITINERANT TOOTH PULLER"- Painted by JAN VICTORS (1620-1676)

This scene portrays an outdoor dental office. It is quite probable that the delightful charm of the audience and locale is not apparent to the patient. However, if anything could distract his mind from the business at hand, the enchanting surroundings shown here should have done so.

"Postsurgical Healing and Pain"

The good old days, when we had no outside help to speed along Mother Nature's healing process, are happily in the distant past. They were part of an era of therapeutic scarcity. Dentists now have techniques to successfully combat the most difficult conditions.

THE AVENGED HUSBANDS ( From a Lithograph by GAVARNI )

To justify his presence with the wife of the dentist in her home, poor Adolph has a tooth pulled by her husband.

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This caricature demonstrates the accepted idea that all dental surgery was torture and, in this case, revengeful punishment.

Modern dental anesthesia, however, has demonstrated how much broader is the scope and finer the work that can be performed when the patient is relaxed and uncomplaining.

"TOOTHPICK" circa 1500 A.D.

A Toothpick from the Renaissance period in ITALY (circa 1500 A.D.) was worn on a chain around a nobleman's neck. Pictured above is Sammlung Marcuardi of Florence, Italy by Hans Von Schonitz.

Various toothpicks in the past 3000 years: Excavations in Peru brought to light a toothpick in the form of a bird's beak of the period 1450 to 1500 A.D. The handle could be used as an ear pick. This is in a museum in Cologne, Germany. Perhaps the oldest toothpick known to us- which was carried in an ornamental case attached to the belt- was found in the Royal Sepulchre of Ur, Mesopotamia (circa 1300 B.C.)The original is in Bagdad; a galvono- plastic copy is in the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.

 

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I still remember my eldest dentist uncle, the second generation  dentist in the family, (I'm the last and the only third generation dentist) who always carries in his pocket a gold toothpick custom made for him by his laboratory technicians. Thus, up until around 60 years ago, some toothpicks had not changed since the 15th century.

Today, wooden, plastic and water toothpicks are used to remove the gross debris of masticated food from around and between the teeth. Dental floss though is most recommended and is considered to be more efficient by dentists.

 Toothpicks and dental floss can remove the gross food debris from around the teeth and gums. More important, however, than the removal of these food remnants is to aid the prevention of dental plaque and gingivitis by helping to reduce the more minute material that may gather around and adhere to the teeth as Materia Alba. A good routine program of oral hygiene that includes periodic visits to the dentist, regular brushing and using an oral irrigator (like Water Pik) everyday is necessary to successfully control plaque formation and gingivitis- providing a unique combination of advantages.

Comic Situation: Old Dentist Extracted Wrong Tooth.

"It still aches? Humph! That's strange!... I'm greatly afeard my dear sir; by the appearance of the tooth that i have taken out the wrong one!"

*Afeard | Define Afeard at Dictionary.com
dictionary.reference.com/browse/afeard




afeard. /əˈfɪəd/ adjective. (postpositive) an archaic or dialect word for afraid. Old English āfǣred, from afǣran to frighten, from fǣran to fear.


This comical, pathetic situation pictured here graphically demonstrates the tremendous advance that has been made in the management of dental disorders since that time.
The cure for toothache was the extirpation of the tooth. The generally mediocre knowledge of the classification of teeth and the lack of efficient diagnostic methods increased the probability of error.
The modern dentist uses all his skill and effort to preserve the natural teeth. Good oral hygiene adjunctive to regular care by the dentist is considered the best combination for the treatment and prevention of dental caries and gingivitis.