On 18 August 1840, the American Society of Dental Surgeons was founded in New York. One purpose of the organization was to raise standards for individuals who practiced dentistry.

In the 1830s, the use of amalgam—a mercury silver mixture—used to fill teeth was introduced into the United States. This mixture had become popular in England and France during the early 1800s. Even though a silver paste containing mercury had been used in China as early as the seventh century, some dentists were concerned about the use of amalgam because it could expand and cause teeth to crack or the jaw to not close properly. Others were concerned about the potential of mercury poisoning.

The American Society of Dental Surgeons took the position that none of its members could use amalgam. However, the dental community as a whole find the use of amalgam acceptable and membership in the American Society of Dental Surgeons declined. The organization disbanded in 1856. It was not until 1895 that G.V. Black developed a mercury free amalgam.

Dentistry has been practiced since at least 7000 BCE. “Stone age people in Pakistan were using dental drills made of flint more than 9,000 years ago.” (BBC News) Egyptian Hesi-Re (c. 2640 BCE) is the first individual identified as a dentist. During the Third Dynasty in which he lived, Egyptians were already making bridges.

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Washington might have benefited from an early Walt Disney produced film: Tommy Tucker’s Tooth (1922). Disney’s Laugh-O-Gram Studio had been paid $500 to produce the film. Unfortunately, the following year the Laugh-O-Gram Studio went bankrupt.

–Steven L. Berg, PhD

Photo Caption: Egyptian Bridge. Image from the National Museum of Dentistry.

Concerning Tommy Tucker’s Tooth: I first learned of this short film during an excellent student presentation in my Winter 2012 film class.