In the s, sugar consumption skyrocketed in Europe, especially in England. That led to many people losing many of their teeth by the age of 50 and needing a way to replace them. In a morbid turn of events, the teeth from soldiers who died during the Battle of Waterloo were used as replacements. Teeth were pulled from cadavers and mounted onto a base of ivory.
These teeth were in high demand and actually became a status symbol among the elite. Because of their popularity, grave robbers would steal teeth from the dead to sell, and sometimes poor people sold their teeth for money. The first pair of porcelain dentures were developed in by a British physician. Porcelain teeth looked unnaturally white, and they chipped very easily. In , a silversmith mounted porcelain teeth onto gold plates with springs and swivels, which allowed the teeth to work more efficiently and naturally.
In effect, this was the first modern set of dentures. Porcelain was very expensive, and most people could not afford to wear this type of denture. An alternative made from hardened rubber was created in the mids. This type of denture became very popular and widely utilized by people from all walks of life until the 20th century when acrylic resin became the norm. While dentures are still widely used, dental implants are becoming a favored way to replace a missing tooth.
Luckily, with the creation of modern dentistry came porcelain dentures, which put an abrupt end to dentures created by human teeth. And as a bonus, now we have the option for dental implants , too! But it also says a lot about the ingenuity and evolution of dentistry that even before modern dentistry and concepts of oral hygiene, early dentists were figuring out inventive ways to combat tooth loss.
It is a key part of your oral health routine. Did you know you can make it for FREE at home with some simple ingredients? Click the image below to learn how! As dentists tried to improve false teeth, they tried many different materials and techniques. Ivory was one of the earliest materials used to replace lost teeth. Ivory came from animals like the hippopotamus, walrus, or elephant. These teeth tended to decay and rarely looked natural, but got the job done. Ivory was still used for the base of dentures, even after quality human teeth became more available near the end of the 18th century.
The best dentures were made from human teeth. Understandably, these sources provided poor quality teeth. Their poor quality meant that dentures were mostly cosmetic and needed to be removed for eating. The death of 50, men at the battle of Waterloo in soon diminished the lack of quality human teeth.
Soldiers marching at Waterloo were young and healthy, so their teeth were ideal for denture making. This practice of using human teeth for dentures continued on into the late s. Luckily, such ghastly techniques lessened after when Charles Goodyear discovered how to make flexible rubber. It turns out that vulcanite makes a more comfortable base for false teeth. Because other versions of false teeth were more expensive, the market for vulcanite teeth flourished.
For the first time ever, middle class people bought and wore false teeth along with the rich and wealthy. Porcelain false teeth were invented in the late s in France. However, their tendency to crack and grate against each other made them unpopular choices. Porcelain is still a popular choice for many dental applications.
Until recently, the wealthy were the only ones who could afford false teeth. Here are some wealthy public figures whose dental history you may find interesting:.
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