A Dentist's Shop is Fitted Up

For as long as mankind has walked the earth, people have had tooth decay, toothaches, and sore gums.  Accompanying this distress has been the desire to relieve the pain, either by removing the offending tooth or by trying to fix it.  Recently, archeologists have found physical evidence in Pakistan suggesting that as early as 9,000 years ago, dentists were drilling small holes in molars.  Over the centuries, techniques were discovered and refined by scholars, philosophers, physicians, monks, and even barbers and blacksmiths, all leading to gradual birth of the field of dentistry.  Most importantly, practitioners began to concentrate on preventative measures, as connections were made between oral hygiene, general health, and the aching tooth.

 This exhibition was sponsored by The New Hampshire Dental Society, Concord, NH.