Dentiste louis xiv biography timeline
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The history of orthodontic treatment
The history of orthodontic treatment goes further back in history than you might expect, with evidence of devices to correct the position and alignment of teeth going back many thousands of years.
The earliest example of the use of metal to adjust teeth has been uncovered by archaeologists in Ancient Egypt. Mummified bodies have been discovered with basic metal bands wrapped around individual teeth. It’s thought that catgut – a fibre made from the walls of animal intestines (yes, really!) – would have done the same job as modern orthodontic wire, linking the bands to help close gaps between the teeth.
Further on in history, the Etruscans – the predecessors of the Romans – used to bury their dead with dental equipment places in their mouths to ensure their teeth did not collapse before reaching the afterlife. It may not have helped them much when they were alive, but it shows a growing understanding of the importance of straight and well-maintained teeth.
There is also evidence that the Romans themselves continued this fascination with adjusting uneven teeth. The body of a Roman citizen was uncovered in a tomb with several teeth bound together with gold wire. This is thought to be the earliest example of a ligature wire – an orthodontic
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Even Royal Molars Decay
By Lauren Renaud (Vanderbilt University)
A gleaming white smile represents youth and beauty. Today, pearly whites are achievable for many through regular visits to the dentist. However, in eighteenth century France, the dental field was just seceding from quackery. A new professional, the dentiste, was replacing local blacksmiths who remedied toothaches through extraction with bulky metal tools. Without dental hygienists and the knowledge that sugar leads to cavities, even French royalty couldn’t escape the blight of tooth decay.
The most visible of royal dental disasters afflicted French King Louis XIV. Ironically, the Sun King, known for visual extravagance, was toothless by age forty. Throughout the 1680’s Louis XIV experienced tooth decay probably catalyzed by his taste for candied fruits and sweetmeats. Although the decay necessitated numerous extractions, the royal surgeon refused to remove the king’s rotten molars because dentistry was considered a “mechanical” field. Instead, he summoned arracheurs de dents (itinerant tooth pullers) to perform the tasks.
The procedures progressed regularly until 1685, when one extraction merited mention in the Journal de santé [The Health Journal]. In this case, the extractor accidentally removed a