Dentistry and its specialties
Attempts at dentistry have been noted since the beginning of recorded human history. Most of these treatments consisted of any or all offending teeth. In colonial America, dentistry could be considered deplorable with Europeans of the same era having far superior dental conditions. Living conditions and other obligations made dental care hard for most.
Dentistry in Early America
In early America, most dentistry was accomplished by travelers on horseback or wagon. Their arrival was advertised in advance in newspapers. These travlers had little to no training and their treatment was often brutal and painful.
there were three ways to perform dentistry:
Be medically trained and have an interest in dentistry.
Be an apprentice to a medically trained individual with an interest in dentistry.
simply declare yourself a dentist
The Barber Surgeon
A barber surgeon was an individual capable of carrying out surgical operations such as bloodletting, cupping therapy, tooth extraction, and amputation. In addition to these medical procedures, barbers were also skilled in bathing, hair cutting, shaving or trimming facial hair, and administering enemas.
The LMHM Dental Exhibit
The museum dental exhibit was created in association with Dr. Lynn Dolan DDS and showcases different types of dental instruments throughout the ages. In this exhibit, you will learn what types of things were used to create dentures and fals teeth, different types of tools used for different specialties and even some household dental medications you might find in your own medicine cabinets. Dentistry and its Specialties is on display now at the Lancaster Medical Heritage Museum
The Lancaster County Dental Society
