A Brief Look into "Stone Age" Dentistry

Would it be safe to consider dentistry as the oldest profession known to humankind? Maybe not, since that position is already taken, if I am not mistaken. I also doubt the fact that dentistry is going to be the last profession ever invented. Ever since ancient times people have been used to treat their teeth to the best of their knowledge, and will do the same as long as it is needed.

Our forefathers did not have all the third millennium materials easily available for us today, nor did they use ceramics, titanium implants, or zirconium. They did not whiten their smiles with state-of-the-art plasma lamps and they had a different opinion regarding dental prophylactic measures than we do today. Nevertheless, they paid a reasonable amount of attention to their dental problems and always did their best to solve them. As for anaesthetics they had the only one best option: not to use them at all. But sometimes the pain grew so extreme that they had to come up with all kinds of drugs in order to get mentally prepared. They would use plants, smoke or they would even dance themselves into a deep state of trance so that the dental intervention could become bearable. Plant cocktails prescribed by medicine-men were administrated just as the antibiotics of today's world and some of them, surprisingly, did a fairly decent job.

On the other hand, pain killers and antibiotics were not always efficient enough to cure the hurting patient, so a direct dental intervention turned out to be mandatory. A viable solution was in high demand and when self-curing was not possible, a designated "dentist" was the best and only option. Instead of a dental drill for treating cavities, they used a rudimentary bow and arrow, similar to the one used for starting a fire. The cavity formed was filled with bee wax. Instead of dental implants, animal teeth were placed in the bleeding socket where a tooth was lost as a result of a battle or hunting accident. In a similar way, they used sea-shells or any other objects available at hand. Surprisingly, some of these items got well integrated in the natural jaw bone. As for cosmetic whitening, ancient people (and very few contemporary tribal communities in remote geographic areas) used to have their teeth blackened with paint or even ash. This is an interesting indicator of how aesthetics is different from culture to culture and specific to a certain time span.

Looking into the future, with the hindsight knowledge we have today, dentistry might follow similar dramatically changing patterns in the future very much in the same vein as today. Maybe in no more than just a few decades, our modern techniques could seem rudimentary and barbaric. It may be that materials and treatments will significantly evolve, but the unwritten dental law will still be the same and will remain untampered: painless, functional, beautiful smile.

As a conclusion, along with our scientific community, I tend to agree that dentistry emerged as both a science and an art form with the emergence of the first toothache and will stay here as long as we have to chew, love to smile and have the desire to speak.

Dr. Bogdan Fondrea - www.dentaldesign.ro

Implanturile dentare, solutie si pentru cele mai dificile cazuri

In primul colaj se observa statusul initial, sub lucrarea veche si cel final, sub lucrarea noua. Initial apar dinti infectati, infectii in os, gingivita, carii, miros neplacut al gurii, sangerari gingivale. In final - sanatate. S-au extras dintii afectati, s-au eliminat infectiile si s-a inserat un numar de cinci implanturi (cu sinus lilt). Bonturile albe sunt din zirconiu.

Initial view and final view. In the first pictures we can find infections, bone infection, destroyed teeth, gum bleeding, bad breath... After a few years (second picture), and after five implants (with sinus lift), we had the final view and a healthy state was achieved.

In colajul de mai jos vedem la fel ca inainte, statusul initial si cel final. Initial estetica deficitara, lucrare incorecta, probleme multiple. Final - estetica satisafatoare, problema cea mai mare fiind linia gingivala, in partea stanga necesitand o reconstituire a gingiei, cu ajutorul ceramicii, permitand totusi o igienizare corecta.

Initial view and final view. The most problematic issue was the gingival line. We had to work with pink ceramics to mimic the gum appearance. We were careful to facilitate a normal hygiene.

Zambet final si lucrarile finale pregatite pentru aplicare - bonturile sunt de zirconiu, iar lucrarile de ceramica pe suport de zirconiu.

Final treatment smile, and final denture ready to be placed. We worked with zirconium abutments and ceramic on zirconium frame bridges.

Dr. Bogdan Fondrea - www.dentaldesign.ro

Sinus lift deschis si implanturi dentare

Situatie initiala. Se observa lucrari protetice superioare si inferioare, cu dinti distrusi datorita lucrarilor vechi si incorecte, infectii, atat endodontice, cat si in os. Din pacate singura solutie este sa extragem dintii compromisi, ceea ce duce la o singura concluzie - implanturile dentare.

Initial view - old bridges, bone infections, endodontic infections, bleeding gums. Unfortunately, all we can do is to remove the teeth that are too infected to be treated, and the only option is using dental implants.

In timpul unei sedinte ce a durat 4 ore, s-au efectuat doua interventii de sinus lift deschis (oferta osoasa fiind limitata), si s-au inserat 7 implanturi dentare. S-au extras dintii compromisi din maxilarul superior. Cei doi dinti ramasi au fost deja tratati endodontic. Urmeaza o noua sedinta pentru partea inferioara.

After 4 hours and two sinus lift interventions, 7 implants were placed. The untreatable teeth were removed and the 2 remaining teeth are saved. A second intervention will follow, for the lower part.

Etapa a doua, implanturi mandibulare

Second stage - mandibular dental implants.

Citeste mai multe despre implanturi AICI.

Dr. Bogdan Fondrea - www.dentaldesign.ro

Implanturi, coroane individuale si zirconiu

Implanturi, coroane individuale si zirconiu. Trei etape intr-o singura privire .

Dental implants, individual crowns and zirconium. Three steps in one view.

Situatia initiala era bazata pe punti dentare. Pacientul a dorit realizarea de coroane individuale, dinte cu dinte. Sapte implanturi (5 superior si 2 inferior) au fost inserate si o interventie de sinus lift a fost efectuata. Cateva luni mai tarziu pacientul este pregatit pentru a primi lucrarea finala. In tot acest timp au fost folosite lucrari provizorii, masticatia, fonatia si estetica neavand de suferit.

The initial situation was based on dental bridges. The patient's desire was to have each tooth restored individually, one by one. Seven implants were inserted (5 maxillary and 2 mandibular) and one sinus lift intervention performed. Several months later the patient is ready to receive the final restoration. During this period temporary bridges were used.

Bonturile alese sunt cele de zirconiu, pentru o estetica si biocompatibilitate maxima. Restul dintilor sunt tratati endodontic si reconstituiti.

Zirconium abutments are used for each implant so the aesthetic and the biocompatibility are the very best. The rest of the teeth are treated and rebuilt.

Situatie finala dupa cimentare, 9 coroane de ceramica pe zirconiu (si inca 3 pe mandibula).

Final view, 9 zirconium crowns (and another 3 on the lower side).

Dr. Bogdan Fondrea - www.dentaldesign.ro

Citeste si: Reconstructie ceramica pe zirconiu si Coroana ceramica pe suport metalic sau pe zirconiu?