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​Timeline

A timeline of the development of dentistry from 1530 to the present day

Pre-1700

​1530 

Artzney Buchlein, the first book written solely on dentistry

​1563

Bartholomew Eusttachius published the first accurate book on dental anatomy, Libellus de dentibus

​1683

Antony van Leeuwenhoek identified oral bacteria using a microscope

​1685

The first dental book written in English, The Operator for the teeth by Charles Allen

1700-1800

​1723

​Pierre Fauchard published Le Chirurgien dentiste


​1764 

​First lectures on the teeth at the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh by James Rae  ​

​1771 

​John Hunter published The natural history of human teeth giving a scientific basis to dental anatomy  ​

​1780

​​William Addis manufactured the first modern toothbrush ​

1800-1900

​1820

​Claudius Ash established his dental manufacturing company in London​ ​

​1831 

​James Snell designed the first reclining dental chair  ​

​1830s-1890s

​The Amalgam War conflict and controversy generated over the use of amalgam as a filling material  ​

​1839 

​London Institution for Diseases of the Teeth established 

​1843

​First British Dental Journal was published  ​

​1844 

Horace Wells demonstrated nitrous oxide as an anaesthetic  ​

​1846

​W T G Morton demonstrated ether as an anaesthetic  ​

​1846

​​James Robinson carried out first tooth extraction under ether in the UK ​

​1851  

​Vulcanite, invented by Charles Goodyear, began to be used for denture bases

​1858 

​Dental Hospital of London opened, the first clinical training establishment for dentists in Britain. Medical Registration Act permitted the College of Surgeons to grant licences in dental surgery ​

​1859

​Opening of first dental schools in Britain ​

​1860  

​First licences in dental surgery awarded by the Royal College of Surgeons of England ​






1871






James Beall Morrision invents foot treadle engine. A tooth coloured filling material, silicate cement was introduced​






​1878   

First British Dentists Act​ ​

​1879

​First Dental Register ​

​1880

​British Dental Association founded ​

​1884 

​Cocaine was introduced as a local anaesthetic by Carl Koller ​

​1890

​W D Miller formulated his ‘chemico parasitic’ theory of caries in Micro-organisms of the human mouth

​1895

​Lilian Lindsay became the first woman to qualify as a dentist in the UK ​

​1896

​​G V Black establishes the principles of cavity preparation ​

1900-present 

​1900

​Federation Dentaire Internationale founded 

​1901

​University of Birmingham awarded the first dental degree in Britain

Novocaine was introduced as a local anaesthetic by Alfred Einhorn 

​1907

George Cunningham established the Cambridge school children’s dental institute

​1907  

​George Northcroft establishes the first orthodontic study group in the UK

​1921 

Dentists Act: only registered dentists were permitted to practise

​c 1932 

​Synthetic resins were introduced for denture bases

​1943 

First dental hygienists were trained by the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force

​1947 

Founding of the Faculty of Dental Surgery within the Royal College of Surgeons of England






1948 








National Health Service introduced



​1956

​Dentists Act: General Dental Council established

​1957 

High-speed turbine handpiece introduced

​1958

Fluoride toothpaste was first marketed in Britain

​1962  

Dental auxiliaries qualified at New Cross General Hospital

​1967

​Lord Colwyn became a hereditary peer contributing to dental debates in the House of Lords

​1968 

First national dental survey of the adult population (children 1973) in England and Wales. These and subsequent surveys demonstrated enormous improvements in dental treatment and oral health

​1981

Baroness Gardner of Parkes becomes first dentist to have a life peerage

​1984

Dentists Act: the constitutional powers of the GDC were reduced

​1985

The first dental school closed; Royal Dental Hospital

​1985  

​Water fluoridation Act passed

​1990 

​Family Health Services Authorities created and a new dental contract introduce

​1992 

​Formation of the Faculty of General Dental Practice

​2006

​The new General Dental Services NHS contract introduced

   
   

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