History of Dentistry and Dental Hygiene and the Dental Team Study Notes

Foundations and Early History of Dentistry

  • Pre-Modern Oral Care     - 3500 BC: The Babylonians and Egyptians utilized frayed twigs as rudimentary tools for cleaning teeth.     - 1000 BC: The first recorded toothbrush featuring horsehair bristles was documented in Chinese literature.

  • Classical Contributions (500–300 BC)     - Hippocrates and Aristotle: These philosophers and physicians wrote extensively about dentistry, focusing on:         - The eruption patterns of teeth.         - Methods for treating decayed teeth and gum disease.         - The extraction of teeth using forceps.         - The stabilization of loose teeth using wires.

  • Formalization of Dental Knowledge     - 1530: The very first book dedicated solely to dentistry was published, titled The Little Medicinal Book of All Kinds of Disease and Infirmities of Teeth.     - 1723: Pierre Fauchard, known as the "Father of Dentistry," published the seminal work The Surgeon Dentist, a Treatise on Teeth (Le Chirurgien Dentiste).     - 1780: The modern toothbrush design was developed by William Addis in England.     - 1841: Alabama became the first state to issue a dental license.     - 1960: The practice of "sit-down, four-handed dentistry" gained popularity in the United States.     - 1965: Dental specialties were officially recognized, including endodontics (endo), pedodontics (peds), and orthodontics (ortho).

The Emergence and Evolution of Dental Hygiene

  • Early Roles and Pioneers     - 1800s: Women were primarily utilized as auxiliaries in dental practices.     - 1900s: Thaddeus Hyatt, recognized as the "Father of Preventative Dentistry," advocated for dentists to educate patients on home-based tooth decay prevention.     - 1911: Alfred Fones developed and introduced the term "dental hygienist."     - 1913: The Fones School was established. The inaugural class consisted of 34 women, with 27 successfully graduating. These graduates transitioned into public school settings to practice.     - 1916: Dedicated dental hygiene programs began opening across the industry.     - 1917: Irene Newman became the first graduate of a hygiene program, the first "line hygienist," and the first president of the Connecticut Dental Hygienists Association.

  • Professional Growth (1920–1949)     - 1920: Licensing for hygienists was adopted by six states.     - 1923: The American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA) was established.     - 1933: A conceptual shift occurred, proposing that dental hygienists should work in private offices as well as schools, acknowledging that not all children were reachable in schools.     - 1935: Both the ADA and ADHA recommended that high school graduation be a mandatory requirement for licensure.     - 1938: The first toothbrush featuring nylon bristles was introduced.     - 1940: The ADHA recommended a minimum of two years for dental hygiene school programs.     - 1944: Dental hygienists were typically earning between $20\$20 and $25\$25 per week.     - 1945: Grand Rapids, Michigan, became the first city globally to add fluoride to its public drinking water supply.     - 1948: The first dental hygiene oath was authored by honorary member Dr. Frank Lamons.     - 1949: The ADHA officially adopted the term "Registered" for credentialing purposes.

  • Advancements in the Mid-to-Late 20th Century     - 1951: Deans and supervisors initiated discussions to establish standardized curriculum courses.     - 1957: The ADHA removed all membership restrictions based on race, creed, or color.     - 1958: The reclining dental chair was invented.     - 1958: Sigma Phi Alpha, the national dental hygiene honor society, was founded.     - 1959: Esther Wilkins, BS, RDH, DMD, published the first edition of Clinical Practice of the Dental Hygienist.     - 1959: The first electric toothbrush, known as "The Broxo," was introduced.     - 1962: The first National Dental Hygiene Board was established.     - 1965: Jack Oreo became the first male to graduate from a hygiene program (University of Mexico).     - 1968: The first Regional Examination was established to standardize practice across different states.

Modern Milestones and Legislative Changes

  • 1970: The first International Symposium on Dental Hygiene took place in Italy.
  • 1971: Washington State became the first to expand practice acts to include the administration of local anesthesia by hygienists.
  • 1973: The first guidelines for continuing education were drafted.
  • 1979: The Surgeon General released the first "Health Objectives."
  • 1987: The first state passed legislation allowing for the unsupervised practice of dental hygienists.
  • 1992: OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) established regulations concerning infection control and safety in the workplace.
  • 1998: The California Alternative Practice Act was established.
  • 2003: The first eco-friendly dental office opened in Berkeley, California.
  • 2004: The ADHA introduced the Advanced Dental Hygiene Practitioner (similar to a nurse practitioner), allowing for independent practice.
  • 2006: Master’s level education programs were established for dental hygiene.
  • 2009: Minnesota passed legislation for dental hygiene therapists, which requires an advanced dental hygiene degree.
  • 2013: The ADHA celebrated its 100th anniversary.
  • 2016: The Access to Care and Change Act was passed.

Licensure and Professional Standards

  • The Purpose of Licensing     - Establish Standards: Creates a baseline for professional practice.     - Protect Against Incompetence: Ensures practitioners have met required standards and competencies.     - Enforce Code of Practice: Ensures all practitioners follow identical guidelines.     - Protect the Public: Safeguards the well-being of patients.     - Example: Tami Grzesikowski is a Registered Dental Hygienist in the State of Florida.

Dental Specialties

  • Periodontics: Focuses on gum diseases. The name is derived from "Perio" (around) and "Odont" (tooth).
  • Prosthodontics: Focuses on dental prosthetics and replacing function through artificial means.
  • Oral Surgery: Surgical procedures involving the mouth, jaw, and face.
  • Endodontics: Concerns the dental pulp and tissues surrounding tooth roots. The name is derived from "Endo" (inside) and "Odont" (tooth).
  • Oral Pathology: Deals with the nature, identification, and management of diseases affecting the oral and maxillofacial regions.
  • Public Health: The science of preventing and controlling dental diseases and promoting health via community efforts.
  • Orthodontics: Focused on aligning teeth, including the use of braces and Invisalign.
  • Pedodontics: Focused on the diagnosis and treatment of dental issues in children.

The Dental Team and Collaborative Care

  • Team Philosophy     - The dental team must work together for a common cause.     - TEAM Acronym: "Together Everyone Achieves More."

  • Key Team Members     - Dentist: Requires a DDS or DMD degree. They are the licensed provider and owner of the practice.     - Dental Hygienist: Requires an AS, AA, or BS degree. They are a licensed provider responsible for prophylaxis and other specialized procedures.     - Dental Assistant: May hold a CDA or have Expanded Duties. Often involves On-the-Job Training (OJT). They assist with nearly every aspect of patient care.     - Receptionist: No formal specialized training is usually required. They act as the manager and bookkeeper for the office.     - Lab Technician: Requires formal training (2-year lab tech school or some BS degree). They are often Certified Dental Technicians (CDT) who create appliances and indirect restorations.