Dentistry or Dental science , a branch of Medical Science ; the art of excelling in treating the deformities and diseased condition of the oral cavity, mainly the tooth and tooth related structures , its diseases and formulating therapeutical measures for its cure.
Dentistry has prevailed over centuries and has a clear brief history dating back to cave paintings and neolithic periods. Oral cavity has always served as a mirror of many systemic illness and its recordings are reported by many physicians over the centuries worldwide.As far as evidences survive , the prevalence of Dentistry in Ancient India dates back to 7000 BC .
Hindustan - India , a peninsular country in Asia has thrived over decades and centuries with a vast knowledge of ancient medicine which later passed on to various countries through trade routes. It has been recorded that the trade routes of Indus Valley Civilization to Persia , Mesopotamia and Central Asia exchanged medical commodities and knowledge.
Archaeological expeditions conducted in Indus Valley Civilization's neolithic graveyard has revealed 14 skulls with drilled teeth using dental drills carbon dating to 7000 BC. Scrolls unearthed from India , China, Japan and Sumerian civilization as old as 5000 BC has reported the presence of "tooth worms" in dental cavity.
Knocking teeth out of its socket was considered as a severe form of punishment in olden days. Dentistry and trepanation are as old as 7000 BC. In ancient India , Vedas provided cure in the form of rituals, charms, mantras, medicines and even surgical intervention. Trepanated skulls and teeth were worn as charms to protect against malevolent spirits that were the causative agent for diseases as assumed earlier.
Post vedic ascetic and philosophical schools and principles arose during the period of Buddhism and Jainism. Buddha was also known as the healing guru for his benevolent nature of curing anyone and any sort of disease
Early philosophical schools of India documented the evidence on oral hygiene and the usage of chew sticks for cleaning teeth. It was highly mandatory for students in gurukul to brush daily in early times with chew sticks made of neem or other medicinal plants and roots. It has also be noted that toothpastes were used in Ancient India in 500 BC
Sushrutsha, the author of Sushrutsha Samhita , the world's first plastic surgeon was the worlds first dental anatomist. His works throws light on enormous knowledge on oral surgical works like repair of fractured jaws, tightening of loosened teeth ,etc. His principles are still being followed and are considered to be one of the best worthy note on Surgery.
All apart, dentistry has paved its own way through out history through many medicinal forms let it be Ayurveda - the world renowned Indian traditional medicinal form or Siddha - formulated by Tamil Siddharas or Sa-Rigpa the Himalayan medicinal cure or Allopathy-Western medicine. The emphasis on oral hygiene and its cure were always complex and thus dentistry has itself proved its existence in vitality by advocating various methodical cures benefitting people over years. A very deep thorough historical research on Indian medicine reveals the importance of oral hygiene and the prevalence of early dental practitioners. With advancement in science and medical knowledge whose basis is cemented on science ,dentistry has become - a practice, a field that has been there over centuries and will still be in need.
References :-
Www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/dentistry
WWW.tndentalcollege.in
WWW.deltadentmi.com
WWW.dentalassistant.com
WWW.ncbs.res.in
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