The development of dentistry
Advertisements for painless dentistry and artificial teeth allow you to trace the development of Scotland's dental care from our earliest Post Office directory onwards.
Artificial teeth
The term 'artificial teeth' started to become common in dental adverts around 1850.
In 1848 Mr H A Barrow, surgeon-dentist in No 7 Young Street, Edinburgh, advertised his 'patent in-corrodible artificial teeth, fixed without extracting the roots, or causing the least pain'.
He adds that the artificial teeth 'never change colour or decay' and that 'the closest observer cannot distinguish them from the natural ones'.
Early adverts for dental work
The earliest extensive dental advertisements are recorded in the 'Edinburgh directory' for 1837.
There Mr Vernon promotes his teeth fillings as giving immediate relief and making the teeth useful 'for many years afterwards, rendering extraction almost unnecessary'.
However, simple entries for dental treatment reach even further back.
The 'Glasgow directory' for 1806 records Mrs M'Arrow, a midwife who also 'removes the toothach' [sic].
Dentistry in 1773
Evidence of dental treatment can even be found in our very earliest digitised directory.
'Williamson's directory for the city of Edinburgh, Canongate, Leith, and suburbs' for 1773 names Mr Joseph Ritchie as an 'artificial tooth-maker'.
