It’s pretty easy now to take modern dental crowns for granted. Countless dentists have been using them for decades, relying on them to repair even the most broken teeth. Even so, these special caps haven’t always been so cutting-edge; they took thousands of years to reach their current form. Your Covington dentist will even prove that fact with truly solid evidence. With that said, please read on to learn a brief history of dental crowns – their past, present, etc.
(Dental) Crowns of the Ancients
Dental crowns actually got their start in the ancient or classical world. At that time, many people were beginning to seek ways to repair their damaged teeth.
Many examples of these early dental crowns exist. For instance, the ancient Egyptians used strong gold to make caps for their teeth in 3,000 BCE. The Etruscans of the 1st century AD imitated them by using similar metals and ivory as dental crowns. However, these shiny caps weren’t great at fixing teeth; they were mainly placed to give patients a higher social status.
Crowning in the Middle Ages
Thankfully enough, dental crowns saw advancements in the Middle Ages. It was during this period that dentistry became a true profession for people.
Several figures made breakthroughs with dental crowns in the 1500s. In 1530, one was the anonymous author of “The Little Medicinal Book for All Kinds of Infirmities of the Teeth.” This individual’s written work covered the basics of dentistry, including how to place dental fillings and crowns. Similarly, Ambrose Pare – the father of surgery – published his writing on dentistry in 1575; it featured a lot of details on dental crowns.
Colonial Crown Developments
While monarchs weren’t popular in the colonial era, crowns of the dental kind sure were. These latter kinds underwent great advances in the 1700s and 1800s.
Several facts point to dental crown developments among colonials. For starters, John Baker brought the practice of dentistry to America from England in the mid-1700s. Dr. Charles Land (grandfather of Charles Lindburg) then developed the porcelain “jacket” crown in the late 1800s. With this type, a dentist could make a broken tooth look visibly whole and unharmed; the cap would surround the tooth’s visible parts.
Present-Day Dental Crowns
What many consider “present-day” dental crowns emerged in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. From the 1980s to 2025, science and technology have made the caps highly effective for smiles.
Several key developments are worth mentioning here. First, dentists learned how to make synthetic crowns out of ceramics and glass in 1984; these paved the way for high-grade porcelain and zirconia crowns. Dentistry then began to use CEREC software in 1987 to make same-day dental crowns, which can be designed and placed in one dental visit.
Clearly, the history of dental crowns is a long and storied one. Feel free to consult your dentist to learn its finer points.
About the Practice
Dean Dental Care is based in Covington, GA. Led by Dr. Stephen Dean, our practice has always relied on the best and latest technology. Patients can trust our state-of-the-art facility to provide top-tier preventive, cosmetic, and restorative treatments. Whether you need a simple dental checkup or same-day dental crowns, our team will help your smile thrive! For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (770)-786-3915.