Wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, typically emerge between the ages of 17 and 25. Often, insufficient jaw space causes problems like impaction, pain, infection, and crowding of other teeth. Exploring historical wisdom tooth extraction methods reveals a stark contrast to today’s precise and comfortable procedures.
Ancient and Early Extraction Techniques
For much of history, tooth extraction was a brutal and often dangerous endeavor. Ancient civilizations, including those in Egypt, Greece, and Rome, employed rudimentary tools like sharpened rocks, chisels, or simple pliers, relying on brute force. Their primary goal was simply to remove the troublesome tooth.
During the medieval period, individuals without specialized dental training, such as barbers, blacksmiths, or general healers, frequently performed extractions. Their basic, plier-like tools were used to forcibly extract teeth. These procedures were often a last resort, resulting in significant pain and potential trauma to the patient.
The Evolution of Dental Instruments and Practices
As dentistry began to emerge as a more distinct profession from the 14th to the 19th centuries, specialized instruments were developed for tooth extraction. One such tool was the dental pelican, named for its resemblance to a pelican’s beak, used from the 14th century through the late 18th century. This instrument functioned as a lever, with a claw designed to grip the tooth and a bolster placed against the gum for leverage, often used to pull the tooth sideways. The pelican, while an advancement, could still damage adjacent teeth or even the jaw.
The dental key, appearing around 1730 and popular into the 20th century, was another significant development. Modeled after a door key, its claw was tightened over the tooth, and the instrument was rotated to loosen and remove it. Early designs had a straight shaft, which could press on neighboring teeth, leading to later versions with a bent shaft to mitigate this issue. Despite improvements, the dental key frequently resulted in tooth breakage, jaw fractures, and soft tissue damage. By the late 19th century, more refined dental forceps, with beaks designed to adapt to different tooth anatomies, began to replace the tooth key, offering a more controlled extraction.
Historical Approaches to Pain and Infection Control
Throughout much of history, effective pain management during tooth extraction was largely absent, with patients enduring procedures with minimal or no relief. Common historical “pain relievers” included alcohol, opium, or various herbal remedies, though these provided limited efficacy and often carried significant side effects, including addiction. The concept of modern anesthesia only began to take shape in the mid-19th century with the use of nitrous oxide and ether.
The absence of germ theory understanding for most of history meant that extractions were performed in unsanitary conditions. Instruments were not sterilized, and the link between cleanliness and infection was unknown. This led to a high incidence of post-operative infections, severe complications, and even death, a stark contrast to today’s sterile environments and the routine use of antibiotics to prevent such outcomes.