Pre-1700
1530 Artzney Buchlein, the first book written solely on dentistry
1563 Bartholomew Eusttachius published the first accurate book on dental anatomy, Libellus de dentibus
1683 Antony van Leeuwenhoek identified oral bacteria using a microscope
1685 The first dental book written in English, The Operator for the teeth by Charles Allen
1700-1800
1723 Pierre Fauchard published Le Chirurgien dentiste
1764 First lectures on the teeth at the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh by James Rae
1771 John Hunter published The natural history of human teeth giving a scientific basis to dental anatomy
1780 William Addis manufactured the first modern toothbrush
1800-1900
1820 Claudius Ash established his dental manufacturing company in London
1831 James Snell designed the first reclining dental chair
1830s–1890s The Amalgam War conflict and controversy generated over the use of amalgam as a filling material
1839 London Institution for Diseases of the Teeth established
1843 First British Dental Journal was published
1844 Horace Wells demonstrated nitrous oxide as an anaesthetic
1846 W T G Morton demonstrated ether as an anaesthetic
1846 James Robinson carried out first tooth extraction under ether in the UK
1851 Vulcanite, invented by Charles Goodyear, began to be used for denture bases
1858 Dental Hospital of London opened, the first clinical training establishment for dentists in Britain. Medical Registration Act permitted the College of Surgeons to grant licences in dental surgery
1859 Opening of first dental schools in Britain
1860 First licences in dental surgery awarded by the Royal College of Surgeons of England
1871 James Beall Morrision invents foot treadle engine. A tooth coloured filling material, silicate cement was introduced
1878 First British Dentists Act
1879 First Dental Register
1880 British Dental Association founded
1884 Cocaine was introduced as a local anaesthetic by Carl Koller
1890 W D Miller formulated his ‘chemico parasitic’ theory of caries in Micro-organisms of the human mouth
1895 Lilian Lindsay became the first woman to qualify as a dentist in the UK
1896 G V Black establishes the principles of cavity preparation
1900-present
1900 Federation Dentaire Internationale founded
1901 University of Birmingham awarded the first dental degree in Britain
Novocaine was introduced as a local anaesthetic by Alfred Einhorn
1907 George Cunningham established the Cambridge school children’s dental institute
1907 George Northcroft establishes the first orthodontic study group in the UK
1921 Dentists Act: only registered dentists were permitted to practise
c 1932 Synthetic resins were introduced for denture bases
1943 First dental hygienists were trained by the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force
1947 Founding of the Faculty of Dental Surgery within the Royal College of Surgeons of England
1948 National Health Service introduced
1956 Dentists Act: General Dental Council established
1957 High-speed turbine handpiece introduced
1958 Fluoride toothpaste was first marketed in Britain
1962 Dental auxiliaries qualified at New Cross General Hospital
1967 Lord Colwyn became a hereditary peer contributing to dental debates in the House of Lords
1968 First national dental survey of the adult population (children 1973) in England and Wales. These and subsequent surveys demonstrated enormous improvements in dental treatment and oral health
1981 Baroness Gardner of Parkes becomes first dentist to have a life peerage
1984 Dentists Act: the constitutional powers of the GDC were reduced
1985 The first dental school closed; Royal Dental Hospital
1985 Water fluoridation Act passed
1990 Family Health Services Authorities created and a new dental contract introduce
1992 Formation of the Faculty of General Dental Practice
2006 The new General Dental Services NHS contract introduced
