Dentistry Trivia: Can You Get All the Questions Right?

One of the most shocking factoids about the field of dentistry touches on how long the field itself has been around. Can you guess?

Approximately how old is dentistry?

1. A) About 150 years old
2. B) About 1,500 years old
3. C) About 7,000 years old
4. D) About 10,000 years old

The American Dental Association (ADA) says that the Sumerians from nearly 7,000 years ago talked about “tooth worms,” which modern dentists take to mean tooth caries or cavities. So, that would make the answer C.

You might have been tempted to say that dentistry has been around for about 150 years because the American Dental Association was established not that long ago (1859).

In fact, the first dentist according to historians was an Egyptian named Hesy-Re. More pivotal, though, was an Egyptian who came later named Ebers Papyrus, who actually referred to problems that teeth can develop and some possible natural remedies.

Prosthodontists have how many more years of graduate training after obtaining a dental degree? 

1. A) One year
2. B) Two years
3. C) Three years
4. D) Five years

Prosthodontists have an additional three years of training (C) so that they can treat everything from unexpected mouth traumas, gum recontouring issues, and congenital disorders affecting teeth to sleep apnea, TMJ disorders, and older adults needing dentures or dental implants.

What are some ways to improve your smile?

1. A) Brushing and flossing daily
2. B) Teeth whitening procedures
3. C) Correcting alignment issues
4. D) All of the above

The answer is D all of the above because there are things that you can do every day to improve your smile and there are procedures that you can have done to dramatically improve your smile too.

Dr. Stefan specializes in smile makeovers that seek to improve teeth structurally and aesthetically. This means that you’ll collaborate on a smile makeover plan with Dr. Stefan’s team.

Your customized plan could involve any of the following tools and techniques proven to improve smiles: natural-looking porcelain veneers, dental crowns, bridges for spacing issues, implants for older patients or those missing many teeth, and safe yet effective teeth whitening procedures.

When your teeth are in better alignment, a lot of stress is taken off of your jaw and, more than likely, you’ll keep your teeth for a longer period of time. Dr. Stefan can even help with a gummy smile, if that’s something you’re concerned about, with gum recontouring.

Missing, chipped, broken, or widely spaced teeth? Dr. Stefan and his friendly team of experienced dental professionals have seen it all before and are ready for you to schedule an appointment.

Who might benefit from seeing a prosthodontist?

1. A) People missing many teeth
2. B) Athletes of all ages who’ve suffered tooth trauma
3. C) People with certain jaw issues
4. D) All of the above

It’s amazing that your prosthodontist wears so many hats but the answer is actually D. The first part of prosthodontist—the “prostho” part—means that you’re replacing something. In this case, a prosthodontist is replacing missing, chipped, or otherwise compromised teeth with alternatives like implants, dental crowns, or porcelain veneers.

The second part of prosthodontist, of course, is “dontist,” which sounds a whole lot like “dentist.” Both actually refer to things that have to do with teeth. So, a prosthodontist is someone who specializes in replacing teeth.

A prosthodontist brings much more professional training and state-of-the-art tools to bear than most dentists too. The average prosthodontist has taken on three additional years of graduate training so that they can treat a huge variety of issues that affect teeth, the surrounding jaw, and maxillofacial tissues. Read more about Dr. Stefan here.