Dentistry is an ancient profession. So ancient, in fact, that it's almost as old as the history of humanity itself. Records exist of stone age people using flint tools to help work on their teeth 9,000 years ago. It even used to be believed that cavities were caused by “tooth worms,” with ancient Babylonians inscribing a tablet with “The Legend of the Worm,” a poem describing the imaginary critters. This tooth worm theory was only fully abandoned in the 1700s.

Needless to say, our understanding of oral health has changed a lot since then, and we now know that cavities are caused by tooth decay from acid-producing, sugar-loving bacteria in your mouth. We’ve learned a lot since 7,000 BCE, and much of that knowledge is thanks to the study and hard work of dentists and dental researchers. But have you ever wondered where the profession began, and who is considered the world’s first dentist?

The first recorded dentist was an Ancient Egyptian who lived in or around 2,600 BCE (that’s over 4,000 years ago!) named Hesy-Ra. Hesy-Ra was a high-ranking official who worked under the Pharoah. Hesy-Ra appeared to have earned many titles throughout his life, but the one that matters most to dentists was his title of “Great One of the Ivory Cutters” – or “Great One of the Dentists.” If this translation is correct, that would make Hesy-Ra the oldest known professional dentist.

Little is known of Hesy-Ra's life or practice, but he was clearly a very powerful and respected Egyptian, as his tomb was richly decorated with intricately carved cedarwood panels depicting the story of his life. It just goes to show that even thousands of years ago, people knew the importance of keeping their teeth healthy and cavity-free.

Luckily, these days we don’t need to worry about flint drills or tooth worms, and our modern understanding of dentistry allows for relatively discomfort-free care for our patients. So, at your next cleaning appointment, close your eyes and try to imagine what being at the dentist in Ancient Egypt would have been like.  

Speaking of appointments, regular six-month dental cleanings and checkups are key to a comprehensive oral health care routine. If it’s been a while since your last visit, don’t worry – just use the orange Book Online button to schedule your next appointment!

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