Dentists Near Me

Sure, a trip to the dentist may seem a bit scary, but as one of the world’s oldest medical professions, there’s nothing to fear when faced with a trip to the Dentist. Once you find a great dentist who fits your needs, budget, and location: there’s nothing to fear except fear itself. With modern innovations, painless procedures, and a greater degree of preventative care your next trip to the dentist could be your best ever.

Are you interested in finding dentists in your area? You’re in luck! Simply browse dentists near me on the map below and find a list of dentists located near you. Need a bit more information on dentists? Read on for facts, trivia, and history on dentistry!

Dentists Near Me – Find it on the Map

Dentists Near Me – Dentists Trivia

When was dentistry first established?

While searching dentists near me, consider just how long dentistry has been a part of culture. Dentistry is one of the oldest medical professions in the world, dating back to 7000 B.C. and the Indus Valley civilization. Despite these early roots, it wasn’t until 50000 B.C. that descriptions related to the practice of dentistry and revelations on tooth decay were available. At the time, a Sumerian text described tooth worms as the main results of tooth decay, an idea that wasn’t officially proven false until the 1700s (no fear, tooth worms are not a thing). In ancient Greece, Aristotle famously wrote about dentistry, specifically treating decaying teeth. Despite these early insights, the first book devoted to dentistry wasn’t written until 150 with “The Little Medicinal Book For all Kinds of Diseases and Infirmities of the Teeth.” Nowadays the dental profession is chock full of useful information and resources.

A trip to the dentist doesn’t have to be scary, it can be a totally flawless and pleasurable experience!

When did dentistry become a more defined profession?

Though it’s simple to search dentists near me today, it wasn’t until the 1700s that dentistry became a more defined profession. In 1723, Pierre Fauchard, a French surgeon, became the father of modern dentistry by publishing the influential book, “The Surgeon Dentist.” This was defined as the most comprehensive guide and system for caring for and treating tooth issues. Additionally, Fauchard is credited with introducing the idea of dental fillings and the use of dental prosthesis. He also identified the major causes of tooth decay to be from acidic beverages and foods as well as sugar. In 1840, the first dental college opened in Baltimore, establishing the need for dentists and oversight in the dental industry. In the United States, Alabama lead the way by enacting the first dental practice in 1841. 20 years later, the American Dental Association was formed and the first university affiliated dental school, the Harvard University Dental School, was founded. The first school of orthodontics was established in 1901.

Dentists Near Me – Dentists Facts

The Beverage Factor

If you’re searching dentists near me, you may want to lay off of the sugary and acidic beverages for awhile. According to the ADA, individuals who drink three or more glasses of soda everyday, will have 62% more tooth decay, fillings, and tooth loss than those that drink water or non-sugar beverages. Unfortunately, soda is not the only culprit when it comes to tooth decay. Sugary sports beverages, fruit juice, and orange juice have also been known to cause tooth related issues including enamel damage. Though tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body, it can be damaged the same way a bone can be broken. This means taking care of your enamel is as important as taking care of other aspects of your mouth such as bad breath.

Left Handed Vs. Right Handed

Here’s a fact you may not known while searching dentists near me: if you’re right handed, you will chew your food on right side. If you’re left handed, you will chew your food on your left side. This means that this side of your mouth will get a lot more action and likely collect a bit more plaque. Make sure to floss and brush both sides of your mouth. If you don’t floss, you miss cleaning more than 40% of your tooth surfaces. This can lead to tooth decay, gum disease, and other mouth issues. The rule of thumb: brush or at least 2 minutes twice a day hitting all surfaces of your teeth.

Brushing Habits

According to the ADA, the average American only brushes their teeth for around 45 seconds to 70 seconds per day. The recommended amount of time is 2-3 minutes. Because of this, 78% of Americans will have at least 1 cavity by the age of 17. Despite the limited amount of time many Americans spend brushing, on average humans spend a 38.5 total days brushing their teeth over a lifetime. And what are they brushing their teeth with? Blue toothbrushes! According to statistics most Americans prefer blue toothbrushes over red or any other color. Of course, kids prefer bright colors such as green and pink.