Health Care Medical – Learn to Live

Hermitage Pediatric Dentist Dr. David Snodgrass DDS always appreciates an opportunity to inform and educate his young patients about dentistry. The Hermitage Pediatric Dentist’s beloved alligator mascot Chomp is a faithful and enthusiastic companion. Chomp and the Hermitage Pediatric Dentist have worked together for years to bring fun, learning and oral hygiene education to the kids of middle Tennessee. Chomp is a very curious and friendly animal that often visits with the Hermitage Pediatric Dentist, answering questions about the vast and exciting animal kingdom. Today, Chomp’s curiosity about human beings has him posing the questions to the Hermitage Pediatric Dentist.

Hello, Dr. Snodgrass!

Hello, Chomp! I am so glad you could drop by.

Me too. I thought it might be fun to turn the tables today and have you answer some questions for me about human dentistry.

Well, that does sound like a good idea.

I know a lot of things about animals, but when it comes to human dental facts and dental history, there is so much to learn.

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That’s true. Did you know, for example, that dentistry is an ancient craft dating back thousands of years?

Wow. I was not aware of that.

Some of the earliest dentists were the ancient Egyptians, who made fillings out of resin and malachite. They also held loose teeth together with gold wire.

Is that something like the braces you use on crooked teeth today?

Yes, braces serve much the same function.

When was the first toothbrush invented?

That is not so easy to answer and you have to go far back into history. The first toothbrushes were nothing more than twigs, which early humans chewed on to fray the ends. Then they used the frayed wet end of the twig to clean their teeth.

Very inventive!

Yes, and it’s not even an exclusively human trick. Our primate cousins in the wild have also been observed improvising homemade toothpicks out of twigs.

So different animals have more in common than I thought.

That’s the truth, Chomp. All we have do to is look carefully at humans and their fellow animals to see remarkable similarities.

And some impressive differences.

Of course. It is our similarities that help us respect each other, and our differences that keep us interesting.

That’s a neat way to look at things, Dr. Snodgrass.

Thanks, Chomp. Well, I’m especially busy today, because I’ve got some new young patients coming for their first dental exam. I must go for now.

Sure thing, Dr. Snodgrass. Thanks for teaching me a little dental history.

You’re welcome, Chomp. It’s always a pleasure. Come back soon!

For more information about Hermitage Pediatric Dentist Snodgrass-King, go to http://snodgrassking.com