Anyone who has been to the dentist will recognize the unmistakable “whirrrrrrrrrrr” of the dental drill. This important dental tool has modernized dental procedures and improved the quality of care for patients. But where did the dental drill come from?
The dental drill’s ancient beginnings
Ancient dental drills looked and operated very differently than today’s dental drills. However, they were surprisingly effective at removing tooth decay.
The oldest evidence of a dental drill being used dates to 13,000 years ago. Human tooth remains belonging to an individual living in what is today Northern Italy had large holes drilled into their central incisors. Interestingly, researchers infer that a material similar to tar was used to fill the holes.
Jumping forward a couple thousand years, ancient dental drills were still being used between 9,000 and 7,500 years ago in an ancient village called Mehgarh, in Pakistan. Archeologists discovered 11 teeth that had holes drilled in them with sharpened flint points. These flint points were likely used in a bow drill that was operated by craftsmen of the time. Think of the bow drill as something that campers may use today to start a fire. Although the experience was likely incredibly uncomfortable, it was generally effective at removing decaying parts of the tooth.
Transition to modern day dental drills
It wasn’t until the late 18th century that mechanical drills were developed. These drills were usually hand-operated, meaning that the dentist would crank the drill at a rate of 15 revolutions per minute (rpm).
In 1864, George Harrington, a British dentist, was the first to create a clockwork mechanism to power dental drills. Although it was slightly faster than cranking by hand, it still was much slower than today’s versions.
Four years later, an American dentist named George Green invented a dental drill that was powered by a pedal and was much faster than earlier versions. This dental drill could reach speeds up to 300 rpm, a vast improvement for dentists at that time.
Just over 10 years after the first mechanical dental drill was invented the first electric dental drill came to the market in 1875, delivering speeds up to 1,000 rpm. This maximized the effectiveness of the dental tool while minimizing the efforts of dentists of the time. By World War I, the electrical dental tool was standard practice for nearly all dentists.
Modern day dental drills
Today, dental drills use air-powered turbines created by Sir John Patrick Walsh, KBE, to deliver speeds of up to 400,000 rpm or more. These turbines are what you hear while being worked on in the dental chair and make dental procedures faster and more comfortable for both patients and dentists.
Dentists use dental tools for many different procedures including drilling and filling cavities, removing tooth decay and even shaping teeth. Today’s dental drills are designed with the comfort of both the patient and dentist in mind with cooling systems to prevent the tool from becoming too hot and illuminating features that help dentists see more clearly when working on a patient.
Although dental drills have humble beginnings, modern dental drills are an essential part of any dental practice. Not only do they make dental procedures faster and more comfortable, but they also help dentists all over the world be more effective.
Curious about other dental tools? Check out this blog.