What were George Washington's false teeth partly made of?

Human and animal teeth, ivory and metal

History of Dentistry Quiz: 10 Questions That Test What You Know

This history of dentistry quiz covers ancient beliefs about tooth worms, early drilling, barber surgeons, George Washington's false teeth, Pierre Fauchard, anesthesia, fluoride and modern dental tools. Ten questions test what you know about how people cared for teeth.

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🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

Ancient
Which old belief explained toothaches for thousands of years?
Drilling
Evidence of tooth drilling about 9,000 years old was found in which country?
Barbers
Who often pulled teeth in medieval Europe?
Father
Who is called the father of modern dentistry?
Washington
What were George Washington's false teeth partly made of?
Anesthesia
Which dentist demonstrated nitrous oxide for tooth extraction in 1844?
Toothbrush
Where were bristle toothbrushes first made, around 1498?
Fluoride
Which US city first added fluoride to its water supply in 1945?
Drill
What powered the first electric dental drill in 1875?
School
When was the world's first dental school founded, in Baltimore?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: Which old belief explained toothaches for thousands of years?
Answer: Tooth worms
Texts from Babylon to medieval Europe blamed worms for cavities.
Q2: Evidence of tooth drilling about 9,000 years old was found in which country?
Answer: Pakistan
Neolithic people at Mehrgarh used bow drills on molars.
Q3: Who often pulled teeth in medieval Europe?
Answer: Barber surgeons
Barbers also cut hair and let blood.
Q4: Who is called the father of modern dentistry?
Answer: Pierre Fauchard
His 1728 book described fillings and braces.
Q5: What were George Washington's false teeth partly made of?
Answer: Human and animal teeth, ivory and metal
The wooden teeth story is a myth.
Q6: Which dentist demonstrated nitrous oxide for tooth extraction in 1844?
Answer: Horace Wells
Laughing gas made extractions painless.
Q7: Where were bristle toothbrushes first made, around 1498?
Answer: China
They used hog bristles on bone or bamboo handles.
Q8: Which US city first added fluoride to its water supply in 1945?
Answer: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Tooth decay among children fell sharply.
Q9: What powered the first electric dental drill in 1875?
Answer: Electricity
George Green patented it.
Q10: When was the world's first dental school founded, in Baltimore?
Answer: 1840
It was the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery.

History Of Dentistry Quiz – Caring for Teeth Through the Ages

Toothaches have troubled people for thousands of years. Ancient texts blamed tooth worms, and early healers drilled teeth, used herbs and pulled painful teeth. Archaeologists have found 9,000-year-old drilled teeth in Pakistan and ancient dental bridges made with gold wire.

For centuries, barber surgeons and traveling tooth pullers handled dental care. In 1728, French surgeon Pierre Fauchard wrote a book describing fillings, dentures and braces, turning dentistry into a profession. Anesthesia in the 1840s made extractions painless, and the first dental school opened in 1840.

Modern dentistry brought electric drills, X-rays, fluoride toothpaste and community water fluoridation, reducing cavities dramatically. Today dentists use lasers, implants and digital scans, and regular brushing and check-ups keep teeth healthy for life.

What This Quiz Teaches

This quiz is for students and history fans exploring dentistry.

What tooth worms were
Who the father of dentistry is
What Washington's teeth were made of
Who used laughing gas
When fluoridation began

Did You Know?

Etruscans made gold dental bridges.
Dental floss was promoted in 1815.
Toothpaste tubes appeared in the 1890s.
Dental implants use titanium.
Braces date back to the 1700s.