Here in the (new) year of 2025, it’s easy to take modern dental crowns for granted. These caps have been making teeth stronger and prettier for a while now! Still, you shouldn’t assume the treatment came out of nowhere; dental crowns took a lot of time to reach their current form. Your local Phoenix dentist can even prove that fact with crucial evidence. To that end, just keep reading to learn a brief history of dental crowns.
Ancient Tooth Restoration
Dental crowns (along with the rest of dentistry) first emerged in the ancient world. At that time, people were only beginning to consider tooth repair.
Current archeological findings back up this view. For instance, the Etruscans developed dental crowns in the mid-2nd century; the ADA believes these early Italians made gold prosthetics from 166 to 201 AD. Just note that these “proto-crowns” weren’t used to fix broken or decayed teeth. Instead, ancient goldsmiths removed wealthy folks’ healthy teeth and replaced them with gold bandings. They did so because golden crowns were status symbols, not oral protection.
(Dental) Crowns of the Middle Ages
With all that said, people became more hygiene-focused in the Middle Ages. This shift led to positive changes in dental crown work.
Many of the most critical advancements were in 1500s Europe. After all, the first book about dentistry – which covered filling and crown treatments – was written in 1530. The doctor Ambrose Pare later outlined technical details on dental crowns in his “Complete Works,” published in 1575. This latter book from the future “Father of Surgery” discussed jaw fractures and tooth decay treatments.
The Rise of “Scientific” Dental Crowns
While the medieval era made major progress with dental crowns, breakthroughs didn’t stop there. Key developments with dental crowns arrived in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Just look at a few famous dental figures if you need proof. For starters, Dr. Charles H. Land patented the porcelain “jacket” crown in the late 1800s. Jacket crowns were then surpassed by porcelain fused-to-metal ones in the early 20th century. With these latter kinds, patients could enjoy lifelike results due to porcelain’s natural beauty and a metallic base’s durability.
Dental Crowns in the Present-Day
Dental crowns basically took their current form in the early 21st century. Thanks to insights from earlier years, these modern caps are readily available and work fantastically.
The latest crown developments stem from new and improved technology. For example, cutting-edge tools let dentists make crowns from pure porcelain, zirconia, etc. Digital impressions also let crowns fit a patient’s teeth more precisely and snugly.
Though dentists can make today’s tooth repairs look easy, that work is built on a long history of dental crowns. Remember that when you get (or replace) your own crown!
About the Practice
Smile Fitness Dental Center is based in Phoenix, AZ. Led by Drs. Florento, Santoro, and Stulic, our practice is proud to give healthy smiles to the Phoenix community. It’s to the point that we’ve been offering preventive, cosmetic, and restorative treatments for over 30 years! In that time, our team has always ensured patients sport thriving teeth and gums. For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (623)-303-0967.