A Narrative Review on the History of Dentistry in the Islamic Civilization

Research Dentistry, one of the branches of medicine, has always been of utmost significance to Islamic physicians, who addressed different aspects of dentistry and presented their viewpoints in medical texts. This study intended to investigate the significance of dentistry in Islamic medicine.
Research Methods (Methodology): Employing a descriptive-analytical research method as well as drawing on early resources, namely, Firdaws al-Hikma (literally The Paradise of Wisdom), Kitab al-Hawi Fi Tebb (literally Comprehensive Book on Medicine), Al-Qānūn Fi aṭ-Ṭibb (literally The Canon of Medicine), Kamil al-Sinaat al-Tibbiyya, Moalejat Albqratyh, and Zakhireye Khwarazmshahian, the present study sought to examine the history of the development of dentistry in Islamic civilization
Research Findings: The research findings indicated that not only did Islamic physicians use views and experiences of Greek physicians and Gondishapur Medical Center but they also completed and broadened the horizons of dentistry and based it on scientific foundations. The Islamic advances in the field of dentistry included tissue, nerve and bone dissection, pathology, diagnosis and treatment of diseases, advices on mouth-tooth hygiene and prevention methods, production of animal, plant and mineral-based drugs, and treatment of disease by tools employed by Islamic physicians for the first time.
In Islamic civilization, dentistry was based on scientific methods, making them experience significant advances in disease diagnosis and treatment. Moreover, as Islamic physicians highlighted mouth-tooth hygiene and prevention from disease, prevention and treatment can be regarded as the main characteristics of Islamic dentistry.