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Dentists - What's the Drill? Trivia Quiz

What do you know about teeth. Try this general quiz on dentistry to test your knowledge of our pearly whites.

A multiple-choice quiz by Creedy. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
Creedy

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
315,271

Updated
Jul 23 23

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
813

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Which very early civilisation has yielded evidence to archaeologists, dating back to 7000 BCE, which indicates that dental treatment was carried out with bow drills? Hint

Early Roman

Babylonian

Egyptian

Indus Valley

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Question 2 of 10

2. What did many early civilisations believe caused tooth decay? Hint

Tooth worm

Impotence or infertility

Eating crocodile meat

Too much laughter

3. Which of the following famous very early medical figures first wrote about dentistry, including the eruption pattern of teeth, treatment for decay, gum disease, tooth extraction and the use of wires to stabilize loose teeth and fractured jaws? Hint

Louis Pasteur

Cornelius Celsus

Guy de Chauliac

Hippocrates

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Question 4 of 10

4. During the Middle Ages and up to the 19th century, dentistry was either performed by general physicians, or members of which other profession? Hint

Butchers

Morticians

Barbers

Cooks

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Question 5 of 10

5. In 1685, the first dental textbook that was written in English, and titled "Operator for the Teeth," was by whom? Hint

Charles Allen

Ben Jonson

Samuel Marsden

Jane Austen

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Question 6 of 10

6. What is the most common dental disease affecting teeth? Hint

Gingivitis

Tooth decay

Plaque

Hypodontia

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Question 7 of 10

7. What once common filling for cavities is also the name of a planet in our solar system? Hint

Neptune

Mercury

Pluto

Venus

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Question 8 of 10

8. What is the outer covering of a tooth known as? Hint

Dentine

Cementum

Pulp

Enamel

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Question 9 of 10

9. What is used to either cap or completely cover a tooth that usually cannot be saved by other dentistry methods? Hint

Crown

Wellington

Fedora

Beret

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Question 10 of 10

10. Today Dentistry is that branch of medicine which deals with the study, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases of the mouth, the face and which other area of the head? Hint

Nasal cavity

Maxilla

Temporal lobe

Olfactory nerve

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which very early civilisation has yielded evidence to archaeologists, dating back to 7000 BCE, which indicates that dental treatment was carried out with bow drills?

Answer: Indus Valley

Egyptian civilisation emerged around 3150 BCE, Babylonian civilisation emerged around 696 - 1654 BCE and the Roman civilisation from the 10th century BCE.

2. What did many early civilisations believe caused tooth decay?

Answer: Tooth worm

Without the benefit of hindsight, it was as good a theory as anything.

Answer: Hippocrates

Hippocrates was from the ancient Greek era of history. Guy de Chauliac and Cornelius Celsus were from the later Roman era, while Louis Pasteur was from the 19th century and interested in germs rather than dentistry.

4. During the Middle Ages and up to the 19th century, dentistry was either performed by general physicians, or members of which other profession?

Answer: Barbers

In ye olden days, barbers carried out surgery, bloodletting, leeching and cupping etc as well as removal of teeth. Oh - and enemas. The red and white barber pole that used to be seen outside their premises indicated red for surgery and white for the barber's side of the trade. Barbers were also paid higher fees than surgeons in those times. Now that's enough to curl the hair of any self respecting surgeon today.

5. In 1685, the first dental textbook that was written in English, and titled "Operator for the Teeth," was by whom?

Answer: Charles Allen

Ben Jonson was a playwright, poet and actor, Jane Austen, an author of ever so genteel romantic literature would have swooned at the mere idea, and Samuel Marsden was a rather sadistic clergyman and judge from early Australian and New Zealand history.

6. What is the most common dental disease affecting teeth?

Answer: Tooth decay

Hypodontia is where one has fewer than normal teeth, plaque is a nasty mucky film that builds up on teeth, and gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums.

7. What once common filling for cavities is also the name of a planet in our solar system?

Answer: Mercury

A mercury filling was used to restore a tooth's shape and form if it had been damaged by decay and drilled, or if it had experienced any other damage necessitating its use. An amalgam of mercury and other metals is used now, due to the health risks associated with mercury.

8. What is the outer covering of a tooth known as?

Answer: Enamel

Underneath the enamel covering of a tooth, dentine is the next layer inwards, then pulp and then cementum.

9. What is used to either cap or completely cover a tooth that usually cannot be saved by other dentistry methods?

Answer: Crown

Though a crown is also a head covering, I'd hate to try covering a tooth with a fedora, wellington or beret - all of which are hats.

10. Today Dentistry is that branch of medicine which deals with the study, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases of the mouth, the face and which other area of the head?

Answer: Maxilla

The Maxilla is the melding of the bones in the upper jaw, the nasal cavity is the large space above and behind your snoz, the temporal lobe is located in your brain, and the olfactory nerve which helps you smell, is one of twelve cranial nerves is located in the nasal cavity.

Source: Author Creedy

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor crisw before going online.
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