The Evolution of Dental Aesthetics: An Artistic and Cultural Journey Through History and Race

This thesis explores the intersection of art, dentistry, race, and healthcare through a critical analysis of how visual culture has shaped societal perceptions of dental aesthetics from antiquity to the modern day. Beginning with ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs and Renaissance anatomical drawings, the study traces how artistic portrayals of teeth evolved into tools of both medical education and social hierarchy. Particular attention is given to the racialization of dental aesthetics, examining how caricatures, colonial pseudoscience, and exclusionary marketing practices contributed to enduring stereotypes and disparities in oral healthcare. Through the lens of cultural symbols like grills—once markers of status among Etruscans, Mayans, and enslaved Africans, and later appropriated and stigmatized in mainstream media—this work illustrates the complex role of dental ornamentation in both resistance and oppression. The thesis also evaluates 20th- and 21st-century dental advertising, media portrayals, and clinical biases, showing how Eurocentric beauty standards continue to influence perceptions of oral hygiene and treatment access for communities of color. By interrogating the artistic and scientific narratives that inform dentistry’s racialized history, this research calls for a more inclusive and equitable approach to dental education, representation, and patient care—one that acknowledges the cultural diversity behind every smile.