To the logical dental problems due to lack of hygiene, the best ally for cavities, sugar, was added. During the 17th century, sugar was already being consumed all over the world and the dental profession began to gain prestige… and money. The first dental prostheses could be made of wood, porcelain and, above all, ivory, and the teeth that were embedded in it were pieces of animals, of those sentenced to death and even of some grave desecration. They complied, in their own way, aesthetically, but little else. The teeth used left much to be desired and were hard to come by. The great "revolution" of false teeth occurred with the battle of Waterloo (June 18, 1815).
Napoleon he was defeated and about 50,000 dead soldiers from both armies remained on the battlefield. Most of these soldiers were young and healthy… synonymous with healthy teeth . Most of them, before being buried, had their teeth removed, all of which ended up «on the English market «. This type of denture was called “Waterloo Teeth” (Waterloo teeth) and for several years it continued to be called that for all dentures made from healthy teeth, regardless of their origin.
It was a luxury to wear a "Waterloo Teeth".
Battle of Waterloo
Sources:BBC, A Web of English History, Crucible