Dental disease has been a problem for humans from the beginning of history. Skulls of Cro-Magnon peoples, who inhabited the earth 25,000 years ago, show evidence of tooth decay. The earliest recorded reference to oral disease is from an ancient (5000 BC) Sumerian text that describes "tooth worms" as a cause of dental decay. There is historical evidence that the Chinese used acupuncture around 2700 BC to treat pain associated with tooth decay.

Among the historical record of ancient Egypt is the Ebers papyrus, which throws light on medical practices. It was written between 1700 and 1500 BC and contains material dating back as far as 3700 BC. The Papyrus Ebers contains references to diseases of the teeth, as well as prescriptions for substances such as olive oil, dates, onions, beans, and green lead, to be mixed and applied "against the throbbing of the bennut blisters in the teeth. The remains of some ancient Egyptians and Greco-Romans reveal early attempts at dental surgery Hence. Much of early dentistry was practiced as part of the general practice of medicine.