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19th century dentistry

19th century sign, advertising teeth pulling.

Dental xray

A 22nd century dental scan

"Teeth are for chewing."
- Grebnedlog (TNG: "Samaritan Snare")

Teeth (singular tooth) were bony structures found in the mouths of most species. They aided in chewing food and the speaking of their languages. They were typically cared for by the medical practice of dentistry.

According to Greek mythology, teeth from a dragon slain in war, if spread over a battlefield, would produce one warrior per tooth, each of which would then continue fighting. In 2376, this myth was conveyed to Captain Janeway of USS Voyager by her first officer Chakotay in the presence of Gedrin, a member of the Vaadwaur species. He was relating the dragon's teeth and their hidden potential to a long-dormant cache of armed ships Gedrin had led them to. (VOY: "Dragon's Teeth")

In the Ferengi and Klingon cultures, teeth were sharpened with a tooth sharpener. (ENT: "Broken Bow"; DS9: "Little Green Men")

The Cardassian Bureau of Identification collected a tooth (the first molar) from all citizens of the Cardassian Union at the age of ten. It also collected the molars of non-citizens caught up in the Cardassian legal system. (DS9: "Tribunal")

During the 19th century on Earth, barbers also served as dentists, and were often known for pulling teeth. (TOS: "Spectre of the Gun"; ENT: "North Star")

In 2293, shortly before he was assassinated, the Klingon Chancellor Gorkon used a large tooth from an unknown lifeform as a staff. (Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country)

Mullibok told Kira Nerys during supper about his start as a farmer on the Bajoran moon Jerrado and how he grinded up mineralized clays with his teeth to enrich the soil. (DS9: "Progress")

Odo had no teeth, as he informed Makbar, the Chief Archon at Miles O'Brien's trial on Cardassia in December of 2370, when fulfilling the role of O'Brien's nestor during the proceedings. (DS9: "Tribunal")

Captain Benjamin Sisko referred to Klingon teeth as "fangs," and mentioned how he missed them after having his Klingon disguise removed. Odo disagreed, saying that he, for one, wouldn't miss the fangs at all. (DS9: "Apocalypse Rising")

Teeth technologies

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