History of Dentistry:

Evidence has been found of teeth having been drilled dating back 9,000 years. The people of the Indus Valley Civilization, even from the early Harappan periods (c. 3300 BC), had knowledge of medicine and dentistry. A physical anthropologist that examined exumed bodies from that time period, Professor Andrea Cucina from the University of Missouri-Columbia, made the discovery when he was cleaning the teeth from one of the men. Stone age people in Pakistan were using dental drills made of flint 9,000 years ago.

Some information contained in the Edwin Smith Papyrus dates as early as 3000 BC and includes the treatment of several dental ailments.Hammurabi's Code contains some references to dental procedures and fees. The Ebers papyrus also discusses similar treatments. Examining the remains of some ancient Egyptians and Greco-Romans reveal early attempts at dental prosthetics and surgery.

Historically, dental extractions have been used to treat a variety of illnesses. During the Middle Ages and through the 19th century, dentistry was not a profession into itself, and often dental procedures were performed by barbers or general physicians. Barbers usually limited their practice to extracting teeth, which not only resulted in the alleviation of pain, but often cured a variety of ailments linked with chronic tooth infection. Instruments used for dental extractions date back several centuries. In the 14th century, Guy de Chauliac invented the dental pelican (resembling a pelican's beak) which was used through the late 18th century. The pelican was replaced by the dental key which, in turn, was replaced by modern forceps in the 20th century.

History of Dentists:

The band's members met at school in the early 1980s and began playing gigs in the area around Strood and Rochester. Their first single, 'Strawberries are Growing in My Garden (and It's Wintertime),' was quickly followed by the album Some People are on the Pitch They Think It's All Over It Is Now (a reference to Kenneth Wolstenholme's famous commentary at the end of the 1966 World Cup). The record was produced by Allan Crockford of fellow Medway band The Prisoners.

In 1986 the band toured Europe and were consequently signed by the Belgian label Antler Records, which released a series of singles and EPs over the next five years.

A 1986 reissue of 'Strawberries ...' received radio play from John Peel and Andy Kershaw and was named 'runner-up Single of the Week' by Smash Hits magazine; it reached the Top 40 indie charts. The following year, the band recorded a radio session for Janice Long.

In 1991, the band's second album, Heads and How to Read Them, was released on Antler. It attracted an underground following in the United States, and two American fans arranged for the band to play the 1991 College Music Journal festival. Shortly afterward, the Dentists were signed by the American label Homestead Records, which released the compilation Dressed (1992) and the album Powdered Lobster Fiasco (1993).
In 1992, the Dentists released three seven-inch singles -- 'See No Evil,' 'Hear No Evil' and 'Speak No Evil' -- simultaneously on three different record labels. Each single consisted of two songs by the band and an eponymous poem by John Hegley, read by the poet.

Powdered Lobster Fiasco finally attracted the attention of a major label, and the band signed to Eastwest Records in 1994. Their first album for Eastwest, Behind the Door I Keep the Universe, was followed by a six-week tour of the U.S. supporting Shonen Knife. However, after a second album, Deep Six, failed to sell, Eastwest dropped the band. Collins left the band shortly afterward, and the other members went on to form a new band, Coax.