Archaeologists have uncovered prosthetic devices that are over 4000 years old. The ancient profession of denturism would have involved the retrieval of extracted or lost teeth and binding them back into position using gold wire or strips; a technique that most certainly facilitated the demise of the remaining natural teeth. 

This method continued until the early 1800s when a pharmacist named Monsieur Fauchard, while working in Paris, discovered he could take oral impressions using plaster. Later, he was able to construct a rubber appliance onto which he could add backed porcelain teeth. This started the steady evolution of dentures as we know them to day.

Denturism, quietly began setting down roots during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Dental technicians, fed up with the measly wages their profession allowed, slowly discovered that they could effectively supply similar denture related services to patients as their counterparts, the dentists.

In 1919, the idea to allow a non-dentist to perform designated dentist procedures arose from a New Zealand dental nursing program. A high incidence of dental disease and lack of available man power led to that first program.

In 1921 , in neighboring Australia, the Tasmanian Dental Act was the first act to give non-dentist lawful permission to take impressions from,
and construct dentures directly for the public. The profession of denturism was finally formally recognized