History of Dentistry - Key Vocabulary (50 Flashcards)

A set of 50 vocabulary-style flashcards drawn from the lecture notes on the history and development of dentistry.

historia

Greek word meaning inquiry or knowledge acquired by investigation.

Edwin Smith Surgical Papyrus

Ancient Egyptian document with early descriptions of mouth wounds; no restoration of teeth.

Ebers Papyrus

Ancient Egyptian medical text describing dental diseases and toothache remedies.

Hesy-Re

Early Egyptian scribe regarded as the first known dentist and a great physician.

Hippocrates

Father of Medicine; discussed tooth eruption and early dental procedures.

Aristotle

Greek philosopher who referenced teeth and popularized the idea of ‘wisdom teeth’.

Etruscans

Ancient Italian culture known for gold crowns and early dental bridges.

Chew sticks

Early toothbrushes made from small branches with frayed ends.

Siwak (Miswak)

Arabic tooth-cleaning twig from Salvadora persica used for oral hygiene.

Mayan tooth ornamentation

Decorative inlays of gold and minerals on front teeth.

Pelican (dental pelican)

Extraction tool with a beaked form used to pull teeth.

Tooth key

Early extraction instrument modeled after a door key for loosening teeth.

Dental forceps

Modern tooth extraction tools evolved from earlier keys and pliers.

Leonardo da Vinci

First to differentiate between molars and premolars in anatomical study.

Guild of Barbers

French guild separating barbers from surgeons; barbers later performed extractions.

Ambroise Pare

French barber-surgeon; Father of Surgery; advanced tooth extraction and related techniques.

Abul Kasim (Abulcasis)

Islamic surgeon who described tartar as irritant and described tooth transplantation.

Pierre Fauchard

Father of Modern Dentistry; Le Chirurgien Dentiste; introduced braces and prosthetics.

Claude Mouton

Pioneer for gold crowns; contributed to early prosthodontics.

Ferdinand Julius Leber

Bent-shaft improvement to the dental key for better tooth extraction leverage.

Nicolas Dubois de Chemant

First patent for porcelain dentures; perfected porcelain teeth.

Alexis Duchateau

Invented the porcelain teeth process; solved firing shrinkage issues.

John Greenwood

American dentist who designed Washington’s dentures and promoted the dental foot engine.

Washington’s dentures

George Washington’s dentures, historically linked to hippopotamus ivory.

Hippopotamus tusk dentures

Dentures made from hippopotamus tusk used in early prosthetics.

Dental foot engine

Pedal-powered dental drill used for extractions and fillings in the late 18th century.

Jakun tribe

Malaysian group noted for filing front teeth into concave shapes.

Batak tribe

Indonesian group known for chipping children’s teeth with a chisel.

Ohaguro

Japanese tooth-blackening dye signifying female virtue.

Aetas

Philippine indigenous group with extensive medicinal herb knowledge.

Betel nut chewing

Widely practiced social habit in Asia; sometimes linked to dental prophylaxis.

XROB

Betel-nut container used by Thai nobility, often richly adorned.

Pegging with gold plates

Tooth ornamentation using gold plates and gold wire rivets.

Arak tree (Salvadora persica)

Source of miswak/siwak; the ‘toothbrush tree’ used for cleaning teeth.

Dogen

13th-century Buddhist monk who promoted oral cleanliness in Shobogenzo.

Yin and Yang

Chinese concept of balanced forces; used to explain health and disease.

Chi (Qi)

Vital energy in Chinese philosophy; associated with health and acupuncture.

Moxibustion

Heat therapy using burning herbs; supplements acupuncture in oral care.

Ginseng

Herbal medicine used in traditional Chinese care for various ailments.

Vagbhata

Indian surgeon who described wax to kill a tooth worm and animal-head forceps.

Duckbill forceps

Extraction forceps with duckbill jaws for multi-rooted teeth.

Capitan Cheng Cheng Arevalo

First Filipino dentist; established dental practice in Quiapo.

Monsieur M. Fertri

French dentist in Manila who partnered with Arevalo; early Filipino dentistry.

Sacamuelas

Tooth-pullers in the Spanish-era Philippines; unlicensed practitioners.

Cirujanos ministrantes

Male nurse-dentists who assisted in dental practice during the Spanish era.

Cirujanos ministrantes practicantes

Observers who became practicing dentists (cirujanos dentistas) in the Philippines.

Act 593

1903 Philippine law regulating dentistry and establishing the Board of Dental Examiners.

Philippine Dental Association (PDA)

Professional dental association formed by merging earlier groups in 1945.

Father of Philippine Dentistry; introduced infiltration anesthesia technique.

Dr. Gregorio R. Mateo

Dr. Antonio de Asis

Physician-dentist who introduced Somnigen (sleep anesthesia) for extractions.

Dr. Catalina Arevalo

First Filipino lady dentist; wife of Capitan Chengcheng.