DEN 013: Perspective in Dentistry

Flashcards cover key milestones, figures, tools, and concepts in the history of dentistry from ancient times through the 19th century, including notable inventors, instruments, and foundational texts.

Who was Claude Mouton and what were his contributions to prosthodontics and cosmetic dentistry?

A Paris-based surgeon and dentist who pioneered prosthodontics and cosmetic dentistry; he introduced the gold crown, wrote Essay d'odontotechnie, proposed swedged gold crowns for grossly decayed teeth and gold-shell crowns for molars, suggested adding enamel to anterior teeth for aesthetics, and designed a gold crown with a post retained in the root canal and first described the use of clasps for artificial teeth.

What is Essay d'odontotechnie, ou Dissertation sur les dents artificielles?

A work by Claude Mouton on artificial teeth and dentistry.

What did Philipp Pfaff publish in 1756 and why is it significant?

Abhandlung von den Zähnen des menschlichen Körper, the first dentistry textbook in Germany; described extraction for gingival abscesses and fistulas, first dental/arch impressions with beeswax, explored materials for artificial teeth, and noted gold foil pulp capping.

How did Pfaff describe taking dental and arch impressions?

He used beeswax to obtain models, later casting them with plaster of Paris in two steps for accuracy.

Who was the earliest medically trained dentist in America and when did he arrive?

John Baker; immigrated from England and established his practice in 1760.

What was Paul Revere known for in dental history?

A Boston silversmith who also practiced dentistry; cleaned teeth, wired false teeth from walrus ivory, advertised his services, contributed to early orthodontia, and was involved in a 1776 dental forensics case identifying Dr. Joseph Warren.

What is Nicolas Dubois de Chemant known for in dentistry?

First patent for porcelain teeth (1789); perfected porcelain dentures and built on Alexis Duchateau's earlier invention, receiving royal patent and later fleeing to England in 1792.

What did John Greenwood contribute to dentistry in 1790?

Washington's personal dentist; invented the first dental foot engine (foot-powered drill) and designed dentures for Washington carved from hippopotamus tusk.

Who was Josiah Flagg and what was his contribution?

Modified a Windsor writing chair into the first dental chair with an adjustable headrest and instrument arm.

What is notable about early American dental chairs before the mid-1800s?

Dentists designed their own chairs; prototypes included a rocker with a log; after the Civil War chairs became more practical and metallic, with manufacturers producing ornate designs.

When did the term 'dentist' begin to be used in Britain?

Late 1750s, borrowed from the French.

Who created the first mechanical dental chair with an adjustable seat and back?

James Snell, in 1832.

What was the Perkins' Chair and its notable feature?

A 1855 chair with a ball-and-socket joint that allowed clamping in any position.

What was the Ask's Patent Dental Chair famous for?

(1859) First chair to allow the seated patient to be tipped forward and backward.

What is the Whitcomb Dental Operating Chair known for?

(1860) First to allow raising and lowering of the seated patient.

What did the James Beall Morrison Dental Chair introduce in 1868?

A mechanism allowing the patient to be tilted in any direction.

What was significant about the 1872 J.B. Morrison chair?

First chair with a vertical range of 27 inches, enabling work while the dentist or patient could be seated or standing.

What feature did the Wilkerson Dental Chair introduce in 1877?

Replaced cranks with levers and introduced a pump-type hydraulic mechanism; designed for both right- and left-handed dentists.

What are Mayan tooth inlays and how were they made?

Stone inlays (jade, turquoise, quartz, etc.) placed in prepared cavities; made by drilling a round hole with a spinning tube and bow drill using an abrasive slurry; lasted thousands of years.

Who were the Mayans and what was their dental practice regarding inlays?

Mesoamerican civilization known for skilled metalwork and stone inlays; they used stone inlays for ritual dental work and did not perform restorative procedures.

What were the Etruscans known for in dental prosthetics?

Ancient Italian civilization that used gold crowns and early fixed bridges; created some of the oldest prosthetics with gold and silver bands to hold rows of teeth.

What dental care practice did the Romans use and what is a chew stick?

Romans restored decayed teeth with gold crowns and used chew sticks as early toothbrushes; chew sticks were derived from plant fibers and twigs.

What is Miswak (Salvadora Persica) and its role in dentistry?

An Arabic tooth-cleaning stick used historically for dental hygiene; Miswak is associated with improved oral cleanliness.

Who was Abul Kasim (Abulcasis) and what were his contributions?

Islamic surgeon (1130–1163), considered father of modern surgery; described tooth extraction methods, surgical transplants, and contributed to dental procedures and barber-surgeons.

What is the Barber’s pole symbolism?

Red represents blood and white represents bandages; in America, poles are red, white, and blue; linked to bloodletting and barber-surgery history.

What is Pierre Fauchard known for and why is he important?

A French dentist known as the Father of Modern Dentistry; authored Le Chirurgien Dentiste (1723), which marked the beginning of theoretical and professional dentistry and described dental prosthetics and braces.

What is Le Chirurgien Dentiste and its significance?

A foundational 1728 publication by Pierre Fauchard detailing oral anatomy, dental construction, and operative techniques; signified dentistry as a separate, specialized discipline.

What did Ambroise Paré contribute to dentistry?

Regarded as Father of Surgery; published extensive dental information in Complete Works, including tooth extraction, decay treatment, jaw fractures, gum incisions, ligatures, and artificial teeth from bone/ivory.

What is the significance of the Ebers Papyrus in dentistry?

Ancient Egyptian medical papyrus (dated around 1550 BCE) describing dental diseases and remedies, including herbal prescriptions affecting oral health.

What ancient tools and terms mark the transition toward modern dentistry?

Early dental pelican (14th century) invented by Guy de Chauliac; later replaced by the dental key; the dental key (and later forceps) marks evolution of extraction tools toward modern instruments.