dentists

LATE 14th CENTURY

- The earliest known mention in

written history of a Toothbrush, A

long narrow handle with bristles

standing at right angles on one end,

is in a 17th Century Chinese

encyclopedia which shows a

drawing of the toothbrush and states

it was invented in China in 1498. In

Europe, the earliest record of

toothbrushes dates from the 17th

Century.

1530

● ARTZNEY BUCHLEIN (Little Medicinal

Book for all kinds of Diseases and

Infirmities of the Teeth)

- “The first dentistry book” published

in Germany.

- It was written for barbers and

surgeons who treat the mouth. It

covers practical topics such as oral

hygiene, tooth extraction, drilling

teeth, and placement of gold fillings.

1563

● BARTOLOMEO EUSTACHIO

- Published the first accurate book on

dental anatomy, “LIBELLUS de

DENTIBUS”

- His contributions to the development

of dental science were substantial.

- Made substantial advances in tooth

development and function based on

anatomical dissections.

- Presented more detailed plates of

the musculature of the face, floor of

the mouth, and neck as well as the

detailed plates of tongue and of the

crown and roots of the teeth.

- The first clear description of dental

pulp and root canal, he described

the PERIODONTAL MEMBRANE for

the first time and thought of it as a

gomphosis type of joint.

- Understood that the crowns of the

teeth were composed of enamel

overlaying dentin and this was the

first description of the two separate

tissues of the tooth. The permanent

teeth were found to develop from

dental follicles, and not from the

roots of deciduous teeth.

1575

● AMBROSE PARE

- French Barber Surgeon

- The Father of Surgery

- Publishes his complete works which

includes the information about

dentistry (tooth extraction treatment

of tooth decay and jaw fractures)

- Recommended gum incision for

difficult tooth eruptions and was

famous for artificial limbs and palatal

obturators.

- Popularized the use of ligatures and

described proper tooth extraction

techniques and artificial teeth of bone

and ivory.

- Introduced the lancing of infants’

gums using a lancet during teething,

in the belief that teeth were failing to

emerge from the gums due to lack of

a pathway, and that this failure was a

cause of death.

- Practice persisted for centuries ->

became controversial in the 19th

century.

17th CENTURY

- By the early 1700’s, dentistry was

considered a lesser part of medicine.

By then of this century, It had begun

to emerge as a discipline in its own

right. In the late 1750’s the term

“dentist”, borrowed from the French,

started to be used in Britain to

describe tooth operations.

● PIERRE FAUCHARD (1723)

- Published Le Chirurgien Dentiste

(The Surgeon Dentist)

Le Chirurgien Dentiste (The Surgeon

Dentist)

- The first comprehensive textbook on

Dentistry.

- Marked the start of theoretical and

professional dentistry.

1723

● PIERRE FAUCHARD (1723)

- A french surgeon

- Known as the “Father of Modern

Dentistry”

- Was a highly skilled surgeon who

made remarkable improvisations of

dental instruments, often adapting

tools from watchmakers, jewelers,

and even barbers that he thought

could be used in dentistry.

- Was the pioneer of dental

prosthesis, and he discovered many

methods to replace lost teeth. He

suggested that substitutes could be

made from carved blocks of ivory or

bone.

- Introduced dental braces (initially

made of gold).

- Discovered teeth could move and

follow the wire’s pattern.

- Used waxed linen or silk threads to

fasten braces.

- Effectively separated dentistry from

general surgery.

- Major publication (1728): Le Chirurgien

Dentiste (The Surgeon Dentist)

❖ Contents:

- Basic Oral anatomy &

function

- Dental Construction

- Operative & Restorative

Techniques

1746

● CLAUDE MOUTON

- Paris - based surgeon and dentist,

contemporary of Pierre Fauchard.

- Published 1746: Essay

d’ondontotechnie,ou,Dissertation sur

les artificelles.

- A pioneer for the development and

use of the gold crown and is one of

the first contributors to the field of

prosthodontics and cosmetic

dentistry.

- Introduced the use of swedge gold

crowns to restore grossly decayed

teeth.

- He recommended gold - shell crowns

specifically for molars.

- For anterior teeth (front teeth),

suggested covering visible gold with

enamel for improved aesthetic

appearance. This was revolutionary:

first clear emphasis on cosmetics in

restorative dentistry.

- Designed a gold crown with a post

that could be retained in the root

canal.

- Described one of the first clasps used

to hold artificial teeth in place.

1756

● PFAFF

- Published Abhandlung von den

Zahnen des meschlichen Korper,

Translated to “Treatise on The Teeth

of the Human Body and Their

Diseases”.

- He explains how extraction is the only

option for teeth affected with gingival

abscesses and fistulas.

- Also touches upon materials that can

be used to produce artificial teeth,

such as silver and copper.

- Ivory, bone, and sea cow teeth were

the traditional materials used.

- He was also the first person to carry

out copping of the dental pulp with

gold foil before placing a filling.

- He suggested the use of a toothbrush

once every two weeks.

- He denied the presence of roots in

primary teeth.

❖ Abhandlung von den Zahnen

des menschlichen Korper,

translated to “Treatise on

The Teeth of the Human

Body and Their Diseases”.

- This was the first textbook

related to dentistry in

Germany.

- Describes the anatomy,

physiology, pathology, and

treatment of teeth.

- Describes how to work with

beeswax impressions and

obtain cast models with

plaster of Paris.

NOTE: Dental or Arch impressions are

defined as the negative imprint of the teeth

and other parts of the oral cavity like gums,

surrounding tissues, etc. which is used to

create an exact three - dimensional model

of these structures.

1760

● JOHN BAKER

- The earliest medically - trained

dentist to practice in America,

immigrated from England and set up

practice.

1768 - 1775

● PAUL REVERE

- Places advertisements in a Boston

newspaper offering his services as a

dentist.

- In the first known case of post -

mortem dental forensics, he verifies

the death of his friend, Dr. Joseph

Warren in the Battle of Breed’s Hill,

when he identifies the bridge that he

constructed for Warren.

- Was a renowned silversmith and

copper - plate engraver in Boston.

- Did some work as a dentist from

1768 - 1775.

- According to The Paul Revere

House, “He not only cleaned teeth,

but also wired in false teeth carved

from walrus ivory or animal teeth.

Contrary to popular myth, he did not

make George Washington’s false

teeth. Fabricating a full set of

dentures was beyond his ability”.

- He is also credited for developing a

rudimentary form of orthodontia.

1789

● NICOLAS DUBOIS de CHEMANT

- French dentist, active in Paris before

the French Revolution (1789).

- Known for perfecting porcelain

(mineral paste) dentures.

- Claimed they were superior to ivory

teeth because they did not decay in

the mouth.

- Received inventor’s patent from King

Louis XVI.

- First patent granted for porcelain

teeth.

- In 1792, fled France for England to

escape the Revolution.