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1530
The First Book of Dentistry
The first book ever written exclusively on dentistry was published in Germany in 1530. The book was written by Artzney Buchlein and titled, wider allerlei kranckeyten und gebrechen der tzeen which translates to “Booklet of Remedies Against All Sorts of Diseases and Infirmities of the Teeth.” The book was also known as Zene Artzney, or Teeth Remedies. The book was also known for being the first to illustrate a tooth extraction in print. -
1540
Before Dentists There were Barber-Surgeons
In 1540 in England, Henry VIII merged their barber’s and surgeon’s guild as the United Barber-Surgeons Company. In those days, “barber-surgeons were medical practitioners in medieval Europe who, unlike many doctors of the time, performed surgery, often on the war wounded” (Barber-surgeons, n.d.). Link text -
The Father of Dentistry
In 1728, Pierre Fauchard, also known as the “Father of Modern Dentistry,” published “LeChirurgien Dentiste (The Surgeon Dentist),” which provided detailed information about contemporary dentistry. The book had many innovative ideas in basic dental anatomy and physiology and operative and restorative techniques that provided a great foundation for the advancement of dentistry. -
Midnight Rider's Daytime Job
In 1776, Paul Revere had initiated the evolution of forensic dentistry. Revere used his skills as a silversmith and copperplate engraver to work as an amateur dentist creating artificial teeth and bridgework that he advertised in the local papers. Link text -
World's First Dental School
The world’s first dental school was established in 1840 in Baltimore. Horace Hayden and Chapin Harris founded the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery and established the Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree. Both Hayden and Harris recognized the need for a “systematic formal education” for the foundation of a “scientific dental profession” thus promoting formal dental education and “the development of dentistry as a profession (UMSOD, n.d.). -
The First Use of Ether Anesthetic
It was in 1846 when William Morton successfully demonstrated the use of an ether anesthetic on a dental patient for a tooth extraction; the patient felt no pain. Morton had enrolled at the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery but dropped out before finishing his degree. -
Harvard Dental School was Established
The Harvard Dental School was founded established in 1867 and was “the first dental school in the United States to be affiliated with a university and its medical school” (Harvard School of Dental Medicine, n.d.). There were only five students in the first class. The school’s name changed in 1940 to Harvard School of Dental Medicine “to place stronger emphasis on the biological basis of oral medicine and to institute multidisciplinary programs of dental research” (HSDM, n.d.). -
The Invention of the X-ray
In 1895, Wilhelm Roentgen discovered the x-ray and transformed the field of medicine. His contributions have helped doctors in their diagnoses and are still used to this day in both medical and dental offices. Roentgen’s interest in electrodes and cathode rays allowed him conduct experiments that helped his discovery of the x-ray. -
Invention of Novocain
In 1905, Alfred Einhorn was a German chemist who was credited for developing the formula for a local anesthetic called procain, which would later be marketed as Novocain. Before his discovery, cocaine was commonly used as a local anesthetic. The high addictive qualities of cocaine, as well as the toxicity levels were of great concern leading many people to research alternative anesthetics. It was in 1904 when Einhorn’s research proved to be successful in creating procain. -
Closing of Dental Offices due to COVID-19
With the spread of COVID-19 pandemic, the ADA strongly recommended dental offices across the United States to postpone any nonelective treatment and close offices for three weeks in hopes to reduce to spread of the SARS-CoV2 virus. By focusing on emergency cases, this would help reduce the burden on hospitals and allow them to treat other emergency cases. As of March 16, only 3,487 cases were reported in the U.S. (Burger, 2020 March).
