7 Remembering The Father Of Modern Dentistry | PinkBlue.in

Remembering The Father Of Modern Dentistry

Paying tribute to the ‘Father of Modern Dentistry
“256 years since he passed away, but his teachings live on forever.”

Father of Modern Dentistry, Pierre FauchardPierre Fauchard was born in 1678 to a family of modest means in a small town called Brittany in Northern France. He joined the French Royal Navy at the age of 15, where he spent three years. While in the Navy he met a surgeon, Alexander Poteleret, a specialist in oral diseases, who greatly influenced him to pursue his career as a battle medic.

At the navy, he observed many oral diseases including scurvy which were quite common at that time. Under Poteleret’s guidance, Fauchard read and investigated about oral diseases and their treatment modalities.

After leaving the Navy, he established his practice at the University of Angers hospital, two hundred miles south of Paris. When in Angers, he started off his work on oral and maxillofacial surgery, which revolutionized dentistry.

Achievements of the Father of Modern Dentistry:

Lets take a look at the various insights Dr Fauchard had shared to the dental community, which are valid even today. Many of these might sound similar to what you would have learned in dental school, but it should be borne in mind that inception of these ideas was all the way back in the 18th Century.

  • Refuted the theory of tiny worms causing dental decay.
  • Observed a correlation between sugar and tooth decay and recommended limiting sugar intake.
  • Advocated the filling of cavities after they were drilled.
  • Developed filling materials of his own.
  • Laid down the basic principles of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery for the first time.
  • Was called the “Chirugien Dentiste” or the “Surgeon Dentist”.
  • Improvised and modified tools used by jewellers, watchmakers and barbers for dental use.
  • Advocated the use of olive oil as a base for a medication containing cloves to treat pulpitis.
  • Pioneered the use of dental prosthetics. He carved ivory and bone to make false teeth to substitute missing teeth.
  • He discovered that teeth can be made to realign themselves by applying a suitable amount of pressure on them using wires. He made use of the first dental braces made from gold and used silk threads to fasten them.
  • After spending many months in research, gathering medical books and interviewing dentists, Fauchard at the age of 45, in 1723, completed his encyclopedic treatise of professional dentistry.
  • The book ran two volumes totaling more than 800 pages with diagrams and descriptions and was called “Le Chirugien Dentiste” or “The Surgeon Dentist”.
  • After thorough review, the book was published in 1728 and it became the foundation of dentistry and spread throughout Europe.

From the numerous achievements listed above it is evident that Dr Fauchard was the pioneer of dentistry in the world. He advocated various techniques that holistically improve oral health.

“Considering the circumstances and limitations of his time, he will always be remembered as a pioneer and founder of modern dentistry”.

Chapin A Harris (19th Century dentist from America)

On the 22nd day of March 1761, Pierre Fauchard at the age of 83 died in Paris. His memory and his teachings live long after his death.

Dr Surya Goutham

Author: Dr Surya Goutham

Dr. Surya Goutham is the Subject Matter Expert at PinkBlue.in. Being a dentist with an unending passion for learning, he works towards building a knowledge platform for all the dentists and dental students accross the country. Additionally, he is skilled at playing the guitar, singing, a few sports and referring to himself in the third person.

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