Columbia University School of Dental and Oral Surgery - Dental Columbian Yearbook (New York, NY)

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II|ii!i;ili i! Carl R. Oman. D.D.S. Professor of Dentistry Irvin L. Hunt, D.D.S. George F. Lindig, D.D.S. Wm. Silverstein. D.D.S. Assoc. Prof, of Dentistry Assoc. Clin. Prof, of Asst. Clin. Prof, of Dentistry Dentistry J. W. Benfield A.B.. D.D.S. Inst, in Dentistry Edward A. Cain B.S.. D.D.S. Asst. Prof, of Dentistry Herbert P. Fritz B.S., D.D3. Inst, in Dentistry William Miller B.S., D.D.S. Inst, in Dentistry Kenneth C. Deesen D.D.S. Asst. in Dentistry Harold Sherman B.S., D.D.S. Inst, in Dentistry J. E. Fiasconaro B.S., D.D.S. Inst, in Dentistry John D. Hogan B.S.. D.D.S. Inst, in Dentistry Stanley H. Brzustowiez B.S.. D.D.S. Inst, in Dentistry S. S. Scrivani, D.D.S. Asst. in Dentistry Joseph Lea itl. D.D. Inst, in Dentistn 11

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Operative Dentistry — its foundation In its early beginnings, operative dentistry included the extraction of teeth and pro- cedures necessary for the preservation of na- tural teeth and the placing of artificial crowns. Taken in this broad scope the history of op- erative dentistry could be that of all dentistry. Samuel S. White, in an address he once made, stated, It is impossible to discover when, where, and by whom the operation of filling teeth was introduced. Perhaps so, but this much seems certain; operative dentistry made its greatest stride forward with the works of G. V. Black, so rightfully called the father of modern dentistry. His contributions to scientific procedures in the restoration of teeth, in the fields of scientific cavity prepara- tion, the physical nature and manipulation of materials, the forces of mastication and in many additional fields were the most eminent in the history of operative dentistry. Black in his definition of operative dentistry included, . . . those operations upon the nat- ural teeth and soft parts immediately con- nected with them for the repair of damage in- flicted by caries and the treatment of diseases resulting from exposure or death of the pulps of teeth. To this is added that group of diseases of the peridental membrane beginning at the gingival border. Since Black ' s epoch we have witnessed a steady limitation in the scope of operative dentistry, a phenomenon indicative of our vast increase in knowledge followed by an inevitable tendency toward specialization. To the general practitioner in most communities, these limitations are largely academic. The dentist designs his restorations for mastica- tory efficiency, compatability with endodontal and peridontal tissues, occlusal harmony and esthetics. Operative procedures occupy an im- portant part of a practice devoted directly to the maintenance of oral health and indirectly with systemic and psychological well being. The interrelation ' existing here is one not to be ignored. In operative dentistry as with all phases of dentistry the mouth must be con- sidered in its entirety and as a functional part of the body as a whole. It is with the evolution of this latter concept that modern dental his- tory is written. It is, in a sense, the gradual maturation of a philosophy and in the process dentistry rises in stature as a profession. 10

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Prosthetics — the Earliest beginning At the Louvre in Paris rests one of the earliest prosthetic appliances known to man. This appliance is of the fixed bridgework type and consists of extracted natural teeth. Taken from one individual and adjusted to the mouth of another, they are held in place with gold wire ligatures. This is a Phoenician specimen dating between 300 and 400 B.C. These ancient prosthodontists also attempt- ed the splinting of weak teeth to adjacent stronger ones. The earliest known contrivance of this sort was found in an Etruscan necropo- lis which dates back to the sixth century, B.C. Probably one of the most interesting early prosthetic appliances is an Etruscan bridge which was fabricated about 500 B.C. This consisted of seven gold rings soldered together forming one unit. Five of the rings were fixed to upper natural teeth and three held pontics which had been carved from an ox tooth and riveted to place. Similar appliances used by the Romans were probably of Etruscan origin. According to Marco Polo, in the late thir- teenth century, residents of southeast China wore thin plates of gold over their teeth. How- ever, these were probably more for ornamen- tal purposes than for treatment of dental ills. Probably the first use of cast gold crowns to correct defective teeth can be credited to C. Mouton, about 1740. Several such crowns, in- dependent of supporting loops, have been lo- cated in a tomb near Vetulonia in Italy. Scholars of ancient civilizations disagree on several of the many facets of Etruscan cul- ture. Their history survives as an interesting mystery. Their origin is obscure and their language still defies translation. Their art may not have been as inspired as Greek art — but it is agreed that they were a practical people. Their skills were applied to sculpture, archi- tecture and outstandingly to jewelry making. The master craftsmanship and great contribu- tions of the Etruscans becomes more appar- ent to us as dentists when we consider that there was no evidence of concrete improve- ment over their early appliances until the advent of Pierre Fauchard. Fauchard, the acknowledged Father of modern dentistry, made many improvements in the field of fixed prosthesis, for example. the use of dowels to retain a bridge. Tremen- dous strides of a mechanical nature were made subsequently. However, dentistry was sorely lacking in a basic biological perspec- tive. Restorations often caused more harm than good. But after a severe tongue lashing by William Hunter, dentistry underwent a period of necessary reformation. Men like Hunter, Miller, Black and Williams placed the profession on a sounder foundation. It has changed from a mere technical esthetic serv- ice to a vital health service embodying all the principles of the biologic sciences. 12