The Development of a Profession-18^th Century

Set of dentures made for George Washington by John Greenwood, 1798.

1723—Pierre Fauchard, a French surgeon publishes The Surgeon Dentist, A Treatise on Teeth (Le Chirurgien Dentiste).  Fauchard is credited as being the Father of Modern Dentistry because his book was the first to describe a comprehensive system for the practice of dentistry including basic oral anatomy and function, operative and restorative techniques, and denture construction.

1746—Claude Mouton describes a gold crown and post to be retained in the root canal. He also recommends white enameling for gold crowns for a more esthetic appearance.

1760—John Baker, the earliest medically-trained dentist to practice in America, immigrates from England and sets up practice.

1760-1780— Isaac Greenwood practices as the first native-born American dentist.

1768-1770—Paul Revere places advertisements in a Boston newspaper offering his services as a dentist.  In 1776, in the first known case of post—mortem dental forensics, Revere 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.

1789—Frenchman Nicolas Dubois de Chemant receives the first patent for porcelain teeth.

1790—John Greenwood, son of Isaac Greenwood and one of George Washington’s dentists, constructs the first known dental foot engine. He adapts his mother’s foot treadle spinning wheel to rotate a drill.

1790—Josiah Flagg, a prominent American dentist, constructs the first chair made specifically for dental patients. To a wooden Windsor chair, Flagg attaches an adjustable headrest, plus an arm extension to hold instruments.

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