Contributions To Dentistry - Pierre Fauchard
Who is Pierre Fauchard, and what were his contributions to dentistry? Often referred to as the father of modern dentistry, his story is an important one in the history of teeth. As such, it is difficult to write about the history of dentists without mentioning Pierre Fauchard.
Because he’s associated with modern dentistry, you might assume that Fauchard lived during the 20th century, or at the very least the late 19th century. Surely that’s when modern dentistry must have begun. But the truth is that the Frenchman was born in the 1600’s, and although he lived to the ripe old age of 83, dying in Paris, France in 1761, this was not a time period that most of us would associate with modern medical practices.
So what did Pierre Fauchard do during his lifetime that led to him being celebrated as a pioneering dentist? Let’s take a look.
The early life of Pierre Fauchard
Fauchard was born in the town Saint-Denis-de-Gastines around the year 1678. His family, while well off, was not rich, and young Fauchard joined the French Royal Navy at age 15. Although against the wishes of his family, this was in fact one of the best options to gain a solid education for a person of modest means.
While in the Navy, Fauchard showed a propensity for the healing arts, and he became a protégé of the prominent military surgeon Alexander Poteleret, who also was interested in learning more about ailments of the mouth. This was only natural as at that time, it was common for sailors to suffer from all sorts of diseases that had a bad effect on a person’s teeth, the most famous of which was scurvy, caused by a deficiency of Vitamin C, and characterized by the swelling and bleeding of gums.
Inspired by Poteleret, Fauchard took it upon himself to research what was known at the time about tooth disease and investigate what effective treatments were available. This eventually prompted him to take what he had learned and make it widely known to physicians and medical people everywhere.
What was dentistry like before Fauchard?
Fauchard had good reason to want to learn more about the diseases of the mouth and how to treat tooth decay and other oral ailments. The 17th century approach to dentistry was very primitive, and tooth and gum disease were not limited to long sea voyages. Little was known about what caused these conditions or how to prevent them.
One hindrance to proper mouth care was the lack of adequate surgical instruments. Not only were metal probes and scalers unheard of at this time, but other items we take for granted now were not yet available. This includes the tiny mirrors that dentists use to see the back of a patient’s mouth, as well as syringes, suction tools, and more.
Proper lighting was also not available. While today’s dentists can focus a bright light exactly where it’s needed, physicians in Fauchard’s time would have been performing examinations by lamp light. And of course it goes without saying that it would be many years before Novocain and other anesthetics were developed.
But perhaps the most important thing that was missing among dentists in the 17th century was knowledge. There were no schools of dentistry in the 1600’s, nor were there any books that catalogued the various diseases of the mouth, or even simple oral anatomy.
This is why Fauchard’s contributions were so important.
What were Fauchard’s contributions to dentistry?
Upon leaving the navy, Fauchard first moved to Angers, and practiced medicine at the University of Angers Hospital. His first novelty as a dentist was that his primary goal was to treat decaying teeth rather than just extracting them. He became a pioneer in oral and maxillofacial surgery. Even though the surgical instruments available to him were primitive, due to his own inventions, he became known as an extremely skilled surgeon. He accomplished this by adapting the tools he saw being used in other professions, such as watchmakers and jewelers.
Fauchard was also the first person to introduce the use dental fillings for cavities. Thanks to his research into oral disease, he’d determined that acids derived from sugar, such as tartaric acid, were the cause of tooth decay. He was an early proponent of dental hygiene, advocating that his patients keep their teeth clean by rinsing their mouth with water daily and using a sponge to rub their teeth. He even proposed that ethanol could be used as a cleaning solution.
Fauchard also advanced the use of the dental prosthesis, conducting many experiments on how to adequately replace lost teeth. His suggestions included carved blocks of ivory or bone. He held them in place by tying them to the remaining solid teeth using waxed thread or gold wire. He also introduced the use of dental braces to straighten crooked teeth.
But perhaps his greatest legacy stems from his publication of The Surgical Dentist. This 600-page manuscript contained copious amounts of information about oral disease and how to treat various ailments. Highlights included the description of symptoms for 103 separate mouth diseases, along with suggested treatments, recommendations to limit sugar in one’s diet, and even a suggestion for a dental lamp.
As a testament to how necessary his book was, one of its major advances in dental science was debunking the widely held belief at the time that tooth decay was caused by tiny worms. He used microscopic observations to prove there were no worms present.
Your Grove, Oklahoma Oral Surgery Specialist
When visiting Grand Lake Dental, it can be easy to take the modern technology and convenience for granted. However, Dr. Jobst knows that we all owe pioneers like Pierre Fauchard a great debt of gratitude. His dedication to the science of dentistry and his desire to share what he learned with the world helped create this wonderful profession, and has helped millions of people smile.
With our advanced equipment and facilities, the entire staff at Grand Lake Dental is proud to serve the families of Oklahoma. When you visit Dr. Jobst, you can rest assured you’ll receive the best available treatments and personal, attentive care.
Call us today to make an appointment.