The Most Influential/Famous People in the Dental Profession

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Who would you say is the most famous dentist in the world? How about the most famous dentist in history? It’s not an easy question to answer. You don’t hear much about famous dentists, whether that’s because they are more modest, or that the discipline is simply not as life and death-oriented as a general physician. However, dentistry has its own powerful figures, then and now. Did you know for example that dentistry as a skill dates back to at least the 7000 B.C. era?

The History of Dentists

Evidence exists suggesting that the Indus Valley Civilization once practiced dentistry in the field of during tooth disorders using very sophisticated weapons. No, really. They didn’t use rocks; they used bow drills that were carved by bead craftsmen. The earliest dental filling also dates back to the far B.C. era, at least 6,500 years ago. The first fillings were of beeswax.

Nevertheless, the techniques were pioneered long before the science. For many years, and even as recently as 14th century, tooth decay was attributed to tooth worms. Ancient writings of the Edwin Smith Papyrus and the Code of Hammurabi revealed specific dental procedures to cure pains and to extract cavity-teeth.

Significant names in the B.C. era included Hippocrates and Aristotle, who pioneered much in the patterning of teeth, treating decay, and stabilizing loose teeth. Hesi-Re of Egypt is mentioned as the First Dentist named so explicitly, the translation meaning the “greatest of the teeth.” Cornelius Celsus wrote of oral diseases, and dental amalgams were introduced by the Tang Dynasty, courtesy of Su Kung.

Famous Dentists in Modern Times

Famous dentists in modern times include physicians and scholars from the renaissance ages of 1650 to 1800. Thomas Browne and Pierre Fauchard pioneered a great deal, even though advanced machinery didn’t come around until well after the 18th century. Fauchard was noted as a surgeon and would improvise with other tools meant to fix watches and jewelry. He was also the first brilliant mind to state the risk of sugar in decaying teeth.

John Hunter followed him, writing two books on dentistry, and collaborating with James Spence. They paved the way for tooth transplants. By the 20th century, government began to regulate the profession. Notable names in the 1900s included German dentist Friedrich Fritz Pfeffer, and Dr. Samual Benis of Boston. Today, most dentists make headlines through celebrity association or through their non-professional achievements, such as Jan “La Grand” Boubli.

Perhaps the most famous dentists of our time are highly regarded not for their profession or talent, but by their association. Doc Holliday was a friend of Wyatt Earp and a successful dentist, as was Paul Revere, Revolutionary War hero who specialized in making false teeth.

Sadly, all of these great minds pale in comparison to Orin Scrivello, D.D.S., the fictional dentist played by Steve Martin in Little Shop of Horrors. Work hard at your profession and get a Wikipedia mention. Goof on the work of others and become immortal in the hearts of moviegoers. You never though…maybe sometime soon there will come along a Patch Adams of Dentistry.