Did you know yesterday, March 6, was National Dentist’s Day? Established as a way to show honor, appreciation, and to give thanks to dentists and the dental industry in general, it goes without saying that the imperativeness of gum, tooth, and overall oral health and hygiene are all too often overlooked—overshadowed by those “other” health and wellness sectors. Yet, dental health plays a far more vital role in one’s overall well-being than most tend to realize. And with their classic reputations for being “scary” and their offices to be avoided at all costs, folks working in the dental industry hardly ever garner the credit that’s rightly due to them.
Despite their undeniable underappreciation, dentists have played pivotal roles throughout history, even going as far back as ancient times. The modern dental profession and official schools designed for the study of dentistry, though, are far newer by comparison. In fact, it wasn’t even until 1840 that the world’s first dental college opened its doors. That school’s location was in none other than Baltimore, Maryland.
For this Flashback Friday Feature, I’m offering an overview of the general history of the dental industry. Then, I will shift my focus specifically to the history and development of the world’s first dental college in Maryland.
Early Historical Accounts of Dentistry
In overlooking false assumptions to the contrary, evidence supports that dental practices have been going on since as early as 7000 B.C. Findings have been uncovered throughout Ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, and even in the Indus Valley (site to present-day Pakistan). Egyptian scribe Hesy-Re, who lived around 2600 B.C., is the first name in recorded history associated with being a dental practitioner. Writings from Hippocrates and Aristotle in Ancient Greece explicitly detail early dental practices and the importance of treating decaying teeth to one’s overall health.
Even throughout Medieval Europe, special attention was given to the treatment of teeth, although there was still a lot that wasn’t entirely understood at the time. Most treatments back then were herbal-based and noninvasive, for example. There was also the incorrect belief floating around about the existence of “tooth worms” and their role in causing tooth decay.
The earliest publication devoted solely to the practice of dentistry, The Little Medicinal Book for All Kinds of Diseases and Infirmities of the Teeth, wasn’t even published until 1530. Then, it took nearly 200 more years before the act of becoming a dentist emerged as a recognizable profession of sorts. Many big names throughout the 1700s, with other more lucrative known associations, were secondary noted dentists of the day. Even the famed Paul Revere received dental training under the direction of John Baker, who was credited as the first dentist in the New World.
Another big name of the 1700s was Pierre Fauchard. More widely renowned as a French surgeon, Fauchard went on to earn the title of “Father of Modern Dentistry” after publishing The Surgeon Dentist, a Treatise on Teeth in 1723. His other credits include introducing the idea of dental fillings, the use of dental prostheses, and identifying how acids from sugar led to tooth decay.
The World’s First Dental College
Despite the practice of dentistry having been around for quite some time, the very first college designated to train dentists in the profession didn’t come about until 1840. It was with the establishment of the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery in Maryland following the formation of the American Society of Dental Surgeons.
The school received an official charter by an act of the Maryland General Assembly and matriculated its first two students the following year. At this time, there were only around 300 trained and scientific dentists in the nation. So, the drive to lead more was emanant.
The Baltimore College of Dental Surgery debuted as the first-ever institution to offer a Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) degree anywhere. Both the school’s co-founders, Dr. Horace H. Hayden and Dr. Chapin A. Harris, were inducted into the Pierre Fauchard Academy Hall of Fame.
The school’s alumni list has produced quite a few impressive names. Among these associations are Harry Estes Kelsey—Maryland’s first orthodontist; George Edward Post—renowned surgeon, academic, and botanist; John Mankey Riggs—famous for studying and treating periodontal disease; William Thomas Green Morton—noted dentist and physician who first publicly demonstrated the use of inhaled ether, and many others.
While the school still exists, it is now an extension of the University of Maryland, operating under the title “University of Maryland School of Dentistry (UMSOD).” With time, advances became essential, including the need for an innovative new 12-story building with all the latest technology and equipment.
The University of Maryland School of Dentistry remains at the forefront as one of the most advanced dental education facilities in the world. It also happens to be the only dental school currently operating in the entire state of Maryland.
Maryland’s contributions to the dental profession, both nationally and internationally, cannot be overlooked. While all too often underrated, as proud Mid-Atlantic regional residents, we should all stop, take a moment, and consider the appreciation we all should be garnering for being front and center to something so essential.