Some Reflections on Dental Publishing 100 yrs Ago.

Publication of dental textbooks was a thriving business years ago and multiple publishing house entered the work place. Historical reflections on one of the early dental publishers coming in Philadelphia over 100 yrs ago are highlighted.

An Endodontology Icon Who Fostered an Appreciation for Pulpal Biology and Its Relevance to Restorative Dentistry and Periodontics: Dr. Kaare Langeland.

The impact of ground-breaking research on the dental pulp and its response to dental procedures, materials and associated diseases significantly influenced the evolution and scope of Endodontics, creating a science of Endodontology. While there were scattered studies in the early 20th century in this regard, the clarification and codification of these concepts took a major leap forward in the late 1950s due to the academic prowess and in-depth research endeavors of Dr. Kaare Langeland. The story begins during World War I in Norway.

Reflections on Prolific Contributors to the Dental Literature and Dental History: Truman vs. Trueman.

Dental literature is rich in its historical evolution, which is extoled by key figures in the late 1800 and early 1900s. This paper will briefly highlight two of these individuals, both based in Philadelphia who had similar names, spelled differently, and who impacted greatly on this historical documentation.

Reflections on a Passionate Dental Historian, Colleague, Clinician and Educator Dr. Edward F. Leone (1923-2002).

For years in dental school settings, the teaching of dental history was extolled and emphasized as to the roots of the dental profession. Many colleagues can probably cite the names of those who contributed to this achievement within their academic environments. Most of these academicians were also clinicians who valued the role of history in the progression of dentistry as a respected profession. One such individual was Dr. Edward F. Leone who passionately imbued the historical values of our profession into each student. This article is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Leone and tribute to his legacy that he provided to hundreds of dental professionals for almost 50 years at the Marquette University School of Dentistry.

Stomatology - Organizational Codification of Science and Clinical Practice in the Late 1800s.

Reflections on the formation of a newly formed dental society in the historic seat of dental academia and research are highlighted, from an all-encompassing perspective.

A True "Uomo Universale" from the 1800s - Dr. George Watt.

A hot bed of organized dental leadership and visionary thinking in the mid-to-late 1800s came from Ohio, as many presidents of the American Dental Association were from that state. They were quite influential in leading this organization into the 20th century. One of the most dynamic and well-rounded individuals was Dr. George Watt…this paper will highlight his life as viewed by one of his peers.

The Focus on Accuracy and the Truth to Ensure "That's the Way It Was"!

In the process of reading from a wide variety of both historical and contemporary sources, which is what an editor must do, I have found it painfully obvious when reading dental articles that claim to provide historical reviews, along with details of such that rarely are the original sources either identified or investigated thoroughly to provide accuracy in content. I will use the following example that is commonly seen and that focuses within my specialty, Endodontics.

Fish Bones and the Challenges of Root Canal Obturation.

The dental historical literature is replete with the use of myriad of materials for root canal obturation; most notably, gutta-percha, silver cones, gold wires, orangewood sticks, gold foils, asbestos, a variety of paste/cement-type materials, iridioplatinum wires, lead points and a rather lengthy list of arbitrarily chosen substances based on the imagination and creativity of the treating professional.1.

The History of Dentistry in Kuwait.

There is scant documentation of the origins of dentistry in countries of the Middle East. This paper aims to identify and detail the development of dentistry in one of the smaller countries in the Middle East, Kuwait that has played a pivotal role in a wide range of political and socio-economic developments in the past fifty years.

Historical Perspectives on the Evolution of Root Canal Sealer/Cements.

Various forms of sealing cements have been used in root canal procedures since the mid-1800s to create an impervious seal of the root canal system. In the process both entrepreneurs and charlatans have risen to the challenge. During the first half of the 20th century, significant activity in this realm was realized, which set the standards for the evolution of contemporary materials and applications.

Historical Reflections on the Use of Internal Bleaching to Manage Discolored Teeth.

The process of internal bleaching of discolored teeth has been with us for well over 150 years, during which time both materials and procedures varied significantly. The etiology of tooth discoloration also reflected on a wide range of philosophies and causes, which lent itself to many trials and errors in management. Both success and failure characterized the achievements attained by our forefathers in managing this esthetic challenge, as years ago tooth extraction was often the first pathway chosen.

Gleanings on the Origins of Electric Pulp Testing.

Attempts to develop a test for pulp vitality has had a somewhat convoluted history, as the concept of 'vitality' has been the pivotal focus of interpretation, misinterpretation, and empirical dogma, especially when using electrical stimulation. Some researchers attempted histological correlations while others focused exclusively on radiographic correlations to validate electrical methods of pulp testing. Some the early literature rightfully focused on the concept of sensibility (a contemporary term in common usage) instead of vitality. This article will purposefully focus on some of the early thought processes of our forefathers as they attempted to arrive a full-proof method to assess the status of the often-compromised dental pulp.

Some Gleanings on the Origin, Etiology, Nature and Development of Pulp Stones - 100-year Perspective.

Quite often in today's contemporary literature, phrases, or statements such as, or similar to the following, are often seen at the beginning of published manuscript, 'despite several microscopic and histochemical studies, the exact cause…is largely unknown…or is elusive…or has not been fully characterized.' Often these types of statements are used as a justification or a rationale for the published paper that follows. However, when looking carefully at the purported issue or issues at hand, there usually is an historical trail to follow that requires a passionate inquisitiveness, an intellectual persistence, and a monumental determination to find the truth…but even what is discovered in this relentless pursuit may not necessarily represent the truth that may remain elusive. Hence, this historical exposé will focus on a specific issue about a little tissue that most contemporary authors have passed off as a mysterious, unknown entity - the Pulp Stone/Nodule. From 1969 to 2021, there have been over 100 publications or more that have addressed pulp stones purely from an epidemiological or management standpoint, with minimal to no effort to identify their true source or etiology, which may be locked in the vaults of antiquity. However, our forefathers had a pretty good handle on these entities as this historical perspective will address.

Reflections on the Evolution of the Specialty of Endodontics in Colombia, South America.

The historical development of Endodontics as a specialty in Colombia, South America was due primarily to the influence of a few key endodontists from the United States and the industriousness and dynamic vision of leading dental professionals from Bogotá and Medellín, Colombia.

The investigation of thermal behaviour and physical properties of several types of contemporary gutta-percha points.

AIM: To analyse the contents and thermal behaviour of several brands of contemporary gutta-percha points due to the variable nature of the components of gutta-percha, and the impact they can have on the physical properties of this unique material during canal filling. METHODOLOGY: Six brands of gutta-percha were investigated: Conform Fit TM Gutta-Percha Points for ProTaper Gold® (PTG) (Dentsply Sirona), ProTaper® Universal Gutta-Percha Points (PTU) (Dentsply Sirona), Autofit TM Feathered Tip Gutta Percha (Kerr), Mtwo® Gutta-Percha (VDW), Gutta Percha Root Canal Points (GC, GC Corporation) and Gutta-Percha Points ISO Color-Coded (ISO; Dentsply Sirona). The organic and inorganic fractions of gutta-percha points were separated by quantitative chemical analysis. Thermal conductivity was detected using a laser flash method. In addition, the thermal behaviour of gutta-percha in response to temperature variations was analysed using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn tests were applied for comparisons amongst groups for chemical compositions and temperature obtained from DSC. The associations between compositions and thermal conductivity were determined using simple linear regression. A p value <.05 was considered to be statistically significant. RESULTS: There were significant difference in the inorganic fractions of the gutta-percha points in percentage by weight amongst the groups (p < .05). PTG had the lowest thermal conductivity (0.42 W/m K). A positive correlation was observed between the percentage of inorganic fraction and thermal conductivity (r = 0.95). The initial phase changing temperature and peak temperature measured by DSC were significantly different when the ß-form transformed to α-form (p < .05), whereas no significant difference was found during the α-form to the amorphous-phase transition (p > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Chemical compositions and initial phase changing temperature by DSC varied according to the various brands of gutta-percha points. Conform Fit TM gutta-percha had the lowest percentage of inorganic fraction and thermal conductivity amongst these six brands of gutta-percha. Thermal conductivity had the strongest positive correlation with the percentage of inorganic components and zinc, whilst there was a negative correlation to the amount (ratio) of gutta-percha.

Vegetable or Fruit in Managing an Ingested Rubber Dam Clamp.

Most people commonly think that a potato is a vegetable, and they would be half right as botanically it is considered as a fruit. So, one might ask what does this vegetable/fruit have to do with a dental faux paux? Reaching into dental historical vaults of 1892 we find that our forefathers were very creative in managing challenging, and potentially embarrassing situations.

The Roots of Pressure Anesthesia and its Contemporary Similarities.

For decades dentists have faced the challenge of achieving profound anesthesia in the presence of a severe tooth ache. Frequently this challenge was more acute when the tooth or teeth in question were mandibular molars. Over a 125 years ago this clinical dilemma was managed by using cocaine, both directly on an exposed dental pulp and often times using a solution of such injected directly into the pulp. Both clinical applications were considered as achieving "pressure anesthesia" sufficient to permit pulp extirpation. This historical perspective will focus on both the origins of this approach and its contemporary counterparts.

Is a Pulpless Tooth a Dead Tooth - An Age-Old Controversy that Lingers Today.

Leonard Koecker was outspoken in 1821 when he criticized the procedure of pulp extirpation and tooth retention, a procedure that had been advocated and practiced by Fauchard and others. He again registered his thoughts on this issue in 1826 in the publication of his textbook entitled "Principles of Dental Surgery". He claimed the tooth was dead and a repugnant foreign body that impacted on the surrounding living tissues. This controversial position ensued for close to a century, with advocates for Koecker's position, especially in the time of the Focal Infection and those opposed who favored a biological/scientific approach to this issue. Although today the desire to retain teeth through pulpal extirpation and proper root canal procedures is the treatment of choice when possible, it is common globally to frame the pulpless tooth as a dead tooth by both the dental professional and laypersons alike.

Some Historical Perspectives on the Use of Electrosterilization in Root Canal Disinfection.

Microbial control and tooth retention in dentistry have been paramount for all clinicians for over 130 years. However, in the late 1800s and early 1900s the dental profession was challenged to devise methods to eradicate microbial species from the root canal system if teeth were to be retained in symptom-free function. One system that was devised was electrosterilization and its variations, the roots and methods of which will be explored in this paper.

Historical Perspectives on the Use of Kalium and Natrium on Putrescent, Infected Dental Pulps.

In the late 1800s, subsequent to the identification of the role of oral bacteria in the demise of the dental pulp by Willoughby D. Miller, the dentist was faced with the major challenge of removing gangrenous pulp tissue from the small root canal spaces in the tooth. Under these clinical circumstances, investigators viewed the root canal contents as a test tube filled with gelatinous, decaying matter along with being overwhelmed by a wide range of bacterial species. One of the first attempts to eradicate the root canal contents was achieved through the use of kalium (potassium) and natrium (sodium) in their metallic state and with that approach the sparks did fly.