History of Studying Teeth essays

History of Studying Teeth essays This is a thesis analyzing the evolution of teeth. However, the knowledge concerning teeth has evolved quite dramatically. One of the first to scientifically analyze teeth was Pierre Fachard. His book Le Chirurgien Dentiste published in1728 was revolutionary. It was the first book of its kind to be published. Fachards intent in writing this was to make a comprehensive encyclopedia on everything known in dentistry from how to treat diseases, preventative care, even the best way to seat a person in a dental chair. This was also one of the first books to give detailed descriptions of human teeth. Hunter wrote The Natural History of the Human Teeth (1771) 1. In it he clearly described dental anatomy and coined the terms bicuspids, cuspids, incisors and molars a classification of the teeth which is still used today. He traced their development in the fetus and the child, and established their structure of pulp, bone, and enamel. Considered a classic in both the history of scienc e and medicine, this work combines the first complete analysis of human dentition with exquisite illustrations. Linnaeus system of organizing life in 1735 fueled a push towards comparative anatomy. Paleotologists began to look at teeth in terms of homology and anology, but they were not viewed with any notion of relatedness in mind. Sir Richard Owen was one of the first ever to give a detailed classification of teeth. His work Odontography which consumed his work over 5 years from 1840-1845, was an exhaustive study on the teeth of extinct and existing animals. This work is characterized by detailed drawings and notes of the differences between species. An important note in this work was that he characterized the teeth Labyrinthodont amphibians. The teeth in this phyla are unique and are considered to be the forerunners of much of the amphibians of today which in turn are the predecessors of mammals. Although he c...