Origins & Early Life

Pierre Fauchard (French pronunciation: [pjɛʁ foʃaʁ]; 2 January 1679 – 21 March 1761) was a French physician, credited as being the "father of modern dentistry". He is widely known for writing the first complete scientific description of dentistry, Le Chirurgien Dentiste ("The Surgeon Dentist"), published in 1728. The book described basic oral anatomy and function, signs and symptoms of oral pathology, operative methods for removing decay and restoring teeth, periodontal disease (pyorrhea), orthodontics, replacement of missing teeth, and tooth transplantation. Fauchard was born in a modest home in Saint-Denis-de-Gastines in 2 January 1679.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

In 1693 he joined the French Royal Navy at the age of 14, much to his family's distress, and came under the influence of Alexander Poteleret, a surgeon major, who had spent considerable time studying diseases of the teeth and mouth. During that time, Fauchard learned that sailors who were on long voyages suffered severely from dental ailments, scurvy in particular. Eventually Major Poteleret inspired and encouraged him to read and carefully investigate the findings of his predecessors in the healing arts. He said he...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Alexander Mack — Contemporary (Born in 1679) (1679): German clergyman and founder of the Schwarzenau Brethren movement.
• Jan Steen — Contemporary (Died in 1679) (1679): Master of Dutch Genre Painting, known for humor and satire in the Golden Age.
• Thomas Hobbes — Contemporary (Died in 1679) (1679): Founder of modern political philosophy, known for Leviathan and social contract theory.
• Marie Tussaud — Contemporary (Born in 1761) (1761): Pioneering French artist and founder of the world-renowned wax museum.
• Pierre Daunou — Contemporary (Born in 1761) (1761): French statesman, author, and archivist through the tumultuous eras of Revolution and Empire.
• Sai On — Contemporary (Died in 1761) (1761): Prominent scholar-bureaucrat of the Ryūkyū Kingdom, known for significant administrative reforms.
• Anton Pannekoek — Shared historical date (01-02 · Born) (1873): Dutch astronomer, philosopher, and leading Marxist theorist of council communism.
• Apsley Cherry-Garrard — Shared historical date (01-02 · Born) (1886): English polar explorer renowned for his Antarctic accounts and survival narratives.
• Ali Abdullah Saleh — Shared historical date (03-21 · Born) (1947): Yemeni military officer and politician who served as President of Yemen from 1990 to 2012.
• Ali Daei — Shared historical date (03-21 · Born) (1969): Legendary Iranian striker, celebrated for his prolific goal-scoring record in Asian football.
• 1679 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1679
• January 2 (01-02) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on January 2
• 1761 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1761
• March 21 (03-21) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on March 21