How histology enriched endodontics as a specialty & nurtured pulp biology: Our endodontic continuum from 1528 into the 1900’s – Part I

The 1980 Oral Science Monograph by L.J. Baume of Geneva is an erudite review, which recognized notables who elevated the respect of histology of dentine & pulp to scientific maturity [1]. Before 1500, "dental surgery" was basically tooth extraction until 1528 when Johannes Stocker recommended treating tooth pain with pulp cautery & filling some canals with copper. Microscopic observation began in 1675 when Anton van Leeuwenhoek (1632-1723) described transparent pipes from pieces of his wife's tooth using his homemade microscope & compared tooth enamel & cementum to tree bark. In 1824, Edward Hudson (1762-1857) of Philadelphia cauterized the tooth pulp & plugged the canal with gold foil. In 1840, Robert Owen (1804-1892) received recognition by many colleagues for introducing the histologic term DENTINE into our dental lexicon. Histologic knowledge of normal & pathologic tooth tissues rapidly advanced with microscopic technologies of sectioning & staining. In 1879, professor Adolph Witzel's (1847-1906) histological study described pulp inflammation & neo-dentine formations following vital pulp capping of human teeth treated with arsenious acid-he is recognized as the father of histological endodontics [2]. Grossman's 1940 textbook advanced ENDODONTICS as a US clinical specialty by promoting DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS in patients who were suffering from pulpal or periapical pathology, which led to PROGNOSIS & TREATMENT based on a blend of clinical observations with knowledge of pulp histology. Histological advancements of tooth tissue rapidly advanced the knowledge of normal & pathological healing, which fostered ENDODONTICS & RESTORATIVE clinical specialties in the early 1900's. Dr. Wm. Cotton personally backed the PULP BIOLOGY GROUP as a research specialty during the 1975 London IADR meeting. Endodontic tooth treatment rapidly progressed by using new technologies to assist the diagnosis & treatment of tooth infections.