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History of Dental Prosthesis

By Henry Lovejoy Ambler, M. S., D. D. S., M.D.,

Cleveland, Ohio

DENTAL prostliepis is the science, art, and esthetics of restoring a lost
dental organ or organs and their associated parts with au artificial
substitute. Science is the classified knowledge pertaining to the spec-
ialty ; art is the skillful doing of the work ; esthetics is the harmonizing of the
restoration, and the case belongs to the prosthetist so soon as an artificial
crown is required. The opportunity to create a demand for practical artistic
dentures was never better than at present, and the development of artistic
prosthesis is in the hands of the dental profession appealing to all, but being
accepted by the few who have "learned to love it for its own sake."
In 1847 Desirabode used the term '"prosthesis," but up to the present time the
nomenclature on the subject is not perfect, still it has been greatly improved
in the way of terms, application, pronunciation and definition.
It would be utterly impossible to embody in this article anything like
the whole history of dental prosthesis, but a general outlook will be given,
and some of the most prominent inventions, improvements, etc., will be noted,
often omitting details which can usually be found in text-books.
Numerous authorities have been consulted, and when there has been
a difference about certain matters, we have adopted the concensus of opinion,
still the few references made here are but an index to tlie great volume of prog-
ress all along the line.
The antique birth, growth and development of dental prosthesis—the
mother of longevity—constitutes one of the most interesting and remarkable
chapters in dentistry.
"The temple of prosthetic dentistry is composed of stone and pillars whicli
each nation and age has been commissioned to hew and carve. Egyptians,
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