Artificial Intelligence and the Research and Reporting of Dental History.

Artificial intelligence is much in the news. One issue is whether it might be a useful tool for dental research. This paper provides ad overview of AI and explores its usefulness in some simple history of dentistry topics, including potential dangers.

Dentists, Their Handicraft Hobbies and City of London Livery Companies.

Many successful dentists also spend much time on hobbies. Unsurprisingly many of them involve the use of their hands, often but not always honing skills learned in dentistry. All the people discussed have another essential skill, the ability to design.

Nuala Mary Brigid Mitzi Macey-Dare (née Coyle) (1934-2022): leading community dentist, forensic odontologist and her family.

For many people, being a parent of five children is more than enough to keep oneself occupied. Mitzi Coyle (Macey-Dare) did that, and gained a top post in the community dental service, with a string of dental and other postgraduate qualifications. Her children are equally talented.

Bernard Geoffrey Norman Smith (1938-2016).

Bernard Smith was one of the most significant specialists in restorative dentistry of his generation. He was an inspiring undergraduate and postgraduate teacher, a noted international lecturer and a house-builder. Bernard was president of the British Society for Restorative Dentistry and first chairman of the Association of Consultants and Specialists in Restorative Dentistry.

Franz Alfred (1880-1962) and Georg Frederich (1921-2010) Kantorowicz.

George Kantorowicz was a senior lecturer/consultant in conservative dentistry at the Royal Dental Hospital who provided ground-breaking treatment for cleft palate children at Great Ormond Street Hospital. His father, Alfred, was a Jewish professor, dean at Bonn Dental School and a world-famous advocate of mobile dental surgeries and prevention for children's dental health, until the Nazis put him in a concentration camp. After important interventions, he became director of Istanbul Dental Institute.

Sir Terence Ward CBE MBE (Mil) (1906-1991) and maxillofacial surgery at Queen Victoria Hospital.

Terence Ward was a major maxillofacial surgeon in World War II, working with Sir Archibold McIndoe to treat badly injured forces personnel, especially air crew. He was important when the time came to establish his speciality in the post-war NHS. Sir Terence played an important role in the Royal College of Surgeons of England, where he was dean of its Faculty of Dental Surgery and raised a great deal of money for the Department of Dental Science.

Dame Margaret Seward BDS MCCD MDS DSc DDS FDSEng, Edin & Glas FFGDP FFARCS FICD (1935-2021): Her Family and Career.

So often we hear cries of 'Well what do you expect, he or she had a terrible start in life." Given away soon after birth, didn't know its mother until nine years of age, brought up a mother's acquaintance but was not told. This paper examines how that fits with the life of Dame Margaret Seward, one of the outstanding members of the British dental profession, male or female.

The Royal Dental Hospital of London and School (1858-1985) - First to open - First to close.

The Royal Dental Hospital and School were founded in 1858/59 as the UK's first dental school. Despite being a leading school, because of government strictures it closed its doors in 1985. The building was taken over by a hotel.

David Forman: Dentist, Photographer, Composer and Gardener.

David Forman worked as a general dental practitioner for many years. However, he eventually gave it up as his early hobbies took over his life. They included photography, musical composition, and gardening.

Sydney Blackman (1898-1971): a pioneer in dental radiology and radiography.

Sydney Blackman, was a consultant radiologist at the Royal Dental Hospital of London between 1931 and 1967. He contributed much to the advance of dento-maxillofacial radiology. His development of the 'rotograph' as the first commercially available dental panoramic machine established dental radiology on a level with medical radiology.

The British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry, its journal, Community Dental Health, and the origins of dental public health: a 50-year celebration.

This paper examines the founding and development of the British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry, 36 years after establishment of the American Association of Public Health Dentistry, and its achievements over 50 years. Especially important are its major role in national and other epidemiological surveys, establishment of NHS dental public health specialist and consultant posts, and its journal, Community Dental Health.

Olva Odlum BDS MSc LDS, the First Female Faculty Member in Manitoba and Dentist to the Indigenous Population.

Olva Odlum qualified as a dentist in England but went on to make a professional life in Canada. She became the first female member of the Manitoba dental faculty and provided care for many dentally-deprived groups, including disabled patients, those with cancer and members of the First Nation tribes.

Norman John David Smith (1931-2010): radiologist, master mariner and instigator of dental distance-learning courses.

David Smith was a major influence on the world of dental radiology, helping to found the European Academy of Dental Radiology. He was a president of both the British Society of Dental Radiology and the British Society of Dental and Maxillofacial Radiology, and an honourary life member of the European Academy of Dentomaxillofacial Radiology. David was also a master mariner, politician and fighter for the introduction of distance-learning programmes in dental education.

The Royal College of Surgeons of England, its Faculty of Dental Surgery and the origins of the Faculty of Dental Surgery.

The Royal College of Surgeons of England established a Faculty of Dental Surgery in 1947 as part of a wider reorganisation. Its Fellowship in Dental Surgery began at the same time and became a mark of recognition of high standing as part of training programmes for dental specialists. Although similar fellowships were later awarded by the surgical colleges in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Ireland, they are outside the scope of this article.

The Metropolitan Branch of the British Dental Association and the personalities involved in its early years.

The British Dental Association came into being in 1880 after a long fight to obtain professional status for dental practitioners, including qualifications and registration. It later formed geographically situated branches to bring it closer to the membership, easing scientific, political and social interchange. Many leading members of the profession belonged to its Metropolitan Branch, founded in 1888.

John Vivian Bingay OBE (1899-1973) and the New Cross School for Dental Auxiliaries.

It is easy to forget some of the people who helped to develop the dental care services. One person who should be remembered is Jack Bingay. He was a towering figure in the public dental services from just before to well after World War II.

John Archibald (Archie) Donaldson OBE (1914-1993).

Archie Donaldson was a dentist with a great intellect. He was an outstanding editor of the British Dental Journal and honourary curator of the British Dental Association Museum for many years. He was well known in the history of medicine circles, both in the United Kingdom and abroad.

Musings on Some Dentist-Musicians.

Many successful dentists and doctors enjoy a wide variety of hobbies, including music. Some are avid listeners; others play instruments as amateurs or even professionals; sometimes they sing. A few are recording artists.

Geoffrey Hilliard Sperber BSc BDS MS PhD FICD Dr Med Dent (Hon causa) FRSSAf and the Geoffrey and Robyn Sperber Health Sciences Library at the University of Alberta.

Geoffrey Sperber was a long-time honorary Curator of a Dentistry Museum at the University of Alberta. The latter has announced the receipt of a major donation from him and his wife to aid the building of a new Health Sciences Library that will contain the Museum. Recognizing their philanthropy, the new Library will be named the Geoffrey and Robyn Sperber Health Sciences Library.

A New Home for Dentistry and Dental Qualifications in the United Kingdom.

The first dental qualification in the UK was awarded by the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 1860. From then on dentistry was closely aligned with, and partly under the thumb, of the medical profession. It thus differed from the USA.

Benjamin William Fickling CBE (1909-2007), oral and maxillofacial surgeon and Dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery.

Ben Fickling was a dentist and doctor who played a major part in the development of oral and maxillofacial surgery as a specialised discipline. He designed several surgical instruments, published (with William Warwick James) Injuries of the jaws and face and translated Le Fort's work into English, both in wartime. He was a founder member of the British and International Associations of Oral Surgeons.

Lilian Lindsay CBE LLD MDS HDD FDS (Eng&Edin) FSA (1871-1960) The first female to gain a British dental qualification and a leading member of the profession.

In the late 19th century, British women were struggling to enter the dental profession. From a young age, Lilian Lindsay was determined to become a qualified dentist. This paper describes her struggles and successes in attaining her goal, which was reached in 1895 when she became the first, female, qualified dentist.

Huia Masters (Pick) Pickard (1909-2002): a pioneer of restorative dentistry.

Huia Masters Pickard was a leading dental teacher of conservative and restorative dentistry in the 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s. After war service and some general practice, he devoted himself to teaching undergraduates and training junior staff at the Royal Dental Hospital of London.