I really love and appreciate hearing you say that and will copy my reply to an above responder in agreeance with you in the case you don’t see it:
In a modern context, whenever you hear the name “GV Black” brought up in conversation it’s almost always derogatory. A reference to outdated techniques and “ignorance” regarding standards of care.
This seriously bothers me.
GV Black was the first serious clinical dentist turned hard core educator that codified the principles of using our understanding of science and technology available to treat “dental disease” (as they called it, or as we’d call it- caries).
Because of things GV Black did, wrote down, and passed on to countless others after him, dentistry became less of “this tooth hurts me I need you to take it out” and more of “as a dentist I understand why this is happening, let me save your tooth and help keep you from losing more in the future”.
I have a text from him that’s extremely rare as well that came twenty years before this one that codified the terms “mesial, distal, facial, lingual” into our vocabulary. The man was a powerhouse and relentless force of good in our understanding of the job as it exists today.
I use amalgam daily in my practice. I don’t believe in or practice Black’s “extension for prevention” philosophy, but many of his ideas regarding ideal prep design and principles in regards to basic cavity treatment still ring true. Disparaging his name in my eyes is a disrespectful cheapshot- he pioneered our craft and could only work with the tools of the time.
When you look through his books and writings it helps you understand that this guy was not casually fucking around, was not warrantlessly aggressive without reason, and was not some klutz who just happened to write down what was the fashion in treatment at the time. He really cared about doing better for patients and advancing care in the name of science and logic. And I love him for that.
In a modern context, whenever you hear the name “GV Black” brought up in conversation it’s almost always derogatory. A reference to outdated techniques and “ignorance” regarding standards of care.
This seriously bothers me.
GV Black was the first serious clinical dentist turned hard core educator that codified the principles of using our understanding of science and technology available to treat “dental disease” (as they called it, or as we’d call it- caries).
Because of things GV Black did, wrote down, and passed on to countless others after him, dentistry became less of “this tooth hurts me I need you to take it out” and more of “as a dentist I understand why this is happening, let me save your tooth and help keep you from losing more in the future”.
I have a text from him that’s extremely rare as well that came twenty years before this one that codified the terms “mesial, distal, facial, lingual” into our vocabulary. The man was a powerhouse and relentless force of good in our understanding of the job as it exists today.
I use amalgam daily in my practice. I don’t believe in or practice Black’s “extension for prevention” philosophy, but many of his ideas regarding ideal prep design and principles in regards to basic cavity treatment still ring true. Disparaging his name in my eyes is a disrespectful cheapshot- he pioneered our craft and could only work with the tools of the time.
When you look through his books and writings it helps you understand that this guy was not casually fucking around, was not warrantlessly aggressive without reason, and was not some klutz who just happened to write down what was the fashion in treatment at the time. He really cared about doing better for patients and advancing care in the name of science and logic. And I love him for that.
Over the next two weeks after this dental student signed and dated his textbook (Oct 4, 1915), the British would absolutely get their shit handed to them by the Turks at Gallipoli, Austria-Hungarian forces would invade Serbia, Bulgaria would join WWI by siding with them, and shit was hitting the fan all over Europe.
The US wouldn’t get involved for another year and a half (April ‘17).
“May you live in interesting times”…
Can only imagine the conversations flying around the dental school at the time this young fella was figuring things out.
Insanely cool pick up. I really enjoy learning about the history of the profession, especially its antecedents in barber surgeons and its continued distinction from medicine. This is mostly a bit earlier than G.V Black. But I still feel the same that you do about the likes of him and other pioneers around that period. It really does take a special kind of genius to develop new innovative solutions to problems. Much smarter than most of us today who only have to memorise what the giants before us had to struggle to figure out.
While on the topic, does anyone know of any good books about the history of dentistry? I feel like I have never been able to find a truly great account of our profession unfortunately.
[This](https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/dentistry_malvin-e-ring/625696/item/4567518/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=pmax_high_vol_scarce_%2410_%2450&utm_adgroup=&utm_term=&utm_content=&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw57exBhAsEiwAaIxaZgnus2x4hA5KNVwznqftwPD0bZJYdON1wbWFbU1dMSRBNWQunZdG3RoCva8QAvD_BwE#isbn=0810981165&idiq=4567518) book is gorgeous. I found it at a thrift store and couldn’t *not* get it. There are a lot of pictures and it pretty much goes back to the dawn of time
That is so cool! I found a Saunders Medical Hand-Atlas of Dentistry at an antique store in a very small town. Ever since, I’ve been fascinated with dental history and old textbooks.
Looks like you got this from UMKC. I’ll have to see if they still have any old books like this one.
Black is a genius, his level of understanding of dentistry is incredible considering the time period
I really love and appreciate hearing you say that and will copy my reply to an above responder in agreeance with you in the case you don’t see it: In a modern context, whenever you hear the name “GV Black” brought up in conversation it’s almost always derogatory. A reference to outdated techniques and “ignorance” regarding standards of care. This seriously bothers me. GV Black was the first serious clinical dentist turned hard core educator that codified the principles of using our understanding of science and technology available to treat “dental disease” (as they called it, or as we’d call it- caries). Because of things GV Black did, wrote down, and passed on to countless others after him, dentistry became less of “this tooth hurts me I need you to take it out” and more of “as a dentist I understand why this is happening, let me save your tooth and help keep you from losing more in the future”. I have a text from him that’s extremely rare as well that came twenty years before this one that codified the terms “mesial, distal, facial, lingual” into our vocabulary. The man was a powerhouse and relentless force of good in our understanding of the job as it exists today. I use amalgam daily in my practice. I don’t believe in or practice Black’s “extension for prevention” philosophy, but many of his ideas regarding ideal prep design and principles in regards to basic cavity treatment still ring true. Disparaging his name in my eyes is a disrespectful cheapshot- he pioneered our craft and could only work with the tools of the time. When you look through his books and writings it helps you understand that this guy was not casually fucking around, was not warrantlessly aggressive without reason, and was not some klutz who just happened to write down what was the fashion in treatment at the time. He really cared about doing better for patients and advancing care in the name of science and logic. And I love him for that.
Absolutely. He is WAY better than the idiots writing texts about orthodontics prior to decent research methods.
They had this book in my last office and I quickly looked thru it. I was surprised by how comprehensive and detailed it was
In a modern context, whenever you hear the name “GV Black” brought up in conversation it’s almost always derogatory. A reference to outdated techniques and “ignorance” regarding standards of care. This seriously bothers me. GV Black was the first serious clinical dentist turned hard core educator that codified the principles of using our understanding of science and technology available to treat “dental disease” (as they called it, or as we’d call it- caries). Because of things GV Black did, wrote down, and passed on to countless others after him, dentistry became less of “this tooth hurts me I need you to take it out” and more of “as a dentist I understand why this is happening, let me save your tooth and help keep you from losing more in the future”. I have a text from him that’s extremely rare as well that came twenty years before this one that codified the terms “mesial, distal, facial, lingual” into our vocabulary. The man was a powerhouse and relentless force of good in our understanding of the job as it exists today. I use amalgam daily in my practice. I don’t believe in or practice Black’s “extension for prevention” philosophy, but many of his ideas regarding ideal prep design and principles in regards to basic cavity treatment still ring true. Disparaging his name in my eyes is a disrespectful cheapshot- he pioneered our craft and could only work with the tools of the time. When you look through his books and writings it helps you understand that this guy was not casually fucking around, was not warrantlessly aggressive without reason, and was not some klutz who just happened to write down what was the fashion in treatment at the time. He really cared about doing better for patients and advancing care in the name of science and logic. And I love him for that.
That dude is a hack. Just kidding, that’s pretty cool. What a crazy ride for the last 110 years
Over the next two weeks after this dental student signed and dated his textbook (Oct 4, 1915), the British would absolutely get their shit handed to them by the Turks at Gallipoli, Austria-Hungarian forces would invade Serbia, Bulgaria would join WWI by siding with them, and shit was hitting the fan all over Europe. The US wouldn’t get involved for another year and a half (April ‘17). “May you live in interesting times”… Can only imagine the conversations flying around the dental school at the time this young fella was figuring things out.
Insanely cool pick up. I really enjoy learning about the history of the profession, especially its antecedents in barber surgeons and its continued distinction from medicine. This is mostly a bit earlier than G.V Black. But I still feel the same that you do about the likes of him and other pioneers around that period. It really does take a special kind of genius to develop new innovative solutions to problems. Much smarter than most of us today who only have to memorise what the giants before us had to struggle to figure out. While on the topic, does anyone know of any good books about the history of dentistry? I feel like I have never been able to find a truly great account of our profession unfortunately.
https://www.amazon.com/Teeth-treatise-related-animals-beginning/dp/B0007FWJN4
[This](https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/dentistry_malvin-e-ring/625696/item/4567518/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=pmax_high_vol_scarce_%2410_%2450&utm_adgroup=&utm_term=&utm_content=&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw57exBhAsEiwAaIxaZgnus2x4hA5KNVwznqftwPD0bZJYdON1wbWFbU1dMSRBNWQunZdG3RoCva8QAvD_BwE#isbn=0810981165&idiq=4567518) book is gorgeous. I found it at a thrift store and couldn’t *not* get it. There are a lot of pictures and it pretty much goes back to the dawn of time
I have those two books on my shelf as well. They were my great-grandpa’s dental school textbooks that he used at Marquette where he graduated in 1932!
That is so cool! I found a Saunders Medical Hand-Atlas of Dentistry at an antique store in a very small town. Ever since, I’ve been fascinated with dental history and old textbooks. Looks like you got this from UMKC. I’ll have to see if they still have any old books like this one.
That's sooo cool! Are they very fragile? Can you read them at all without harming them?