title: Pierre Fauchard and his rôle in the development of obturators.
abstract: The design and fabrication of oral appliances to replace parts of the palate missing due to congenital defects or lost through tumours, infection or trauma has been a considerable challenge for clinicians throughout the history of dentistry. Significant advances were made during the eighteenth century towards resolving the problem of constructing satisfactory obturators by the first 'surgeon-dentist', Pierre Fauchard. This paper reviews his innovative designs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative Dentistry, National University of Ireland, Cork, Ireland. c.lynch@ucc.ie
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Lynch
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: MacGillycuddy
authors.forename: V R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: O'Sullivan
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design / Q000266:history; D005602:France; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D010158:Palatal Obturators / Q000266:history*