See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/318745568

Pioneers in Endodontics – United States of America

Article · May 2017

CITATIONS READS

0 1,453

2 authors:

James Leo Gutmann Vivian Manjarrés

Texas A&M University College of Dentistry Nova Southeastern University
329 PUBLICATIONS   7,095 CITATIONS    8 PUBLICATIONS   6 CITATIONS   

SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE

Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:

Guest Editor of a complete publication to come out in 2017 on the Pioneers of Endodontics. Second, on a chapter on C-Shaped Canals. Third, on invited manuscripts for
publications in Turkey and the Philippines. Fourth, 4 manuscripts for the Journal of the History of Dentistry. View project

CRIS guidelines View project

All content following this page was uploaded by James Leo Gutmann on 28 July 2017.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

 Pioneers in Endodontics n1

James L. Gutmann, Vivian Manjarrés

Pioneers in Endodontics – United States of America

„„ Introduction „„ The Pioneers

Choosing the most deserving individuals to be rec- „„ I.B. Bender 1905 – 2003
ognised as “Pioneers in Endodontics” from the USA
presented a plethora of challenges, especially since
endodontics did not have speciality identification
over 100 years ago; yet there were individuals at that
time who deserved to be considered for their unique
insights, creativities and contributions. Those cho-
James L. Gutmann
sen for recognition deserve special thanks for their DDS, Cert Endo, PhD
commitment to the principles of tooth preservation, (honoris causa), FICD,
FACD, FADI, FAAHD,
using many techniques that may even rival contem- Diplomate, American
porary practices. Thanks are also due to their dedica- Board of Endodontics
Professor Emeritus, Texas
tion in the creation of a body of science and proven A&M University College of
clinical practices that served to ultimately result in the Dr Israel Boris “I.B.” Bender’s parents came to the Dentistry
Dallas, Texas
recognition of endodontics by the American Dental USA from Russia in 1914 and settled in the West Oak
Association as a speciality of dentistry in the early Lane section of Philadelphia, where he graduated Vivian Manjarrés,
DDS, Cert Endo
1960s. from Central High School in 1923. He worked his Assistant Professor,
Department of Endo-
The presentation of these individuals follows way through the University of Pennsylvania, where dontics
no special chronology or major contribution, as an he earned a bachelor’s in dentistry in 1926 and a Nova Southeastern University
Davie, Florida
alphabetical listing was chosen. Yes, there will be doctorate in dental surgery in 1930. Penn’s dental
questions or concerns expressed by some as to who school recognised his genius and hired Dr Bender to Correspondence to:
James L. Gutmann
might have been missed in this recognition pro- teach oral medicine in 1942 and appointed him pro- 3213 Basil Court
cess; but then again, as previously mentioned, the fessor of Endodontology in 1972. Dr Bender taught Dallas, Texas, 75204-5543
USA
challenges of identification and the gathering of in- and conducted research simultaneously at Penn and jlg@histden.org
formation for some personalities was very difficult in the Department of Dental Medicine at the Albert
and therefore, they may have been eliminated from Einstein Institute1.
“detailed” recognition, or they fell more into the He was a tireless teacher and researcher and was
group of present-day contemporaries. Their names also an expert during his era on the cause of infec-
and areas of contribution will be mentioned at the tions of heart valves by the entry of bacteria into the
end of this tribute. blood after tooth surgery. He began using a “can-
died form” of penicillin in a lozenge to prevent this
condition in the early 1950s.
Together with Dr Samuel Seltzer, Dr Bender
wrote the definitive text on pulp biology, The Dental
Pulp (currently known as Seltzer and Bender’s Dental

ENDO (Lond Engl) 2017;11(2):1–26

2n Gutmann and Manjarres   Pioneers in Endodontics – United States of America
Fig 1   Dr Bender being
honoured with the
naming of the Lifetime
Educator Award of the
AAE as the IB Bender
Full-Time Educator
Award by Executive
Director Irma Kudo,
right, and AAE President
James L. Gutmann,
centre. (Courtesy of the
American Association of
Endodontists).
Pulp), which has been translated into many lan-
guages, including Russian, and remains the standard
textbook on the dental pulp for dentists today2,3.
Additionally, he published more than 130 arti-
cles, a number of which are significant papers that
are today considered as ‘classics’ in the speciality of
Endodontics. He has been the recipient of numer-
ous major grants including several from the Depart-
ment of US Public Health. He served as an adviser
on the editorial board of the Journal of Endodontics
for many years. Dr Bender served as President of the
American Association of Endodontists (1972–1973),
the International Association of Dental Research
(1956–1959), and a Director of the American Board
of Endodontics (1978–1984). He was a Fellow in the
College of Physicians and a member of the Honorary
Society of Sigma Xi. He was a trustee of the Fourth
Annual National Security Seminar, US Army War
College, Carlisle Barracks in Pennsylvania.
Dr Bender received the Louis I. Grossman award
in 1978, the most prestigious award conferred by the
American Association of Endodontists in research;
the Distinguished Service Award from the University
of North Carolina in 1980; the Pulp Biology Award
from the International Association of Dental Research
(Pulp Biology Group) in 1981; the Edgar D. Cool-
idge Award for leadership and exemplary dedication
to Endodontics and Dentistry in 1987; the Ralph F.
Sommer Award in 1993; and the Louis I. Grossman
ENDO (Lond Engl) 2017;11(2):1–26
International Award conferred by the French Endo-
dontic Society in 1990. In September of 1989, Albert
Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia dedicated the
I.B. Bender Division of Endodontics and created the
I.B. Bender Research Endowment Fund.
Dr Bender also ran a private practice for more
than 50 years, first in West Oak Lane, then Fern Rock
and finally in Jenkintown, Montgomery County, PA.
He was a meticulous dentist who eschewed the loss
of a single tooth. He closed his doors to hundreds of
patients at the age of 75.
He loved working with postgraduate and
graduate students and would travel to universities
throughout the USA to give seminars and to learn
about those young dentists who were aspiring to
careers in Endodontics. He would thrive on the en-
ergy he obtained during these encounters.
On the occasion of his 95th birthday in 2001, the
Lifetime Educator Award of the AAE was named the
I.B. Bender Lifetime Educator Award, honouring this
giant in Endodontics (Fig 1)
„„ References
1. Torabinejad M. I.B. Bender remembered. J Endod
2003;29:433–434.
2. Seltzer S, Bender IB. The Dental Pulp. JB Lippincott, Philadel-
phia, 1965.
3 Hargreaves KM, Goodis HE, Tay FR. (editors) Seltzer and
Bender’s Dental Pulp, 2nd Ed, Quintessence Publishing Co,
Inc, 2012.
„„ Significant Publications/
Contributions
Bender IB, Seltzer S.The advantages and disadvantages of the
use of antibiotics in endodontics. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral
Pathol. 1954;7:993–997.
Bender IB, Seltzer S, Yermish M. The incidence of bactere-
mia in endodontic manipulation: preliminary report Oral
Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol & Endod1960;
13:353–360.
Bender IB, Seltzer S. Roentgenographic and Direct Observa-
tion of Experimental Lesions in Bone: 1 J Am Dent Assoc
1961;62:152–60.
Seltzer S, Bender IB. Cognitive Dissonance in Endodontics.
Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol & Endod
1965;20:505–516.
Bender IB, Seltzer S, Soltanoff W. Endodontic success--a reap-
praisal of criteria. 1. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol.
1966;22:780–789.
Bender IB, Seltzer S, Soltanoff W. Endodontic success--a reap-
praisal of criteria. II. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol.
1966;22:790–802.
 Gutmann and Manjarres   Pioneers in Endodontics – United States of America
Bender IB, Seltzer S.The effect of periodontal disease on the
pulp. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol. 1972;33:458–474.
Bender IB, Freedland JB. Adult root fracture. J Am Dent Assoc.
1983;107(3):413–419.
Editorial. A tribute to I. B. Bender. J Endod 1997;23:2–4.
Bender IB. Factors influencing the radiographic appearance of
bony lesions. J Endod 1997;23:5–14.
Bender IB. Paget’s Disease. J Endod 2003;29:720–723.
„„ James Roy Blayney 1889 – 1980
Although more prominent for his pioneering research
in the area of fluoridation, Dr Blayney contributed
significantly to the field of endodontics, especially
in the years after William Hunter’s expose on the
role of oral sepsis in systemic disease. Ironically, the
attack on dentistry by Hunter, which Blayney justly
criticised as entirely mechanical, was given before
Dr Blayney graduated from Northwestern Univer-
sity School of Dentistry.1 In the mid 1920s when Dr
Blayney was conducting research on the problem of
the pulpless tooth (which ultimately led to a Master’s
degree from the University of Chicago in 1928), he
launched an all-out attack on the proponents of the
focal infection theory. The attack was not an empiri-
cal affront to the medical profession, but one that
was based on research. His research was an appeal
to base endodontic treatment on a biological basis.
The crusade to gain acceptance of root canal
“therapeutics” (at that time, often called the “grave-
yard” of dentistry), was approached on many fronts.
Dr Blayney insisted that dental educators, the prac-
tising dentist and the public required education
about the need for root canal treatment based on
sound biological principles.
In his attempts to place root canal therapy on
a biologic basis, Dr Blayney frequently confronted
the “essential factors” required for “the success-
ful result of any root-canal operation”. The first
essential factor was a thorough knowledge of root
n3
canal anatomy and the periapical tissues. Blayney’s
second essential factor for the performance of suc-
cessful root canal operations was an understanding
of the inflammatory reaction of the pulp to insult.
Dr Blayney believed that the intelligent practitioner
could not accurately diagnose the pulpal status if
he did not understand the inflammatory changes
experienced by the pulp in response to deep carious
lesions and the restorative procedures. Although his
concern was justified, the concept of focal infection
had not been eliminated from the concept of isolated
areas of inflammation in the pulp, or for that matter,
from the spread of “chronic root end infection” from
one tooth to another.
His third essential factor was directly connected
to the second: pathologic processes were common in
the periapical tissues subsequent not only to pulpal
inflammation, but also to root canal treatment of both
the vital and non-vital tooth. Dr Blayney thought
the dental profession had been severely misinformed
about granuloma formation. This kind of misinforma-
tion led them to willingly cooperate with the physi-
cian’s philosophy that apical lesions were sources of
infection and systemic disturbances. He felt that the
formation of a mass of granulation tissue about the
root end should be considered as a defensive effort
on the part of the body as opposed to merely an area
of infection. At that time the profession was rather
slow to grasp this concept, as frequently it was heard
that the radiogram showed root-end infection (which
is still a common practice today).
In Blayney’s efforts to convince the dental pro-
fession that root canal therapy could be successfully
performed, he focused heavily on the need for total
asepsis, without inducing further insult, resulting
from the techniques of asepsis used. This reaction
stemmed mainly from the chaotic condition that the
dental profession found itself in as a result of Wil-
liam Hunter’s address. Blayney’s response was to the
point. It was common procedure for the dentist to
minimise the importance of an aseptic technique and
to attempt to overcome the bacterial contamination
by the use of strong antiseptics such as phenol and
formaldehyde.
Pulp-canal treatment should only be attempted
under surgically clean conditions. The days of septic
surgery procedures were past and if success was to
be attained, good surgical methods must be used.
ENDO (Lond Engl) 2017;11(2):1–26
4n Gutmann and Manjarres   Pioneers in Endodontics – United States of America
Furthermore, all instruments and dressings were
to be sterilised and the tooth requiring treatment
placed under the rubber dam.
Dr Blayney’s main area of research during the
late 1920s and early 1930s focused on apical tis-
sue reactions to vital pulp removal and the treat-
ment of pulpless teeth. In addition, various treat-
ment modalities were evaluated histopathologically
to determine the highest percentage of successful
root canal operations. Many of the key points in
his work on vital pulp removal included the need to
protect the vital pulp stump, avoiding both mechan-
ical trauma through exact measurement control, and
chemical trauma through the use of small amounts
of mild antiseptics. A clean surgical technique of pulp
removal was advocated to prevent the pushing of
tissue remnants into the wound of the pulp stump
or past the dentinocemental junction into the apical
tissues. The root canal was to be filled three-dimen-
sionally with a bland, non-irritating, non-absorbable
material “to near the site of amputation”. Better
results were obtained in the cases that were slightly
under-filled.
According to Dr Blayney, the ability of the pulp
stump to heal depends on minimal irritation and
a good blood supply available through accessory
canals. During treatment of teeth with vital pulps,
the accessory canals were to be protected for their
physiologic value. Cleaning or obturating these
canals was not condoned.
Dr Blayney categorised the pulpless tooth accord-
ing to “root-end degeneration”, and treatment was
based on that categorisation. Critical to the success
of root canal treatment was the presence or absence
of root-end resorption. Simple acute abscesses or
chronic cases that flared up offered the best prog-
nosis. Cases of simple dental granulomata or lique-
faction necrosis would resolve when the causative
factor was removed from the extracted tooth. All
radicular cysts were recommended for root canal
treatment with immediate root apex amputation.
However, the most difficult diagnostic situation was
the determination of root-end resorption. Accord-
ing to Dr Blayney, root-end resorption was difficult
to manage and a contraindication to successful root
canal treatment.
Root canal treatment needed to be based
on sound biological principles, and Dr Blayney
ENDO (Lond Engl) 2017;11(2):1–26
recognised the importance of recall evaluation and
the need to establish sound criteria that would deter-
mine success and failure. He wisely pointed out that
in failing to do so, the dental profession could be its
own worst enemy, especially because of the focal
infection controversy.
„„ References
Gutmann JL. Reflections on an Endodontic Pioneer: Dr James
Roy Blayney 1889 - 1980. J Endod 1981;7:570–573.
„„ Significant Publications/
Contributions
Blayney JR, Hill IN. Fluorine and dental caries J Am Dent Assoc
(Special lssue) 1967;74:1–302.
Blayney JR. The biologic aspect of root- canal therapy. Dent
Items Int 1927;49:681–708.
Blayney JR. The progress of pulp-canal therapy. Prnc Dent. Cen-
tenary Celebration 1940, pp 646–654.
Blayney JR. Fundamentals governing pulp-canal therapy. Dent
Cosmos 1932;74:635–653.
Blayney JR. Present-day evaluation of the pulpless tooth. j Am
Dent Assoc 1936; 23:533–545.
Blayney JR . Present conception of vital reactions which occur
within apical tissues after pulp removal. J Am Dent Assoc
1929;16:851–860.
Blayney JR. Tissue reaction in the apical region to know types of
treatment. J Dent Res 1929:221–249.
Blayney JR. The problem of the pulpless tooth as seen by clinical
and laboratory investigation. J Dent Res 1930;10:425–437.
Blayney JR. What teeth should be extracted: a report based upon
further studies of root-canal therapy. J Am Dent Assoc 1928
15:1217–1221.
„„ John Peter Buckley 1873 – 1942
Dr Buckley was born on a farm near Lowell, Indiana.
Following high school graduation he matriculated at
the Northern Indiana Normal School (now Valparaiso
University). He graduated from the university with a
 Gutmann and Manjarres   Pioneers in Endodontics – United States of America
degree in pharmacy in 1896. In 1898 he graduated
from the Chicago College of Dental Surgery. In 1903
he was appointed Professor of Materia Medica and
Therapeutics in the department of dentistry at the
University of Illinois. He was appointed the follow-
ing year to this same position at his Alma Mater, the
Chicago College of Dental Surgery and stayed there
until 1927. He was a charter member and one of the
founders of the American College of Dentists. Due
to a health concern he moved to Southern California,
but returned routinely to do his teaching in Chicago,
in addition to the same responsibilities at the Univer-
sity of Southern California1.
His seminal publication, Modern Dental Materia
Medica, Pharmacology and Therapeutics put him on
the map throughout the USA2. He is most popularly
known within endodontics for his use of formocresol
treatment for pulpless teeth and the desensitisation
paste for control of pain with sensitive tooth cavities
(Buckley’s Formocresol: 19% formaldehyde, 35%
cresol, 17.5% glycerine). This material was used
routinely for years by multiple specialties until the
early 2000s when its potential carcinogenic prop-
erties were identified. During the period of its use,
hundreds of studies were performed to evaluate its
efficacy and safety. Presently it is still advocated for
careful use in paediatric dentistry in some circles.
As a final note, Dr Buckley was extremely active
socially, attempting to establish the betterment of his
profession and its relationship with the community.
It was said that he gave his life in the cause of civic
improvement. He even served on the police commis-
sion in Los Angeles and was credited with helping
to clean up a corrupt police department through the
elimination of 23 high-ranking officers. In 1922, Dr
Buckley was honoured by the Chicago Dental Society
at the Drake Hotel, when he became President of
the American Dental Association; a celebration that
brought the leaders of dentistry from around the USA.
„„ References
1. Obituary: John Peter Buckley D.D.S., Ph.D., F.A.C.D. J Am
Dent Assoc 1942;29:1326-1329.
2. Buckley JP. Modern Dental Materia Medica, Pharmcology
and Therapeutics.
3. Banquet Tendered John P. Buckley Ph.G., D.D.S., F.A.C.D. J
Nat’l Dent Assoc 1922;9:610-625.
n5
„„ Adolph Bushell 1923 - 2013
Dr Bushell was born in New Britain, Connecticut, the
son of Russian immigrants. He attended Ohio State
University from 1941 to 1943. Enlisting in the US
Army in 1943, he was assigned to the 44th Infantry
Division during World War II1. Shortly after being
deployed to France, he suffered a shrapnel wound to
his leg and was sent to a French hospital to recover.
On New Year’s Day, 1945, Bushell rejoined his unit.
While on a scouting mission, they were captured by a
German patrol and placed in a POW camp in Baden-
Baden in Germany. Shortly afterwards, Bushell’s par-
ents received a telegram from the Army notifying
them that he was missing in action, as was his brother
David. However, after four months as a POW he was
liberated by British troops in April 1945.
Upon his return to the USA, he attended Temple
Dental School, from where he graduated in 1950. Dr
Bushell then opened a practise in general dentistry in
Cromwell, CT, where he practised for six years. Dur-
ing that time, those who saw his work were amazed
at how beautiful it was, unlike anything they had
ever seen in dentistry, earning him the name “the
dentist with the magic hands”. As a general dentist
Bushell was drawn to the challenge of performing a
wide range of good endodontic procedures. He took
courses in the field, which were then only offered at
the University of Michigan and University of Penn-
sylvania. In the late 1950s he left general practice
and opened a practice limited to endodontics in
Hartford, Connecticut. Endodontics, per se, was not
recognised as a speciality by the ADA until 1964;
accordingly, Adolph was considered by his peers as
the pioneer in the field of endodontic practice in the
state of Connecticut1,2 .
Dr Bushell was one of, if not the best, endodon-
tic surgeons in the state and region at that time,
and his reputation spread far and wide – he was
ENDO (Lond Engl) 2017;11(2):1–26
6n Gutmann and Manjarres   Pioneers in Endodontics – United States of America
a visionary. At that time, very little surgical endo-
dontics was being performed on the east coast of
the USA. Bushell reported that his interest in sur-
gical endodontics arose after reading an article by
Dr Mort Amsterdam. It included a case treated by a
Dr Sam Rossman from Philadelphia, PA, of a lower
molar apical surgery, using a root-end amalgam fill-
ing. Dr Bushell was excited about this treatment
modality that could save a tooth that was failing
after nonsurgical root canal treatment. He said the
article by Dr Amsterdam contributed greatly to his
becoming an endodontist, with a strong interest in
surgical endodontics. He maintained that one apical
retroseal film changed his lifetime career and led to
a speciality he loved and enjoyed every day until his
retirement at the age of 88. In fact, the University of
Connecticut, Boston University, Tufts and New York
University all had residency programs in endodontics
that pulled from Bushell’s surgical expertise, resulting
in his being appointed to their programs1.
Dr Bushell was a natural teacher, lecturing and
demonstrating a wide range of endodontic proced-
ures at dental schools and clinics here in the United
States and abroad1,3. Dr Bushell made a significant
contribution to his speciality in the early 70s with
his development of molar endodontic surgical inter-
vention and root-end amalgam restorations. In
1982 he and Dr Robert M. Block published “Retro-
grade amalgam procedures for mandibular posterior
teeth”4, in the Journal of Endodontics, which was
considered a seminal work in the field of posterior
surgical endodontics, and has been translated into
many languages. Because of this publication, he
was invited to lecture around the world, and sub-
sequently became involved with the teaching and
mentoring of other endodontists over the years.
Dr Bushell founded and was the first president of
the Connecticut Association of Endodontists1. For the
first 10 years he taught at the University of Connecti-
cut School of Dental Medicine’s endodontic residency
programme. Dr Bushell was instrumental during the
early development of the dental school, serving on
the board of the Friends of the University of Connecti-
cut School Of Dental Medicine, which supported the
Dean’s efforts in recruiting and long term planning.
He also lectured extensively at other universities, both
in the United States and abroad, where he served as
a visiting professor in China, Asia, Europe and South
ENDO (Lond Engl) 2017;11(2):1–26
America. Moreover, he had a leadership role as the
co-curator of the Leonard Menszer Medical-Dental
Museum in Hartford, CT from 1996-20081.
Dr Bushell was considered a charitable organiser
and undaunted leader who received many awards,
including FACD, FICD, PFA and the prestigious Dan-
iel Lynch Award in Connecticut. The honours range
from meritorious service, to certificates of recogni-
tion, to being named one of Connecticut’s top dentists
by Hartford and Connecticut magazines – all richly
deserved accolades. Among these were the prestig-
ious Paul Harris Fellow Award from the Rotary Inter-
national Club for Humanitarian Service along with the
Connecticut State Dental Association’s Service Award
and the Hartford Hospital’s Humanitarian Award1. He
was especially proud of being honoured in 2010 in
San Diego by the American Association of Endodon-
tists with the Lifetime Dental Community Volunteer
Spirit Of Service Award5. By many, he was considered
as “a man for all seasons”5.
„„ References
1. Hartford Courant, Hartford CT, Obituaries, 8/4/2013.
2. Seymour Street Journal – Hartford Hospital, 9/8/2013.
3. MacDonnell WA. In appreciation: Adolph Bushell DDS.
The Communicator, Connecticut State Dental Association
9/8/2013.
4. Block RM, Bushell A. Retrograde amalgam procedures for
mandibular posterior teeth. J Endod 1982;8:107–112.
5. Russo J, Gutmann JL. Dr Adolph Bushell: A New England
treasure & a renaissance man for all seasons: J Hist Dent
2014;62:54–60.
„„ John Ross Callahan 1853 – 1918
John Ross Callahan, a native of Higginsport, Ohio,
was born on June 28, 1853.
Callahan was welcomed into his father’s office to
begin studying dentistry as an apprentice. However,
 Gutmann and Manjarres   Pioneers in Endodontics – United States of America
at that time dental colleges in the USA were gain-
ing favour as the source of formally recognised and
accepted education, Callahan chose to enter the
Philadelphia Dental College, from where he gradu-
ated in February 18771.
Callahan was first and foremost an outstanding
practitioner of dentistry. On the basis of his private
practice he built all other elements of his career. In
this regard, as indeed in others, the careers of Cal-
lahan and of Pierre Fauchard shared many features.
Both men were superb clinicians who found in the
problems of their patients the key questions of their
day for study and solution. Both men commanded
the respectful attention of their peers by virtue of
their unassailable credibility as practicing clinicians.
For Callahan, this was most evident during the initial
conflagrations of the Focal Infection Theory, when
he faced the challenges of retaining teeth with root
canal procedures. Dr Clarence J. Grieves, an admirer
of Callahan, and a leader in his own right, wrote:
“All through this period (1915–1917), many made
pilgrimages to the laboratory and offices of Cal-
lahan as the shrine where the knowledge of the
root-canal problem was to be had without money
or price”2. In addition to the respect of his profes-
sional colleagues, Callahan enjoyed an appreciative
clientele, whose loyalty extended over many years.
He thoroughly enjoyed his practice; indeed, he had
closed his office after a busy day, just a few hours
before he passed away1.
In 1888, he presented his first paper, “The Con-
servation of the Dental Pulp”, at a meeting of the
Mississippi Valley Dental Association. By the time
the Callahans moved to Cincinnati two years later,
he was deeply engrossed in clinical investigation.
He studied medicine primarily to prepare himself
better to continue his research. Callahan’s commit-
ment to dental science is underscored by the fact
that, after terminating his medical education, he
formed a microbiology study group for dentists.
For several years this group met in each other’s
offices in the evenings and on Saturday afternoons.
Callahan was an active member of the Cincinnati
Research Society, and the originator and director
of the Cincinnati Dental Research and Study Club.
His appointment to the Cincinnati General Hospital
served as a great impetus to his research in that it
provided increased access to laboratories and clinics
n7
at the hospital. A few years later after arriving in
Ohio, he presented one his most impactful con-
tributions to root canal procedures, “Sulfuric Acid
for Opening Root-Canals” before the Ohio State
Dental Society in 1893. He published his technique
in The Southern Dental Journal and Luminary in
18943 and later in the British Dental Association
Journal.
Callahan was devoted to his practice and com-
mitted to research in Ohio, but he also found time
to give outstanding leadership to the affairs of his
profession. His great interest in dentistry and its
development as a profession were manifest early in
Callahan’s career. Although much in Callahan’s life
could humble the most active dentist of contem-
porary times, his accomplishments in the areas of
science and scholarship give his biography an over-
powering impact1.
His accomplishments are highlighted by the
impressive volume of his articles, their diverse
nature and the frequency with which a given paper
was of such significance that it was reprinted in
other journals throughout the nation and the world.
Interestingly he published a paper on the multi-
ple apical foramina of tooth roots in 1916 a year
prior to Walter Hess’s seminal publication on root
canal anatomy4. In 1914, a paper describing the
use of a rosin solution as an adjuvant in the filling
of root canals gave the results of several years of
research and established a clinical technique that
was universally applied. An editorial in the Cincin-
nati Times-Star, on Feb 15, 19181, included the
statement: “The scientific imagination was one of
Dr Callahan’s attributes, the ability to see beyond
the immediate causes, into the causes of causes,
to trace symptoms to their source instead of being
satisfied with superficial manifestations”.
„„ References
1. Morris AL. John Ross Callahan. J Am Dent Assoc 1973;87:
34–38.
2. Grieves CJ. An appreciation of the work and character of
John Callahan. J Am Dent Assoc 1925;12:333–335.
3. Callahan JR. The Southern Dent J Luminary 1894:13:56–62.
4. Callahan, JR. Multiple apical foramina of tooth roots. J Nat’l
Dent Assoc 1916;3:85.
ENDO (Lond Engl) 2017;11(2):1–26
8n Gutmann and Manjarres   Pioneers in Endodontics – United States of America
„„ Significant Publications/
Contributions
Callahan, JR. Rosin solution for the sealing of the dental tubule
and as an adjuvant in the filling of root canals. J. Allied Dent
1914;9:53–63.
Grieves CJ. An appreciation of the work and character of John
Callahan. J Am Dent Assoc 1925:12:333–335.
„„ Edgar D. Coolidge 1881 – 1967
Dr Coolidge was born in 1881 in Galesburg, Illinois,
and attended Knox University, followed by the receipt
of his dental degree in 1906 from the Chicago College
of Dental Surgery (later known as the Loyola Univer-
sity School of Dentistry). For the next seven years he
taught Operative Techniques at the college, followed
by 10 years as Professor of Materia Medica and Thera-
peutics at the University of Illinois College of Dentistry.
He then returned to his alma mater, now the School of
Dentistry at Loyola University, where he was Professor
of Oral Hygiene, Preventive Dentistry and Therapeu-
tics until 1948. During that period he also conducted
a private practice in periodontics and endodontics until
his retirement in 1959.
Dr Coolidge was the recipient of many honours
and awards, with possibly the most prestigious being
the Gies Award from the American College of Den-
tists in 1961. He served as president of many organi-
sations, including the Chicago Dental Society, the
Illinois State Dental Society, Fellow and President of
the American Academy of Periodontology and the
Odontographic Society of Chicago.
While he contributed greatly to all of dentistry, his
key role in endodontics were to assist his colleagues in
the formation of the American Association of Endo-
dontists (AAE), serving on many of its committees.
Foremost was his single-handed promotion of and
respect for the speciality of endodontics long before
ENDO (Lond Engl) 2017;11(2):1–26
it was recognised by the American Dental Association.
Referred to by many as the “Dean of Endodontics”, Dr
Coolidge was known throughout the dental world for
his in-depth and meaningful publications, which reaf-
firmed the value of the biological basis of treatment and
the goal of tooth retention. He published many articles
on periodontics and endodontics, while authoring the
following texts; Clinical Pathology and Treatment of
the Dental Pulp and Periodontal Tissues, Endodontia,
Periodontology, Periodontia and Textbook of Endo-
dontology. He was elected as an Honorary President of
the AAE in 1959 – and was known in dental circles as
a true gentleman and ambassador for dentistry – truly
a man for all seasons. Dr Louis I. Grossman described
Dr Coolidge as the following: “Edgar D. Coolidge was
an inspiration to both the younger and older members
of the dental profession. He was tall and straight of
stature with snow-white hair covering his intelligent-
looking head; a truly distinguished-looking person. He
was a father image to many. His domain of learn-
ing and teaching was not only endodontics, but also
periodontics; he was paramount in both fields. Edgar
was very helpful during the organisation period of the
AAE when two groups with the same purpose in mind
nearly clashed with each other. He helped to steer the
two into unison and thereby avoided a dichotomy.
Edgar was always kind, gentle and helpful – a true
example of a gentleman and a scholar”1.
Since 1969 the AAE has named its highest award
to recognise a member who exhibits leadership and
exemplary dedication to dentistry and endodontics
in honour of Dr Coolidge, with Dr Coolidge being its
first recipient, albeit posthumously.
„„ References
1. American Association of Endodontists History: 1943-1993,
AAE, Chicago. www.aae.org
„„ Selected Publications/
Contributions
Coolidge E. Anatomy of the root apex in relation of treatment
problems. J Am Dental Assoc 1929;16:1456–1465.
Coolidge ED. Objectives of the American Association of Endo-
dontists. J Endodontia 1946;1:3–6.
Coolidge ED. Past and present concepts in endodontics. J Am
Dent Assoc 1960;61:676–688.
 Gutmann and Manjarres   Pioneers in Endodontics – United States of America
„„ Levitt E. Custer 1863 – 1924
Dr Levitt Ellsworth Custer was born on June 18,
1863, in Perrysville, Ohio. His father, Isaac Newton
Custer, was a dentist. He attended public schools in
New Philadelphia and Westerville before entering
Otterbein University, from which he graduated in
1884. Custer was an avid and accomplished musi-
cian, playing on a river circus band travelling from
Cincinnati to New Orleans, which gave him the
financial resources to attend college. He used his
musical talents to teach music at the Boys’ Industrial
Farm at Lancaster, prior to entering the Ohio College
of Dental Surgery in 1885.
He had an illustrious career at dental school, hav-
ing written an exemplary examination that earned
him a scholarship for his final year and graduating
with two gold medals, one for the best examination
and the other for his attainments in mechanical
dentistry. Although he began his dental practice in
Springfield, Ohio, in 1887, he became more enam-
oured with the making of an electric engine and
other appliances that he used in his practice. He
attributed his success in dentistry to observing the
fundamental principle of any enterprise, namely
strict attention to business. For Custer, this included
paying avid attention to current literature, attend-
ance at dental meetings and familiarising himself
with all the new developments in dentistry that
might impact on the quality of his patients’ treat-
ment. To this end, he continued to “experiment
with electricity at all odd moments”, noting that as
his experience with all phases of dentistry increased
and his experimentation advanced, so did his pro-
cedural fees.
Custer’s philosophy of treatment would fit per-
fectly into the present-day movements of mini-
mally invasive procedures and tooth preservation.
n9
His philosophy was amazing, as the theory of focal
infection was about to be cast into the minds of all
dentists, with tooth extraction becoming the modus
operandi.
In 1918 Levitt Ellsworth Custer published an
article in the Journal of the National Dental Associ-
ation (a precursor to the present day Journal of the
American Dental Association) in the midst of the
conflagrations of focal infection. In this publication
Custer identified a more precise method for meas-
uring the position of the apical foramen.
His electrical method was based upon the differ-
ence in the electrical conductivity of a dry pulp canal
or one filled with a non-conducting liquid, and the
conductivity of the tissues just beyond the apical
foramen. Custer’s concepts were simple; the pulp
canal and contents being either a non-conductor
or a poor conductor will contrast very sharply with
the normal conductivity of the tissues surrounding
the apex of the root so that under proper electrical
arrangement we can detect the instant a broach
for instance passed through the apical foramen,
more quickly and accurately than can be indicated
by the patient.
„„ Selected Publications/
Contributions
1. Spencer EJ. Dr L. E. Custer – Dedicated to his profession.
Ohio St Dent J 1964;38:28–31.
2. Custer LE. Electricity in dental practice. The Dent Brief
2011;16:1-10.
3. http://www.libraries.wright.edu/community/outofthe-
box/2012/12/21/levitt-luzern-custer-inventions/ Accessed
05/05/2016.
4. Custer LE. Exact methods of locating the apical foramen.
J Natl Dent Assoc. 1918;5:815–819.
ENDO (Lond Engl) 2017;11(2):1–26
10 n Gutmann and Manjarres   Pioneers in Endodontics – United States of America
„„ W. Clyde Davis 1866 – 1950
W. Clyde Davis was born in Byron, Illinois, in 1866,
the son of the Reverend D. S. Davis, a Methodist
minister. Early in his life the family moved to York,
Nebraska, where he was mainly educated, graduat-
ing with a B.S. degree from York College in 1877. He
received his DDS in 1892 from the University of Iowa
before his relocation to Lincoln, Nebraska.
Dr Davis served as a part-time lecturer in the
early 1890s at the Omaha Dental College, while
continuing his professional education receiving
an MD in 1898 and an MA in 1921. He founded
the Lincoln Dental College in 1899 and ultimately
became affiliated with the University of Nebraska,
using its science courses to support dental educa-
tion. During World War I the University of Nebraska
purchased the private portion of his dental college,
where he was Dean until 1922 when he went to
work for the Caulk Dental Manufacturing Company
in Delaware. His intent at that time was to secure the
company’s support in the formation of a postgradu-
ate programme in endodontics. Being unsuccessful,
he returned to private practice in Lincoln after a year
and retired in 1949.
Highlighting his professional achievements and
their impact on endodontics were his publication
the “Essentials of Operative Dentistry” in 19111,
which at that time included the entire endodontic
curriculum. His book was adopted by many schools
as the Bible of operative dentistry and ended up
with five editions. His record of publications was
exemplary and vast2. Furthermore, in cooperation
with John Hospers, of Chicago, the two laid the
foundation for the organisation of the American
Association of Endodontists (AAE). He met with
the original 19 members of the organising commit-
tee in Chicago in 1943 and was appointed chair-
man of the committee. Ultimately, once the AAE
ENDO (Lond Engl) 2017;11(2):1–26
was formed, he was elected as its first president.
Moreover, his activities in organised dentistry were
widely diverse and influential.
Always an educator, Dr Davis sought to estab-
lish an advanced education programme in endo-
dontics, despite scant acceptance of this area of
dentistry. Dr Davis’s keen interest in endodontics
developed early in his career, remaining a stalwart
champion in using endodontics to preserve the
human dentition. Dr Davis lived through a period
of great development in the dental profession and
assisted in advancing endodontics as a science
of dentistry. As a devotee and a promulgator of
endodontic philosophies, he fought diligently over
the years to establish this mode of treatment as
opposed to wholesale extraction. His impact on
many interested students resulted in the formation
of W. Clyde Davis Study Club devoted to advanc-
ing knowledge in all aspects of dentistry with spe-
cial emphasis on endodontics. Dr Davis became
the director of this club, which remained a viable
organisation for more than 40 years until, on Feb-
ruary 18, 1977, endodontists from Nebraska and
Iowa met to organise an endodontic study club and
chose to name their organisation “The W. Clyde
Davis Endodontic Study Group”.
Dr Davis’s philosophy on dental education and
dental education practice was best expressed in
a hand-written note found in a copy of his book
Operative Dentistry. The note reads simply: “good
enough is not good”. It was his desire and com-
mitment to excellence, expressed in this note, that
motivated Dr Davis and allowed him to become an
inspirational leader in dental education, endodon-
tics and the dental profession.
„„ References
1. Davis WC. ‘Essentials of Operative Dentistry’ C.V. Mosby
Co, St. Louis, 1911.
2. Taintor JF, Ross PN. W. Clyde Davis - leader in endodontics.
J Endod 1977;3:165–166.
 Gutmann and Manjarres   Pioneers in Endodontics – United States of America
„„ John Nutting Farrar 1839 – 1913
Dr Farrar is often referred to as the Father of Amer-
ican Orthodontics, as his publication on movement
of teeth using intermittent forces in 1876 is consid-
ered as the first paper published about the move-
ment of teeth. However, he is also associated with
surgical endodontics, in particular in the use of sur-
gical trephination to manage alveolar abscesses1.
He attended the Academy of Pepperell in Pep-
perell, Massachusetts, for two years, after which he
joined a private school in Elmira, New York, where
he studied mathematics, astronomy and geology.
Dr Farrar attained his DDS degree from the Penn-
sylvania College of Dental Surgery. He eventually
returned to Philadelphia to pursue his MD degree,
which he attained in 1874 from Thomas Jeffer-
son University. He then began teaching Operative
Dentistry at the Pennsylvania College of Dental
Surgery. His work on treating the alveolar abscess
was eventually published in Dental Cosmos in
18802. He started teaching at the Baltimore Col-
lege of Dental Surgery where he stayed for more
than 20 years. During his lifetime, he was a mem-
ber of the First District Dental Society of New York,
the Brooklyn Dental Society and the Odontological
Society of New York. After 1875, Dr Farrar became
the leading writer on the topic of Irregularities of
Teeth1.
In the management of alveolar abscesses, Far-
rar had questioned the use of apical trephination
through the root canal and felt that drilling through
the alveolar cortical bone with a drill of consider-
able size to permit both drainage and the cutting
away of diseased tissue would be most beneficial.
Additionally, in cases of true necrosis of the pulp
and with a root sitting in the necrotic milieu, he
felt that the root should also be removed; in some
cases the entire root, in others only a root-end
n 11
resection, because he claimed that the diseased
portions were useless3. When reviewing his com-
ments on the procedure, he had more than 11 years
of experimental “ups and downs” using just pallia-
tive management of the abscess and nine years of
root-end or full root resection3. He is often cited as
a visionary for surgical endodontics as being one of
the first to not only remove the entire root when
surrounded by periodontal disease (pyorrhea), but
also to make the clinical distinction when merely
root-end resection was the procedure of choice.
In his latter years his love of orthodontics flour-
ished and he published a significant work that the-
orised that pressure moved teeth4. As one of the
pioneers in the practice of orthodontics, he estab-
lished viable concepts that have withstood the
test of time. His was a broader outlook on which
the mechanics of the treatment was dependent
on basic scientific information concerning the ana-
tomic and physiologic characteristics of the teeth
and jaw5. However, not to be limited to just root
surgery or orthodontics, he also invented a water
meter, a screw-acting syringe and a specific tube
for treating the antrum through the nares.
„„ References
1. Truman J. John Nutting Farrar, M.D., D.D.S.; His life and
work. J Allied Dental Societies 1913;8:198–209.
2. Farrar JN. Radical treatment of alveolar abscess. Dent Cos-
mos 1880; 22:376–383.
3. Farrar JN. Radical and heroic treatment of alveolar abscess
by amputation of roots of teeth. Dent Cosmos 1884;
26:79–81.
4. Farrar JN. A Treatise on the Irregularities of the Teeth and
Their Correction: Including with the Author’s Practice, Other
Current Methods. 1889, New York, NY, De Vinne Press.
5. Asbell MB. John Nutting Farrar 1839 - 1913. Am J Orthod
Dentofac Orthoped 1998;14:602.
ENDO (Lond Engl) 2017;11(2):1–26
12 n Gutmann and Manjarres   Pioneers in Endodontics – United States of America
„„ Bernhard Gottlieb 1885 – 1950
Physician and dentist Dr Bernhard Gottlieb was
born in 1885 in Kúty, Galacia (later Czechoslova-
kia). He received his doctor of medicine degree
from the University of Vienna and a doctorate in
medical dentistry from the University of Bonn. He
belonged to a group of Viennese scientists who
originated periodontics, orthodontics, paedodon-
tics, endodontics, and oral surgery1. In the 1930s
he began to address in the European sector, on root
canal treatment in teeth with a vital pulp (Wurzel-
kanalbehandlung bei lebender Pulpa; Tratamiento
de raices en dientes con pulpas vivas; Le traite-
ment de canaux à pulpe vivante). Following his
move to the United States he ultimately settled in
Texas in the position of professor and head of the
Department of Pathology and Research at Bay-
lor College of Dentistry. He wrote many scientific
articles and textbooks and is responsible for the
beginnings of oral histology as a distinct scientific
discipline within dentistry. His initial investigations
focused on the periodontium and resorptive activ-
ity identified during orthodontic treatment. How-
ever, his continued research interests, which are
rarely highlighted, focused on teeth and pulps that
had undergone trauma and teeth that presented
with necrotic pulps. Moreover his most important
legacy may lie in his establishing the foundation
for tissue engineering within dentistry through his
research on the impact of hard tissue elements,
such as bone, dentine and cementum on the for-
mation of new tissues (regeneration). As stated
by Dr Gottlieb: “This seems to be the goal for
which science should strive in endodontia”. He is
definitely responsible for the evolutionary devel-
opment and impact as it relates to the biology of
contemporary endodontology. In general terms his
scientific and clinical efforts impacted greatly on2:
ENDO (Lond Engl) 2017;11(2):1–26
• Present day concepts of tissue engineering (re-
generation);
• An in-depth understanding of the carious process
and pulpal response;
• Expanded concepts on root canal irrigation
methodologies
• Disinfection of the root canal and dentinal
tubules;
• The biological assessment of our procedures and
their outcomes;
• Histopathological investigations of pulpal and
periapical disease; and tissue responses to treat-
ment modalities;
• A reinforcement of clinical asepsis in the fight
against focal infection and tooth retention via
root canal procedures;
• Using the scientific method to solve clinical prob-
lems.
In 1981, he was the first individual recognised in
the newly established Baylor College of Dentistry
(presently known as Texas A&M University College
of Dentistry) Hall of Fame, with a plaque honouring
his memory. The global endodontic community owes
Dr Bernhard Gottlieb a tremendous vote of gratitude
for his contributions to the contemporary biologic
concepts of endodontology.
„„ References
1. Kremenak NW, Squier CA. Pioneers in oral biology:
the migration of Gottlieb, Kronfeld, Orban, Weinmann
and Sicher from Vienna to America. Crit Rev Oral Biol.
1997;8:108–128.
2. Gutmann JL. Bernhard Gottlieb’s impact on contempor-
ary endodontology. J Hist Dent 2013;61:85–106. Erratum
2013;61:128.
„„ Selected Publications/
Contributions
Gottlieb B, Orban B. Biology and Pathology of the Tooth and
its Supporting Mechanism New York - The MacMillan Co.
1938.
Gottlieb B. Dentistry in Individual Phases: I. Treatment of Root
Canals. Monograph. Tel Aviv – Haaretz Press 1938, 1940
(English).
Gottlieb, B, Barren S, Crook H.. Endodontia St. Louis – The C.V.
Mosby Co. 1950.
 Gutmann and Manjarres   Pioneers in Endodontics – United States of America
„„ Louis I. Grossman 1901–1988
Often referred to as the father of modern endodon-
tics, Dr Louis I. Grossman was born in 1901 in the
Ukraine. He emigrated to the USA (Philadelphia)
with his family, graduating from South Philadelphia
High School in 1919 and receiving his dental degree
from the University of Pennsylvania in 1923. Fur-
thering his education, he earned a doctorate in medi-
cal dentistry at the University of Rostock in 19281.
In 1926 he joined the faculty of the University
of Pennsylvania School of Dentistry and served as
the head of Endodontics. Upon retirement he was
recognised as Professor Emeritus in Oral Medicine,
although he continued to contribute to the teach-
ing of endodontics for almost another 20 years.
Dr Grossman’s contributions were many, includ-
ing the founding of the Philadelphia Root Canal
Study Club in 1939 in an era that was seeing the
wholesale extraction of teeth, based on the theory
of focal infection. The Philadelphia Root Canal
Study Club may have been the genesis for creating
a national association of dentists interested in root
canal therapy1. Alongside several other influential
dentists in 1943, Grossman began organising the
American Root Therapy Association. At the Chicago
Dental Society meeting, 19 dentists from across the
country met and the American Association of Endo-
dontists (AAE) was officially formed (Fig 2).
By June 1944, there were 215 members from the
USA and 33 members from 25 foreign countries who
had a keen interest in saving teeth through the use
of root canal procedures2, an initiative strongly influ-
enced and supported by Dr Louis I. Grossman. His
text “Root Canal Therapy”, first published in 1940
and presently in its 13th edition, was the bible of
endodontics for decades. It brought together a rich
history of the development of the speciality along
with current thought and research at that time that
n 13
Fig 2  Sign-in sheet
for the meeting to
establish the AAE in
1943 (Courtesy of the
American Association of
Endodontists).
fostered greatly the development of the endodon-
tics.
Dr Grossman was an honorary member, Associ-
ation of Licentiates in Dental Surgery and University
Dentists of Belgium; Montreal Endodontia Society;
Vancouver Endodontic Study Club; Brazilian Dental
Association; Dental Association of Medellin (Colom-
bia); and Japanese Endodontic Association. In 1953,
he was the driving force behind the first International
Conference on Endodontics and the subsequent four
international conferences that were held at the Uni-
versity of Pennsylvania every five years hence, in
addition to presenting at the conferences and edit-
ing the proceedings. Dr Grossman’s influence in the
development of endodontics in South America is
highly noteworthy (See Pioneers – South & Central
America earlier in this issue).
„„ References
1. Louis I. Grossman papers relating to the Philadelphia Root
Canal Study Club and the American Association of Endo-
dontists, 1939–1981, Ms. Coll. 1177, Kislak Center for
Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University
of Pennsylvania.
2. Directory of Members and Constitution and By-Laws of the
American Association of Endodontists, June 1944.
ENDO (Lond Engl) 2017;11(2):1–26
14 n Gutmann and Manjarres   Pioneers in Endodontics – United States of America
234%
Fig 3   Dr Ingle (right) passing the presidential gavel as the
Immediate past President to the incoming officers of the AAE.
Left to right – Drs Dudley Glick, I.B. Bender, Samuel Patter-
son, John F. Bucher and E.C. Van Valey (incoming President).
(Courtesy of the American Association of Endodontists).
„„ Significant Publications/
Contributions
Grossman, Louis I. ‘ History of the Philadelphia Root Canal Study
Club: 1939,’ Journal of Endodontics, Special Issue, January
1981, Volume 8, pages 41-42.
Grossman LI. Root Canal Therapy. Philadelphia (Lea & Febiger)
& London (Henry Kimpton) 1940.
Grossman LI. Treatment of periapical infections by conservative
methods. J Amer Dent Assoc 1934;1669–1974.
Grossman LI. Bacteriologic examination of pulpless teeth before
filling root canals. J Amer Dent Assoc 1938;25:774–776.
Grossman LI. Treatment of infected pulpless teeth with penicillin.
J Amer Dent Assoc 1948;37:141–148.
Grossman LI. Methods of teaching endodontics at the under-
graduate level. J Dent Educ 1958;22:128–136.
Grossman LI. Intentional replantation of teeth. J Amer Dent
Assoc 1966;72:1111–1118.
Grossman LI, Oliet S. Correlation of clinical diagnosis and bacte-
riologic status of symptomatically involved pulps. Oral Surg
1968;25:235–238.
Grossman LI. Guidelines for the prevention of fracture of root
canal instruments. Oral Surg 1969;28:746–752.
„„ John I Ingle 1919 –
John Ide Ingle was born in Colville, Washington,
where he attended Washington State University
from 1936 to 1938. In 1942 he graduated from
Northwestern University Dental School, followed by
ENDO (Lond Engl) 2017;11(2):1–26
service in the US Army until 1946. From 1947 to
1948 he attended the University of Michigan and
received an MSD degree.
Following his graduate education he became an
Assistant Professor in Periodontology at the Uni-
versity of Washington from 1948 to 1951, finally
achieving Full Professorship in 1957. Ultimately he
became chairman of the joint Department of Peri-
odontics and Endodontics in 1956 until he left to
become the Dean and Professor of Periodontics and
Endodontics at the University of Southern California
School of Dentistry.
Dr Ingle has been a member of many important
and impacting organisations throughout the full
range of dentistry. Likewise he published many arti-
cles in the realm of periodontology and endodontics,
including his revolutionary approach to instrument
standardisation1 and this textbook entitled Endo-
dontics2, which is currently being published in its
7th edition.
Over the years Dr Ingle was extensively involved
in the leadership of the American Association of
Endodontists (AAE), including providing numerous
essays, clinics and chairmanship of committees. He
served as the Treasurer, Vice-President and as Presi-
dent of the AAE in 1966 (Fig 3) Furthermore, in
recent years John has continued to provide the AAE
and other organisations with a sense of the history
of the speciality and how it was integrated into all
aspects of dentistry.
„„ References
1. Ingle JI. The need for uniformity in root canal instruments
and equipment. Transactions of the Second International
Conference on Endodontics, University of Pennsylvania
1958:123–143.
2. Ingle JI. Endodontics. Lea & Febiger, Philadelphia 1965.
 Gutmann and Manjarres   Pioneers in Endodontics – United States of America
„„ Elmer Jasper 1897 – 1963
Elmer Jasper was born and raised in the city of
St Louis, Missouri. He received his early educa-
tion there, graduating from St Louis University and
subsequently, its dental school in 1918. Most of
his professional career was spent in education at
Washington University in St Louis, the University
of Tennessee, Marquette University, St Louis Uni-
versity and the University of Illinois. He was a Dip-
lomate of the American Board of Periodontology
and a founding member or the American Associ-
ation of Endodontists (AAE), of which he became
President in 1949. He was never able to become a
Diplomate of the American Board of Endodontics
because he suffered a heart attack while delivering
a presentation at the AAE meeting in the spring
of 1963 and Endodontics and its Diplomate Board
was to be recognised as a speciality within the
coming year.
Historically he is remembered for his contribu-
tion to root canal obturation vis a vis the silver
cone1. He was not the first to recommend the use
of the silver cone to obturate root canals, however,
he standardised and introduced silver cones that
were the same diameter and taper as the root canal
instruments2. For years the obturation of small,
tortuous and curved canals with silver cones was
advocated. The outcome of this technique had
mixed results for a number of reasons, consisting
of placement of this filling material in canals that
were not thoroughly cleaned, to overextensions
and ultimately to corrosion of the cones when in
contact with tissue fluids. However, a large number
of cases were also successful, which was highly
dependent on the skill and expertise of the clin-
ician.
n 15
„„ References
1. Jasper EA. The pulpless tooth. Dent Cosmos 1931;73:786–791.
2. Jasper EA. Root-canal therapy in modern dentistry. Dent
Cosmos 1933;75:823–829.
„„ Harry B. Johnston 1880 – 1953
A Southern gentleman who preached the practice of
endodontics with zeal, Dr Harry B. Johnston was a
stalwart in opposing the concept of focal infection.
He was so bold that he hung his shingle (sign adver-
tising a dentist) as being “Endodontia Exclusively”,
limiting his practice only to endodontia! In fact he
is given credit for coining that word (as opposed to
Root Surgeons or Rootodontists, which had been
recommended in 1943 in Chicago at the first meet-
ing of the soon-to-be-formed American Association
of Endodontists), which was to be changed shortly
to endodontics, and he was identified in his day as
the world’s only limited practitioner of endodontics.
However, the very first journal published by the
American Association of Endodontists was named
the Journal of Endodontia1. Dr Johnston preferred
to treat teeth using an ionization method, i.e. a
method by which an electric current was passed
through an iodine solution in the root canal. In
doing so he impacted greatly on the practice of sav-
ing teeth in the southern part of the USA where he
practised, and his achievements in this regard gave
him worldwide recognition. His real endodontic
identity was highlight by hundreds of radiographs
showing filled accessory canals, using his method of
obturation – the Johnston-Callahan method.
Dr Johnston was born in Blacksburg, Virginia,
and at the age of 12 his family moved to Atlanta,
Georgia. In his early career, he worked in the news-
paper business. He did not start dental school until
the age of 33 at the Atlanta Dental College, which
ENDO (Lond Engl) 2017;11(2):1–26
16 n Gutmann and Manjarres   Pioneers in Endodontics – United States of America
became the Atlanta-Southern Dental College in
1917, before becoming part of Emory University.
He was president and valedictorian of his class in
1916 and awarded the Gold Key of Excellence. Key
to his development as an endodontist was his as-
sociation with Dr Thomas Hinman. In 1925 he was
awarded the Hinman Research Medal by the Geor-
gia Dental Society.
„„ References
1. Grossman LI. Pioneers in Endodontics. J Endod 1987;13:
409–415.
„„ Significant Publications/
Contributions
Johnston HB. Filling pulp canals by diffusion dots on opening
canals ionization with Churchill’s tincture of iodin. Dent Sum
1922;42:667–674.
Johnston HB, Orban B. Interradicular pathology as related to
accessory root canals. J Endodontia 1948;3;21–25.
Johnston, H.B. The principle of diffusion applied to the Callahan
method of pulp canal filling. Dent Summary 1923;43:743.
Johnston HB. The possibilities of the Callahan method. J Amer
Dent Assoc 1921;8:87–96.
Johnston HB. A definite treatment of periapical infection. J Amer
Dent Assoc 1921;8:97–101.
Johnston HB. Pulp canal filling and ionization results. Dent Cos-
mos 1922;64:574–580.
„„ Rudoph Kronfeld 1901 – 1940
Dr Kronfeld was born on December 10, 1901, in
Vienna, Austria, where he attended primary and sec-
ondary schools. He graduated from the University of
Vienna with an MD degree in 1926, allowing him to
practise dentistry, which was considered a speciality of
medicine. Very early in his dental pursuits he became
intensely interested in research and became part of
ENDO (Lond Engl) 2017;11(2):1–26
a world-famous coterie of researchers1 surrounding
Bernhard Gottlieb (See Gottlieb in Pioneers); a group
that ultimately migrated to the USA. Dr Kronfeld came
to Chicago to become the director of the Research
Department at the Chicago College of Dental Surgery
(later to become the Loyola University School of Den-
tistry). There he was the youngest professor in his late
20s and was the Head of Dental Histopathology, hav-
ing learned his skills in Gottlieb’s lab in Vienna. To solid-
ify his position and establish credibility within the den-
tal educational system of the USA, he completed his
didactic and clinical requirements for his DDS, awarded
in 1933. Furthermore, to enhance his academic prow-
ess he completed a BS degree in 1935.
Dr Kronfeld published the first edition of his text-
book, “Histopathology of the Teeth and Their Surround-
ing Structures”, in 19332. It was quickly acclaimed as
an unusually clear and authoritative exposition and was
adopted by scientific organisations and dental school
throughout the USA. In 1937 he published his “Dental
Histology and Comparative Dental Anatomy” text3,
followed by the second edition of his first textbook in
1939. Over and above these endeavours, he wrote
numerous articles and provided innumerable lectures
at dental association meetings.
Dr Kronfeld was extremely active in a wide range of
dental societies. Besides being a teacher, researcher and
practitioner, he was devoted to several hobbies, such
as philology, botany, horticulture, photography and ski-
ing. His contributions to endodontics were numerous
and important, from defining the wide range of resorp-
tive defects found in teeth, to the histopathology and
diagnosis of the dental pulp and periapical tissues, to
the pathologic process in the periodontium, to issues
and challenges in root canal procedures. His histologi-
cal specimens and documentations were superb, pro-
viding the dental profession with details, both normal
and pathological, regarding the teeth and supporting
structures. He addressed tissue changes during and fol-
lowing orthodontic and endodontic procedures. Pos-
sibly most important though was his leadership role in
research and the future development of such, espe-
cially at a time when the conflagrations of the Focal
Infection Theory were still impacting daily on clinical
practice. Sadly, his life was cut short at the age of 39,
and a true gentleman who had exceptional gifts and
an impeccable international repute was lost from the
future vision of dentistry and endodontics.
 Gutmann and Manjarres   Pioneers in Endodontics – United States of America
„„ References
1. Kremenak NW, Squier CA. Pioneers in oral biology:
the migration of Gottlieb, Kronfeld, Orban, Weinmann
and Sicher from Vienna to America. Crit Rev Oral Biol.
1997;8:108–128.
2. Kronfeld R. Histopathology of the Teeth and Their Surround-
ing Structures. Lea & Febiger, Philadelphia, 1933.
3. Kronfeld R. Dental Histology and Comparative Dental
Anatomy. Lea & Febiger, Philadelphia, 1937.
„„ Significant Publications/
Contributions
Kronfeld R. ‘Zur Frage der Wurzelspitzenamputation.’ Z Stoma-
tol. 1928;26:1105–1122.
Kronfeld R. The importance of normal and pathologic
time changes to the pyorrhea problem. Dent Cosmos
1931;73:777–779.
Kronfeld R. The resorption of the roots of deciduous teeth. Dent
Cosmoa 1932;74:103–120.
„„ Kaare Langeland 1916 – 2007
173%
Born in Norway, Dr Langeland received his Doctor of
Dental Surgery degree from the Norwegian Dental
School in Oslo in 1942. Dr Langeland was a member
of the Norwegian Underground Army. In 1935 he
enrolled in the Royal Norwegian Horse Artillery for
officers’ training that prepared him for his role dur-
ing the war period of 1940 to 1945 when Norway
was occupied by Nazi Germany. During this time, Dr
Langeland devoted all his efforts to defending his
beloved Norway. He was honourably discharged as
a 1st Lieutenant in September 1945 and the Norwe-
gian state honoured him with the Norwegian War
Medal with star for his outstanding service to Nor-
way during the occupation.
After the war Dr Langeland returned to den-
tal practice and research and took on a part-time,
assistant professorship in restorative dentistry at
n 17
the Norwegian State Dental School, a position he
held until 1963. Together with other colleagues
interested in research, most notably Dr Birger
Nygaard-Østby (see Schäfer E & Hülsmann M in
this issue), a private research institute – the Nor-
wegian Research Institute was formed in Oslo in
1952. Here Dr Langeland began what has become
the most influential work in the field of pulp biol-
ogy. The title of his PhD thesis, published by Oslo
University Press in 1957, was “Tissue changes in
the dental pulp: An experimental histologic study”,
Dental pulp histology is technically difficult and
until then pulp histopathology was filled with
numerous flaws. Dr Langeland developed the area
of pulp histopathology by researching reliable pro-
cedures for objective assessment of pulp biological
processes. This opened up an area of biomaterials
and pathological research previously impossible.
Dr Langeland became the leading researcher in
the field of pulp biology for many years and his
investigative efforts spanned multiple dental spe-
cialties, including periodontics, prosthodontics and
endodontics.
In 1963 Dr Langeland became associate pro-
fessor and chairman of the Department of Oral
Histology at the State University of New York in
Buffalo. The following year he was promoted to
Professor of Oral Biology at the School of Den-
tistry and later at the Graduate School at Buf-
falo. In 1969, Dr Langeland moved to Connecticut
and became Professor of General Dentistry at the
new School of Dental Medicine. A year later, he
became the first Professor and Head of the new
Department of Endodontics at the University of
Connecticut. Under his leadership excellent pro-
grammes in endodontics were developed at the
university. He retired and was appointed Professor
Emeritus in 1987.
(Note: Details on Dr Langeland were excerpted
and edited from his obituary, as written by Dr Lars
Spangberg and published as: In Memoriam: Dr
Kaare Langeland DDS, PhD, Oral Surg Oral Med
Oral Pathol Oral Radiol and Endod, 104:417.)
ENDO (Lond Engl) 2017;11(2):1–26
18 n Gutmann and Manjarres   Pioneers in Endodontics – United States of America
„„ Significant Publications/
Contributions
Langeland D, Langeland LK. Pulp reactions to crown prepar-
ation, impression, temporary crown fixation and permanent
cementation. J Prosthet Dent. 1965;15:129–143.
Langeland K. The histopathologic basis in endodontic treatment.
Dent Clin North Am. 1967;11:491–520.
Langeland K, Langeland LK. Indirect capping and the treatment
of deep carious lesions. Int Dent J. 1968;18:326–380.
Langeland K. What biologic concepts should be included in a
dental materials course? J Dent Educ. 1970;34:223–227.
Langeland K, Dowden WE, Tronstad L, Langeland LK. Human
pulp changes of iatrogenic origin. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral
Pathol. 1971;32:943–980.
Langeland K, Rodrigues H, Dowden W. Periodontal disease, bac-
teria, and pulpal histopathology. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral
Pathol. 1974;37:257–270.
Langeland K. Correlation of screening tests to usage tests. J
Endod. 1978;4:300–303.
Langeland K. Management of the inflamed pulp associated with
deep carious lesion. J Endod. 1981;7:169–181.
Langeland K. Tissue response to dental caries. Endod Dent Trau-
matol. 1987;3:149–171.
„„ Maury Massler 1912 – 1990
Maury Massler was born in New York City on March
24, 1912. He received his BS from New York Uni-
versity in 1932 and a second BS from the Columbia
University School of Pharmacy. Between 1932 and
1935, Dr Massler worked as a pharmacist in New
York City, and was also employed by the Eli Lilly
Company, performing research in paediatric phar-
macology. While on business in Chicago for Eli Lilly,
he met Dr Issac Schour, who influenced Dr Massler
to pursue a career in dental education and research.
Dr Massler continued his education in Chicago
at the University of Illinois at the School of Dentistry,
where he received his DDS in 1939. During his stud-
ies in dentistry, Dr Massler was a research assistant
in the paediatrics department. Following his gradua-
tion, he took a position as instructor in oral histology
at the University of Illinois College of Dentistry and
ENDO (Lond Engl) 2017;11(2):1–26
was promoted to Associate Professor and Professor
during his tenure. In 1941 he became the Director
of the Child Research Clinic at the Research and
Educational Hospital in Chicago, a position he held
for nine years. In 1946, Dr Massler became Pro-
fessor and Head of Department of Paedodontics, a
department he helped to organise. Dr Massler retired
from the University of Illinois at Chicago College of
Dentistry in 1973 to become the Chairman of Re-
storative Dentistry at Tufts University in Boston. He
retired in 1978, but continued guest lecturing there
until 1981.
During Dr Massler’s long academic career, he
guest lectured and served as consultant to dental
schools throughout the United States, as well as in
Europe, South America, South Africa, India, New
Zealand, Australia and Israel. In 1960, he spent six
months as a Fulbright Scholar in Jerusalem collabo-
rating with faculty members in teacher training and
education, and helped organise academic courses.
A prolific writer, Dr Massler co-authored six text-
books and published more than 700 papers and arti-
cles for scientific journals, many of which dealt with
the dental pulp, both primary and permanent.
Dr Massler was a member of numerous dental
organisations, including the American Dental Organ-
isation, Chicago Dental Society, the International As-
sociation for Dental Research and the American So-
ciety of Dentistry for Children. In 1948, he founded
the American Academy of Pedodontics and served
as Vice President for seven years and for one year
as president.
He played a major role in the development of the
biologic basis of endodontics. In 1970 he organised
and chaired the Workshop on the Biologic Basis of
Endodontic Practice. From there Massler continued
the thrust in both dental education and research
in the “spirit of Balint Orban, Harry Sicher, Joseph
Weinmann, Rudolph Kronfeld and Bernhard Got-
tlieb”, individuals who gave us the biological basis
for dentistry and changed the course of dental edu-
cation and research1. Dr Massler was a beacon for
learning, creative thought and persistent challenge
in attempting to address a wide range of challenges
in both paediatric dentistry and endodontics and
mentoring such individuals as F. James Marshall (See
Pioneers in Endodontics – Canada) and James L.
Gutmann.
 Gutmann and Manjarres   Pioneers in Endodontics – United States of America
In 2013 Isaac Schour and Maury Massler’s article
on the understanding of the human dentition was
chosen to highlight in JADA’s landmark articles series
during the ADA’s 150th anniversary year2. Without
question, Drs Schour and Massler’s research had a
great impact on contemporary thought, research
directions and clinical practice. For his overall efforts
in the support of the biological basis of Endodontics,
Dr Massler was awarded an honorary membership
in the AAE.
„„ References
1. Kremenak NW, Squier C. Pioneers in oral biology: the
migrations of Gottlieb, Kronfeld, Orban, Weinmann and
Sicher from Vienna to America. Crit Rev Oral Biol Med
1997;8:108–128.
2. Messer LB, Till MJ. A landmark report on understanding
the human dentition. J Am Dent Assoc 2013;144:357–361.
(Photo of Dr Massler reproduced by permission for the Uni-
versity of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry).
„„ Willoughby D. Miller 1853 – 1907
136%
Willoughby D. Miller was born in Alexandria, Ohio,
and studied mathematics and physics at the Univer-
sity of Michigan. Following a short period of time
studying in Edinburgh, Scotland, he moved to Ber-
lin. He became interested in his father-in-law’s dental
profession and returned to the United States to study
dentistry. He began his training at the Pennsylvania
Dental College, which subsequently merged with the
University of Pennsylvania in 1878. His was one of
the members of the first graduating class the follow-
ing year. Upon graduation, Miller returned to Berlin
where he worked in his father-in-law’s dental office,
while pursuing his interest in the emerging science
of microbiology. Miller was influenced significantly
by scientists of that era, namely Pasteur, Magitot,
n 19
Underwood and Miles, especially as it related to den-
tal caries.
It was against this background that Miller devel-
oped his oral microbiological research, soon being
appointed Professor of Operative Dentistry at the
University of Berlin. This is where his true accom-
plishments were achieved and his impact on endo-
dontics can be noted.
Miller worked in Robert Koch’s microbiological
laboratory in Berlin (Koch’s Postulates) and began
numerous research projects that introduced modern
biological principles to dentistry1. From 18882 to
18913 he published two seminal articles that identi-
fied gangrenous pulps as possible centres of infection
and the oral cavity as a possible focus of systemic
infection. In the former he proposed the chemo-
parasitic theory of caries (tooth decay), a theory that
held that caries is caused by acids produced by oral
bacteria following fermentation of sugars. Miller
thought that no single species of bacteria could
cause caries. This idea was supplanted in the 1950s
when the role of Streptococcus mutans as a primary
pathogen in caries was established.
With regards to his latter contribution, WD
Miller highlighted the potential for bacteria from
the dental pulp to influence systemic disease pro-
cesses. Miller proposed that oral microorganisms
or their products have a role in the development
of a variety of diseases in sites removed from the
oral cavity, including brain abscesses, pulmonary
diseases and gastric problems. Miller did not sug-
gest removal of teeth to eliminate the infection,
however, but rather advocated treating and filling
root canals. It was not until Frank Billings coined the
phrase “Focal Infection” and William Hunter put
the dagger into the heart of the American dentists,
did advocacy for the complete removal of teeth
became accepted practice4. Over the next 70 years
the concept of oral focal infection gradually lost
credibility in both the medical and dental commu-
nities. However, in the late 1980s epidemiological
studies began to indicate an association between
periodontal disease and coronary artery disease5,6,
and associations with other serious systemic condi-
tions soon followed. Recently, potential associa-
tions with endodontics and the procedures within
its scope have been identified7-9, verifying Miller’s
contributions to the science of endodontology.
ENDO (Lond Engl) 2017;11(2):1–26
20 n Gutmann and Manjarres   Pioneers in Endodontics – United States of America
„„ References
1. Shklar, G; Carranza, FA. The historical background of peri-
odontology. In Newman, MG; Takei, HH; Carrana FA,
editors: Carranza’s Clinical Periodontology, 9th Edition.
Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Company, 2002.
2. Miller WH. Gangrenous tooth-pulps as centers of infection.
Dent Cosmos 1888:30:213–214.
3. Miller WH. The human mouth as a focus of infection. Dent
Cosmos 1891;33:689–706.
4. Gutmann JL. Focal infection revisited - the swinging of the
pendulum Dent Hist 2016 (Submitted for publication).
5. Matilla KJ, Nieminen MS, Valtonen VV et al. Association
between dental health and acute myocardial infarction. Brit
Med J 1989;298:779-781.
6. DeStefano F, Anda RF, Kahn HS, et al. Dental disease
and risk of coronary heart disease. Brit Med J 1993;306:
688–691.
7. Gomes MS, Hugo FN, Hilgert JB, Sant’Ana Filho M, Padilha
DMP, Simonsick EM, Ferrucci L, Reynolds MA. Apical peri-
odontitis and incident cardiovascular events in the Baltimore
longitudinal study of ageing. Int Endod J 2016;49:334–342.
8. Liljestrand JM, Mäntylä P, Paju S, Buhlin K, Kopra KAE,
Persson GR, Hernandez M, Nieminen MS, Sinsalo J, Tjä-
derhane L, Pussinen PJ. Association of endodontic lesions
with coronary artery disease. J Dent Res 2016; July 17, DOI:
10.1177/0022034516660509.
9. Khalighinejad N, Aminoshariae MR, Aminoshariae A, Kulild
JC, Mickel A, Fouad AF. Association between systemic dis-
eases and apical periodontitis. J Endod 2016;42:1427–1434
(Photo of Dr Miller reproduced by permission from the Uni-
versity of Michigan).
„„ Hermann Prinz 1868 – 1957
Dr Prinz was born in Germany and had his early school-
ing in Leipzig, after which he served as an apothecary
while studying pharmacy. In 1889 he moved to the
USA and practised pharmacy until 1892, at which
time he matriculated from the Dental School at the
University of Michigan and graduated with his dental
degree in 1896. The next year he returned to Ger-
many where he taught at the University of Halle, fol-
lowed by a fairly rapid return to the USA where he
studied medicine, receiving his MD in St Louis.
From 1900 to 1913 he served as a Professor of
Materia Medica and Therapeutics at Washington
ENDO (Lond Engl) 2017;11(2):1–26
University in St Louis. The years 1913 to 1914 were
again spent overseas in German universities. On his
return to America he served as Professor of Pharma-
cology at the University of Pennsylvania. In 1912
the University of Michigan conferred on him a Mas-
ter of Arts degree; in 1926 he received a Doctor of
Science degree from the University of Pennsylva-
nia; and in 1929 the degree of Doctor med. dent.
from the University of Cologne. In 1933 Prinz was
made one of the five Honorary Fellows of the Kai-
serlich Leopoldinisch-Carolinian Academy of Natural
Sciences of Halle, Germany, founded in 1652. At
that time he was the only US dentist to receive this
honour, reserved only for those with high scientific
attainment.
Dr Prinz’s contributions to dentistry and endo-
dontics are immense and focus on diagnosis (exten-
sive exposé with multiple articles published in
Dental Cosmos during 1919 and 1920); the phar-
macological management of the dental pulp; and,
the pharmacological management nonsurgical root
canal procedures, in addition the management of
emergencies and surgical procedures. He published
many textbooks and numerous articles that are still
of value today. His work on the diseases of the soft
structures of the teeth and their treatment could eas-
ily be identified as one of the most complete texts
on endodontics – and this was in 1928. There were
multiple editions of the book.
„„ Selected Publications/
Contributions
Prinz H. Drug idolatry in dental medicine. Dent Cosmos
1911;53:1371–1376.
Prinz H. Dental Materia Medica and Therapeutics. The CV
Mosby Co, St. Louis, 1922.
Prinz H. Diseases of the Soft Structures of the Teeth and Their
Treatment. Lea & Febiger, Philadelphia, 1928.
Prinz H. A historical review of the evolution of the therapeu-
tic concept during the last hundred years. Dent Cosmos
1934;76:91–92, 94–95, 97–98, 100–101, 103–105, 106,
108–109.
Prinz H. Diseases of the Mouth and Their Treatment. Lea &
Febiger, Philadelphia, 1935.
Prinz H. Dental Materia Medica and Therapeutics with Special
Reference to the Rational Application of Remedial Measures
to Dental Diseases. A Textbook for Students and Practition-
ers. The CV Mosby Co, St. Louis, 1938.
Prinz H. Dental Chronology. Lea & Febiger, Philadelphia, 1945.
(Photo of Dr Prinz reproduced by permission from the University
of Pennsylvania).
 Gutmann and Manjarres   Pioneers in Endodontics – United States of America
„„ Meyer L. Rhein 1860 – 1928
Dr Meyer L. Rhein had an exclusive practice in New
York City and was known as an excellent practi-
tioner. Like many dentists of his era, he was a strong
advocate of canal ionization for managing bacteria
during root canal procedures. He also advocated the
use of radiographs, as he was one of the few to own
an X-ray machine. He devised the Rhein pick for
opening the root canal orifices, which was popular
with many dentists. He was quite fond of the chlo-
ropercha obturation technique and used it to foster
his concept of “mortarization” of the root apex to
seal off all potential accessory communications in the
presence of a necrotic pulp and periapical lesion. This
consisted of pushing softened gutta-percha out of
the apical foramen so it wrapped around the apical
2-3 mm, theoretically sealing any accessory canals in
that area. As a young clinician he urged the adoption
of root amputation as a surgical cure for recalcitrant
cases of chronic alveolar abscess1,2.
When the Focal Infection Theory began in the
early 1900s, he was quite outspoken in favour of
tooth retention, while admonishing his colleagues
who chose to perform wholesale tooth extraction
when a pulpless tooth with a periapical lesion was
identified; or for that matter even a tooth with a
questionable diagnosis3.
„„ Selected Publications/
Contributions
1. Rhein ML. Cure of acute and chronic alveolar abscess. Dent
Items Int 1897;19:688–702.
2. Rhein ML. ‘Amputation of roots as a radical cure in chronic
alveolar abscess. Dent Cosmos 1890;32:904–905.
3. Rhein ML. Oral sepsis. Dent Cosmos 1912;54:529–534.
n 21
„„ William Herbert Rollins 1852 – 1929
Dr Rollins was a dentist in Boston who was a pio-
neer in oral and maxillofacial radiology, and became
known as the Father of Radiation Protection. He
graduated from Harvard Medical and Dental School.
In July 1896, eight months after Roentgen’s discov-
ery, he designed, made, used and published a descrip-
tion of an intra-oral cassette and oral fluoroscope. In
1898, while working with X-rays, he suffered severe
burns to his hand, and subsequently published more
that 200 articles on radiation effects and safety.
Included in his warnings about radiation safety he
recommended the use of leaded glasses and that the
body be covered with a radiopaque shield.
Dr Rollins was a very creative professional who
developed many useful tools for dentistry. He was
not keen on patents and during his creative efforts
developed what is thought to be the first meaningful
engine-driven handpiece for use exclusively to man-
age small root canals (Fig 4)
He employed a modern swaging machine, “which
was capable of delivering on one of his (metallic)
blanks for my little pulp-canal instruments ten thou-
sand blows a minute, forming it into the required taper
and leaving it stiff, tough and sufficiently hard”1.
The description of his handpiece demonstrates
his amazing creativity:
“The hand-piece is arranged to attach by a sliding
joint to some form of the Bonwill wrist-joint, which
is the only satisfactory connecting link between the
motive power and the revolving instrument used in
dentistry. The object of the construction shown is
to make a small instrument, which will not occupy
valuable space in the mouth and will run at a slow
speed. The worm gear naturally adapts itself to
these conditions, so I have used it for the first time
in a dental hand-piece. It is usually possible to run a
dental engine as slowly as half speed, about twelve
ENDO (Lond Engl) 2017;11(2):1–26
22 n Gutmann and Manjarres   Pioneers in Endodontics – United States of America
Fig 4  The first rotary
handpiece with custom
made rotary root canal
files. (Reproduced from
Rollins WH. Dental
Notes. Note I. Small
root canals. Int Dent J
1899;20:433–436).
hundred revolutions a minute. This enables the pulp-
canal handpiece point to turn only on hundred times
a minute, at which speed a fine instrument, properly
made, should not break, if it is new”1.
In addition to his contribution to endodontics
of the first engine-driven handpiece for root canal
enlarging and shaping, he may very well have been
the first professional to warn other dentists about
the following: “I mention a practice which years of
experience have shown to be sound – that of never
using any pulp instrument in more than one tooth1”
– a portend to contemporary root canal procedures
and practices?
Sadly, many of his contributions to dentistry and
endodontics had not been highlighted sufficiently,
which prompted Dr A.P.S. Sweet to write about Rol-
lins as “Dentistry’s Forgotten Man”2.
„„ References
1. Rollins WH. Dental Notes. Note I. Small root-canals. Int
Dent J 1899;20:433–436.
2. Sweet APS. William Herbert Rollins, D.D.S., M.D. – Den-
tistry’s Forgotten Man. Dent Radiol Pathol 1960;33:3–20.
(Photo of Dr Rollins reproduced by permission for the
American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology).
ENDO (Lond Engl) 2017;11(2):1–26
„„ Herbert Schilder 1928 – 2006
Herbert Schilder grew up in Brooklyn, New York, and
received his DDS from New York University and his
certificate of advanced graduate study from Temple
University. He taught at Tufts University and Temple
University prior to permanently joining Boston Uni-
versity in 1959.
A member of the Boston University faculty, he
became a professor and the chairman of the endo-
dontics department in 1963. He retired in 2003. In
his early years after joining Boston University, he
founded the speciality programme in endodontics
to educate dentists to train in this field. He also
described a new technique to fill root canals, now
known as “Schilder’s warm gutta-percha vertical
compaction technique”, which is used by many
endodontic programmes today.
Dr Schilder is regarded by many as a leader
and innovator in the speciality because of his influ-
ence in creating an appreciation of the relation-
ship between anatomy and its role in the treat-
ment of endodontic pathology. For many dentists,
his “Rationale of Endodontics” lecture was the
first time that they truly understood the relation-
ship between the anatomy, biology and etiology of
endodontic disease.
He served as President of the American Asso-
ciation of Endodontists (AAE) and of the Massa-
chusetts Dental Society. He was also the first Vice
President of the American Dental Association. In
1995 he received the AAE’s highest honour, the
Edgar D. Coolidge Award. The following year he
was honoured with the Louis I. Grossman Award.
Furthermore, his intense commitment to endodon-
tics had him serving on both the American Board of
Endodontics and the AAE Foundation.
 Gutmann and Manjarres   Pioneers in Endodontics – United States of America
„„ Selected Publications/
Contributions
Schilder H. Filling root canals in three dimensions. Dent Clin
North Am1967;723–744.
Schilder H. Cleaning and shaping the root canal. Dent Clin North
Am 1974;18:269–296.
Schein B, Schilder H. Endotoxin content in endodontically
involved teeth. J Endod 1975;1:19–21.
„„ Samuel Seltzer 1914 – 2004
Dr Seltzer was born in Philadelphia, and was a
graduate of Central High School, the University of
Pennsylvania, and its School of Dental Medicine.
He served in the Army medical corps during World
War II, reaching the rank of lieutenant colonel. An
international lecturer and acclaimed teacher, Dr Selt-
zer was named the Isaiah Dora Professor of Research
and Teaching in Dental Science, and Chairman of the
Department of Endodontology at Temple University
School of Dentistry, where he was an active member
of the faculty until his retirement in 20001.
Dr Seltzer wrote more than 100 publications on
pulp biology, endodontics, and pain control. Among
these are several textbooks, including Endodontol-
ogy2, Pain Control in Dentistry3, and the classic ref-
erence book The Dental Pulp4, which he co-authored
with his close friend and frequent collaborator, Dr
I.B. Bender. In addition, Dr Seltzer served as an advi-
sor for the editorial board of the American Associ-
ation of Endodontists’ (AAE) Journal of Endodontics
for many years.
He became an AAE member in 1949 and a
Diplomate of the American Board of Endodontics
in 1965. He served both organisations in various
capacities throughout his career and was presi-
dent of the ABE in 1975. In 1980, Dr Seltzer was
honoured with the AAE’s Louis I. Grossman Award
for cumulative publication of significant research
n 23
studies making an extraordinary contribution to
endodontology, and in 1993, he received the Ralph
F. Sommer Award. He achieved a reputation as a
masterful clinician, tireless researcher and distin-
guished endodontic leader.
„„ References
1. Torabinejad M. A true scholar remembered. J Endod
2004;30:193–194.
2. Seltzer S. Endodontology - Biologic Considerations in Endo-
dontic Procedures. McGraw Hill book Co., New York, 1971.
3. Seltzer S. Pain Control in Dentistry. JB Lippincott, Philadel-
phia, 1978.
4. Seltzer S, Bender IB. The Dental Pulp. JB Lippincott Co.,
Philadelphia, 1965.
„„ Significant Publications/
Contributions (see also Bender IB)
Seltzer S, Bender IB. Cognitive Dissonance in Endodontics.
Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol & Endod
1965;20:506–516.
Seltzer S, Bender IB, Ziontz M. The interrelationship of pulp
and periodontal disease. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol.
1963;16:1474–490.
Seltzer S, Bender IB,Turkenkopf S. Factors affecting success-
ful repair after root canal therapy. J Am Dent Assoc.
1963;67:651–662.
Seltzer S, Bender IB, Smith J, Freedman I, Nazimov H. Endodontic
failures--an analysis based on clinical, roentgenographic,
and histologic findings. I. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol.
1967;23:500–516.
Seltzer S, Bender IB, Smith J, Freedman I, Nazimov H. Endodontic
failures--an analysis based on clinical, roentgenographic,
and histologic findings. II. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol.
1967;23:517–30.
„„ William G. Skillen 1884 – 1958
Born in Toronto in 1884, Skillen came to Chicago at the
age of 13, and his first research problem was to obtain
employment. The successful solution of this problem
ENDO (Lond Engl) 2017;11(2):1–26
24 n Gutmann and Manjarres   Pioneers in Endodontics – United States of America
was accomplished on his 14th birthday. He completed
his high school training at night, and obtained a den-
tal degree in 1911 at Northwestern University. Upon
graduation, Dr Skillen was appointed a member of
the faculty in the Department of Operative Dentistry.
Apparently his interest in the fundamental sciences
and research motivated him to leave the operative
department, for in 1914, he was working at the
Department of Histology of the same institution, as
a staff member without remuneration and develop-
ing a modification in histological staining techniques.
Ironically, within four years he was named as Head of
the Department of Histology at Northwestern where
he remained for another 20 years and as a professor
until his death in 1958. He became President of the
International Association for Dental Research (IADR)
and continued to carry on with an aggressive research
agenda, when research was less fashionable, and
called for a special fortitude of mind and courage of
conviction to carry on in the face of indifference and
apathy in a large proportion of the dental profession
at that time.
Dr Skillen’s investigations reflected the research
trends that were increasingly manifest at that time.
Although primarily a histologist, his studies covered –
in addition to purely descriptive microscopic analysis
– physiologic, pathologic, clinical and experimental
problems. He often had alternating periods of con-
centration on techniques, be it staining or experi-
mental, with time devoted primarily to critical ana-
lysis and reflection (an important concept that may
be lacking in dental education today). He believed
a fine balance between work and thought was im-
portant in successful research.
The somewhat younger men in the field of dental
research at that time were deeply indebted to Dr Skil-
len and his co-workers, for maintaining high stand-
ards of research during the adolescent period of storm
and stress in dental research, and that prepared the
way for William J. Gies’ monumental contribution in
placing dental research on an organised and perma-
nent basis of usefulness and expansion1. At that time
there were many people in the dental profession who
regarded research as the concern of some queer and
impractical individuals, but who, through the influ-
ence of Dr Skillen, developed a genuine respect for it.
His direct contributions as a pioneer in endodon-
tics focused on his research prowess, in addition to its
ENDO (Lond Engl) 2017;11(2):1–26
correlation to clinical practice, especially as it related
to changes in root canal morphology. His treatise on
the Morphology of Root Canals is a classic publica-
tion that should form part of the studies of every
aspiring student of endodontics2.
„„ References
1. Orland FJ. William John Gies – His Contribution to the
Advancement of Dentistry. William J Gies Foundation, 1992.
2. Skillen WG. Morphology of root canals. J Am Dent Assoc
1932;19:719–735.
„„ Selected Publications/Contributions
Skillen WG. Hard tissue changes within the canals of treated
teeth and their possible significance. J Am Dent Assoc
1924;11:350–359.
Skillen WG. The status of the treated tooth. J Am Dent Assoc
1926;13:291-304.
Skillen WG. The pulpless tooth from the histologic standpoint. J
Am Dent Assoc 1927;14:500–505.
Skillen WG, Mueller E. Epithelium and the physiologic pocket. J
Am Dent Assoc 1927;14:1149–1164.
Skillen WG, Mueller E. Findings in studies of tooth development.
J Am Dent Assoc 1929;16:98–107.
„„ Harold Stanley Jr. 1923 – 2001
Born in Salem, Massachusetts, Dr Stanley served in
the US Army with the US Public Health Service dur-
ing World War II. He lived in Gainesville, Florida
before moving to Ormond Beach, Florida, in 1982.
At the time of his death he was Professor Emeritus at
the University of Florida College of Dentistry.
Dr Stanley was a prolific researcher who gave us an
extensive and wide range of meaningful publications
that enabled both the clinician and the researcher
to be productive. Among his many achievements
he contributed greatly to the expanding knowledge
 Gutmann and Manjarres   Pioneers in Endodontics – United States of America n 25

of the biology of the human dental pulp and its 12. Lundy T, Stanley HR. Correlation of pulpal histopathol-
ogy and clinical symptoms in human teeth subjected to
response to the multitude of restorative dental pro- experimental irritation. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol.
cedures, applications of new materials, and to endo- 1969;27:187–201.
13. Stanley HR. Methods and criteria in evaluation of dentin and
dontic procedures such as the use of vital root resec- pulp response. Int Dent J. 1970;20:507–527.
tions when indicated1-5. He also directed research
on the safety and efficacy of the material known as
Bioglass, which was ultimately marketed as a bone
replacement material known as Perioglas.
„„ Significant Publications/
With specific reference to endodontics and vital Contributions
pulp therapy, his seminal work on the human dental Stanley HR. Human Pulp Response to Restorative Dental Proced-
pulp, including his classic paper on the role of bac- ures. H.R. Stanley – Storter Printing Co, Inc, Gainesville, 1976.
teria in the demise of the dental pulp6, helped to
create a better understanding into both the pulpal
„„ Helmut Zander 1912 – 1991
responses to restorative treatment and the issue of
vital pulpal procedures, including pulp capping, both
direct and indirect7,8. Furthermore, hundreds of fac-
ulty and postgraduate/graduate students benefitted
tremendously from his publications on a design for
human pulpal studies and the methods for the bio-
logical evaluation of new materials9-13. His research
methods and directives established a benchmark
for numerous, meaningful studies. One particular
directive involved the amount of “remaining dentine
thickness” that was critical in the restoration of the
tooth and pulp preservation. Dr Helmut Zander was born in 1912 in Bautzen,
Germany. He graduated from Northwestern Univer-
sity Dental School in 1942. Subsequently, he joined
„„ References the faculty of Tufts University in 1942 where he was
later promoted to full professor and chairman of the
1. Swerdlow H, Stanley HR Jr. Reaction of the human dental Department of Oral Diagnosis and later of the Depart-
pulp to cavity preparation. I. Effect of water spray at 20,000
rpm. J Am Dent Assoc. 1958;56:317–329.
ment of Pediatric Dentistry. His research career started
2. Stanley HR Jr, Swerdlow H. Aspiration of cells into dentinal with studies on pulpotomies, pulp reactions to calcium
tubules? Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol. 1958;11:1007–1017.
3. Stanley HR. Traumatic capacity of high-speed and ultrasonic
hydroxide, and the use of silver nitrate in the treatment
dental instrumentation. J Am Dent Assoc. 1961;63:749–766. of caries. He continued his work on pulp reactions
4. Stanley HR, Swerdlow H, Buonocore MG. Pulp reac- to filling materials and demonstrated the protective
tions to anterior restorative materials. J Am Dent Assoc.
1967;75:132–41. effects of cavity varnishes and cement linings.
5. Haskell EW, Stanley HR. A review of vital root resection. Int He also served as a faculty member at the Univer-
J Periodontics Restorative Dent. 1982;2:28–49.
6. Kakehashi S, Stanley HR, Fitzgerald RJ. The effects of sity of Minnesota from 1951 to 1956 after develop-
surgical exposures of dental pulps in germ-free and con- ing an interest in periodontology, becoming profes-
ventional laboratory rats. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol.
1965;20:340–349. sor and chairman of that department. In 1957 he
7. Reeves R, Stanley HR. The relationship of bacterial penetra- moved to the Eastman Dental Center, Rochester,
tion and pulpal pathosis in carious teeth. Oral Surg Oral Med
Oral Pathol. 1966;22:59–65. New York, as founding chairman of the Department
8. Stanley HR, Lundy T. Dycal therapy for pulp exposures. Oral of Periodontology. The Eastman Dental Center ulti-
Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol. 1972;34:818–827.
9. Stanley HR. The cells of the dental pulp. Oral Surg Oral Med
mately became part of the University of Rochester
Oral Pathol. 1962;15:849–858. School of Medicine and Dentistry.
10. Stanley HR. Design for a human pulp study. I. Oral Surg Oral
His research then focused more strongly on
Med Oral Pathol. 1968;25:633–647.
11. Stanley HR. Design for a human pulp study. II. Oral Surg periodontology, with studies of the role of calculus
Oral Med Oral Pathol. 1968;25:756–764. and its at attachment to root surfaces, the use of

ENDO (Lond Engl) 2017;11(2):1–26

26 n Gutmann and Manjarres   Pioneers in Endodontics – United States of America

antibiotics in dentistry, the results of implantation „„ References

of acrylic roots into tooth sockets, and the reaction
of gingival tissues to various restorative materials.
These studies and his work on the “epithelial attach-
ment” and on cell turnover in gingival tissues were
pioneering studies that assisted in the development
of the scientific basis for much of modern periodon-
tology. Later work on functional tooth contacts dur-
ing mastication and the role of occlusion in peri-
odontal disease was equally important in defining
their limited role in the progress of disease and the
pattern of bone loss1.
His seminal publications on vital pulp therapy
with the use of calcium hydroxide and its effect on
the dental pulp served as the basis for the use of
this material within the scope of endodontics for
decades2-4.
1. Obituary – Helmut A. Zander. J Periodontol 1992;63:236.
2. Teuscher GW, Zander HA. A preliminary report on pul-
potomy. Northwestern Univ Bull 1938;39:4–8.
3. Zander HA. Reaction of the pulp to calcium hydroxide.
J Dent Res 1939;18:263 (Abstr. 50).
4. Zander HA. Reaction of the pulp to calcium hydroxide.
J Dent Res 1939;18:373–379.
(Photo of Dr Zander reproduced from Obituary – Helmut A.
Zander. J Periodontol 1992;63:236 with permission from the
American Academy of Periodontology and the University of
Rochester, Eastman Institute for Oral Health).
The following individuals also deserve recognition
for their contributions to the evolution of the scope
of endodontics as a speciality. Some came from other
countries and only spent a few years in the USA; but
they all had a valuable impact on our speciality and
are worthy of recognition.

Name City/Country Special Contribution

Grieves, Clarence Baltimore Pathology/research/education

Hatton, Edward Chicago Pathology/research
Hinman, Thomas Atlanta Pulpal diagnosis/pathosis
Abramson, Irving Baltimore Apical surgery/education
Ottolengui, Rodriguez New York City Scientific basis for treatment/education
Hartzell, Thomas P. Minneapolis Endodontics/systemic disease
Stewart, George Philadelphia Education/clinical expertise
Maxmen, Harold Detroit Surgical expertise
Frank, Alfred Los Angeles Apexification/clinical expertise/education
Glick, Dudley Los Angeles Education/clinical expertise
Kells, C. Edmund New Orleans Radiology/pulpal anaesthesia
Spångberg, Lars Sweden Research/materials/education
Bergenholtz, G. Sweden Research/pulpal biology/success-failure
Tronstad, Leif Norway Research/trauma/resorption
Van Hassel, Henry Seattle Pulpal physiology/inflammation
Naidorf, Irving New York City Microbiology/immunology
Gerstein, Harold Chicago Surgical expertise/education
Sommer, Ralph Detroit Clinical endodontics/education
Weine, Franklin Chicago Clinical endodontics/innovation
(Unless noted otherwise, all photos of individuals were provided from the archives of the American Association of
Endodontists; or were personal photos of the author, or in the public domain that were easily accessible and more
than 75 years old).

ENDO (Lond Engl) 2017;11(2):1–26

View publication stats