John Greenwood (dentist)

Dr. John Greenwood (1760-1819) was George Washington's personal dentist, often called the "Father of Modern Dentistry", was responsible for designing Washington's famous dentures, which were not wood but carved from hippopotamus tusk. He invented the first known "dental foot engine" in 1790. [ [http://www.ada.org/public/resources/history/timeline_18cent.asp History of Dentistry] . American Dental Association. Retrieved on 2008-07-13.] [ [http://www.discoveriesinmedicine.com/Com-En/Dental-Drill.html Dental Drill] . Medical Discoveries. Retrieved on 2008-07-13.]

He was the son of Isaac Greenwood, the first native-born American dentist.

A letter from John Greenwood to Lt. General George Washington on his denture charges, dated 1799, is in the A.D. Black History of Dentistry Collection at Northwestern University. [ [http://www.galter.northwestern.edu/special_collections/black_history.cfm Special Collections - A.D. Black - History of Dentistry] . Northwestern University. Retrieved on 2008-07-13.]

References

External links

* [http://drjuggles.com/history-of-dentistry.php History of Dentistry] at Dr. Juggles.
* [http://www.houseofnames.com/xq/asp.fc/qx/greenwood-family-crest.htm Greenwood Family Crest]