Greene Vardiman Black

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Photograph of G.V. Black (left) studying the "Colorado Brown Stain".

Greene Vardiman Black (1836 - 1915), commonly known as G.V. Black, is known as one of the founders of modern dentistry in the USA. He was born near Winchester, Illinois on August 3, 1836 to William and Mary Black. He spent his early life on a farm and quickly developed an interest in the natural world. By the age of 17, Black began studying medicine with the help of his brother, Dr. Thomas G. Black. In 1857, he met Dr. J.C. Speer, who taught him the practice of dentistry. After the Civil War, in which he served as a union scout, he relocated to Jacksonville, Illinois. It was here that he began an active career and research in the under-developed field of dentistry.

He researched many important topics to dentistry, including the best composition for dental amalgams and the cause of dental fluorosis. One of his many inventions was a foot-driven dental drill. Black was the first to use nitrous-oxide for "extracting teeth without pain." He is also known for his principles of tooth preparations, in which he outlines the proper methods to prepare teeth for fillings. The phrase, "extension for prevention," is still famous in the dental community today and represents Black's idea that dentists should follow preventive measures to aid patients from developing tooth decay.

Further, he organized a classification system with five categories for different patterns of tooth decay which is still in use today. Since that time, only one more category has been added to his classification system.

G.V. Black was also the first Dean of Northwestern University Dental School, where his portrait hung until the school's closure in 2001. His statue can be found in Chicago's Lincoln Park. He was also inducted in the Hall of Fame of the father of modem dentistry, the Pierre Fauchard Academy on February 25, 1995. ^[1]