James Garretson


James Edmund Garretson was a professor at the Dental College of Philadelphia, a clinic for oral surgery. With his work A treatise on the diseases and surgery of the mouth, jaws and associate parts, first published in 1869, he helped to establish oral and maxillofacial surgery as a specialty in the United States. He is known as the father of oral surgery.

Life

He was born in Wilmington, Delaware in 1828. He began studying dentistry during his early years and he first practiced in Woodbury, New Jersey. Dr. Garretson received his dental degree first in 1856. He then received his medical degree in 1859 from Philadelphia College of Dental Surgery which was a predecessor of Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery. He then married Beulah, who was daughter of George Craft also in 1859.
After obtaining his degree, he joined Dr. Hayes Agnew at the Philadelphia School of Anatomy. It was from this experience, Dr. Garretson became interested in surgery. He served as the Dean of the Philadelphia College of Dental Surgery. He also wrote under the name John Darby.
He was initially critical of J. Leon Williams histological theories on the development of teeth.
He was buried in the Friends burial ground in Upper Darby. He died of enteritis in 1895 near Lansdowne, Philadelphia.

Oral Surgery

It was due to his contributions that branch of Oral Surgery was established as its own branch. Dr. Garretson faced criticism from many people who questioned the existence of oral surgery branch and its difference from general surgery in medicine. He was known to be the first person to use Bonwill Dental Engine in a surgical operation.

Positions

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