Chicago Dentist - Greene Vardiman Black

Greene Vardiman Black

Greene Vardiman Black (1836-1915 ), the first dean of Northwestern Dental School in Chicago, is best known as the person who fine-tuned dental techniques in the United States.
In 1895, he standardized cavity preparation and amalgam manufacture.  He also employed the sciences of biology and microbiology to study the mouth and teeth.  He identified a dense bacteria film that built up on the mouth and teeth.  He theorized that the build up was the cause of infections resulting in dental caries or cavities and oral disease.  It wasn’t until about the 1960’s that his theory was confirmed through scientific research.