Origins of Maxillofacial Surgery in Mediterranean Medical History

Abstract

Maxillofacial and dental surgery has been around for a surprisingly long time. The first evidence of oral dental treatment can be traced back to Northern Italy 13,000 to 14,000 years ago. The first known evidence of dental filling with beeswax dates back to 6500 years ago in a site located in Slovenia. Fixing teeth with gold wires and prostheses and replacing them was performed for millennia in ancient Egypt and Phoenicia as well as in Etruria predating the Roman empire. In 1210, the earliest-known oral surgery group was formed in France leading to rapid advancement of the specialty over the following years with Pierre Fauchard, known as the father of modern dentistry, who turned dentistry from a craft into a profession. Despite diverse populations of various ethnic backgrounds, the Mediterranean civilization is truly one and unique. It was always at the forefront of scientific progress and technologic innovations in all fields of medicine and surgery and in particular in maxillofacial surgery.