History Resource
Multimedia Dental History Resource
Completed October 1, 2003
Available since February 24, 2004
 Status
The initial edition of Dental History, a multimedia dental history
resource, has been completed. Copies were distributed to
first year dental students in the United States and Canada on a
complimentary basis through 2008. A limited number of copies are available for
distribution beyond the students. This project is currently on hold. Please contact Dr.
Stephen A. Ralls, project coordinator and technical developer, for more information.
Purpose
Dental History is an interactive, multimedia history resource designed
to promote the history of dentistry to dental students and professionals.
Dental History was developed with specific objectives:
Objectives
- Explore the origins and development of dentistry
- Improve understanding and appreciation of dental history
- Improve appreciation of dentistry as a learned profession
- Allow self-assessment of dental history knowledge
- Assist dental schools in dental history education
- Stimulate interest and study in dental history
- Improve access to dental history information
- Incorporate an easy, interactive, multimedia format
Background
The Dental History resource was first envisioned by the New York
Section of the American College of Dentists in 1997 as a regional project.
The value of the resource was soon realized, and by 2000 it had developed
into a large-scale project of the American College of Dentists. Dental
History was initially designed to primarily supplement dental history
education in dental schools. The scope is also appropriate for those
already in the profession.
Organization
Dental History is divided into eight sections as noted on the menu bar
at the top of each page. Historical events often transcend attempts at
artificial classification, and such is the case with this resource. The
sections of this resource should be used as guides, not as absolutes. Many
historical events in dentistry could be appropriately classified under
several different headings. Regardless, some general organization is
necessary:
| Sections of Dental History |
| Home |
Introduction, Overview |
| Early |
B.C.E. to 800 C.E. |
| Medieval |
800 to 1400 |
| Renaissance |
1400 to 1600 |
| Colonial |
1600 to 1800 |
| Industrial |
1800 to 1900 |
| Modern |
1900 and later |
| More... |
Miscellaneous (ethics, education, journalism, research,
minorities, etc.) |
Each major section is further divided into subsections. For example,
the section on Early Origins is further divided into subsections on
Paleopathology, Prehistory, Near East, Classical World, Far East, and
Islamic World, as examples.
Description
Dental History is a self-contained, executable program requiring a
Windows® operating system. The program is primarily written in
hypertext markup language (HTML) allowing dynamic hyperlinks and other
advantages inherent with this approach. The program is distributed on
compact disks and may eventually made available for download from the
Internet (at www.dentalhistory.org). Content consists primarily of
published articles; excerpts of published compilations or works;
original material assembled for the resource; and images. Audio and
video clips augment textual material and images. Images used with
textual material are often from different sources and are referenced
separately. Dynamic hyperlinks facilitate internal navigation. Because
of the limitations of hypertext formatting, the appearance may differ
compared to originals. Dental History incorporates a number of
functions and features including a comprehensive search engine that
functions as a dynamic index, a custom text editor, and six self-contained and
self-scoring assessment tests.
Multimedia Dental History Resource Development Committee
Dr. Arden G. Christen
Dr. Eric K. Curtis
Dr. Clifton O. Dummett
Dr. Steven I. Gold
Dr. John M. Hyson, Jr.
Dr. Stephen A. Ralls
Dr. Malvin E. Ring
Dr. John M. Scarola
Dr. Richard W. Valachovic
Consultants
Dr. Irwin D. Mandel
Dr. Gordon Rovelstad
Dr. Terry Wilwerding
Corporate Sponsor
This project was graciously supported by GC America, Inc. of Alsip,
Illinois. |
