PIONEERS IN ENDODONTICS 127 James L. Gutmann, Vivian Manjarrés Pioneers in Endodontics – United States of America Introduction The Pioneers Choosing the most deserving individuals to be rec- I.B. Bender 1905 – 2003 ognised as “Pioneers in Endodontics” from the USA presented a plethora of challenges, especially since endodontics did not have speciality identification over 100 years ago; yet there were individuals at that time who deserved to be considered for their unique insights, creativities and contributions. Those cho- James L. Gutmann sen for recognition deserve special thanks for their DDS, Cert Endo, PhD commitment to the principles of tooth preservation, (honoris causa), FICD, FACD, FADI, FAAHD, using many techniques that may even rival contem- Diplomate, American porary practices. Thanks are also due to their dedica- Board of Endodontics Professor Emeritus, Texas tion in the creation of a body of science and proven A&M University College of clinical practices that served to ultimately result in the Dr Israel Boris “I.B.” Bender’s parents came to the Dentistry Dallas, Texas recognition of endodontics by the American Dental USA from Russia in 1914 and settled in the West Oak Vivian Manjarrés, Association as a speciality of dentistry in the early Lane section of Philadelphia, where he graduated DDS, Cert Endo 1960s. from Central High School in 1923. He worked his Assistant Professor, Department of Endo- The presentation of these individuals follows way through the University of Pennsylvania, where dontics no special chronology or major contribution, as an he earned a bachelor’s in dentistry in 1926 and a Nova Southeastern University Davie, Florida alphabetical listing was chosen. Yes, there will be doctorate in dental surgery in 1930. Penn’s dental questions or concerns expressed by some as to who school recognised his genius and hired Dr Bender to Correspondence to: James L. Gutmann might have been missed in this recognition pro- teach oral medicine in 1942 and appointed him pro- 3213 Basil Court cess; but then again, as previously mentioned, the fessor of Endodontology in 1972. Dr Bender taught Dallas, Texas, 75204-5543 USA challenges of identification and the gathering of in- and conducted research simultaneously at Penn and [email protected] formation for some personalities was very difficult in the Department of Dental Medicine at the Albert and therefore, they may have been eliminated from Einstein Institute1. “detailed” recognition, or they fell more into the He was a tireless teacher and researcher and was group of present-day contemporaries. Their names also an expert during his era on the cause of infec- and areas of contribution will be mentioned at the tions of heart valves by the entry of bacteria into the end of this tribute. blood after tooth surgery. He began using a “can- died form” of penicillin in a lozenge to prevent this condition in the early 1950s. Together with Dr Samuel Seltzer, Dr Bender wrote the definitive text on pulp biology, The Dental Pulp (currently known as Seltzer and Bender’s Dental ENDO (Lond Engl) 2017;11(2):127–152 128 Gutmann and Manjarrés Pioneers in Endodontics – United States of America Fig 1 Dr Bender being International Award conferred by the French Endo- honoured with the naming of the Lifetime dontic Society in 1990. In September of 1989, Albert Educator Award of the Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia dedicated the AAE as the IB Bender Full-Time Educator I.B. Bender Division of Endodontics and created the Award by Executive I.B. Bender Research Endowment Fund. Director Irma Kudo, Dr Bender also ran a private practice for more right, and AAE President James L. Gutmann, than 50 years, first in West Oak Lane, then Fern Rock centre. (Courtesy of the and finally in Jenkintown, Montgomery County, PA. American Association of Endodontists). He was a meticulous dentist who eschewed the loss of a single tooth. He closed his doors to hundreds of patients at the age of 75. He loved working with postgraduate and graduate students and would travel to universities throughout the USA to give seminars and to learn about those young dentists who were aspiring to careers in Endodontics. He would thrive on the en- ergy he obtained during these encounters. On the occasion of his 95th birthday in 2001, the Lifetime Educator Award of the AAE was named the Pulp), which has been translated into many lan- I.B. Bender Lifetime Educator Award, honouring this guages, including Russian, and remains the standard giant in Endodontics (Fig 1) textbook on the dental pulp for dentists today2,3. Additionally, he published more than 130 arti- cles, a number of which are significant papers that References are today considered as ‘classics’ in the speciality of Endodontics. He has been the recipient of numer- 1. Torabinejad M. I.B. Bender remembered. J Endod 2003;29:433–434. ous major grants including several from the Depart- 2. Seltzer S, Bender IB. The Dental Pulp. JB Lippincott, Philadel- ment of US Public Health. He served as an adviser phia, 1965. on the editorial board of the Journal of Endodontics 3 Hargreaves KM, Goodis HE, Tay FR. (editors) Seltzer and Bender’s Dental Pulp, 2nd Ed, Quintessence Publishing Co, for many years. Dr Bender served as President of the Inc, 2012. American Association of Endodontists (1972–1973), the International Association of Dental Research (1956–1959), and a Director of the American Board Significant Publications/ of Endodontics (1978–1984). He was a Fellow in the Contributions College of Physicians and a member of the Honorary Society of Sigma Xi. He was a trustee of the Fourth Bender IB, Seltzer S.The advantages and disadvantages of the use of antibiotics in endodontics. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Annual National Security Seminar, US Army War Pathol 1954;7:993–997. College, Carlisle Barracks in Pennsylvania. Bender IB, Seltzer S, Yermish M. The incidence of bacteremia in endodontic manipulation: preliminary report Oral Surg Dr Bender received the Louis I. Grossman award Oral Med Oral Pathol 1960; 13:353–360. in 1978, the most prestigious award conferred by the Bender IB, Seltzer S. Roentgenographic and Direct Observa- tion of Experimental Lesions in Bone: 1 J Am Dent Assoc American Association of Endodontists in research; 1961;62:152–60. the Distinguished Service Award from the University Seltzer S, Bender IB. Cognitive Dissonance in Endodontics. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol 1965;20:505–516. of North Carolina in 1980; the Pulp Biology Award Bender IB, Seltzer S, Soltanoff W. Endodontic success--a reap- from the International Association of Dental Research praisal of criteria. 1. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol 1966; 22:780–789. (Pulp Biology Group) in 1981; the Edgar D. Cool- Bender IB, Seltzer S, Soltanoff W. Endodontic success--a reap- idge Award for leadership and exemplary dedication praisal of criteria. II. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol 1966;22:790–802. to Endodontics and Dentistry in 1987; the Ralph F. Bender IB, Seltzer S.The effect of periodontal disease on the Sommer Award in 1993; and the Louis I. Grossman pulp. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol 1972;33:458–474. ENDO (Lond Engl) 2017;11(2):127–152 Gutmann and Manjarrés Pioneers in Endodontics – United States of America 129 Bender IB, Freedland JB. Adult root fracture. J Am Dent Assoc second essential factor for the performance of suc- 1983;107(3):413–419. Editorial. A tribute to I. B. Bender. J Endod 1997;23:2–4. cessful root canal operations was an understanding Bender IB. Factors influencing the radiographic appearance of of the inflammatory reaction of the pulp to insult. bony lesions. J Endod 1997;23:5–14. Bender IB. Paget’s Disease. J Endod 2003;29:720–723. Dr Blayney believed that the intelligent practitioner could not accurately diagnose the pulpal status if he did not understand the inflammatory changes James Roy Blayney 1889 – 1980 experienced by the pulp in response to deep carious lesions and the restorative procedures. Although his concern was justified, the concept of focal infection had not been eliminated from the concept of isolated areas of inflammation in the pulp, or for that matter, from the spread of “chronic root end infection” from one tooth to another. His third essential factor was directly connected to the second: pathologic processes were common in the periapical tissues subsequent not only to pulpal inflammation, but also to root canal treatment of both the vital and non-vital tooth. Dr Blayney thought Although more prominent for his pioneering research the dental profession had been severely misinformed in the area of fluoridation, Dr Blayney contributed about granuloma formation. This kind of misinforma- significantly to the field of endodontics, especially tion led them to willingly cooperate with the physi- in the years after William Hunter’s expose on the cian’s philosophy that apical lesions were sources of role of oral sepsis in systemic disease. Ironically, the infection and systemic disturbances. He felt that the attack on dentistry by Hunter, which Blayney justly formation of a mass of granulation tissue about the criticised as entirely mechanical, was given before root end should be considered as a defensive effort Dr Blayney graduated from Northwestern Univer- on the part of the body as opposed to merely an area sity School of Dentistry.1 In the mid 1920s when Dr of infection. At that time the profession was rather Blayney was conducting research on the problem of slow to grasp this concept, as frequently it was heard the pulpless tooth (which ultimately led to a Master’s that the radiogram showed root-end infection (which degree from the University of Chicago in 1928), he is still a common practice today).