APPENDIX A
ADA Commends Weston Price
...before attacking him
During his many years of tireless service to dentistry, Weston A. Price (1870-1948) earned the deep respect and admiration of his peers, colleagues, and patients, and he was even highly commended in a tribute by his fellow ADA members. It was only toward the end of his life that several researchers began to attack his work that established the connection between root canal-treated teeth and systemic diseases. After the death of Dr. Price, the ADA realized the significance of his research. Determined to protect the root canal procedure, they undertook an aggressive campaign to discredit his invaluable contributions.
At the beginning of Dental Infections, Oral and Systemic , the publisher presents a posthumous biography and reproduces the tribute given to Dr. Price by the Ohio chapter of the ADA in May of 1941. A portion of that biography and the ADA tribute is reproduced here:
Weston Price, DDS, MS, FACD received his predoctoral training in his native Canada before entering the University of Michigan. He received his DDS there in 1893. By 1900 he had published on techniques of electrically infusing tissues with anesthetic, the use of X-rays in dentistry, and a broad spectrum of research on the use of wax patterns and investments for use in making gold castings. His pioneering work on the physical characteristics of gold and its alloys during the heating and cooling probably stimulated his interest in founding the first research institute for dentistry in the USA.
Dr. Price devoted more than half of his daily time as Director of the Research
Institute of the National Dental Association for over 14 years. The tremendous amount of research he conducted during that time (involving thousands of patients and tens of thousands of rabbits) gained him a position of high popularity as a speaker and publisherinternationally. Of the over 220 papers and 3 major books that he authored during his lifetime, most of the basis was founded at the research Institute. He refused any salary for this dedicated service.
During his research at the Institute, Dr. Price published 25 articles on the subject of the effects of root filled teeth on systemic diseases. Later, in what he considered a condensed version, these findings were published in two classic publications, the 700 page Dental Infections, Oral and Systemic , and its companion, the 400 plus page Dental Infections and the Degenerative Diseases .
Dr. Price was received readily and with respect by medical, dental, and lay audiences, As a demonstration of respect, the American Dental Association and his home Ohio contingency honored him for his outstanding contributions to the art and science of Dentistry. A “Tribute” was presented to Price in Ohio. It read:
In recognition of...
his indomitable spirit
his glowing personality
his cheerful disposition
his indefatigable energy
his innumerable written contributions to dental literature-to-medical literature- and to lay literature
his countless oral contributions to dental audiences-to-medical audiences and to lay groups
his many instructive and entertaining health radio presentations
his mechanical contribution to our profession
his electrical contributions to the art of practice
his therapeutic contributions to operative dentistry
his dietetic enlightenment
his research on physical properties of our necessary materials
his research on Foci of infection and his tireless attention to the subject of Dental Caries Research.
In recognition of these distinguished services and of his esteemed membership and friendship, the Cleveland Dental Society hereby
dedicates its Spring Clinic meeting of May 1941 to the honor of Weston A. Price.
The Tribute was signed by 27 past presidents, and the current president.
This tribute is of particular significance because it clearly demonstrates the level of professional respect that the dental community had for Dr. Price. Only when the ADA eventually realized how his meticulous research threatened the very acceptance of the root canal procedure did it transform Dr. Price from dental pioneer to pariah.
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