Rare first edition of two of the most important works on dentistry by "the father of paediatric dentistry". The present works stress the importance of prevention of dental issues rather than treatment, which was a novel idea at the time. In addition, they were among the first to highlight the importance of proper tooth alignment for comfort, beauty and ease within society, presaging the field of orthodontics. "The highly intrinsic value of Bunon's works gives him a just right to be considered one of the most illustrious forerunners of modern scientific dentistry" (Guerini).
Robert Bunon (1702-1748), was a dental surgeon in Paris, and the dentist for the daughters of king Louis XV. He published four works on dentistry, of which the first two have been included in the present copy. His first work, Dissertation sur un prejugé très-pernicieux, focuses on dental care for pregnant women, as he recognized that all aspects of the health of the mother could influence the development of the foetus. In his second work, Essay sur les maladies des dents, Bunon addressed dental erosion, development of the teeth, and the genesis of enamel hypoplasia. Many of his ideas have been confirmed by later research. He is sometimes called the father of paediatric dentistry because of his focus on prevention. He also stressed that good hygiene and dental prophylaxis should begin from the start of the formation of the milk teeth, as he was one of the first to realise that the health of milk teeth could directly influence that of the permanent teeth.
With a signature on page 1 of the first part. The boards are somewhat scratched and dented, the joints are slightly weakened, but the structural integrity of the binding is still intact. The work has wide margins, a water stain in the lower margin of page 161-212, the upper outer corner of page 199 has been torn off, without affecting the text, otherwise internally clean. Overall in good condition. Ad 1: Blake p. 71; Crowley 770; David, Bibliographie de l'art dentaire, p. 46; Garrison & Morton 3672.1; Poletti, p. 36; Weinberger, p. 27; Ad 2: Blake p. 71; Crowley 769; David, p. 46; Weinberger, p. 27 (listed as 16mo); cf. Guerini, The history of dentistry, pp. 301-302 and 337-343; Poletti, p. 36 (other ed.).