H. Trendley Dean

H. Trendley Dean (1893–1962) was an American dentist and public health researcher. He is best known for his research on the benefits of fluoride in preventing dental caries, which led to the widespread practice of water fluoridation in the United States.

Early life and education

H. Trendley Dean was born in 1893 in St. Louis, Missouri. He received his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from Washington University in St. Louis in 1916. After serving in the United States Army during World War I, he returned to Washington University to earn a Master of Science degree in pathology in 1923.

Career

In 1926, Dean joined the United States Public Health Service (USPHS), where he began his research on the effects of fluoride on dental health. He discovered that small amounts of fluoride in drinking water could significantly reduce the incidence of dental caries. This finding led to the first public water fluoridation project in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1945.

Dean served as the first director of the National Institute of Dental Research (now the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research) from 1948 to 1953. He also served as president of the American Association of Public Health Dentistry and the International Association for Dental Research.

Legacy

Dean's research on fluoride and dental health has had a significant impact on public health policy in the United States and around the world. His work has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Albert Lasker Award for Public Service.

See also

• Water fluoridation in the United States
• History of dentistry