The surgical removal of a tooth in 1844 marked a definitive shift in dentistry when John Mankey Riggs administered nitrous oxide to Horace Wells. This event established Riggs as the first surgeon to operate on a patient under anesthesia, providing a foundational moment for modern pain management in dental procedures within the United States.
Early Career and Training
Born in 1811 in Seymour, Connecticut, John Mankey Riggs pursued formal education at the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, graduating in 1854. Following his certification, he established his dental practice in Hartford. He eventually transitioned his focus exclusively to periodontics, becoming the first practitioner to limit his work to this specific area of medicine.
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During the mid-19th century, periodontal disease became widely identified as Riggs' disease due to his specialization and clinical outcomes. He actively opposed the then-prevalent method of gingival resection. Instead, he championed preventative care and rigorous oral hygiene. In 1856, he demonstrated a conventional therapy technique involving the removal of salivary and serumal deposits, along with necrosed bone, utilizing custom-designed scrapers. Following the mechanical cleaning, he treated the affected areas with a tincture of powdered myrrh and polished the teeth. He formally documented these techniques in a publication released in 1876.
Professional Associations
Beyond his innovative surgical and therapeutic developments, Riggs maintained high-profile clinical associations. He served as the personal dentist to the American author Mark Twain. These professional connections placed him within a circle of prominent individuals in 19th-century America, while his collaboration with Horace Wells solidified his role in the history of anesthesiology.
Fast facts
- Born: 1811, Seymour, Connecticut
- Died: 1885, aged 74
- Profession: Dentist
- Education: Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, 1854
- Practice Location: Hartford, Connecticut
- Notable Procedure: First surgery with anesthesia, 1844
- Publication Date: 1876
Questions readers ask
Why was periodontal disease once called Riggs' disease?
The condition was named after him because he was the leading authority on its treatment in the United States.
What method did Riggs use for periodontitis?
He used custom scrapers to remove deposits and necrosed bone, followed by an application of myrrh tincture and polishing.
