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DR. CHARLES EDUMUND KELLS

BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Charles Edmund Kells was born in New Orleans on October 21, 1856 at his family’s home on Canal Street (Smith & Dixon), (Carney D.D.S., 2010). He attended New York Dental College and graduated in 1878 before returning home to New Orleans to practice with his father, Charles E. Kells (Carney D.D.S., 2010). He was a man of many traits which included a dentist, researcher, dental crusader, and an inventor, but was best known for his pioneering work with x-rays. While Dr. Kells was attending college in New York, he visited Thomas Edison’s laboratory and became curious about the workings of electricity (Carney D.D.S., 2010).

CONTRIBUTION TO THE FIELD OF DENTISTRY

Dr. Kells was ahead of his time with regards to his social beliefs, as well as his ideas for how to run his practice (Carney D.D.S., 2010). He was the first dentist in the U.S. to provide an acceptable way for women to access dental care by choosing to hire the first female dental assistant (Carney D.D.S., 2010), (Kracher, 2000). Malvina Cueria was recognized as the first dental assistant in modern history (Carney D.D.S., 2010). In Dr. Kells' era, it was considered socially unacceptable for a female to be treated by a male doctor without a chaperone (Carney D.D.S., 2010). By purposely hiring a female dental assistant, he simultaneously advanced the health and employment position of women by making it easier to access dental care and by making it possible for women to work in the dental field (Carney D.D.S., 2010). By 1900, Dr. Kells had employed both a chairside dental assistant and a secretarial assistant (Bird & Robinson, 2012). “Soon, other dentists saw the value of dental assistants and began to train dental assistants within their own offices.” (Bird & Robinson, 2012).

Dr. Kells is quoted for saying, "The lady assistant is one of the dental institutions of the day and is due to survive as long as dentistry lives. The lady assistant is absolutely essential to the modern dental office" [Journal of the History of Dentistry, July 2000, (Carney D.D.S., 2010)]. Efficiency, safety, accuracy, and productivity have increased within dentistry as a result (Carney D.D.S., 2010).

CONTRIBUTION TO MEDICAL AND DENTAL TECHNOLOGY

Throughout his life, Dr. Kells developed many inventions that are still in use today (Carney D.D.S., 2010). He wired the dental drill to be operated using electricity (Carney D.D.S., 2010). He also invented the first version of the dental and medical surgical evacuation system and compressed air for use in dental operations (Carney D.D.S., 2010), (Kracher, 2000). He developed techniques for facial reconstruction (Smith & Dixon). He promoted restoring the pulpless tooth and developed instruments for measuring and filling root canals (Carney D.D.S., 2010). Dr. Kells wired his own office and was the first to run an electric drill by connecting with the street current (Carney D.D.S., 2010). He also used the street current to provide light for his operatory, as opposed to the light source coming from the gaslight and sunlight through the open window (Carney D.D.S., 2010). According to Karey K. Carney D.D.S., “Dr. Kells was an inventor who held more than 30 patents covering a diverse array of inventions” These include the fire extinguisher, fire alarm, an automobile jack, an electric thermostat, an automobile engine starter, an elevator starter and brake, and compressed air for use in dental operations (Carney D.D.S., 2010). Many of these inventions are still utilized in medical and dental offices to this day (Carney D.D.S., 2010).

CONTRIBUTION TO RADIOGRAPHY

In April of 1896, Dr. Kells introduced the first intraoral radiographs in the United States and was accredited with the first practical use of radiographs within dentistry (Frommer, Stabulas-Savage, 2011, p.9). He recognized the value and importance of Wilhelm C. Roentgen’s discovery of radiographs and applied the new technology to his dental practice (Frommer, Stabulas-Savage, 2011, p.9). Dr. C. Edmund Kells quickly developed and built his own radiograph machine using equipment he assembled in Asheville, North Carolina (Frommer & Stabulas-Savage, 2011, p.9). He then used this machine during a demonstration in front of the Southern Dental Society (Frommer & Stabulas-Savage, 2011, p.9). He often promoted and demonstrated the use of x-rays to dental societies (Frommer, Stabulas-Savage, 2011, p.9). Although controversial at times, he fought for his convictions and beliefs for the advancement of dentistry. Dr. Kells once stated, “the Roentgen Ray is an absolute necessity to a high class dental practice and the general practitioner of dentistry is not fully capable of rendering his patients the very best service unless his equipment includes an X-ray machine." Radiographs were two-dimensional representations of three-dimensional patients.  He also noted that some teeth would need to be radiographed from more than one angle to properly diagnose.  In 1919, Dr. Kells presented an article to the Journal of the National Dental Association which focused on “focal infection." Dr. Kells believed that x-rays were being used to support a flawed idea of disease origination. He believed that the focal infection theory was prompting physicians to request teeth be extracted unnecessarily. Dr. Kells was a strong critic of this theory and was adamant that dentists must refuse to extract teeth based merely on requests from physicians (Jabobsohn, Kantor, Philstrom, 2013).

Dr. C. Edmund Kells used hand blown glass tubes of various sizes in his radiograph equipment (Frommer & Stabulas-Savage, 2011). The hand blown glass tubes that Dr. C. Edmund Kells used were not standardized, and because of this, he placed his hands between the tube and hand-held fluoroscope to “set the tube” (Frommer & Stabulas-Savage, 2011, p.9). This took a considerable amount of time and the frequent and prolonged exposure that Dr. Kell’s hand experienced, led to severe radiation burns and eventually, cancer (Bird & Robinson, 2012, p.599). The burns and development of cancer resulted in the amputation of his fingers, hand, and eventually, his entire left arm (Frommer & Stabulas-Savage, 2011, p.9). This tragically caused Dr. Edmund Kells to become fearful of being a burden to his family, which lead to his death on May 7, 1928 when he committed suicide (Bird & Robinson, 2012, p.599).

CONCLUSION

Dr. C. Edmund Kells' work came at a great sacrifice to him but his contributions to the advancement of medicine, dentistry, radiography, and technology are exponential. Dr. Kells was considered by many in his lifetime to be controversial in his practice but his ideas, publications, sacrifices, and innovativeness in the field of dentistry are still benefitting the oral health of people today (Carney D.D.S., 2010), (Kracher, 2000). Dr. Kells' contributions continue to lend benefit, health, and quality of life in the present time and for all future generations. On January 19, 1927, Tulane University dedicated the C. Edmund Kells Memorial Library and Museum in the Hutchinson Memorial Building (LSU Health Sciences Center, 2012). Tulane’s dental school closed in 1928 and in the 1950’s, much of Dr. Kells’ donated possessions were donated to the Smithsonian Institute where they can still be found on display (LSU Health Sciences Center, 2012).

References

Bird, D. L., & Robinson, D. S. (2012). Modern Dental Assisting (10thth ed., p. 599). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Saunders.

Carney D.D.S., K. K. (2010, August 16). My View, Ladies In Attendance. In ADA American Dental Association. Retrieved June 9, 2013, from http://www.ada.org/4606.aspx

Farlex. (2013). Aspirator .In The Free Dictionary. Retrieved June 9, 2013, from http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/aspirator

French Society in the History of Dentistry. (n.d.). [Edmund C. Kells Picture]. Retrieved from:

http://www.bium.univ-paris5.fr/sfhad/cab/img/gd/s15-5.jpg

Frommer, H. H., & Stabulas-Savage, J. J. (2011). Radiology For The Dental Professional (Ninth ed., p. 9). St. Louis, MO: Mosby Elsevier.

Howard Tilton Memorial Library. (2010, October). C. Edmund Kells. Retrieved from Tulane University: http://specialcollections.tulane.edu/archon/?p=collections/findingaid&id=48

Jacobsohn, P. H., Kantor, M. L., & Pihlstrom, B. L. (2013, February). JADA landmark series. In American dental association. Retrieved June 10, 2013, from http://www.ada.org/sections/scienceAndResearch/pdfs/FebCommentenaryCentennial.pdf

Kracher, C. M. (2000, July). C. Edmund Kells (1856-1928). In NCBI PubMed.gov. Retrieved June 9, 2013, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11794365

LSU Health Sciences Center. (2012, July). C. Edmund Kells. Retrieved from: http://www.lsusd.lsuhsc.edu/News/KellsMuseum.html

National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine. C. Edmund Kells. Retrieved from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11794365

Smith, J., & Dixon, D. (n.d.). C. Edmund Kells papers, 1875-1930/ Louisiana Research Collection. In Tulane University- Howard Tilton Memorial Library Special Collections. Retrieved June9, 2013, from http://specialcollections.tulane.edu/archon/?p=collections/findingaid&id=48

Social impact on dentistry (dates to know). (n.d.). In Lane community college, Eugene Oregon. Retrieved June 10, 2013, from http://media.lanecc.edu/courses/da/Law%20and%20Ethics/LECTURE2-W11/LECTURE2-W11_print.html

Feetsoup (talk) 22:21, 27 July 2013 (UTC)Dental Assisting Hybrid Class of 2013 from Ozarks Technical Community College in Springfield, MO (Christy Boyce-Goodson, instructor)