Dental ligature pliers used for teeth restoration. Tome 2. Planche 17. Page 122. Pierre Fauchard (1678 - March 22, 1761) was a French physician, credited as being the father of modern dentistry. He is widely known for writing the first complete scientific description of dentistry, Le Chirurgien Dentiste (The Surgeon Dentist), published in 1728. The book described basic oral anatomy and function, signs and symptoms of oral pathology, operative methods for removing decay and restoring teeth, periodontal disease, orthodontics, replacement of missing teeth, and tooth transplantation. The book consisted of 38 chapters in volume 1 and 26 chapters in volume 2. Both volumes contained 42 plates depicting surgical instruments and appliances. Many of the ideas introduced in the book were totally new to dentistry. Despite the limitations of the primitive surgical instruments during the late 17th and early 18th century, Fauchard was considered a highly skilled surgeon. He made remarkable improvisations of dental instruments, often adapting tools from watch makers, jewelers and even barbers, that he thought could be used in dentistry. He was the pioneer of scientific oral and maxillofacial surgery. He died at the age of 83 in 1761.