Surgical treatment of diseases in the oral cavity and jaws]

Surgical treatment of diseases in the oral cavity and the jaws has been performed since ancient times. However, in the beginning there were mostly simple tooth extractions and treatment of oral infections which could be done. The therapists consisted of a heterogenic group (physicians, barber-surgeons, dental surgeons, smiths, monks etc.). In the beginning of the 20th century great progress was made. Dental surgeons were employed as consultants in hospitals. And when the national dental servIce in Sweden (Folktandvården) was established 1938, departments of oral surgery were built in these hospitals. The department of oral surgery at the University hospital in Linköping started 1947 and is presented in this paper. Dr. Helge Hed, originator of the department, was chief oral surgeon the first 24 years. The surgical activity was gradually increased from 389 operations in 1950 to 1.514 in 1999, and the number of jaw fractures treated in 1948 were 21 and in 1999 73. The treatment panorama has changed during the years. At first the poor dental status of the patients characterized the situation and minor dentoalveolar surgery was usually performed. Later more advanced oral surgery e. g. trauma-surgery, orthognatic surgery and dental implantology has been done - and in addition a lot of scientific research and programmed instructions in oral surgery for dental surgeons and medical students. To sum up, the development of the department of oral surgery at the University hospital in Linköping has been well adjusted to the gradually more demanding treatment and it is representative of the successful development of Swedish oral surgery during the 20th century.