The chemistry of a fossilised elephant tooth: Domenico Morichini and the discovery of dental fluoride

Abstract

On the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the birth of the Italian physician, Domenico Morichini (1773-1836), this study aims to commemorate this illustrious figure, who made a great contribution to the history of dentistry through his discovery of the presence of fluoride in dental enamel. Starting from a chemical analysis of the components of the enamel and osseous part of a fossilised elephant tooth discovered in Rome in 1802, Morichini demonstrated the presence of high amounts of fluoride, not only in these remains, but also in samples of human teeth. The Italian doctor, a Professor of Chemistry at the Sapienza University of Rome, also affirmed the importance of his discovery from a clinical perspective, as it enabled a better understanding of the chemical composition of enamel, changes in which he saw as the cause of most dental diseases. Morichini was a talented clinician and scientist, who also made contributions in other medical-scientific fields, as one of the first to suggest the electromagnetic nature of solar radiation based on experiments that were replicated internationally.

Key points

• Domenico Morichini was an Italian physician and chemist at the Sapienza University of Rome. He contributed to the development of chemistry and public health in the first half of the nineteenth century.

• In 1802, Morichini conducted chemical analysis of the components of the enamel and osseous part of a fossilised elephant tooth, demonstrating the presence of high amounts of fluoride.

• Morichini found similar results conducting experiments on human teeth, being the first author to describe the presence of fluoride in the mineral structure of teeth.