Mademoiselle De Rezé - The First Female Author on Dental Remedies - Dissertation Apologétique des Remèdes - 1719.

Abstract

The history of dental literature features renowned authors like Bartolomeo Eustachio (1562), Ambroise Paré (1570), and Pierre Fauchard (1728), yet little is known about early female contributors. This study explores a groundbreaking work by Mademoiselle De Rezé, a French author who, in 1719, published Dissertation Apologétique de Remèdes (Humble Treatise on Remedies), the first known text on dental remedies authored by a woman. Mademoiselle De Rezé detailed proprietary dental remedies-Universal Balm, Tincture, and Tooth-Whitening Powder-used to address toothaches, gingival ulcerations, and halitosis. Her formulations reportedly cured the Madame le Dauphine and praised by King Louis XIV gaining popularity over 40 years. While the exact composition of these remedies remains unknown-a common practice at the time-testimonials of their efficacy solidify their historical significance. This study highlights the overlooked contributions of Mademoiselle De Rezé, whose Dissertation Apologétiques de Remèdes merits recognition in the history of dentistry as a vital early text authored by a woman.