Early Life and Career
- Born in Saint-Denis-de-Gastines in 1679
- Joined the French Royal Navy at age 15
- Influenced by Alexander Poteleret, a surgeon major
- Learned about dental ailments suffered by sailors on long voyages
- Became a combat medic as Poteleret's protégé
- Settled down in Angers and practiced medicine at the University of Angers Hospital
- Pioneered scientific oral and maxillofacial surgery
- Described himself as a 'Chirurgien Dentiste' (surgical dentist)
- Considered a highly skilled surgeon by his colleagues

Contributions to Dentistry
- Dentistry before Fauchard was often performed by barbers or tooth-pullers
- Tooth-pullers used imprecise tools and sometimes caused more harm than good
- Fauchard wanted to distance himself from tooth-pullers and elevate dentistry to a science
- His book introduced new ideas and techniques to dentistry
- Described symptoms of 103 mouth diseases and their treatment
- Disproved the German tooth worm theory
- Identified sugar as the cause of dental caries
- Introduced dental fillings for cavities, using amalgams like lead and gold
- Advocated for regular dental cleanings and the use of braces for teeth correction

Innovations and Medical Practices
- Described proper patient greeting and seating position
- Recommended that dentists stand behind patients to help them relax
- Introduced the concept of a dentist's chair light
- Developed surgical instruments for oral surgery, including saws and forceps
- Emphasised the importance of avoiding dental charlatans and their harmful techniques

Hygiene
- Fauchard emphasised the importance of mouth hygiene
- Recommended washing the mouth with water and rubbing the teeth with a wet sponge
- Suggested using a mixture of coral, dragons blood, and other ingredients as a dentrifice
- Discouraged the use of harmful dentrifice ingredients like brick and lemon juice
- Recommended using sponge toothbrushes instead of cloth or linen ones

Influence and Legacy
- Influenced young medical minds during the age of enlightenment in France
- Inspired dentists like Robert Bunon and Etienne Bourdet in their research and advancements
- Considered a pioneer and founder of modern dentistry by Chapin A. Harris
- Published dental treatise in the 18th century, translated to English in 1946
- The Pierre Fauchard Academy of Dentistry was founded in his honor in 1936
- Denounced medical malpractice in dentistry and exposed unqualified dentists
- Died at the age of 82 in Paris in 1761
- Designated as 'Maitre Chirurgien-Dentiste' in his burial record
- Featured on a stamp in France to commemorate the 200th anniversary of his death
- Noted as a significant figure in the history of dentistry by historians and scholars