The dentists of Alexander I

The article focuses on the history of dentistry at the court of Emperor Alexander I. Previously unknown documents from Russian State Historical Archives are used for the first time in Russian historiography to reveal the dental health service for Alexander I. The article brings out the names of the dentists who attended to Alexander I. An explanation is provided why the first dentists were French. Much attention is paid to such matters as hiring and replacing the dentists as the court staff, the conditions of their service, everyday dental practices at the court involving the best dentists working in Russia at that time. The author argues that Russia was dramatically short of qualified dentists in the early 19th century. However, the best specialists in dentistry enrolled on the Imperial court’s staff succeeded in providing qualified dental treatment for Alexander I.