Editorial - Venturing into the Depths of Historical Perspectives in Dentistry & Medicine.

Abstract

With this volume of the Journal of the History of Dentistry we are proud to introduce to our readers and our healing professions, in-depth Essays that focuses on our historical evolution. One might ask, "What is an Essay and Why is This Unique?" The simplest definition of an essay is a non-fictional written work that focuses on a particular subject, sometimes in general terms and sometimes in depth. The word "essay" is derived from the French word "essai," (or as a collection "Essais) meaning trial or attempt. The first use of this approach to address a particular issue has often been attributed to the Frenchman Michel de Montaigne, born in 1533 (Fig. 1).