John Hyson

Hyson was born in Baltimore, Maryland, the son of a dentist.[1] He graduated from the University of Maryland Dental School in 1950.[1] He also received a master's degree in oral surgery from the school in 1959.[2]

From 1950 to 1953, he served in the U.S. Air Force as a dental officer at Eglin Air Force Base in Okaloosa County, Florida.[1] He attained the rank of captain and was discharged from the military in 1953.[2]

From 1953 to 1999, he conducted a general dental practice in Idlewylde, Maryland and later in Towson, Maryland. He was also a member of the visiting dental staff at the University of Maryland Medical Center and taught oral surgery and operative dentistry at the University of Maryland Dental School during the 1950s.[2]

Hyson wrote numerous articles about the history of dentistry, including articles on the history of the toothbrush, George Washington's dental health and wooden dentures, women dentists, African-American contract dental surgeons in the Spanish–American War, Dr. James Baxter Bean and the establishment of first military maxillofacial hospital and the founding of the West Point Dental Service.[1][2] Hyson's articles were published in journals, including Journal of the History of Dentistry, Military Medicine, and the Bulletin of the History of Dentistry.[2]

In 1994, he published an article titled "Did You Know A Dentist Embalmed President Lincoln?" in the Bulletin of the History of Dentistry.[2]

Hyson also wrote two books on dental history: "History of the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery: The World's First Dental School," and "A History of Dentistry in the U.S. Army to World War II."[2]

Hyson was also affiliated with the National Museum of Dentistry as curator (1992–1996), director of curatorial services (1996–2002), and director of archives and history (2002–2003). In 1999, he received a master's degree in museum studies from the University of Delaware.[2]

Hyson was also collector of historic dental memorabilia, including instruments, dental office furniture, U.S. Army Dental Corps uniforms and a folding dental chair from a World War I field hospital.[2]

Hyson was a resident of Timonium, Maryland. In September 2009, Hyson died of a stroke. Hyson was survived by his wife of 59 years, the former Elayne Rhein, and two sons, John M. Hyson III and Gerald M. Hyson.[2]

• "A history of arsenic in dentistry," Journal of the California Dental Association, Feb. 2007
• "Amalgam: Its history and perils," Journal of the California Dental Association, March 2006
• "The dental duel," Journal of History of Dentistry, Spring 2006, p. 24
• "The dental key: a dangerous and barbarous instrument," Journal of History of Dentistry, Nov. 2005, p. 95
• "Robert T. Oliver, DDS: oral surgeon, army dental chief, president ADA," Journal of History of Dentistry, Nov. 2003, p. 121
• "Dental Service Base Hospital No. 18: Johns Hopkins Hospital 1917-19," Journal of History of Dentistry, Nov. 2003, p. 115
• "Dr. Newell Sill Jenkins: progenitor of cosmetic dentistry," Journal of the California Dental Association, Aug. 2003
• "History of the toothbrush," Journal of History of Dentistry, July 2003, Vol 51, Num 2, pp 73-80, 8 p ; ref : 41 ref PMID 12846261 ISSN 1089-6287
• "Women dentists: the origins," Journal of the California Dental Association, June 2002
• "George Franklin Grant, DMD: renaissance man," Journal of the California Dental Association, Dec. 2002
• "The air turbine and hearing loss: are dentists at risk?," Journal of the American Dental Association, Dec. 2002
• "Chapin A. Harris' forceps: the Arnold Ruby set," Journal of History of Dentistry, July 2002
• "Man and pain: eternal partners," Journal of History of Dentistry, Nov. 2001
• "The 'Amex' cast aluminum denture of World War I," Journal of History of Dentistry, July 2001
• "George Washington's dental history and relics" (University of Delaware, 1999)
• "The mystery of John Wilkes Booth's dentist," Journal of History of Dentistry, Nov. 1999
• "Basil Manly Wilkerson: dental inventor extraordinaire," Journal of History of Dentistry, July 1999
• "Doctors five: African-American contract surgeons in the Spanish–American War," Military Medicine, June 1999
• "Richard Bayly Winder: Andersonville quartermaster and dental college dean," MSDA, Spring 1998
• "Patient bites dentist: an 1894 case report," Journal of History of Dentistry, July 1998
• "James Baxter Bean: the first military maxillofacial hospital, MSDA, Spring 1997.
• "Mercury poisoning with tooth loss: an 1813 case report," Journal of History of Dentistry, March 1997
• "Portrait of a confederate secret agent: Henry A. Parr, DDS," July 1996
• "African-American dentists in the U.S. Army: the origins," Military Medicine, July 1996
• "The soldier dentist: Colonel John R. Lewis of the 5th Vermont," Journal of History of Dentistry, July 1995
• "Female dentists in the U.S. Army: the origins," Military Medicine, Feb. 1995
• "Did you know--a dentist embalmed President Lincoln?," Bulletin of the History of Dentistry, Nov. 1994
• "Dental forensics: the fate of Lieutenant Harrington at the Little Big Horn," Bulletin of the History of Dentistry, Nov. 1993
• "The suicide of General Emory Upton: a case report, Military Medicine, Oct. 1990
• "The United States Military Academy dental service: a history, 1825-1920," (U.S. Military Academy 1989)
• "William Saunders: the United States Army's first dentist--West Point's forgotten man," Military Medicine, Aug. 1984