Maestro of Soviet orthodontics (essay about D. A. Kalvelis)

Abstract

The aim of the study is to present an essay on the professional activity of Dominik Antonovich Kalvelis, who stood at the origins of Soviet dentistry and made an invaluable contribution to the development of Russian orthodontics and orthopedic dentistry. It was noted that after the end of the Soviet Union, the change of priorities in medicine in general and in public health in particular, led to the fact that little attention was paid to the historical aspects of the development of medical clinical and fundamental disciplines. Many names of not only famous, but also prominent figures of medicine are unknown nowadays not only to students and clinical residents, but also to young teachers, including stomatological departments of medical universities of the country. The professional path of Professor Domenik Antonovich Kalvelis (1903-1988), who for many years (1940-1974) headed the chair of orthopedic dentistry at the Riga State Medical Institute in the Latvian SSR, was awarded with high honors, namely the honorary title of Honored Scientist and Honored Physician of the Latvian SSR, for a long time was the chief dentist of the Ministry of Health of the Latvian SSR. He made a huge and invaluable contribution to the formation of orthodontics in the USSR and the training of highly qualified orthodontic dentists. His especially bright work was the monograph "Orthodontics. Dental anomalies in clinic and experiment" (1964). The authors note that they would like not to forget the words of Prof. D.A. Kalvelis that clinical and practical orthodontics cannot be learned, it should be systematically studied on the basis of clinical experience, experimental studies and theoretical justifications of biomorphology, physics, mechanics. The predictions of D.A. Kalvelis that orthodontics should be considered not only a young science, but also a rapidly developing one, often in need of an activated surgical aid, have never come true. This is especially relevant in our days.