Dr. David Keyes Hitchcock (1813-1895) was a surgeon dentist with a practice in Boston at 98 Court Street. He was the author of Preservation of the Teeth: A Family Guide, published in Boston in 1840. He also began publishing annual almanacs around 1839; Falk Library has Dr. Hitchcock’s teeth almanacs for the years 1843 and 1844, the latter of which is the smallest book in our library. 

The first of his dental almanacs includes standard pages with an astronomical calendar and advice on the maintenance of teeth, brushing, filling cavities, considering artificial teeth as a replacement for lost ones, and determining the right time and motives for tooth extraction. Commercial success led him to publish a new almanac in 1844, where he continued to educate the public on teeth-related matters. He updated the calendar pages and added new information on teeth and nerves and on the anatomical structure of a tooth and its growth, explained the etiology of a toothache and its treatment, and described customs from more primitive nations related to teeth. In order to advertise his practice, he also included an evaluation of his establishment together with a list of references made up of prominent Bostonians and his professional colleagues.