[Karl Sudhoff's contribution and position to history of stomatology]

Among the few German medicohistorians of the 19th and the early 20th century contributing essentially to the formation of history of stomatology and to its methodologic and cognitive progress. Karl Sudhoff was the most eminent one. He was already very early aware of the full responsibility for stomatology--transferred with the stomatologie examination regulations in 1909--as a task relevant also for his special branch. Therefore, he had already announced stomatologicohistoric lectures at the University of Leipzig in 1913. Sudhoff published his "Geschichte der Zahnheilkunde" ("History of Stomatology") in 1921. Of topical interest is Sudhoff's confession that modern history of stomatology can be dealt with in an experienced and scientific manner only by a medico-historically aducated dentist familiar with the necessary methodologic equipment.