Lester W.

Burket

L ester W. Burket will formally retire on June 30, 1977, from an active career
in academics that spans almost 45 years. His colleagues, former students, and
friends have contributed scholarly papers to this issue of ORAL SURGERY, ORAL
MEDICINE AND ORAL PATHOLOGY in recognition of his outstanding achievements
in dental medicine. Wherever one might visit today, the name of Lester W.
Burket is identified with the field of oral medicine. In fact, it might be stated that
he was one of the founders of this discipline, and the text which bears his name
first appeared a year before this JOURNAL had its initial issue. His name has been
identified with the editorial board of this publication since its inception, and we
815
816 Editorinl Oral Sury.
*June, 1977

feel that it is fitting that a Festschrift in honor of this distinguished educator,

clinician, and researcher be published in the JOURNAL at the time that he becomes
Professor Emeritus at the University of Pennsylvania.
Lester William Burket was born on Feb. 18, 1907, in Bozeman, Montana,
where he received his early schooling. Matriculating at the University of Penn-
sylvania because of the enlightened philanthropy of a family friend, he com-
pleted the D.D.S. program in 1932 and subsequently completed his medical studies
as Rockefeller Scholar at Yale University in 1936. He also completed an ex-
tensive study of the health consequencesof chronically infected teeth during
the subsequent year, serving as Sterling Fellow in Pathology in the School
of Medicine at Yale. Hc returned to Penn as an instructor in oral diagnosis
and, subsequently, as an assistant professor. During the interval between
1937 and 1944, he started a new program in comprehensive diagnosis with-
in the School of Dentistry and established his credibility as a distinguished di-
agnostician. Each of his published reports concerned the relationship of the oral
tissues to the total health of the patient and broadened the basis of professional
responsibility of the dentist in health issuesof importance to the patient and the
community. In 1946 Dr. Burket published the first edition of his textbook, Oral
Medicine (J. B. Lippineott Company, Philadelphia), currently entering its
seventh edition, and it remains today as the most widely read text in this field.
As his bibliography reveals, Dr. Burket continued to make contributions to the
dental literature subsequent to his elevation to the rank of professor and chair-
man of the Department of Oral Medicine. He was appointed to major positions
of responsibility on national committees and was elected to the highest executive
level of national societies prior to his appointment as dean of the School of
Dentistry in 1951.
Among the many honors that Dr. Burket has received are honorary degrees
from Georgetown IJniversity, Temple University, the University of Athens, and
the University of Antioquia in Colombia. He is the recipient of the Fones Medal,
the Pierre Fauchard Ama.rd, and the Alpha Omega Achievement Medal. His
devoted wife, Grace, has shared in his many accomplishments and made this
couple a great team.
Between 1951 and 1972, Dr. Burket provided the leadership and guidance for
building the School of Dentistry into a national and international center for
teaching and study of oral diseases,as well as formulating the strategy for achiev-
ing sophistication and independence of research into the causes of oral lesions.
Through growth and maturation of the faculty, through improvement in facil-
ities, and through a clear understanding of the need for change, an entire series
of developments emerged. Dr. Burket led the faculty in recommending that the
name of the School of Dentistry be officially changed to the School of Dental
Medicine and also that the degree be changed to Doctor of Dental Medicine.
These changes reflect the advances in the profession that, in large measure, could
be attributed to the unusual skills of Dr. Burket. The Center for Oral Health
Research, one of the five national research centers in the United States, was ap-
proved and funded under his leadership; an innovative, hospital-based post-
doctoral oral medicine training program with direct participation of students was
tested and applied long before it was incorporated into the normative require-
Volume 43 Editorial 817
Number G

ments for dental school programming ; a specialty board in oral medicine was
formed (of which he was one of the founding members and is still one of the
examining committee) ; and objective standards were established for the evalua-
tion of dental schools in the United States for accreditation purposes. These are
samples of his other important contributions to the profession. Dr. Burket was
chairman of the Committee on Dental Therapeutics of the American Dental
Association during the interval when scientific evidence of efficacy of fluoride-
containing dentifrices was reviewed, and the controversy generated was aptly and
effectively handled by his careful testimony on the responsible use of science in
public policy issues of importance to the nation.
The students who were stimulated by his inquiring and prehensile mind are
too numerous to document, not to mention the large numbers of scholars whose
careers are a direct outcome of his personal interest and enthusiasm. Indeed, the
entire field of oral medicine in the world today is strongly represented by his
students, each of whom gained the training and discipline of his scientific method
and each of whom has amply illustrated the quality of his achievements.
As a teacher, as a scholar, and as an academic and professional leader, it is
difficult to identify any other individual in the nation who has contributed so
much to his university, his discipline, and his community. There can be no
doubts regarding the credibility of his achievements, and he should continue
to be pointed to with honor by those who have followed his example.
D. Walter Cohen, D.D.S.
Irwin I. Xhip, D.D.S.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Ameloblastoma, Penn. Dent. J. 34: 1-9, 1931.
Consideration of Extraction Orthodontic Treatment, Penn. Dent. J. 34: 187-193, 1932.
Congentital Bony Temporomandibular Ankylosis and Facial Hemiatrophy, J. A. M. A. 106:
1719-1722, 1936.
Studies of the Apices of Teeth, Yale J. Biol. Med. 9: 271, 347, 1937.
Bacteremias Following Dental Extraction. Demonstration of Source of Baeteremia by Means
of a Non-pathogen (with Burns, C. G.), J. Dent. Res. 16: 521530, 1937.
Nasopalatine Duct Structures and Peculiar Bony Pattern Ohserved in Anterior Maxillary
Region, Arch. Pathol. ‘23: 793-800, 1937.
Histopathologic Studies in Congenital Syphilis, Am. J. Orthod. Oral Surg. 23: l-16, 1937.
Recent Studies Relating to Periapical Infection, Including Data Obtained From Human
Necropsy Studies, J. Am. Dent. Assoc. 25: 260-272, 1938.
Accuracy of Clinical and Roentgenologic Diagnosis of Dental Caries as Determined by Micro-
scopic Studies, J. Dent. Res. 17: 301-302, 1938.
Comparative Bacteriologic Studies of Human Blood, Viscera and Teeth Obtained at Necropsy
(with Burns, C. G.), Arch. Pathol. 25: 643-651, 1938.
Common-Sense Attitude Toward Diagnosing of Dental Patients, Penn. Dent. J. 42: 51,
1940.
Present Activities of Graduate of the Yale Plan, J. Dent. Educ. 5: 65, 1940.
Accuracy of Clinical and Roentgenologic Diagnosis of Dental Caries as Determined by Micro-
scopic Studies, J. Dent. Res. 20: 71-76, 1941.
Jaw Metastases in Mammary Carcinoma, Am. J. Orthod. Oral Burg. 27: 652-659, 1941.
Oral Manifestations of Herpes Simplex (with Hickman, George), J. Am. Dent. ASSOC., 29:
411-418, 1942.
Post Mortem Bacteriologic Studies of Different Areas of Human Teeth and Their Supporting
Structures, J. Dent. Res. 21: 9-17, 1942.
Scleroderma of the Face With Involvement of the Alveolar Process (with Loohy, John P.),
Am. J. Orthod. Oral Surg. 28: 493-498, 1942.
Oral Fusospirochetal Infection, Conn. State Dent. Assoc. Bull. 19: 21-25, 1942.
Oral Fusospirochetal Infection, Penn. State Dent. J. 10: 10-14, 1942.
Calcified Vessels of the Cheeks: Demonstration by Means of Dental Roentgenograms (with
Ennis, L. M.), Ann. Dent. 1: 111-113, 1942.
8 18 Editorial Oral Surg.
June, 1977

Undiagnosed Primarv Carcinoma of the Gingiva \Vith Widespread Metastasis; Report of Case,
J. Oral Surg. 1: -309-316, 1943.
A Simple Tinctorial Test for the Clinical Diagnosis of Leukoplakia, J. Dent. Res. 22: 220, 1943.
Modern Aspects of Hygiene, Histology and Oral Diagnosis, Penn, Stat,e Dent. J. 11: 88-96,
1943.
Systemic Aspects of Diseases of the Teeth and Oral Tissues, J. Am. Dent. ASSOC. 31: 550-554,
1944. -
A Critical Microscopic Technique Applied to Study of Human Dentin (with Hammond, TV. M.,
and Kreshover, S. J.), J. Dent. Res. 23: 111-115, 1944.
A Histouathologic Exulanation for the Oral Lesions in the Acute Leukemia% Am. J. Orthod.
OralLSurg. SO: 516-523, 1944.
Differential Blood Count in Periodontal Diseases (with Stine, J. H.), Am. J. Orthod. Oral
Surg. 30: 524-528, 1941.
The Bacteriocidal Artion of Ultraviolet Radiation on the Oral Flora and Its Effectiveness for
Dental Burr Sterilization, Am. J. Orthod. Oral Surg. 30: 533538, 1944.
Oral Aspects of Papet’s Disease, Including Case Reports and Necropsy_ Findings (with Novak,
A. j.), Am. J. arthod. Oral Surg. 301 544.555,-1944.
Diseases of the Teeth and Mouth. In Cyclopedia of Medicine, Surgery, and Specialties, 1945
Revision Service, Philadelphia, 1945, F. A. Davis Company, pp. 9981010.
Oral Diagnosis-The Dentist’s Responsibility, N. J. State Dent. Sot. J. 16: 12, 1945 (special
issue).
Hematologic Findings in Fusospirochetal Stomatitis, Am. J. Orthod. Oral Surg. 31: 681, 1945.
Teaching Oral Diagnosis to Dental Students (with Ziskin, D. E., and Blevens, G. C.), J. Dent.
Educ. 10: 61-82. 1945.
Oral Diseases in Children, N. J. State Dent. Sot. J. 17: 17, 1946.
The Dentist’s Responsibility, Dent. World 1: 37, 1946.
Las Enfermedades de la Boca en Los Nifios. Boletin Odontol. Mexican0 27: 67-70, 1946.
Diagnosis in Dentistry, Mich. State Dent. Sot. J. 28: 158, 1946.
Oral Medicine, Philadelphia, 1946, J. B. Lippincott Company.
Accepted Dental Remedies, Chicago, Ill., 1947, American Dental Association.
Ivory Cross Expedition to the Netherlands, July-Sept., 1946, J. Am. Dent. Assoc. 34: 847, 1947.
Diseases of the Teeth and Mouth. In Cyclopedia of Medicine, Surgery and Specialties, 1947
Revision Service, Philadelphia, 1947, F. A. Davis Company, pp. 1041-1082.
Portrait of James Truman (with Palmer, M. G.), J. Dent. Educ. 12: 112-113, 1947.
Section on Diseases of the Mouth. In Greenbaum, S. S.: “Dermatology in General Practice,”
Philadelphia, 1947, F. A. Adams Company.
Diseases of the Teeth and Mouth. In Cyclopedia of Medicine, Surgery and Specialties, 1948
Revision Service, Philadelphia, 1948, F. A. Davis Company, pp. 850-879.
Effect of Sustained Salivary Sulfathiazole Levels on the Oral Bacteria Population (with Lewis,
A.), ORAL SURG. 1: 1092-1097, 1948.
Oral Medicine. In Grossman, L. I.: Lipnincott’s Handbook of Dental Practice, Philadelphia,-
1948, J. B. Lippincott Company. --
Oral Medicine for Dental Hygienists. In Morrison, G. A.: In the Dentist’s Office, Philadelphia,
1948, J. B. Lippincott Company, pp. 142-175.
Teeth and Saliva. Normal Values in Dentistrv (with ADDktOn. J. L. T.). Section XVIII in
Sunderman, F. W., and Boernet, F.: L’No;mal Valu<sLin Clinical Medicine,‘? Philadelphia,
1949, W. B. Saunders Company, pp. 657-701.
Nutritional Disorders and the Oral Cavity. Iowa Dent. Bull. 35: 213-214, 1949.
Diseases of the Teeth and Mouth. In Cyclopedia of Medicine, Surgery and Specialties, 1950
Revision Service? Philadelphia, 1950, F. A. Davis Company, pp. 924-935.
Systemic Relationship of Dental Health and Disease, J. Am. Dent. Assoc. 40: 658, 1950.
Herpetic Lesions of the O’ra.1 Cavity, Postgrad. Med. 8: 316-317, 1950.
A. D. A. Accepted Dental Remedies, ed. 15, Chicago, 1950, American Dental Association.
Medicina Oral, Rev. Fed. Odontol. Colombiana 1: 89-119, Aug., 1950.
Estomatitis de Vincent,, Rev. Fed. Odontol. Colombians 1: 41-67, 1950.
Manifestaeiones alergmas de la boca, Rev. Fed. Odontol. Colombiana 1: 187-196, 1950.
Estomatitis aftosa recurrents-Leucoplasia, Rev. Fed. Odontol. Colombiana 1: 225-239, 1950.
Diseases of Teeth and Mouth. In Cyclopedia of Medicine, Surgery and Specialties, 1951 Re-
vision Service, Philadelphia, 1951, F. A. Davis Company, pp. 671677.
Liquen plano de la mucosa oral-Tuberculosis oral, bicilo tuberculoso en 10s granulomas
radiculcres, Rev. Fed. Odontol. Colombiana 2: 267-277, 1951.
Dolor, Rev. Fed. Odontol. Colombiana 2: 355-364, 1951.
Medicina Oral, Rev. Fed. Odontol. Colombiana 2: 409-427, 1951.
Medicina Oral, Rev. Fed. Odontol. Colombiana 2: 465-480, 1951.
Diagnosis of Diseases of the Mouth, Med. Clin. North Am. 35: 1637-1647, 1951.
Role of Oral Tissue in Focal Infection (with Williams, N. B.), Philadelphia Med. 46: 1509,
1951.
Mundhohlenerscheinungen bei unzulanglicher, Zahnarztl. Rundschau 61: 713-717, 1952.
Volume 43 Eclitorial 8 19
Number 6

Philosophy of Dental Education. J. Conn. State Dental Assoc. 26: 6-7, 1952.
Teaching Oral Diagnosis, J. Dent. Educ. 16: 68-78, 1952.
Diseases of the Mouth. In, Grossman, L. I. (editor) : Lippincott’s Handbook of Dental Practice,
ed. 2, Philadelphia, 1952, J. B. Lippincott Company, pp. 177-202.
Oral Medicine, ed. 2, Philadelphia, 1952, J. B. Lippincott Company, p. 575.
Diseases of the Tongue, J. Can. Dent. Assoc. 19: 233-237, 1953.
The Oral Tissues and Nutrition, J. Clin. Nutr. 1: 551, 1953.
Systematic Aspects of Periodontal Disease, J. Periodontol. 24: 7-15, 1953.
Svstematio Asuects of Periodontal Disease. D.D.S. 2: 404-406. 1953.
We Need Mar; Full-Time Teachers, Penn. Dent. J. 20: 27, 1953.
Hereditary Opalescent Dentin (with Alley, T. R.), ORAL SURG. 6: 328-334, 1953.
Aspectos sisitemicos de la enfermedad periodontal, Rev. Fed. Odontol. Colombiana 5: 11-12,
1954.
Beitrag cles Privat Pakitzierenclen Zahnarztes zu Praxis-Fuhrungskursen fiir studenten (with
DeRevere, R. E.), Quintessenz 5: 8, August, 1954.
Oral Manifestations of Nutritional Deficiencies. Merck Renort 63: 3-6. 1954.
Oral Tissues and Nutrition, Bull. Am. Assoc. Pub. Health lDentists 141 35-36, 1954.
Hereditary Opalescent Dentin (with Alley, T. R.), Yearbook of Dentistry, 195354, Chicago,
1954, Year Book Publishers, pp. 116-118.
Contribution of the Dentist in Private Practice to Practice Management Courses for Under-
graduates (with DeRevere, R. E.), J. Am. Dent. Assoc. 48: 493-496, 1954.
Manifestationes Orales de las Deficiencias Nutricionales, Temlas Odontol. 5: 440-447, 1955.
Objectives of Preprofessional Study for the Preparation of Dentistry, Scalpel 25: 86-89, 1955.
Oral Diagnosis, J. North Carolina Dent. Sot. 38: 236-241, 1955.
Essentials of Nutrition (with Wohl, M. G.) . In Trapozzano, V. R. (editor) : Comprehensive Re-
view of Dentistry, ed. 2, Philadelphia, 1956, W. B. Saunders Company, pp. 454-479.
Accepted Dental Remedies, Chicago, 1955, American Dental Association, p. 215.
Oral Medicine, ed. 3, Philadelphia, 1957, J. B. Lippincott Company, p. 558.
Correlation of the Biologic Sciences in Clinical Teaching, J. Dent. Educ. 21: 32-39, 1957.
Treatment of Oral Manifestations of Dermatologic Diseases, D. Clin. North Am., pp.185-193,
March, 1958.
Oral Medicine--Past, Present and Future, J. Periodontal, 29: 167-175, 1958.
The Interrelationship of Oral and Systemic Diseases, Dent. Clin. North Am. pp. 277-282, July,
1958.
Diseases of the Mouth. Za Grossman, L. I. (editor) : Lippincott’s Handbook of Dental Practice,
ed. 3, Philadelphia, 1958, J. B. Lippincott Company, chap. 8, pp. 172-197.
Dentist’s Responsibility in Diagnosis, Ill. Dent. J. 27: 729-733, 1960.
Your Council on Dental Therapeutics-American Dental Association, Penn. Dent. J. 26: 22-25,
1959.
Treatment Planning in the Practice of Dentistry, (with Goldman, H. M., and others), St. Louis,
1959, The C. V. Mosby Company, p. 305.
Mouth Disorders and Diabetes. In Sindoni, A. M., Jr.: Diabetic’s Handbook, ed. 2, New York,
1959. Ronald Press. DD. 90-93.
Oral Mucosa (with Mdr%, A. L.). In Cyclopedia of Medicine, Surgery and Specialties; Loose-
Leaf Service Volume 9: 907-32A? 1959.
Salivary Glands, Cyclopedia of Medicine, Surgery and Specialties; Loose-Leaf Service Volume,
12: 531-538, 1959.
Oral Medicine (with Morris, A. L.) In Morrison, G. A. : In the Dentist’s Office, ed. 2, Philadel-
phia, 1959, J. B. Lippincott Company., chap. 11.
Diabetes and the Dental Patient (with Smdoni, Anthony) J. Am. Dent. Assoc. 58: 81-85, 1959.
Diabetes and the Dental Patient (Abstract of paper listed above), Bull. Wis. Dent. Hyg. Assoc.
2: 7-x. 1959.
Cha&$ngb&&sions in Dental Education, J. Dent. Educ. 23: 81-88, 1959.
Chanaine Dimensions in Dental Education. Penn. Dent. J. 62: 4-6. 1959.
Dent&~ Responsibility in Diagnosis, Dent. Abstr. 4: 56, 1959. ’
Drugs in Dental Practice, J. Conn. Dent. Assoc. 34: 6-10, January 6; 6-11, April, 1960.
Acceptance Remarks Upon Receiving the 1959 Alpha Omega Fraternity Achievement Medal,
Alpha Omegan 53: 20-25, 1960.
Introductory Remarks, Conference on Clinical Trials of Drugs Used in Dentistry, sponsored by
American Dental Association, Council on Dental Therapeutics, Council on Dental Educa-
tion, American Association of Dental Schools, March 16, 1960? Chicago, Ill., pp. 3-4.
Recurrent Aphthous Ulcerations and Recurrent Herpes Labiahs in a Professional School
Student Population (with Ship, I. I., and others). I. Experience, ORAL SURG. 13: 1191-1202,
1960. II. Medical History, ORAL Suao. 13: 1317-1329, 1966. III. Oral Examinations, ORAL
SURG. 13: 1438-1444, 1960. IV. 12-Month Study of Natural Disease Patterns, ORAL SURG.
14: 30-39, 1961.
Lester William Burke& A.B., D.D.S., M.D., Sc.D. (Hon.)