Dentistry in Tunisia during the 19th century through unpublished documents: medical skill and passing European interests

Abstract

This article intertwined with a central problem: What is the relationship of modern dentistry with the intrusion of European interests into Tunisia during the 19th century? Through this work, which is mainly based on unpublished documents kept in the Tunisian National Archives, it became clear that the Tunisian country lost skilled dentists during the period under study compared to Europe, which forced the Tunisian authority to bring in European dentists at a high financial cost and with great concessions. Foreign dentists took advantage of this position to benefit themselves financially and contribute to the consolidation of the expansion of foreign influence in the Tunisian country by allowing them to own land and buildings and launch projects