Heritage Snapshot: Part 129

Today, Loma Linda University School of Dentistry owes much of its international reputation to a technique of dental pain control developed by Niels Björn Jörgensen, DDS, a specialist in local anesthesia and sedation. It put the School years ahead of its sister schools of dentistry. Jörgensen taught in the School of Dentistry from 1954 to 1974. The technique, which can be used in any branch of dentistry, involved intravenous sedation in conjunction with a local anesthetic to reduce patient apprehension and fear. This sedation technique allowed the patient to hear and respond rationally While general anesthesia puts the patient to sleep, the "Loma Linda Technique" maintained the patient's protective cough reflex and allowed cooperation with the dentist. The unique technique individualized the dosage of the medication, administering it in small increments, according to the patient's response. Dr. Jörgensen promoted the designation "Loma Linda Technique" (rather than the "Jörgensen Technique" as it became known by many of his peers). Forrest E. Leffingwell, MD (CME Class of 1933) "incalculably aided" Dr. Jörgensen. Professor Leffingwell chaired the Department of Anesthesiology at CME/Loma Linda University School of Medicine from 1956 to 1968. Dr. Jörgensen's teaching film, "Inferior Alveolar, Lingual and Buccal Nerve Block," won the "1st Grand Prix" award out of 70 films judged in the International Dental Film competition in Paris of March 1965. In all, Dr. Jörgensen made nine films. Schools of dentistry around the world used these classics over the years. They have been translated into other languages and were kept in constant circulation by the Bureau of Audio-Visual Services of the American Dental Association. Dr. Jörgensen's textbook, Sedation, Local and General Anesthesia in Dentistry (published in 1966), was distributed throughout the United States, Western Europe, Italy, and South America. Dr. Jörgensen's teaching program at Loma Linda University anticipated by at least 15 years most of the recommendations in the "Guidelines for Teaching the Comprehensive Control of Pain and Anxiety in Dentistry," published by the American Dental Association in 1971. In 1960 Dr. Jorgensen won the prestigious Heidbrink Award, presented by the American Dental Society of Anesthesiology. And in 1966 he received the John Mordaunt Prize, the highest honor of the British Society for the Advancement of Anesthesiology in Dentistry, being its sole recipient until his death in 1974. Norman Trieger, DMD, MD, editor of the Journal of Anesthesia Progress, the official publication of the American Dental Society of Anesthesiology, referred to Dr. Jörgensen as "one of the giants in anesthesiology in dentistry, and in particular, in the education of the undergraduate student...[in the technique of] sedation." Dr. Jörgensen came to the United States in 1919 after completing pre-medicine studies in his native Denmark. In 1923 he earned his doctor of dental surgery degree from the University of California School of Dentistry. He joined the faculty of the Loma Linda College of Medical Evangelists, first in 1942 as an associate professor in the School of Medicine. At that time, he began his studies into sedation for pain control, mainly related to nerve blocks in the neck and skull. He eventually joined the School of Dentistry faculty as professor. After 32 years on the faculty, he retired in 1969, but continued to be active in the School as emeritus professor of oral surgery, where he continued teaching dental students his methods of pain control. According to former Dean Judson Klooster, DDS, “Dr. Jörgensen’s contribution to the dental profession will go down in history as one of the giant steps which took dentistry out of the aboriginal woods. We feel fortunate to have benefited from his professional expertise and the inspiration of his personal life.” The Jorgensen Memorial Library became the official archives for the American Dental Society of Anesthesiology (ADSA).