Faculty Feature: Henry Nahoum, Emeritus

Postgraduate students in orthodontics at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine who receive financial support from the Henry I. Nahoum Invisalign Fund in Orthodontics, may wonder what about the connection between the beloved Dr. Henry Nahoum, DDS'43, Ortho’52, professor emeritus at CDM and the ubiquitous teeth alignment company.

In fact, Dr. Nahoum’s work in the area of removable appliances laid the groundwork for the popular products. Even now, Dr. Nahoum continues to consider and reconsider his groundbreaking work and has recently written The Contour Appliance Revisited: Evolution, Advancements, and Applications in Orthodontics.

This recent work is the latest in Dr. Nahoum’s long history of employing his research in practical applications. His research on pressure forming of thermal plastics to make appliances had a significant impact on the practice of dentistry. The result of his work simplified many existing procedures, including the production of night guards and retainers. He also initiated new methods for treating orthodontic patients.

Dr. Nahoum began his long association with Columbia as a student at the School of Dental and Oral Surgery. Although he was not subject to the military draft of World War II he enlisted in the army as soon as he received his dental degree in 1943. He earned a commission as a first lieutenant and served as a dental officer in a combat engineer group, and with the 28th Infantry Division in Europe, where he earned two Battle Stars.

Following his wartime service, Dr. Nahoum practiced general dentistry in the Bronx for 10 years and then trained in orthodontics at Columbia. He was invited to join the faculty and supervised the postgraduate orthodontic clinic for 20 years, helped to train residents in orthodontics and plastic and reconstructive surgery, and was a member of the cleft lip/cleft palate team.