As we think of those who have fought for our cause this Memorial Day weekend, I thought you might be interested to learn that dentistry has a patron saint. Few are aware of this fact today, but in fact, St. Apollonia is the Patron Saint of Dentistry and the Roman Catholic Church celebrates the feast day of St. Apollonia every year on February 9th. Legend has it that during the Alexandria uprising of 248, and angered by the prophecy of an impending calamity, mobs committed bloody atrocities on Christians whom they blamed for such catastrophes.
Apollonia, an esteemed Christian deaconess at the time, was seized and tortured, having all of her teeth broken or forcibly removed. Gaining a brief moment of freedom, she willingly threw herself into a raging fire to die a martyr rather than commit a blasphemy against Christ.
The legend was thus born and Apollonia became the Patron Saint of Dentistry. The faithful prayed to her for centuries, long before the advent of modern dentistry, to relieve them of toothache pain.
So now you know. Next time you visit with us, don’t feel shy about saying a prayer to this brave woman. Maybe her sacrifice can help you endure your next dental appointment! Don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions or suggestions you may have or contact Dr. Laurence Stone in Doylestown, PA today to schedule your next appointment and we can talk more about this. See you soon!
