Joseph Charles Muhler (December 22, 1923 – December 24, 1996) was an American biochemist and dentist who was responsible for the development of Crest (toothpaste), Crest toothpaste.

Early life and education

Muhler was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He attended Indiana University (IU) from 1942 to 1944 until he was drafted into the United States Navy, Navy in December 1944, serving until December 1945. In the Navy, he was an apprentice seaman (AS) in the V-12 Navy College Training Program, V-12 unit at the Indiana University School of Dentistry. In 1948, he received his Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) and in 1951, he received his Ph.D. in chemistry. He joined the Indiana University faculty in 1951 as an assistant professor. In 1978, he was named research professor of dental science and director of the dentistry's research institute. While at Indiana University, he assisted in the development of the school's first preventative dentistry program until his retirement in 1984.

Crest toothpaste

Muhler was a biochemist who led a team at Indiana University that came up with the original formula for Crest Toothpaste. He studied over 150 fluoride compounds for the purpose of finding a compound that protected teeth from cavities and decay. With help from Harry G. Day, Grant Van Huysen, and William Harrison Nebergall, he found that stannous fluoride was a very effective compound for protecting teeth. After years of studies, they found stannous fluoride to be 50% more effective than sodium fluoride. Procter & Gamble was impressed with their research and decided to underwrite their formula and sell it as Crest Toothpaste in 1956. Crest Toothpaste became the first toothpaste to earn the American Dental Association (ADA) endorsement. Muhler and his team received royalties from Procter & Gamble which they used to help establish the Oral Health Research Institute at Indiana.

Accomplishments

In 1967, he was the recipient of the Navy Distinguished Public Service Award. In 1976, the American Chemical Society (ACS) recognized stannous fluoride toothpaste as one of the 100 greatest discoveries of the previous 100 years. Muhler died on December 24, 1996, at St. Joseph Medical Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana. In 2019, 23 years after his death, both he and William H. Nebergall were elected into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Muhler, Joseph C. 1923 births 1996 deaths 20th-century American biochemists 20th-century American dentists People from Fort Wayne, Indiana Indiana University alumni Scientists from Indiana Indiana University School of Dentistry alumni Indiana University School of Dentistry faculty American dentistry academics United States Navy sailors Recipients of the Navy Distinguished Public Service Award