Benno Lischer

Benno Edward Lischer (June 27, 1876 – October 9, 1959) was an American orthodontist who at one point was the President of American Association of Dental Schools and American Association of Orthodontists . He was the first full-time dean at Washington University School of Dental Medicine.

He was born in Mascoutah, Illinois to Christopher Lischer and Caroline Freund. He attended to grammar and high school in Mascoutah. He graduated from Washington University dental program in April 1900 and received his dental degree there. He was married to Mary E. Lischer. After graduation, he served on the Washington University faculty from 1900 to 1924 teaching Operative Technique and Dental Anatomy. In addition he also taught as a Professor at the Department of Orthodontics at University of Michigan School of Dentistry and at University of California, San Francisco. In 1933, Lischer returned to Washington Dental School where he was appointed the Dean of the dental school which he served until his retirement in 1945.

Dr. Lischer translated The Diagnosis of Dental Anomalies by German orthodontist Paul Simon. This textbook was regarded as the introduction of gnathic system as an aid to orthodontic treatment to United States. Lischer introduced the terms neutro-occlusion, mesio-occlusion and disto-occlusion to describe different varieties of malocclusion. In 1909 he published a textbook called Elements of Orthodontia. He stressed the importance of muscles, malformations and malocclusion.

• Albert H. Ketcham Award
• Washington University School of Dentistry, Dean, 1933–1945
• American Association of Dental Schools, President
• American Association of Orthodontists, President
• St. Louis Dental Society, President