Frank J. Kratochvil

Professor Frank J. Kratochvil was born on a dairy farm in Osmond, Nebraska to Frank and Mabel Kratochvil. He attended Wayne State University and then the University of Nebraska, earning a DDS in 1947. After graduation he married Mary Virginia (Kit) Hall at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center, where he completed two years of residency and started his family. He was subsequently stationed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Rendova; at Treasure Island, San Francisco; Barber's Point Naval Air Station in Hawaii; and at Bethesda where he received his formal prosthodontic training. His Navy career spanned 22 years and he retired as a Captain in 1967.

After his distinguished career in the Navy, he was appointed to the faculty of the UCLA School of Dentistry as chair of the Section of Removable Prosthodontics in 1966, his arrival being delayed until 1967 due to escalating conflict in Vietnam. This new school had just been established in 1964 and Professor Kratochvil was charged with developing the predoctoral curriculum devoted to Removable Prosthodontics. This program was soon recognized as one the best in the country and was copied by many schools in the United States, Europe and Japan. Indeed the young school's clinical identity was closely associated with the excellence of this program. He gathered a strong prosthodontic faculty around him.

In 1975, he initiated the School's postdoctoral residency program in Advanced Prosthodontics and served as its director until 1988, his retirement from UCLA. Many of the residents he mentored became important contributors to the specialty of Prosthodontics as clinicians, educators and scholars. He held himself to the highest of standards, always positive, patient, calm and self-disciplined; just a focused glance through his glasses or over magnifying loupes was all that was ever needed to bring anyone into line. His quiet presence in a seminar or clinic caused everyone to up their game and to be the best that they could be.

His most notable contribution to his discipline was the development of the so-called "RPI system" of Removable Partial Denture design. Professor Kratochvil was the first to recognize the importance of biomechanics in the design of removable partial dentures. He used these principles to develop a whole new design philosophy that was kinder to the patients' remaining natural tissues. His classic article in the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry in 1963 (and later his textbook, Partial Removable Prosthodontics) forever changed the way in which dentists approached partial denture design. Before he developed this system, removable partial dentures were thought to be a transitional dental treatment, and that inevitably, such patients would become edentulous and forced to wear complete dentures, forever compromising their chewing function. Dr. Kratochvil's work changed all that. Presently, the RPI system is used throughout the world.

Although best known for his impact on removable partial prosthodontics, his clinical teaching and philosophy of complete denture treatment was both profound and understated for its subtlety, simplicity, patient-focus, and efficacy. This has also left a legacy through the generations he taught and the generations they have now taught.

During the time that he taught at the UCLA School of Dentistry his recognition in the field of prosthodontics spread worldwide. In 1988 Jim retired from UCLA and entered private practice at the Scripps Dental Center in La Jolla, CA until his third retirement in 2000. Throughout his career as well as providing technical excellence he provided true care for his patients. After 53 years of dental practice he enjoyed living and painting in La Jolla Shores.

Dr. Kratochvil was recognized with numerous awards and honors for the excellence of his contributions to prosthodontics, including lifetime achievement awards from leading professional organizations. He provided leadership to the most elite organizations such as the Academy of Prosthodontics and the Pacific Coast Society for Prosthodontics. He was a Senior Fulbright Scholar to Guys Hospital in London, England. He provided remarkable service to the professional journals, including the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry, and advised the California Dental Association, the American Dental Association, and government agencies leading to high standards of care and protection of patients. He gained great satisfaction from improving the health and appearance of his patients. His influence on removable prosthodontics has indeed been profound.

Kit, Jim's loving wife of 55 years, passed away in 2002. In 2006 he married Verna Mae Bruckner, a sweetheart from his youth in their Nebraska hometown. Verna Mae was lovingly at his side for the remainder of his life. He is also survived by his three children, Jim of Lake Oswego, OR, Gary of Orcas Island, WA and Pamela of Los Angeles, CA. Jim will also be fondly remembered by his seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.