Final answer:
George Franklin Grant was an innovator in dentistry, contributing surgical instruments and artificial teeth, and is known for his patented device for patients with cleft palates.
Step-by-step explanation:
The person who significantly contributed to dentistry with surgical instruments and artificial teeth was George Franklin Grant. Grant was an innovator in the field of dentistry and was notably Harvard Dental School's first African American faculty member. He was a pioneer in care for patients with congenital cleft palates and patented a device that improved the ability of patients to speak. Additionally, Grant's contributions were layered with social implications as dental surgery and tools evolved during a time of increased opportunities for African Americans in the medical field post-Civil War.