Namibian Dental Association

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The History of Dentistry
Dental History in Pictures
Galleries covering the following topics:
The Etruscans practised dental prosthetics using gold wire and plates, gold crowns and fixed bridgework as early as 166 - 201 ADCopy of prosthetic work done by the Etruscans, 166 - 201 ADIvory upper denture, c.1760. This upper denture set is made from hippopotamus ivory.Prosthesis carved by hand in the late 1700s – early 1800sDenture carved from solid hippopotamus ivory c. 1795.Spring retained ivory denture dating to the early 19th century.Two full upper dentures, c.1830. The plates of these dentures are made of hippopotamus ivory, the anterior teeth are human teeth.Decorative porcelain holder for upper denture - 19th centuryDecorative porcelain holder for lower denture - 19th centuryPartial dentures made from aluminium, latter half of the 19th century.Vulcanite dentures, also called ‘Rubber Plates’ c. 1880. This drawing shows some of the first rubber plates. After the discovery of the vulcanisation of rubber, rubber plates were a major breakthrough at a time when the majority of all adults were partially or completely edentulous.Maxillary prosthesis with individually carved teeth and gingivae, ca. 1900-1920Repaired vulcanite dentureAdvertisement for 'Brims Plasti-Liner'. Early 1900s
Guy de Chauliac (c.1300 – 1368) (right) De Chauliac was born in Chaulhac, Lozère, France and was the most eminent of surgeons during the European Middle Ages. He wrote the medical reference Chirurgia Magna (1363). De Chauliac invented the dental pelican in the 14th century.Portrait of Bartolomeus Eustachius, the anatomist. Plate from “A History of dentistry from the most ancient times until the end of the eighteenth century”, by Vincenzo Guerini.Portrait of the father of modern dentistry Pierre Fauchard. Engraving made by J. Le. Bel.Georg Carabelli (1787–1842) Prominent Hungarian professor of dental surgery. Founder of the stomatological clinic at the Vienna University. The tubercle of Carabelli, a small additional cusp on the mesiolingual corner of upper molars, was first illustrated in his textbook of oral anatomy in 1842.Greene Vardiman Black. Photograph from the Journal of the National Dental Association November 1915, 2(4).Philipp Pfaff. Originator of dental medicine in Germany. Pfaff wrote his dentistry textbook, ‘Abhandlung von den Zähnen des menschlichen Körpers und deren Krankheiten’ in 1756.Cover picture of Philipp Pfaff’s ‘Abhandlung von den Zähnen des menschlichen Körpers und deren Krankheiten” 1765.
‘Farmer at the dentist’, Johann Liss, c. 1616-17.Tibetan Art. Made from animal tusk and tin. Artist and age unknown.Der Zahnbrecher. German for "Tooth breaker or Tooth Puller". There are many images from the Middle Ages and Renaissance illustrating this term. This particular image is an engraving made from a painting by Andrew Both, dated 1645.Medieval dentistry. Miniature on an initial 'D' with a scene representing teeth ("dentes"). A dentist with silver forceps and a necklace of large teeth, extracting the tooth of a seated man. From the book: Omne Bonum by James le Palmer, London, 1360-1375. Tooth reliquary containing a tooth, reputedly that of Saint Apollonia. Kept in the treasury of the Cathedral of Porto, Portugal.‘Le dentiste à cheval’ (Dentist on horseback). Italian School of Art, 18th century. Henri Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901) Not much is known about this portrait called 'Dr. Pean Operating' (1891). We see the prominent and reputed dapper Dr. Jules-Emile Pean with an assistant operating inside a patient’s mouth. St Apollonia, Patron Saint of Dentistry. By Francisco de Zurbarán c.1636. Oil on canvas. Louvre Museum Paris."The Toothpuller", ascribed to Caravaggio (1571-1610). From Web Gallery of Art.St Apollonia. Artwork dating back to the 16th century. Artist unknown. Artwork ca. 1557. By Bruegel l'Ancien (Pieter). State Museum, Copenhagen.‘Le dentiste’ (ca. 1670). Artist: Adrianensz Berckheyde (1638-1668). State Museum Keulen.L'arracheur de dents (The toothpuller). Lucas de Leyde (1489-1533). Etching made in 1523.Collage by Morris Armstrong Jr. From The Concrete Jungle Book.One of several bronze figures decorating the Russel Institute, a clinic for the welfare of children in the County of Renfrew and the Burgh of Paisley, Scotland. This figure indicates the dental work carried out in the building. Sculpted by Archibald Dawson. "Le barbier dentiste" Sculpture by unknown artist, 19th century. ‘Der Zahnzieher’ by Pietro Longhi, 2nd half of the 18th century.Sculpture of the Martyr St Apollonia by unknown French artist, 16th century.Wooden Mask. Teeth from a wooden mask. Rangda, Bali.Surgery of Kenneth Logan (1875-1961). Aquarelle by V. Lorant-Heilbronn, 1918.At The Dentist. By Ukrainian artist Slava Posudevsky. ‘Le dentiste’ Porcelain figures by Johan Joachim Kaendler, 1741.Ornate illustration of dental surgery as practiced by Ottoman Turks in what may be the 15th Century. The page is exquisitely gilded with gold leaf and shows a dental surgeon wrestling to extract a tooth with some form of dental forceps. "Transplanting of teeth" Original graphics (1787) by Thomas Rowlandson (1750-1827).Sainte Apolline (St Apollonia, Patron Saint of Dentistry) Unknown artist, ca. 1731.A circa 1860s tintype photograph of a dentist with dental instruments.Saint Apollonia Gold Edition. By Andy Warhol. An 18th century hand-illustrated page from an Ottoman Turk dental book showing a molar infected with toothworms. As early as Babylonian times and lasting well into the eighteenth century, it was thought that toothache was caused by worms. Military Dentist at the American Hospital of St. Nazaire, 1918 by Georges Eveillard.The Dentist. Hand signed Salvador Dali lithograph (1980) 'Cauterisation for Toothache' - 1466 by Charaf-ed-DinEngraving by Leon Tynaire (1861-?) From the National Museum of Education in Paris. Showing a scene in the Dental School of Paris with the teacher instructing a female pupil.
Airdent by S.S. White - 1949Cavitron. Advertisement in 'Dental Survey' of November 1956.Chayes high speed contra angle - 1956'Dental Air' made by Atlas Copco - 1959The S.S. White Borden Airotor 'Model C' - 1960Turbo Jet "The high speed quiet handpiece with engineered torque for full instrumentation" - 1960
The 1950s & 60s brought huge advances in development of air driven turbines. John Bordern's high-speed air-driven contra-angle handpiece, the 'Airotor' of 1957, obtains speeds up to 300,000 rpm and is an immediate commercial success, launching a new era of high-speed dentistry.
Extraction forceps used during 16th & 17th centuries.Extraction forceps used during 16th & 17th centuries.Dental pelican. Probably French or Italian, late 17th century, made of wrought iron, 5" long overall, with its single claw mounted to a block in an adjustable slot in the frame with a winged nut.A delightful pair of forceps with the jaws made in the shape of an animal head. Dating to the 17th century. Oral speculum used during the 17th & 18th century.Surgical instruments made by Pierre Fauchard during the 18th century.A pair of late 18th century French dental forceps for molar extractions. The unusual feature is the screw mechanism fixed to the inside of the handles which prevents the forceps closing beyond a given point and avoids fracturing the tooth.A pair of 18th century forged steel dental forceps from Amsterdam. Dental pelican. Used to extract teeth, c. 1800 - 1860.Set of dental instruments dated 1823.An early 19th century European dental mercury jar. It is made from horn; the bottom section from dark horn, the lid from light horn. Dimensions: 90 mm high 40 mm diameter.Dental mirrors dating to the early 19th century.Dental mirror c. 1840Dental mirror c. 1840‘Le sécateur dentaire’ (tooth scissors) Made and used by Paul Gresset c. 1848.25 piece dental surgery set in a travelling leather case. Ivory handled instruments by Chevalier, NY, c. 1850.25 piece dental surgery set in a travelling leather case. Ivory handled instruments by Chevalier, NY, c. 1850.Ivory handled instruments by Chevalier, NY; includes ivory handled tooth key for extractions, which is marked c. 1850.A pair of c. 1850 antique dental stump extractors. Both instruments have ebony handles. Made by Codman & Shurtleff, Boston.Advertisement for dental instruments by John D. Chevalier, New York, 1850s.“Five drawers dental case" Made and sold by John D. Chevalier, New York, c.1855“Five drawers dental case" Made and sold by John D. Chevalier, New York, c.1855“Five drawers dental case" Made and sold by John D. Chevalier, New York, c.1855Unplated dental forceps and unplated dental instruments by Chevalier, Brooklyn, c. 1860.From the textbook by Jonathan Taft: Operative Dentistry: Forceps, page 395. c. 1883. Early dental instruments and tools, two dental mirrors, amalgam carver, and gingival trimmer, ca. 1900-1920.Tooth Key circa 1900-1920Historic dental syringes and needles. Early 20th century.Dental anaesthetic syringe, cased, with accessories, 1907-20. Nickel-plated brass instrument with glass barrel, made in Germany.A French masticator to aid the chewing of food in the elderly and edentulous. This is a remarkably well put together instrument; the metal is steel and the handles are horn.
Dental drill and instruments dating back to the 2nd half of the 18th century.Manual drill - 19th century.Dental surgery in Victorian England, 1837 to 1901.Detail of dental surgery in Victorian England, 1837 to 1901.Manual dental drill with ivory handle and interchangeable burs c. 1850.Manual contra-angle dental drill with ivory handles c.1850.Dental drill circa 1850.Dental drill circa 1850.Pre-Electrical Dental Operatory, 1850s - 1880s. Photograph courtesy of Sindecuse Museum of Dentistry, University of Michigan.Vulcanization was a technique used by dentists to create fitted dentures from rubber plates. Latter half of the 19th century.Manual dental drill "Porte–foret" made by Hickleys, ca.1860.Detail of manual dental drill made by Hickleys, ca.1860.Oil-burning lamp with light reflector and lens circa 1860.Harrington’s Erado - A clockwork operated dental drill made by G. Harrington in 1864.Whitecomb's fountain, c. 1864.Pre-electrical surgery c. 1870.Pre-electrical dental operating light c. 1870.Pre-electrical foot operated dental drill c. 1870.Dental chair made by Johnston Brothers, New York, circa 1872.Detail of dental chair made by Johnston Brothers, New York, circa 1872.Prestige dental chair "Fauteuil dentaire de prestige" Paris circa 1875.Bonwill electro-magnetical handpiece, SS.White 1880s.Dental polishing lathe c. 1880.Dental polishing lathe (detail) c. 1880.Contra-angle handpieces, late 19th century.Contra-angle handpieces, late 19th century.Dental chair c. 1883.Handpiece by SS White 1886.Electo-magnetic handpiece, late 19th century. Dental handpieces c. 1890.Dental handpieces c. 1890.1890s - Early electrical surgery.1890s - Control board in early electrical surgery.1890s - Electrically illuminated dental mirror in early electrical surgery.1890s - Electrically illuminated dental mirror in early electrical surgery (detail).Crescent articulator used during the first half of 20th century.Columbia Chair No. 2 "Smooth Noiseless Movement". Advertisement in the Dental Summary: December 1903 23(12). Cabinet No. 75 advertised in the Dental Summary: December 1903 23(12). The Clark Spittoon as advertised in the Dental Summary of December 1903 23(12). Wall mounted dental cabinet manufactured by Ash circa 1903.Free standing dental cabinet manufactured by Ash circa 1903.Dental practice dated 1910 to 1920 in Bergen, Norway. The drills were operated using electricity (the city of Bergen had electricity from 1900).Dental unit manufactured by Ritter in Rochester, USA during 1917.Early dental x-ray unit with Coolidge tube c. 1920. Generator CDX (Coolidge Dental X ray Unit) Made by Victor X-Rays Corporation, USA, c. 1923.Siemens dental equipment c. 1925.Siemens dental equipment c. 1925.Dental surgery circa 1930.Deco Period Dental Operatory, 1930s - 1940s. Photograph courtesy of Sindecuse Museum of Dentistry, University of Michigan.Dental surgery during the 1940s.McKesson Anaesthetic Machine. Elmer McKesson of Toledo, Ohio perfected the intermittent flow anaesthetic machine, designed particularly for dental surgery use. This, the "Simplor" model, was built 1948. Sheffield Museum of Anaesthesia."Devanaest" Dental Anaesthesia Machine used in the mid 20th century. Sheffield Museum of Anaesthesia.Dental surgery, latter half of the 20th century.1950s Dental drill and handpiece.1950s Dental handpiece.
Dentures through the ages - A collection of dentures used during various periods in history
Historic people in dentistry - Picture gallery of people that played important roles in the history and development of dentistry
Toothbrushes used in Paris. Dated 1825.'Oriental Tooth Paste' prepared by Jewsbury & Brown, Manchester, England, 1840. Boutall's Pearline Toothpaste. 19th century.Areca Nut toothpaste. Used during the 19th century.White Rose Paste - "Purifying & Perfuming the Breath" - 19th century.Interchangeable head toothbrush circa 1850.'Toothbrushing' A photograph dating to 1899, taken in Paris.19th century toothbrushes.19th century toothbrush with interchangeble head.A selection of antique and vintage toothpicks made from various metals including hallmarked silver and gold plate. There are different ways to extend the pick ranging from a manual sliding central rod to various ratchet mechanisms.A 19th century ivory toothpick case with gold inlaid border and gold hinges and release catch. A delicate mid 19th century ivory and tortoise shell tongue scraper.19th century ivory tongue scraper.Borolyptol "Most human mouths are septic nurseries ..." At this time, the idea that micro-organisms contributed to oral health and disease was very new (thanks to Willoughby Miller - 1890). This new product was advertised in The Dental Summary, December 1903 23(12). Woman Dentist. From: ‘Mouth hygiene, a course of instruction for dental hygienists’ a text-book containing the fundamentals for prophylactic operators, compiled by Alfred C. Fones in 1916. one! two! three! SCRUB - Dental Facts: July 1919.Song From ‘A Child's Book of the Teeth’, 1921. To be sung to the tune of "Yankee Doodle"Cartoon From ‘A Child's Book of the Teeth’, 1921Brushes used between 1920 & 1940.Rexall's Milk of Magnesia Toothpaste."For teeth like a movie star"Brushes from the 1950s.
Bonsack, 1947.Diagram showing hand positions.Popesco's research, 1947.Malençon presents ‘le Physiobloc’ 1947.1953 ‘Le Bloc’ Operatory. Positions 1 & 2.Document titled: ‘Experimental layout for operatory’Design study by Ritter - 1960.1960s'Le Clinic' - 1962Study of operating positions done in 1965.1965 study: eleven o'clock position. 1965 study: nine o'clock position.Supramatic - 1965'Le prototype N°34' - 1969'Le Centric' - 1971Surgery layout design - 1974Anatomical dental equipment, designed by Dr. Lundin and manufactured by Lic Dental, Sweden - 1974Pelton and Crane's Coastal Dynamic Dental ChairFrench research postulates that the patient lying completely flat is the most physiologically correct position. This lead to the 'Beach' design. See next photograph.'Le système Beach'
Dentistry in art - Gallery of artworks depicting dentistry
Development of the Airotor - A collection of advertisements of air driven dental drills
Oral hygiene - A picture gallery showing the promotion of oral hygiene in history
Antique dental instruments - Instruments used in dentistry in earlier times
Dental equipment & furniture - Development of dental equipment from the 18th century onwards
Ergonomics & posture - New ideas and designs in dental surgeries and equipment
From the 1940s to 1970s much research was done on ergonomics and posture in dentistry. This not only lead to modern surgery design but also to some very futuristic ideas.
Historic people in dentistry

Dentistry in art

Oral hygiene

Antique dental instruments

Dental equipment & furniture

Dentures through the ages

Development of the Airotor

Ergonomics & posture

Photographs of general interest
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