Dr. Ralph and Mrs. Olga Crawford Canadian Dental Collection
Category
Dental
Human Remains
Teeth
Dentures
Classification
Dental
Human Remains
Teeth
Dentures
Accession Number
010020431
Description
Upper denture with an ivory base; the molars are carved out of the ivory base; the central and lateral incisors, canines and premolars are human; human teeth are attached to the base with metal pins
Upper denture with an ivory base; the molars are carved out of the ivory base; the central and lateral incisors, canines and premolars are human; human teeth are attached to the base with metal pins
Number Of Parts
1
Provenance
Transfer from the Dental Canada Fund (DCF); previously housed in the Dentistry Canada Museum (Ottawa)
Dates
1850
1870
circa 1850-1870
Date Remarks
Date based on research
Material
ivory: cream; brown
teeth: cream;
metal: black, sliver
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-B
Temporary Location
On display “Toothless: A History of Dentures” at the Museum of Healthcare; 27 Oct 2015
Dimension Notes
Length 5.7cm x Width 4.9 cm x Depth 1.9 cm
Condition Remarks
Right canine is broken and there is a piece missing; there are cracks in the human teeth from the metal posts used to attach them to the base
Copy Type
Original
Reference Types
Internet
Reference Comments
“Ivory dentures” British Dental Association. Accessed June 3, 2011 http://www.bda.org/museum/collections/teeth-and-dentures/ivory-dentures.aspx; Tragula, Trin. “Waterloo Teeth: A History of Dentures” BBC – H2G2. Accessed July 7, 2011. http://www.bbc.uk/dna/h2g2/A5103271
Research Facts
Dr Ralph and Mrs Olga Crawford donated their extensive Canadian dental collection to the DCF to create the museum in 1997; further donations were received while Dr Crawford was Curator Emeritus at the Dental Canada Museum until its closure in 2008; ivory was a common material used in the manufacture of dentures in the 18th century; a down side to ivory is that it degrades quickly in the mouth resulting in bad breath and a bad taste in the mouth; human teeth were preferred as they do not degrade like ivory or are too white like porcelain
Exhibit History
On display: "Teeth in Time", Main level, Rm 1009, Museum of Health Care, April 12, 2011-November 2014