Dr. Ralph and Mrs. Olga Crawford Canadian Dental Collection
Category
Dental
Animal Remains
Dentures
Teeth
Classification
Dental
Animal Remains
Dentures
Teeth
Accession Number
010020464
Description
Lower partial denture carved out of ivory with porcelain teeth based on an unknown black metal alloy; teeth present are two central and two lateral incisors, two canines, and two first premolars all in porcelain, one second premolar, one first and one second molars all in ivory; teeth missing are o…
Lower partial denture carved out of ivory with porcelain teeth based on an unknown black metal alloy; teeth present are two central and two lateral incisors, two canines, and two first premolars all in porcelain, one second premolar, one first and one second molars all in ivory; teeth missing are one second premolar, one first and one second molars; porcelain attachment is held in place with metal posts.
Number Of Parts
1
Provenance
Transfer from the Dental Canada Fund; previously housed in the Dentistry Canada Museum (Ottawa)
Dates
1800
1825
circa 1800-1825
Date Remarks
Based on research and similar artefacts in the collection
Material
ivory: cream
porcelain: grey
metal: black
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-B
Dimension Notes
Length 4.0 cm x Width 4.5 cm x Depth 1.5 cm
Condition Remarks
Ivory is very discoloured as are the porcelain teeth; the metal is also very tarnished
Copy Type
Original
Reference Types
Internet
Other
JPG
Reference Comments
"British Dental Association Museum" website; similar to 010.020.455; CD #4
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 did not degrade like ivory or were too white like porcelain