Dr. Ralph and Mrs. Olga Crawford Canadian Dental Collection
Category
Dental
Animal Remains
Dentures
Classification
Dental
Animal Remains
Dentures
Accession Number
010020490
Description
Lower partial denture completely carved of ivory; teeth present are the central and lateral incisors, two canines, and the two first and two second premolars; there is a black metal post through the top of each second premolar; there are two holes in the ivory on the inner side of the palate below …
Lower partial denture completely carved of ivory; teeth present are the central and lateral incisors, two canines, and the two first and two second premolars; there is a black metal post through the top of each second premolar; there are two holes in the ivory on the inner side of the palate below the lateral incisors; one hole is filled with a black metal post.
Number Of Parts
1
Provenance
Transfer from the Dental Canada Fund; previously housed in the Dentistry Canada Museum (Ottawa)
Dates
1750
1760
circa 1750-1760
Date Remarks
Date based on donor's remarks
Material
ivory: yellow
metal: black
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-B
Temporary Location
With MHC Education Program “Spare Parts” stored in Rm 2017
Dimension Notes
Length 4.3 cm x Width 2.0 cm x Depth 2.0 cm
Condition Remarks
Shows signs of use; ivory is discoloured particularly around the second premolars and the grooves where the teeth meet the gums
Copy Type
Original
Reference Types
Internet
Reference Comments
"British Dental Association Museum" website
Research Facts
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.
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.