Dr. Ralph and Mrs. Olga Crawford Canadian Dental Collection
Category
Dental
Dentures
Classification
Dental
Dentures
Accession Number
010020501
Description
Lower denture made of vulcanized rubber with plastic teeth; the denture has both central and lateral incisors, both canines, both premolars; the first molars are made of vulcanite and are distinguished from the gums as a molar by an X carved in the top; the gumline is curved on the proper right sid…
Lower denture made of vulcanized rubber with plastic teeth; the denture has both central and lateral incisors, both canines, both premolars; the first molars are made of vulcanite and are distinguished from the gums as a molar by an X carved in the top; the gumline is curved on the proper right side to accommodate a second molar, while the proper left side includes a second molar in vulcanite rubber; the gums are painted pink, however on the underside of the denture the natural orange-like colour can be seen; there are metal attachments along the front of the gumline on either side of the denture just below the first molars
Number Of Parts
1
Provenance
Transfer from the Dental Canada Fund; previously housed in the Dentistry Canada Museum (Ottawa)
Dates
1940
1950
circa 1940 - 1950
Date Remarks
Date based on research and similar artefacts in collection
Material
vulcanite: pink, orange
metal: grey
plastic: cream
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-B
Dimension Notes
Length 7.5 cm x Width 4.0 cm x Depth 2.4 cm
Condition Remarks
Shows signs of use; scratches and marks all over; teeth are discoloured and there is dirt between the teeth and around the gumline
Copy Type
Original
Reference Types
Internet
JPG
Reference Comments
"British Dental Association Museum" website; similar to 010.020.469; 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; in 1864 the Goodyear Dental Vulcanite Co. was founded in the United States, producing dentures made with hardened rubber and helping them to become less expensive to make and thus more popular; porcelain was added to vulcanite bases to recreate the light pink colour of natural gums, since making the vulcanite the right colour weakened the denture