Tooth key, circa 1820 C017 / 8380
Wall Art and Photo Gifts from Science Photo Library
Tooth key, circa 1820 C017 / 8380
Steel tooth key dating from around 1820, England. Tooth extraction is the earliest known dental procedure, it was used as a last-resort cure for toothache. From around 1750 the tooth key, whilst still brutal, overtook the less-effective pelican tooth extractor as the instrument of choice for tooth-drawing. The claw would be placed over the crown of the tooth and the device would be twisted to dislocate the tooth (often following prior loosening by an elevator tool). This tooth key is lever operated and has a reversible claw
Science Photo Library features Science and Medical images including photos and illustrations
Media ID 9212001
© SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
1820 1820s Antique Dental Dentistry Device Devices Instrument Instruments Nineteenth Century Tool Tools Tooth Drawing Tooth Extraction Tooth Extractor Tooth Extractors Tooth Key Tooth Keys Blue Background
EDITORS COMMENTS
This print showcases a tooth key dating back to around 1820 in England. As an instrument of choice for tooth extraction, this steel tooth key represents the earliest known dental procedure. With its lever-operated mechanism and reversible claw, it symbolizes both the brutality and progressiveness of dentistry during the 19th century. Toothache sufferers would often resort to this last-ditch cure, enduring the pain until their teeth were dislocated using this device. Prior loosening by an elevator tool was common practice before placing the claw over the crown of the tooth and twisting it with force. The tooth key's emergence around 1750 marked a significant advancement in dental instruments, surpassing its less-effective predecessor, the pelican tooth extractor. This antique relic provides us with a glimpse into history when dentistry was still evolving but already making strides towards more efficient procedures. Against a serene blue background, this historical artifact stands as a testament to human ingenuity in overcoming physical ailments. Its presence reminds us of our ancestors' determination to alleviate suffering through innovation and serves as a reminder that even seemingly archaic tools have played crucial roles in shaping modern medicine.
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