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College of Dentistry Museum

 

Stanton D. Harn, PhD, c. 2017

Courtesy of the UNMC College of Dentistry, photographer Peggy Cain

Stanton D. Harn, PhD, and the College of Dentistry Collection

Finding the Future through the Past

Stanton D. Harn, PhD, professor of anatomy, came to the College of Dentistry in 1972 in the Department of Oral Biology. Dr. Harn prides himself on the relationships he formed with students and colleagues, as well as the dental history he has shared with them over 45 years. Dr. Harn started curating the Dental Museum to teach students about the history of dentistry, which most dental schools had dropped from their curricula.

 

The Dental Museum, c. 2018

Courtesy of the UNMC College of Dentistry, photographer Peggy Cain

The UNMC College of Dentistry began its museum in 1977 under Richard E. Bradley, DDS, MSD, dean of the college.

 

Containing thousands of artifacts spanning 1850-1950, the museum collection is one of the largest gatherings of dental artifacts in the United States. It has grown to the point that there is not enough space to display it in its entirety, so special displays are set up throughout the year.

 

The Stanton D. Harn, PhD, Dental Gallery is located in the UNMC Wigton Heritage Center on the UNMC Omaha campus. The gallery currently features a recreated 1870-1880s dental office and an interactive exploration of the artifacts.

 

 

 

Artifacts on Display

Artifact Highlights:

Cabinets

Chairs

Decor

Equipment

Instruments

Pictures

Treatment

The Nevius Gasometer, 1883

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

The Nevius Gasometer, 1883
The Nevius Gasometer, 1883

“The Nevius Gasometer” patented by H.D. Justi and Son

Nitrous oxide or “laughing gas” was first synthesized by Joseph Priestley in 1772, and liquefied nitrous oxide was first manufactured in the U.S. in 1871. This unit holds 12 gallons of gas to anesthetize a patient during a dental procedure. The quantity typically needed was 3 to 5 gallons per patient.

Who discovered anesthesia?

A subject of controversy between physicians and dentists for over 170 years, three different individuals have claimed to be “the first”:

  • March 30, 1842—Dr. Crawford W. Long, a physician from Jefferson, Georgia, demonstrated the use of sulfuric ether. However, his work was not published until years later, and the exact date of his demonstration is questioned.
  • December 11, 1844—Dr. Horace Wells, a dentist from Hartford, Connecticut, conducted the first public demonstration of using nitrous oxide as an anesthetic for a molar extraction. Unfortunately, the demonstration was largely considered a failure as the patient was moaning during the procedure.
  • October 16, 1846—Dr. William T.G. Morton, a dentist from Boston, Massachusetts (and former apprentice to Dr. Horace Wells), conducted a successful demonstration of the use of ether as an anesthetic for surgery.  

 

So, who won?


Both the American Dental Association  in 1864, and the American Medical Association in 1879, credited Dr. Horace Wells as the discoverer of anesthesia.

 

 

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Dental Chair, c. 1872

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

Dental Chair, Invented by James Beall Morrison

The Morrison dental chair was the first to introduce the compensating seat and back rest, making it the first fully-adjustable reclining chair with headrest. It was invented by James Beall Morrison, the same American who invented the 1871 foot-powered dental drill. Morrison dental chairs were a common chair produced for nearly 30 years and used in many dental school clinics, including the Lincoln Dental College (1899–1919)—the forerunner of UNMC’s College of Dentistry.

 

 

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Dental Drill, 1871

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Dental Drill, 1871

 

 

Dental Drill, invented by James Beall Morrison

The first foot-pedal drill was sold at a dental meeting in Binghamton, New York, on April 17, 1872. Morrison claimed his drill could attain 2000 rpm, a significant increase over previous hand-operated drills that only generated 15 rpm.

 

Part of Morrison’s patent claimed the invention of "transfer of power" using a flexible coiled wire, but this had already been described by James Nasmyth, an engineer from Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1829. Nasmyth invented “a mode of transmitting rotary motion by means of a flexible shaft, formed of a coiled spiral wire or rod of steel.” In 1858, Charles Merry, a dentist from St. Louis, incorporated Nasmyth’s invention of rotary motion via a flexible shaft into a hand-driven dental drill called the "Merry Drill." It is unknown whether Morrison was aware of Nasmyth’s invention.

 

 

 

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American College of Dental Surgery Diploma of William B. Jones, DDS

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

"American College of Dental Surgery Diploma of William B. Jones, DDS"

March 25, 1889

William B. Jones, DDS, practiced in Superior, Nebraska, and was a clinical instructor for the American College of Dental Surgery.

 

 

 

 

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Charles Elmer Woodbury, DDS

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Charles Elmer Woodbury, DDS, State Board of Dental Examiners of Iowa

May 14, 1888

Charles Elmer Woodbury, DDS, was born on January 11, 1866, in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and graduated in the fourth dental class of the University of Iowa. He was a professor at Creighton University from 1908 to 1949 and professor emeritus of Operative Dentistry. He designed over 100 dental instruments during his career and was the first dentist to use gold foil to fill teeth. He organized the first Woodbury Gold Foil Study Club in honor of his father, Dr. Edmund Israel Woodbury.

 

The elder Dr. Woodbury arrived in Council Bluffs via steamboat on July 1, 1859. He is considered the first dentist in Nebraska and the only dentist between western Iowa and Denver, Colorado, at the time.

 

 

 

 

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R. W. Archer & Brother, Dental Cabinet No. 7, 1870s

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

R. W. Archer & Brother, Dental Cabinet

The Archer Manufacturing Co. of Rochester, New York, was one of the first companies to make commercially available cabinets, along with the S. S. White Dental Manufacturing Co. of Philadelphia and others. The S. S. White Co. sold the Archer products as well as their own. Prior to 1870, dentists either used small dental instrument cases or had a dental cabinet custom made. Archer made seven different dental cabinets and numbered them from No. 1 to No. 7.

 

R. W. Archer & Brother, Dental Cabinet No. 7, 1870s

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

The Archer No. 7 cabinet in this exhibit is rare and possibly the only one on public display in the United States. It is one of the most aesthetic dental cabinets ever produced.

 

R. W. Archer & Brother, Dental Cabinet No. 6, 1870s

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

R. W. Archer & Brother, Dental Cabinet No. 4, 1870s

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

R. W. Archer & Brother, Dental Cabinet No. 1, 1870s

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

 

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Spittoon with Octagon Top and Marble Slab, 1870s

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

S.S. White Manufacturing Co.

Spittoon with Octagon Top and Marble Slab, No. 3

S. S. White Manufacturing Co.

Also known as a cuspidor (from a Portuguese word meaning “a place to spit”), this spittoon featured a side door that concealed a bowl containing the contents deposited by patients. S. S. White made five different spittoon styles, include one that attached to a chair.

 

 

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New York College of Dentistry, Class of 1877

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

New York College of Dentistry Class of 1877

Graduate, Dr. D. T. Hill (center), practiced in Syracuse, Nebraska, and brought the Morrison dental chair (on display) to Nebraska in the late 1870s.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Dental Drill, c. 1874

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

S. S. White Dental Manufacturing Co., Dental Drill

This drill was the first to feature an improved flexible wire shaft and sheath. It received awards from both the Franklin Institute Exhibition and the American Institute Exhibition in 1874.

 

According to testimonials from dentists:

“The engine is a perfect ‘Godsend’ – I like it better by far than the Morrison that I have been using.”

“After using Green’s pneumatic [drill] and the Morrison engines, alternatively, through a period of three years, I think myself capable of comparing the S. S. White machine with them, and I do not hesitate to pronounce it far superior to either.”

 

 

 

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Dental Stool, 1873

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Dental Stool

Patented by J.W. Lyons, New York

This stool was designed for dentists. Its seat adjusts to a variety of angles and heights to maximize the comfort of the practitioner.

 

 

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Chairs

R. W. Archer & Brother, Dental Chair No. 2, 1860

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn


The Archer No. 2 dental chair reclines and has an adjustable seat via a hand crank at the rear of the chair. The chair also has an adjustable foot stool and instrument stand. It has flared arms (with swan heads and necks) making the seat wide and comfortable to the patient. Archer made five different chairs, numbering them from No. 0 to No. 4.

 

Cycloid Dental Chair, 1875

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn


Patented December 28, 1875, the cycloid dental chair catered to the beginning dentist. The chair was lightweight and yet well balanced.

Dental Chair, c. 1872

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn


The Morrison dental chair was the first to introduce the compensating seat and back rest making it the first fully adjustable reclining chair with headrest. It was invented by James Beall Morrison, the same American who invented the 1871 foot-powered dental drill. Morrison dental chairs were a common chair produced for nearly 30 years and used in many dental school clinics, including the Lincoln Dental College (1899–1919)—the forerunner of UNMC’s College of Dentistry.

 

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Decor

Brass and Lead Spittoon, 1880s

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Four-Globe Kerosene Chandelier, 1870s

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Ivory-Handled Hand Mirrors, c. 1880

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Hand Mirror, c. 1880

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Hand Mirror, c. 1880

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Hand Mirror, c. 1880

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Iron Hanger with Ivory-Handled Horse-Hair Duster, 1870s-1880s

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Kroeber Wall Regulator Clock, No. 31, 1880s

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Porcelain Toothbrush Holder with Bone Toothbrush, 1880s

Toothbrush donated by Denver Center Theater Co. of Denver, Colorado. Both artifacts are courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

"The Dental Cosmos", 1870-1874

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

James W. White
1870–1874
Published by S. S. White Dental Manufacturing Co. in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

 

Toothpick and Decorated Case, 1800s

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Wall-mounted Oil Lamp with Adjustable Reflector, 1870s-1880s

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

 

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Equipment

Clark’s Champion Heater for Celluloid Dentures, 1876

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Celluoid, developed by John W. Hyatt in 1868, was the first synthetic plastic. From 1870 to 1890 it was used to craft dentures, but fell from favor because of its unpleasant odors and a failure to hold the desired shape. During processing, denture flasks were placed in heaters like this one where the flask was compressed. Heat was supplied from an external Bunsen burner-type apparatus.

 

Dental Office Lathe, No. 1, 1870s

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

S. S. White Dental Manufacturing Co.

 

The lathe is a piece of equipment used to grind and polish models, crowns, and other restorative parts for fitting to a patient. S. S. White made two “office” lathes – No. 1 and No. 2.

Dental Laboratory Lathe, No. 4, 1870s

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

S. S. White Dental Manufacturing Co.

 

The lathe is a piece of equipment used to grind and polish models, crowns, and other restorative parts for fitting to a patient. S. S. White made two “laboratory” lathes – No. 3 and No. 4.

 

Saw Frame and Blade, c. 1880

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Saws are typically used to separate sections of dental models, which are used to assess a patient’s growth and development or to determine if a significant treatment procedure is needed.

 

Star Denture Flask, 1883

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Flasks like these were used to model both vulcanite and celluloid dentures.

 

Vulcanite Denture Flask and Press, 1880s

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Vulcanite Denture Flask Press, 1880s

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Whitney Vulcanizer, c. 1870

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

The vulcanizer is used to produce vulcanite dentures, the most commonly used dentures from 1850 to 1940. The first vulcanizer was constructed in 1856 and weighed 1,200 lbs.

 

Adjustable Dental Wall Bracket Table, c. 1880

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Brass Field Microscope with Original Wood Case, 1880s

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Brass Microscope, 1870s

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Cobalt Blue Glass Alcohol Lamp, c. 1880

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Gas Burners, 1880s

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Rubber Dam Clamp Forceps, 1870s-1880s

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Wood Bur Block, c. 1880

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Wood Mallet, c. 1880

Donated by Mr. and Mrs. Arthur M. Jones of Omaha, Nebraska, in memory of Dr. William B. Jones of Superior, Nebraska, (American College of Dental Surgery-Chicago, Class of 1889), and courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Wood-Handled Vulcanite Scraper, 1870s

Donated by Dr. Ralph J. Hilmes of Parachute, Colorado (Class of 1963), and courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

The Nevius Gasometer, 1883

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Nitrous oxide or “laughing gas” was first synthesized by Joseph Priestley in 1772, and liquefied nitrous oxide was first manufactured in the U.S. in 1871. This unit holds 12 gallons of gas to anesthetize a patient during a dental procedure. The quantity typically needed was 3 to 5 gallons per patient.

Dental Drill, 1871

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

The first foot-pedal drill was sold at a dental meeting in Binghamton, New York, on April 17, 1872. Morrison claimed his drill could attain 2000 rpm, a significant increase over previous hand-operated drills that only generated 15 rpm.

Part of Morrison’s patent claimed the invention of "transfer of power" using a flexible coiled wire, but this had already been described by James Nasmyth, an engineer from Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1829. Nasmyth invented “a mode of transmitting rotary motion by means of a flexible shaft, formed of a coiled spiral wire or rod of steel.” In 1858, Charles Merry, a dentist from St. Louis, incorporated Nasmyth’s invention of rotary motion via a flexible shaft into a hand-driven dental drill called the "Merry Drill."  It is unknown whether Morrison was aware of Nasmyth’s invention.

Dental Drill, c. 1874

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

This drill was the first to feature an improved flexible wire shaft and sheath. It received awards from both the Franklin Institute Exhibition and the American Institute Exhibition in 1874.

Dental Stool, 1873

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

This stool was designed for dentists. Its seat adjusts to a variety of angles and heights to maximize the comfort of the practitioner.

Spittoon with Octagon Top and Marble Slab, 1870s

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Also known as a cuspidor (from a Portuguese word meaning “a place to spit”), this spittoon featured a side door that concealed a bowl containing the contents deposited by patients. S. S. White made five different spittoon styles, including one that attached to a chair.

 

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Instruments

Double-Top Mercury Holder , 1870-1880

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

This holder contains two ounces of mercury that was used in the preparation of amalgam—a mixture of mercury and another metal used for dental fillings. The cap was an additional precaution against the mercury escaping.

Chevalier Dental Screw, c. 1858

Donated by Dr. Glen T. Warren of Lincoln, Nebraska (Class of 1923), and courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Dental screws were extraction instruments used for the removal of the stumps of teeth (particularly incisors and canines) where no part of the tooth remained that could be grasped by forceps or other extraction instruments.

 

Chevalier Extraction Forceps, 1830s

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Rolled Leather Dental Case and Set of Ivory Instruments, 1845-1852

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

The following history is transcribed from a document found with the instruments:

 

"These dental tools were made by Dr. George F. Crawford and used by him in his practice at La Harp[e], Illinois, from 1845–1852 when he crossed the plains to Oregon and settled in L[y]nn, Colorado. He tanned the leather used in the dental case. Dr. Crawford was born in Virginia, January 1, 1818, and died at Corvallis, Oregon, December 17, 1897."

A. H. Gemrig Extraction Forceps, c. 1870

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Vulcanite Scraper with Modified Handle, 1880s

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

The vulcanite scraper was used in sculpting vulcanite dentures to fit the contours of patients’ palates.

Amalgam Carver, c. 1880

Donated by Dr. Ralph J. Hilmes of Parachute, Colorado (Class of 1963), and courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

File and Bur Cleaner, 1880s

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Dental files are surgical instruments used when performing root canals.

 

Dental burs are used for cutting hard tissues like tooth or bone and are made from a variety of materials like steel, stainless steel, tungsten carbide, and diamond grit.

 

 

Gold Foil and Amalgam Operative Instruments, 1880s

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Hernstein Extraction Forceps, 1880s

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Ivory-Handled Gold Foil Plugging Instruments, c. 1880

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Ivory-Handled Hand-Drill, 1870-1880

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Ivory-Handled Instruments with Silver Ferrules, 1870s-1880s

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Ivory-Handled Saw, 1870s

Donated by Dr. George H. Liggett of York, Nebraska (Class of 1948), and courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Ivory-Handled Scaling Instrument, 1870s

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

J. Biddle Gold Foil Burnisher, c. 1878

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Jones, White & McCurdy Extraction Forceps, c. 1858

Donated by Dr. Michael C. Stone of Boston, Massachusetts (Tufts, Class of 1974), and courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

Kern Extraction Forceps, 1830-1889

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Rolled Leather Dental Case and Set of Forceps and Elevators, 1870s-1880s

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Low’s Crown Instruments and Case, 1887

Donated by Mr. and Mrs. Arthur M. Jones of Omaha, Nebraska, in memory of Dr. William B. Jones of Superior, Nebraska (American College of Dental Surgery-Chicago, Class of 1889), and courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Octagon-Handled Ebonized Wood with Ferrules, 1860s

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Plate Forceps – Clasp Bender, 1870s-1880s

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Plate Shears, 1870s

Donated by Dr. Paul W. Elder of Monmouth, Illinois (Class of 1934), and courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Octagon-Handled Gold Foil Instruments, 1860s

Donated by Dr. Garth A. James of Lincoln, Nebraska (Class of 1960), Dr. R. Scott Parker of Mankato, Minnesota (Class of 1972), and Dr. Roy L. Teleen of Lincoln, Nebraska (Class of 1923), and courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Ebonized Wood with Ferrules

Scalpel, 1860s

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Scalpel, 1860s

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Scalpel, 1860s

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Scalpel with Case, 1860s

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Set of Flat-Handled Mother-of-Pearl Instruments with Silver Ferrules, 1870s

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Set of Ivory-Handled Scaling Instruments, c. 1850

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Single Curve Murphy File, 1870s

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Snowden Extraction Forceps, c. 1856

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Tweezers, c. 1880

Donated by Dr. Ralph J. Hilmes of Parachute, Colorado (Class of 1963), and courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

Checkered Ebony-Handled Elevator, c. 1870

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

An elevator is an extraction instrument used to remove the stump of a tooth or a difficult root. Elevators were first described by Albucasis (936–1013), who is generally recognized as being the leading Muslim surgeon of the Middle Ages and the father of modern surgery.

S. S. White Dental Manufacturing Co., Dental Operating Case, No. 1

Dental Operating Case, No. 1, 1860s-1870s

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Main Case, Top Tray, 1860s-1870s

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Removable level that contains:
- ferrules (metal collar for crown preparation) and instruments with handles of ivory and mother-of-pearl with semi-precious stones
- large pearl hand mirror, gold mounted
- pearl handle foil shears
- pearl tongue holder
- small pearl mirror
- pearl hand-drill with rotating gold top
- separating saw with ivory handle

 

 

Main Case, Level 2, 1860s-1870s

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Contents include:
- files and instruments for operative dentistry

- stump and pivot files, curved molar files, and hand instruments
- various styles of ivory-handled instruments with silver ferrules (metal collar for crown preparation)

Ebony-handled Tooth Key, 1860s-1870s

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

A circular-shaped bolster and slotted pin are used to change the position of the key.

Bur Thimble and Drills
Bur Thimble on a Movable Hinge and Two Hand-Operated Dental Drills, 1860s-1870s

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

Bottom Front Drawer, 1860s-1870s

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Contents include:
- forceps

Side Drawers, 1860s-1870s

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Contents include:

- variety of ivory-handled instruments both with and without silver ferrules (metal collar for crown preparation)

Toothkeys

Toothkeys were extraction instruments used from the 1730s through the early 1900s. There were several varieties, but all featured a handle on one end and a bolster and claw on the other.

 

Toothkey, 1870s-1880s
Toothkey, 1870s-1880s
Toothkey, 1870s-1880s
Toothkey, 1870s-1880s
Toothkey, 1870s-1880s

 

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Pictures

"Dentist Extracting a Tooth", 18th-19th century

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Unknown Artist, Dutch Realism
Painting on Tin; Gilded Frame

Print of “The Dentist” from "La Dentiste", 1863

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Artist: Gerard Van Honthorst

Showcasing dental practice in the 17th century, this print is a replica from Histoire  Peintres de Toutes Les Coles, Cole Hollandaise, published 1863.

"The First Tooth", 1874

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Artist: Emile Pinchart

Charles Elmer Woodbury, DDS

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Charles Elmer Woodbury, DDS, was born on January 11, 1866, in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and graduated in the fourth dental class of the University of Iowa. He was a professor at Creighton University from 1908 to 1949 and professor emeritus of Operative Dentistry. He designed over 100 dental instruments during his career and was the first dentist to use gold foil to fill teeth. He organized the first Woodbury Gold Foil Study Club in honor of his father, Dr. Edmund Israel Woodbury.

The elder Dr. Woodbury arrived in Council Bluffs via steamboat on July 1, 1859. He is considered the first dentist in Nebraska and the only dentist between western Iowa and Denver, Colorado, at the time.

American College of Dental Surgery Diploma of William B. Jones, DDS

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

William B. Jones, DDS, practiced in Superior, Nebraska, and was a clinical instructor for the American College of Dental Surgery.

New York College of Dentistry, Class of 1877

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Graduate, Dr. D. T. Hill (center), practiced in Syracuse, Nebraska, and brought the Morrison dental chair (on display) to Nebraska in the late 1870s.

 

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Treatment

Bottles of Ether and Cajuput, c. 1880

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Ether is a common inhalation anesthetic to make dental procedures more comfortable for the patients.
 
Cajuput is similar to eucalyptus oil and is used to treat many different ailments, including toothaches.

 

Calder’s Saponaceous Dentine, c. 1870s

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

A tooth powder advertised for “cleansing, preserving and beautifying the teeth,” Calder’s Dentine was composed of 56% chalk and 44% wintergreen-flavored soap. It was used from the 1860s to the 1920s.

Dentifrice Bottle, 1880s

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Dentifrices are any pastes, powders, gels, or liquids used with a toothbrush to clean and polish the teeth.

Dentifrice Bottles, c. 1889

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn


Dentifrices are any pastes, powders, gels, or liquids used with a toothbrush to clean and polish the teeth.

Improved Dental Capsicum Plaster, c. 1886

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Capsicum (red pepper or chili pepper) is an herb, the fruit of which is used to make a variety of medicinal products, like this one for easing toothaches and other dental pain.

Lead Denture with Porcelain Teeth, early 1800s

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

From the late 1700s through 1850, dentures were made of many materials—ivory, gold, lead, etc., and used human, animal, and ivory for teeth. Tooth decay was prominent due to the increased consumption of sugar and tobacco and contributed to a greater need both for dentures and for teeth to fill the dentures. There were reports of grave robbing in the early 1800s to meet these needs and, in 1815, the Battle of Waterloo resulted in thousands of corpses that supplied large amounts of “Waterloo Teeth” for dentures.

Tin of Sozodent Powder for the Teeth, 1880s

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

Created in 1859 by druggist Roswell Van Buskirk of New Jersey, the name “Sozodent” was derived from the Greek words sozo and dontia meaning “to save” and “teeth,” respectively.

Vulcanite Dentures, 1850-1940

Courtesy of UNMC College of Dentistry, through the support of the Dental Museum Fund and curated by Dr. Stanton D. Harn

 

In 1843, Charles Goodyear patented the rubber vulcanization process, where a natural rubber is mixed with sulfur and heated to high temperatures to create a hardened but elastic and easily molded substance.

 

Vulcanite dentures were the most common dentures used from 1850 to 1940. They ultimately failed due to poor aesthetics—the gums could not replicate natural colors without weakening the material. Still, some patients in Nebraska wore some vulcanite dentures for 50 to 60 years.

 

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