The British Dental Association (BDA) Museum is working to acquire an important painting of a fashionable London dental practice. The BDA is appealing for donations to help acquire the painting so that it can be made a permanent part of its collection.

The Dentist by Sir John Lavery depicts Conrad Ackner in his surgery at 47B Welbeck Street in 1929, treating his patient, the artist's wife, Lady Lavery. It is an extremely rare representation of a dentist at work in that period, and by one of the leading portrait painters of the time.

Currently on loan and on display in the BDA's Information Centre, the painting has been independently valued at £60,000. While funding has already been sourced through the Art Fund, the MLA/V&A Purchase Grant Fund, the BDA and private donations, a shortfall of £9,000 still remains.

'The opportunity to purchase this unique painting is too good to miss and we are desperately close to our target,' said Jason Finch, Head of BDA Museum Services. 'Not only is the work historically significant in its rarity, it also provides us with an accurate depiction from which the dental profession and public can gain valuable insight into the history of dentistry.' The remaining funds need to be raised as soon as possible as some of the grants must be claimed by the end of June 2011.

To make a donation, or for further information, telephone Jason Finch on 020 7535 5832 or jason.finch@bda.org.

If you would like to see the painting The Dentist in person you can visit the BDA or find out more at www.bda.org/lavery.