Final year Glasgow dental students Rebecca Little and Lorna Hopps sought out and analysed countless pieces of dental art for their fourth year elective study. Their final presentation earned them each an 'A' grade and they offered to share the highlights with readers of the BDJ.

Rebecca and Lorna explored the dental library in Glasgow, the British Dental Association Museum in London and the Menzies Campbell collection in Edinburgh. They commented: 'Studying dental history teaches us how our profession has developed and shows us how we are viewed and consequently portrayed by the public. Unfortunately, we are often shown in a negative light. This reminds us to continuously strive to be a comfort to our patients and professionals in whom they can have complete confidence. As practices up to the nineteenth century were often barbaric and dangerous, we realise how privileged we are to work in our field in this day and age'.

'The women of a higher class are waiting to have a tooth inserted into their sockets. Poorer people often had healthier teeth because they did not have access to the luxury of sugar.'

The following descriptions are taken from Rebecca and Lorna's project. Further images from their collection will be featured in future issues, including 'The Blacksmith Dentist', 'Le Mal de Dent' and 'The First use of Ether'.

Transplanting of teeth

Figure 1: This engraving shows the practice of transplanting teeth. The gentleman dressed in tattered brown clothing in the centre of the image is a chimney sweep who is selling his tooth. The women of a higher class are waiting to have a tooth inserted into their sockets. Poorer people often had healthier teeth because they did not have access to the luxury of sugar. The dentist appears to be modelled on Ruspini - a prominent dental figure at the time. The notice behind him explains that he was dentist to the Empress of Russia. The sign on the door reads 'most money given for live teeth'. The colourful clothes of the gentry contrast with the brown clothing of the chimney sweep to highlight their difference in class. The extraction forceps lie at his feet symbolising how unhygienic the treatment was. The procedure would often result in the transmission of syphilis.1,2,3,4,5,6

Figure 1: Transplanting of teeth.
figure 1

Thomas Rowlandson (1756-1827). 1787. Engraving. Reproduced with permission from the RCSEd

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The dentist showing Conrad Ackner

Figure 2: Sir John Lavery became successful through painting the rich and famous. Here, we see Conrad Ackner, a dentist with a strong interest in dental radiography. He published papers on the use of X-rays and on a maxillary splint he had invented. He also treated many notable patients including the King of Norway. The main focus of this painting, rather unusually, is the dentist, rather than the patient. A calm atmosphere is portrayed through his facial expression, soft pastel colours and the relaxed positioning of the patient. The painting features the dental X-ray machine. John Lavery was one of the 'Glasgow Boys' – a group of artists based in Glasgow from 1870 until the 1900s. They were influenced by French realist paintings and aimed to raise the standards of Scottish painting.6,7,8,9,10

Figure 2: The Dentist showing Conrad Ackner.
figure 2

Sir John Lavery (1856-1941). 1929. Oil on canvas. Reproduced with permission from the BDA museum

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Rebecca and Lorna would like to thank Mrs Laetitia Brocklebank, Ms Rachel Bairsto, Dr Josephine Cummins, Mr Thomas Elliot, Professor David A. McGowan, Mrs Orla O'Donnell, Dr Maureen Park, Mrs Melanie Parker and Dr Rufus M. Ross for all their assistance with this project.