Volume 219 Issue 3, 14 August 2015
'HISTORY OF DENTISTRY IN 12 OBJECTS' SERIES: DENTAL BALANCE FOR AMALGAM
The cover series for volume 219 celebrates 80 years of the British Dental Association (BDA) Museum. Each front cover features an object which highlights a landmark in dental history. The catch is that the object is placed out of its historical context and in a modern environment, causing you to look twice at each picture. The landmark objects were chosen by BDA Museum volunteers.
The cover of this issue features a dental balance for measuring amalgam. Amalgam was introduced in the 1830s but it remained a controversial material until 1895 when Greene Vardiman Black published his 'balanced amalgam formula' giving the ideal proportions of the components to produce the best amalgam filling. By the 1920s dental supply companies were promoting 'dental balances', like the one in use on the cover, to help the dentist to dispense the correct proportions. In1902 John Brodribb Parfitt, BDA President and Honorary Curator of the Museum, made his own balance which is on the bench behind the one in use. Mercury was put into the small cup on the left of the balance with the pointer on the right registering the weight. Alloy was then added to the mercury until the correct combined weight, as indicated by the pointer, was reached.
Photography by Filip Gierlinski
Website: www.filskifoto.com
Email: filip@filskifoto.com
With thanks to Henry Schein for making their London Showroom available for this photo shoot.
Email: everything@henryschein.co.uk; Tel: 020 7298 1980
Website: https://www.henryschein.co.uk/gb-en/dental-gb
Editorial
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