21
Volume1 Issue7
|
N
ews and
E
vents
WhenDr. Crawfordbecame
JCDA
editor
in1987, the familymoved toOttawa,
and sodid thedental collection. The
assortment foundahomeat theDentistry
CanadaFundoffice,where theexecutive
director had suggestedopeningadental
museum. Upon themuseum's closure
inOttawa, thecollectionmoved to the
MuseumofHealthCare inKingston in
2010. “When theopportunitycame to
houseadental collection, thepeople
at theMuseum werequite interested,
acquiringeverypiece thatwas in
storage,” saysDr. Crawford.
TheMuseumnamed itsnew
acquisition the
Crawford
DentalCollection
, tohonour
thecouple’s impressive
contribution to thehistory
ofdentistry. As the
Museum
explains,
it is
“themost
comprehensive
cross-section
ofdental
technologyand
practice in
Canadaover
thepast
200years.”
It includesdental chairs, sterilizers,
cabinets, anesthesiaunits, drills, X-ray
units,manufacturerpamphlets, and
muchmore. Visitorsmaybe surprised to
evenfindplaster castsof 1957–63Prime
Minister JohnDiefenbaker!
“We’reparticularlyproudof our collection
of ivorydentures,” saysDr. Crawford.
“They’reabout200yearsoldand
carvedoutof solidwalrusandelephant
tusks.How theywerecreatedandhow
peoplewore them is still amystery.”
Ivorydenturescouldbeoneof thefirst
attempts incosmeticdentistry. “For the
anterior front teeth, insteadofhaving
ivory, human teethwereembedded
and riveted for cosmetic reasons,”
Dr. Crawfordexplains.
Probably themostunusual dentures
in thecollectionarehomemade. As
reportedby theKamloopsSentinel in
1968, hunter FrancisWhartonof Little
Fort, BritishColumbia, useddeer teeth to
createdentures forhimself. For thepalate,
hemoldedplasticwoodaround the roof
ofhismouth, andhefitted the teeth
hepreviouslyfilledandgrindedusing
householdcement.
Another favouriteofDr. Crawford isa
“finger-powereddrill” from1846 thathad
tobe turnedbyhand. “I figured itdid
about75 revolutionsperminute.”
Withhiscollectionand the
Teeth inTime
exhibition,Dr. Crawfordhopeshispeers
canacquire the samekindofpridehe
feelsaboutbeingadentist. “I’mvery
proudof theprogressofdentistryand
of itscontribution topeople’shealth,”
he says. Thecollectionmirrors the
evolutionof ourprofession. “Wewere
here.We struggled.We innovated.We’re
onlywhereweare todaybecausepast
dentistsmadeamazingcontributions to
theprofession,withamind tobringing
optimal oral health to thepatients to
whom theywerededicated.”
a
Upper denture from the
early1800s. Theanterior
teetharehuman, and
posterior teeth, ivory.
Upper denturecreatedbyhunter
FrancisWharton in1968using
deer teeth, plasticwood, and
householdcement.
Support themuseum
Tohelpkeepourdental historyalive,
theMuseumofHealthCareneedsyour
support.Dr.DavidTessier isaKingston
dentistwho serveson theMuseum’sBoard.
He says theMuseumalwayswelcomes
potential donations to its collectionand
is currently searching for articles from the
mobiledental unitsused inWorldWar I,
tocommemorate theupcoming100th
anniversaryof theRoyal CanadianDental
Corps inMay2015.
Donationscanalso take the formof
commemorativegifts, endowment funds,
bequests, annuitiesor recurringcontribu-
tions. See
fordetails.
