Premium Framed Print : Three tooth keys, circa 1850 C017 / 8403

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Three tooth keys, circa 1850 C017 / 8403

Three ebony handled tooth keys. Tooth extraction is the earliest known dental procedure, it was used as a last-resort cure for toothache. From around 1750 the tooth key, whilst still brutal, overtook the less-effective pelican tooth extractor as the instrument of choice for tooth-drawing. The claw would be placed over the crown of the tooth and the device would be twisted to dislocate the tooth (often following prior loosening by an elevator tool). These examples are English and date from around 1850

Science Photo Library features Science and Medical images including photos and illustrations

Media ID 9212183

© SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

1850 1850s Antique Beige Background Claw Dental Dental Care Dentistry Device Devices Ebony Instrument Instruments Nineteenth Century Tool Tools Tooth Drawing Tooth Extraction Tooth Extractor Tooth Key Tooth Keys

23"x19" (58x48cm) Premium Frame

FSC real wood frame with double mounted 16x12 print. Double mounted with white conservation mountboard. Frame moulding comprises stained composite natural wood veneers (Finger Jointed Pine) 39mm wide by 21mm thick. Archival quality Fujifilm CA photo paper mounted onto 1mm card. Overall outside dimensions are 23x19 inches (584x482mm). Rear features Framing tape to cover staples, 50mm Hanger plate, cork bumpers. Glazed with durable thick 2mm Acrylic to provide a virtually unbreakable glass-like finish. Acrylic Glass is far safer, more flexible and much lighter than typical mineral glass. Moreover, its higher translucency makes it a perfect carrier for photo prints. Acrylic allows a little more light to penetrate the surface than conventional glass and absorbs UV rays so that the image and the picture quality doesn't suffer under direct sunlight even after many years. Easily cleaned with a damp cloth. Please note that, to prevent the paper falling through the mount window and to prevent cropping of the original artwork, the visible print may be slightly smaller to allow the paper to be securely attached to the mount without any white edging showing and to match the aspect ratio of the original artwork.

FSC Real Wood Frame and Double Mounted with White Conservation Mountboard - Professionally Made and Ready to Hang

Estimated Image Size (if not cropped) is 39.6cm x 26cm (15.6" x 10.2")

Estimated Product Size is 58.4cm x 48.2cm (23" x 19")

These are individually made so all sizes are approximate

Artwork printed orientated as per the preview above, with landscape (horizontal) orientation to match the source image.

EDITORS COMMENTS
This print from Science Photo Library showcases three tooth keys dating back to the mid-19th century. These ebony-handled instruments were crucial in performing tooth extractions, which served as a last-resort remedy for unbearable toothaches during that time. Before the dominance of the tooth key, dentists relied on less effective tools like the pelican tooth extractor. However, around 1750, this brutal yet more efficient instrument became the preferred choice for dental practitioners when it came to extracting teeth. The process involved placing the claw-like end of the key over the crown of a troublesome tooth and then twisting it forcefully to dislocate and remove it. Prior loosening by an elevator tool was often necessary. These particular examples are English-made and date back to approximately 1850. As historical artifacts, they offer us a glimpse into early dental practices in England during that era. Displayed against a beige background, these antique devices serve as reminders of how far dental care has come since then. The intricate craftsmanship of these instruments is evident in their ebony handles and precise design. They stand as testaments to both medical ingenuity and human resilience in finding solutions for alleviating pain even centuries ago.

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