Dental Pelican for Tooth Pulling

Made:
1701-1800 in Europe
Dental pelican, double ended, with 2 claws, steel, European

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Dental pelican, double ended, with 2 claws, steel, European
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Dental pelican, double ended, with 2 claws, steel, European, 1701-1800

Dental pelicans are so-called because they supposedly resemble the shape of a pelican’s beak. They are believed to date back to the 1300s and are among the very earliest instruments designed to remove teeth. There are many variations in the design of these simple instruments and this is an example of a double-ended pelican. The tooth was removed sideways after the claw was placed over the top of the tooth and the fulcrum, the semi-circular piece of metal at the end, was placed against the gum. The pressure from the lever was intended to remove the tooth.

The process was undoubtedly painful for the patient and possibly caused damage to the gums and surrounding teeth. Tooth pulling was the only cure for diseased teeth or toothache and was carried out by barber-surgeons and travelling practitioners.

Details

Category:
Dentistry
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A616578
Materials:
steel
Measurements:
overall: 18 mm x 100 mm x 73 mm, 0.072 kg
depth: 75mm
height: 12mm
weight: 0.07kg
weight: 0.15432lbs
width: 100mm
type:
dental pelican
credit:
Loan, Wellcome Trust