Copy of Etruscan denture, Europe, 1901-1930

Etruscan dental bridge, one tooth, copy Etruscan dental bridge, one tooth, copy. White background.

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

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Etruscan dental bridge, one tooth, copy
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Etruscan dental bridge, one tooth, copy. White background.
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Etruscan dental bridge, one tooth, copy

Etruscans, people living in Etruria (Umbria and Tuscany, Italy), were the first to make dentures and false teeth, from 700 BCE onwards. Teeth from another person or an animal, such as an ox, were inserted into a band of gold with a metal pin and fitted on to the remaining teeth. Imagine eating with another person’s teeth! Only wealthy people could afford this treatment. There were no specialist dentists, so dentistry was one of the duties of a physician.

Details

Category:
Classical & Medieval Medicine
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A646732
Materials:
metal and bone
Measurements:
overall: 25 mm x 50 mm x 7 mm,
type:
dental bridge