Pelican tooth extractor, circa 1750 C017 / 8382
Wall Art and Photo Gifts from Science Photo Library
Pelican tooth extractor, circa 1750 C017 / 8382
Adjustable pelican, tooth extractor, with screw mechanism. Pelicans are an early type of dental forceps, so named due to their claw which was thought to resemble a pelicans beak. Tooth extraction is the earliest known dental procedure, it was used as a last-resort cure for toothache. Pelican extractors originated in the fourteenth century and by the 1500s they had become the most popular tool for tooth-drawing amongst barber surgeons and practitioners. No two alike, each pelican extractor would have been individually designed to order. This example is English and dates from around 1750
Science Photo Library features Science and Medical images including photos and illustrations
Media ID 9212027
© SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
1700s 1750 1750s 18th Century Adjustable Antique Beige Background Dental Dentistry Device Devices Eighteenth Century Instrument Instruments Pelican Tool Tools Tooth Drawing Tooth Extraction Tooth Extractor Tooth Extractors Pelicans
EDITORS COMMENTS
This print showcases a remarkable piece of dental history - the Pelican tooth extractor, circa 1750. This adjustable pelican, with its intricate screw mechanism, was an early type of dental forceps that derived its name from the resemblance of its claw to a pelican's beak. Tooth extraction, the oldest known dental procedure, was considered a last-resort remedy for excruciating toothaches. Originating in the fourteenth century and gaining popularity among barber surgeons and practitioners by the 1500s, each pelican extractor was uniquely crafted to order. No two were alike. The featured English example dates back to around 1750 and serves as a testament to both craftsmanship and innovation during this period. Against a beige background, this antique instrument stands as a tangible link between dentistry's past and present. Its presence evokes curiosity about the practices of early dentists in England during the eighteenth century. As we gaze upon this historical device, we are reminded of how far dentistry has come since then. Today's advanced tools and techniques have revolutionized oral healthcare, rendering such extractors obsolete relics from another era. This print not only captures an intriguing artifact but also invites us to reflect on our gratitude for modern advancements in dental care while acknowledging those who paved the way centuries ago.
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