Still Lives in Dentistry: The Artifacts

Photographs by Jon Draper

De Trey’s Synthetic Porcelain Powder kit, c. 1930
Manufactured by LD Caulk Company.
Used for making artificial teeth and other dental restorations, such as complete dentures, facings, inlays, veneer crowns and other bridge work.

University of the Pacific Permanent Collection, Donor: Unknown
Tod Co Dental Floss, c. 1905
Manufactured by The Owl Drug Company, San Francisco, Los Angeles.

University of the Pacific Permanent Collection, Donor: Unknown
Steele’s Improved Bridge Repair Outfit, c. 1918 (A306.2)
Manufactured by Columbus Dental Manufacturing Company. Used for repairing broken pin facings. Kit contains the drill, two taps, lead, finishing and gold screws.

University of the Pacific Permanent Collection, Donor: Unknown
Dr. Rogers’ Tycos Sphygmonanometer c. 1913 (A494.27)
Manufactured by Taylor Instrument Company. Used for taking the patient’s blood pressure. Includes blood pressure cuff, gauge, bulb, booklet and leather case.

University of the Pacific Permanent Collection, Donor: Unknown
Toothkey with interchangeable claws, c. 1850 (A147.27)
Unknown manufacturer.

University of the Pacific Permanent Collection, Donor: Unknown
Variety of dental product bottles, c. 1920-1940
Bottles contained liquid dentifrice for cleaning teeth, synthetic porcelain for making artificial teeth and other dental restorations, and a non-discoloring germicidal adhesive for setting general fillings, fillings for deciduous teeth, inlays, crown and bridges.

University of the Pacific Permanent Collection, Donor: Unknown
Dr Fred West’s power mixer, c. 1960
Manufactured by Emerson Electric Company. Mixer blade, electric mixer, rubber mixing bowl. Used to mix plaster for making models and taking impressions.

University of the Pacific Permanent Collection, Donor: Fred T West, DDS, P&S Class of 1917, P&S instructor, Ortho Department Chair and UOP Regent from 1962 to 1983
Dr Peck’s Improved Inlay Wax, c. 1920 (A396.12)
Manufactured by AE Peck Company, Los Angeles. Used for casting purposes to represent the pattern of a prepared portion of a tooth that is being restored. The wax has properties that result in a true casting of the prepared area; from the wax casting a precise mold is made into which gold or other restoration material is poured when fabricating an inlay.

University of the Pacific Permanent Collection, Donor: Unknown
Chinese barber tools, c. 1910 (A259.1)
Purchased by Richard A Bolt, MD while he served as medical director for the US Indemnity College in Peking, China from 1910 to 1916.

University of the Pacific Permanent Collection, Donor: Mr Robert Bolt
Dental lab burs, c. 1930
Used for grinding, smoothing, polishing and shaping dentures, crowns and bridge work.

University of the Pacific Permanent Collection, Donor: Estate of Douglas Kerr, DDS (USC ’26)
Clay-fired crucibles and roller, c. 1979
Used at the dental school for making and pouring of gold leaf during the casting process. Crucibles are triangular for easier pouring. Gold foil was part of the California State Board Exam until about 1982.

University of the Pacific Permanent Collection, Donor: Mr Walter Morrison, Director of physical properties at P&S
A Prophylactic Preparation for Use by the Dentist, c. 1920 (A425.2)
Formula by Dr AW Ward, manufactured by The Svelto Company, San Francisco.

University of the Pacific Permanent Collection, Donor: Abraham W Ward, DDS, P&S Class of 1902