Toothache and Trauma: A History of the Toothkey

Early Key with Modified Shaft

Some early keys were modified to suit the particular practitioner’s needs.

Explore this item in the slideshow below.

Circa 1760-1780, the maker of this instrument (A147.165) added two slight bends to modify an essentially straight-shafted key into a more efficient extraction instrument.

University of the Pacific Permanent Collection, Donor: Maurice J Owens, DDS
Other features include a dual-tapered wood handle permanently fixed to the shaft…
a crescent-shaped claw tip…
a knurled thumbscrew for quick claw exchange, and a cylindrical bolster, possibly designed to attach a soft padding.
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