George Washington’s Teeth, Yet Again
The webpage says:
On loan from The New York Academy of Medicine, the denture was the first of several dentures that John Greenwood made for Washington and is dated 1789, the year that Washington took his oath of office in New York City. The denture is engraved with: Under jaw. This is Great Washington’s teeth by J. Greenwood. First one made by J. Greenwood, Year 1789.The Mount Vernon website notes that there is no extra cost to see these teeth.
Carved from hippopotamus ivory, the denture contains real human teeth fixed in the ivory by means of brass screws. The denture, which was anchored on the one remaining tooth in Washington’s mouth, has a hole which fit snugly around the tooth and probably contributed to the loosening and eventual loss of that tooth.
6 comments:
It still floors me that the popularity (curiosity) about George Washington's teeth is still so strong with Americans! Forget the Liberty Bell or Declaration of Independence...Washington's teeth still seems to remain a focus of adult and student wonderment!
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I know that’s a spam comment, but I couldn’t resist the irony of letting it show up on this posting.
I think Washington’s teeth fascinate us because they’re both very immediate and personal, and—given the state of the dental arts in the 1700s—so strange and horrible. They both make us feel more connected to a figure of the past we all know, and make us feel the passage of time.
Mr. Bell - I think you hit the nail, uh, dental bridge right on the head about the reasons GW's teeth are still a focus of fascination for people. I occasionally teach 8th grade American history and....man!...the wooden teeth thing just won't go away, even after 211 years! :)
I am expecting that some Republican Constitution reader will wish to insert these prior to orating in Congress today.
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